Trusted by leaders at
Keynotes for leaders at
Advice that's immediately applicable,not the kind you jot down and forget
As co-chair of the AICPA CFO Conference this past April, I had the pleasure of hearing Mike Lee deliver one of our keynote sessions — and he did not disappoint. Mike brought a refreshing mix of inspiration and practicality, sharing leadership insights that genuinely resonated with our audience of finance executives. His approach was relatable, his stories memorable, and his advice immediately applicable, not just the kind you jot down and forget later.
If you're looking for a speaker who can connect authentically, challenge your thinking, and leave your audience energized with ideas they can actually use, Mike is a great choice.
What attendees sayVerified post-session surveys collected by Talkadot
Thoughtful, inspirational, motivational. It got me thinking about how I can be better, focused and help others around me.AICPA CFO Conference attendee
Motivational to help you learn to live in the present and be mindful, but not only tell you but give you tools to help you.Marina Dikos, Morgan Properties
Simple actionable primer to thinking correctly to change behaviors and results.Steve Casey, AICPA CFO Conference
Survey results collected by Talkadot.
Leaders are carrying the weight ofnonstop noise
AI is changing how work gets done. Priorities shift every week. And leaders are pulled in a hundred directions before the first meeting of the day.
Most leaders are feeling the strain
71% of leaders say their stress has gone up significantly since they stepped into their current role, up from 63% in 2022. 40% of highly stressed leaders have thought about leaving leadership altogether.
DDI Global Leadership Forecast, 2025Our minds wander almost half the day
Harvard researchers found our minds are somewhere other than the task in front of us 47% of the time. That's attention a leader needs for the decisions and conversations that matter most.
Killingsworth & Gilbert, Harvard University (Science, 2010)Only about 1 in 4 managers are engaged
Manager engagement fell from 30% to 27% in 2024, and global employee engagement dropped to 21%. About 70% of the difference in team engagement comes down to the manager.
Gallup, State of the Global Workplace, 2025Every leader has been asked to do more with less. AI will save some time, but it also raises the bar. Meeting this moment takes more capacity, not more hours.
It's not about the hours. It's about the quality of presence you bring to the hours.
Engagement, trust, belonging and performance are all created or eroded moment by moment. Presence is the skill underneath all of them, and it can be trained.
The Architecture
of Presence
How leaders rise above the noise, navigate change and perform under pressure.
- Lead with intention instead of reacting, by widening the Decision Gap: the space between what happens and how you respond.
- Cut through noise and distraction with practical presence skills leaders can use in every meeting and conversation.
- Stay steady through change and uncertainty, and help your team do the same.
- Build trust, engagement and belonging by being fully there for the people you lead.
- Win the moments that matter most, so performance and growth follow.
Interactive by design: stories, practical strategies and live exercises the whole room takes part in.
Mindfulness and an elite performance mindset. Mindfulness is a pillar of the work: the skill that keeps leaders present, clear and steady when the pressure is on.
Leading through change, the future of work, AI and the human edge, resilience, engagement and culture.
- New Rules for the Future of Leadership
- Resilience in an Era of Uncertainty
- Peak Performance in an Age of Distraction
- The Power of Presence
What leadersand audiences say
It was a pleasure to work with Mike Lee.Stephen CurryNBA MVP
Mike's message is inspiring and is rooted in practicality. The strategies he's teaching will help your people unlock the potential within.Larry MurphyFormer Chief Strategy Officer, The Walt Disney Company
Mike's keynote at our APWA Conference was incredibly relevant to what our industry is facing right now. He shared actionable, relevant and timely stories, strategies and mindsets that can help move us toward our future. The concepts apply at both the individual, leadership and organizational level.Scott SawyerPresident, APWA Washington
Mike's message not only impacted our people's lives, but will support us in reaching our strategic initiatives.James RooneyCEO and Chairman, Pretium Packaging
As a veteran producer and educator in the meetings and events space, I can say without hesitation that Mike is the easiest, most empathetic, and most conscientious speaker I've ever worked with. It was clear Mike was invested in our meeting goals, customizing his message to help us best fulfill them.Anthony BollottaEvent Chair, CaterSource + The Special Event Leadership Meeting
Mike helped our leaders really focus on purpose-driven, heartfelt leadership that will have a huge impact on our culture of belonging and well-being.Rich SteffenPresident, American Family Insurance
Your ability to remind our team that leadership starts from the heart was transformative.
A leadership speaker for the peoplewho lead people
Associations &
conferences
Annual conventions and leadership conferences that need a leadership speaker with energy, substance and tools members use the next day.
Executive &
leadership teams
Leadership offsites and retreats where the plan, the culture and the way leaders show up get set for the year ahead.
Company
meetings
All-hands, annual meetings and kickoffs that bring every level of the company into one room around one goal.
Leadership
development
Leadership academies and manager programs that need a keynote or workshop that leaders can put to work right away.
Easy to book,built for
your audience
Initial consultation
Initiate a kick-off call with stakeholders to understand desired outcomes, aspirations, and the transformation they seek from the program.
Research and discovery
Conduct thorough research and interviews to gather insights, ensuring the content is timely, actionable, and relevant for maximum impact and transformation.
Tailored program development
Identify the intersection between the content and the client's challenges, allowing for the creation of a tailored program that specifically addresses their needs and drives tangible results.
Review and alignment
Schedule a review call, if necessary, to ensure that the developed content aligns seamlessly with the objectives outlined during the initial consultation.
Program delivery
Mike will present an inspiring and engaging program, incorporating actionable strategies and thought-provoking ideas to captivate the audience and drive the desired transformation.
Sustained impact
Each client will receive access to resources designed to reinforce the impact from the program and apply key concepts.
for the Future
of Leadership
“Through relatable stories, actionable strategies and counter-cultural exercises, Mike’s book will help you answer your call to greatness.”
He trained the best to perform under pressure.Until he had to
rebuild himself
For 15 years, Mike Lee worked with basketball's elite. He coached NBA star Joel Embiid and served as assistant director at Steph Curry's first skills academy. He pushed himself to his edge, and pulled others to their next level.
Then a health crisis took him out. His energy was gone and his self-trust was shattered. The old playbook of pushing harder only made it worse.
So he rebuilt. Not all at once. Moment by moment.
Mindfulness and Eastern philosophy became tools for survival, not ideas. Along the way he found what he teaches today: performance only happens in the present moment, and presence is a skill anyone can build. That became his HeartMind framework: the heart of a conscious leader meets the mindset of an elite athlete. It's a modern approach to performing at your best and bringing out the best in others.
Today Mike is a Top 50 keynote speaker named by Real Leaders, an executive coach and the founder of MindShift Labs. Blending storytelling, science and real-time moments of reflection and learning, he delivers an experience that is both inspiring and immediately actionable. Your audience leaves with tools they can use with their teams the next day.
Booking a leadership keynote speaker?Common questions
Is Mike Lee a leadership keynote speaker?
Yes. Mike Lee is a leadership keynote speaker named a Top 50 keynote speaker by Real Leaders. He speaks at association conventions, leadership conferences, executive retreats and company meetings, including the AICPA CFO Conference, the AORN Leadership Summit and the NC SHRM State Conference. Across 1,717 verified attendee surveys, 96 to 100% of attendees at each event rated the session valuable.
Who is a good leadership keynote speaker?
Look for a speaker who learns your organization, ties the talk to your conference theme and gives leaders tools they can use the next day, not just a story. Mike Lee is a Top 50 keynote speaker (Real Leaders) and #1 best-selling author who spent 15 years helping basketball's elite perform under pressure, then rebuilt himself after a health crisis. He now helps leaders and their teams stay present under pressure so business grows.
What does Mike speak about?
Mike's keynotes cover leadership, presence, peak performance, resilience and leading through change in an age of AI. His signature keynote is The Architecture of Presence. Other keynotes include New Rules for the Future of Leadership, Resilience in an Era of Uncertainty and Peak Performance in an Age of Distraction. See all of Mike's keynote topics.
How is Mike different from other leadership keynote speakers?
Most leadership speakers either share a big story or teach a business model. Mike brings practical tools from 15 years with basketball's elite and his own rebuild after a health crisis, and the room practices them together during the keynote. His HeartMind framework pairs the heart of a conscious leader with the mindset of an elite athlete. It's a modern approach to leading and performing under pressure.
Is Mike a leadership motivational speaker?
Mike's keynotes are inspiring, but they go past motivation. Many motivational speakers leave the room fired up for a day. Mike blends stories, strategies and live exercises, so leaders leave with skills for focus, composure and connection they can use with their teams right away.
What will our leaders walk away with?
Practical presence skills to use in meetings, conversations and high-pressure decisions, a simple way to reset when things get hectic, and a clear link between their own purpose and how they lead. Attendees also get resources after the event to keep using what they learned.
Does Mike tailor the keynote to our industry and theme?
Yes. Every keynote starts with a kick-off call and research into your audience, so the talk fits your theme and the challenges your people face. When the schedule allows, Mike sits in on earlier sessions to connect his talk to your speakers. He also has keynotes built for HR and SHRM conferences, healthcare leaders and sales kickoffs.
How long is the keynote, and are workshops available?
Mike's keynotes run 45 to 75 minutes, set around your agenda. A half-day workshop is available for leadership teams who want to go deeper and practice the tools on their own situations, either right after the keynote or on day two.
How much does a leadership keynote speaker cost?
Fees depend on the date, location, format and whether you add a workshop. Send your event details and Mike will follow up personally with options that fit your event.
How far in advance should we book a keynote speaker?
Most conferences book their keynote speaker 6 to 12 months ahead. If you already have a date, reach out now to check Mike's availability, even if your event is sooner.
What do event planners get when they book Mike?
Planners get Mike's bio, stage intro, A/V needs and photos to promote and run the session. Mike also joins a kick-off call and, if needed, a review call so the keynote fits your goals.
Where is Mike based, and does he travel?
Mike is based in Miami, Florida, and speaks at conferences and company events across the United States and internationally.
Planning aleadership conference
or company event?
Send your date and location. Mike will follow up personally to see if he's a fit for your audience.