Trusted by leaders at
Mindful leadership keynotes at
Personifying the heart-centered,mindful leadership approach
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.
On stage, he's as authentic and accessible as he is off, personifying the heart-centered, mindful leadership approach he talks about so passionately. A talk, by the way, that at this particular time, is very relevant, and exactly what executives need to hear to lead contemporary (and future) workforces.
Starshot Ventures Triple Blitz, Fort LauderdaleJanuary 2026
Teaches you how to get out of chaos mode and let your mind work more effectively.Barbara DeFranchi, Starshot Ventures Triple Blitz
Impactful and can be used right away.Marcus Davalos, Starshot Ventures Triple Blitz
Understanding distractions and how to get grounded and back.Michelle Thomas, Starshot Ventures Triple Blitz
Survey results collected by Talkadot.
Your leaders aren't short on strategy.They're short on attention
Every ping, meeting and headline pulls them out of the moment where the real work happens: the decision, the conversation, the call they have to get right.
A few minutes a day lowers stress
In a UCSF trial of 1,458 employees, people given a meditation app, opened on average about five minutes a day, reported less stress, job strain and burnout after eight weeks. The drops in stress and job strain held at four months.
Radin et al., JAMA Network Open (January 2025)Mindfulness training sharpens focus
In a UC Santa Barbara study, two weeks of mindfulness training cut mind wandering and lifted reading-test scores by the equivalent of 16 percentile points. Focus isn't fixed. It's a skill your leaders can train.
Mrazek et al., Psychological Science (May 2013)Mindfulness paid off at Aetna
Aetna estimates its mindfulness program saved about $2,000 per employee in health care costs and added about $3,000 per employee in productivity, from an average of 62 more focused minutes a week. That's roughly $5,000 per employee.
The Atlantic, "Corporations' Newest Productivity Hack: Meditation" (March 2015)Big calls are getting harder
In a 2025 survey of 1,000 C-suite executives at companies with 5,000 or more employees, 91% said it is harder to make the right business decisions than it was a year ago. Under that kind of pressure, presence is what keeps judgment clear.
Icertis, "Under Siege" C-suite survey (June 2025)Most teams don't have a talent problem. They have a presence problem.
Mindfulness isn't a break from leadership. It's how leaders get their attention back, so they can think clearly, listen fully and make the call in front of them.
Between what happens and how you respond, there's a gap. Mike calls it the Decision Gap. Mindful leaders learn to use it in three steps: notice the trigger, detach from the emotion, then get objective. That small space is where you stop reacting and start leading with intention. It's a skill, and like any skill, it gets stronger with practice.
Each idea follows the same pattern: a principle, a story, then an exercise, so leaders feel the shift before they leave the room. It closes with a short guided session they can repeat the next morning.
Mindful leadership, focus and attention, wellbeing and performance, leading through AI and change, and leading yourself before you lead others.
Leadership offsites, association conferences, executive retreats and company meetings where leaders are stretched thin. It works for a room that has never meditated and a room that already practices. Mike keeps it practical, plain-spoken and free of the "woo-woo" that turns skeptics off.
Mindful Leadership in a
Distracted World
How leaders stay present, focused and clear when it matters most.
Most leadership training adds more to a leader's plate. This keynote helps them clear it. Mike shows leaders how attention really works, why a distracted mind makes worse decisions, and how a few minutes of practice a day changes how they lead. As he puts it, practice doesn't take time, it creates time. Audiences don't just hear about mindfulness. They practice it in the room, with a short guided session they can repeat the next morning.
- A clear, no-jargon definition of mindfulness and why it's a leadership skill, not a wellness perk.
- The Decision Gap: a three-step way to respond with intention instead of reacting under pressure.
- A simple daily practice that builds focus in minutes, not hours.
- Tools to cut through the noise of meetings, messages and AI so they can focus on what matters most.
- How presence builds trust, so people feel heard and teams stay connected.
- Embracing change for good: using a beginner's mind to see AI and new ways of working as a chance to grow, not a threat.
- The Architecture of Presence
- The Power of Presence
- Peak Performance in an Age of Distraction
- New Rules for the Future of Leadership
What leaders say aboutmindful leadership with Mike
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
If you want someone who understands the power of presence, performance, and people then Mike Lee is your go-to person. Every encounter we have exchanged left me a wiser and bolder leader and human being. Mike knows the theory, the practice, and how to deliver them.Patrick KozakiewiczGlobal Mindfulness Program Leader, IBM
Mike effectively introduced the basics of meditation and demonstrated to my team how it was applicable in their daily professional lives. The stories he shares illustrated how mindfulness can decrease stress, improve the ability to focus and work more efficiently.Mitchell SteinVice President, Beyer Stein Group at Morgan Stanley
Mike reminded us why we became leaders in the first place, and gave us simple but powerful tools to lead ourselves before we lead others. His insight that ‘practice doesn't take time, it creates time’ really stuck with our members. And the meditation exercise at the end? Exactly what we didn't know we needed.Leadership SummitAssociation of periOperative Registered Nurses
Mike's presentation today to our sales team was extremely relevant in dealing with our state of constant distractions and hurricane of emotions. He did a fantastic job.Dave DonarskiNational Head of Sales and Strategy, BMO Harris
Mike is one of my go-to resources for expanding my own practice and personal training in mindfulness. He has a powerful personal story that accompanies the keynote and his book is a great addendum to help people jump-start their own practice.Ryan EstisInternational Business Speaker
Mike's focus on mindfulness and adopting a beginner's mindset was a refreshing approach to leadership. One of our members even said it was a mindset makeover for every area of life: thoughtful, inspiring, and absolutely worth the time!Rosetta AlcantraCEO, Alaska Realtors Association
Who books amindful leadership speaker
Mindful leadership
training
Mindful leadership training for executives and senior leaders who need to think clearly, make better calls and lead with focus under pressure.
Leadership keynotesConferences and
member events
Bringing mindfulness to a whole conference audience, not just the leaders? See Mike's keynote for every level of the room.
Mindfulness speakerHR and people
leaders
Mindfulness in leadership that supports wellbeing and performance together, framed as a skill your senior leaders can build.
HR keynotesHealthcare and
high-stakes teams
For leaders whose work leaves no room for a distracted mind, from hospital leadership to the frontline.
Healthcare keynotesEasy 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.”
Rebuilt from the inside out,moment by moment
A health crisis once took Mike's energy and his trust in himself. Pushing harder only made it worse. So he rebuilt, moment by moment, using mindfulness and Eastern philosophy as tools to get through each day. That is where his HeartMind approach comes from: the heart of a conscious leader meets the mindset of an elite athlete.
That mindset was shaped on the court. For 15 years, Mike trained basketball's elite to perform under pressure. He coached NBA star Joel Embiid, served as assistant director at Steph Curry's first skills academy, and built Thrive3, a basketball training and events company he started in his college apartment. Up close, he saw that the best players were the hardest workers, and the most present when it counted.
Today Mike is a Top 50 keynote speaker named by Real Leaders, an executive coach, author of the #1 best-seller New Rules for the Future of Leadership and founder of MindShift Labs. He teaches mindfulness as a leadership skill, and audiences leave with practices they can use the same week.
Mindful leadership speaker FAQ:Common questions
Is Mike Lee a mindful leadership speaker?
Yes. Mike Lee is a mindful leadership speaker, executive coach and #1 best-selling author, named a Top 50 Keynote Speaker by Real Leaders. His keynotes help leaders and teams stay present under pressure, so they focus, decide better and perform when it matters most.
What are the principles of mindful leadership?
Mike teaches mindful leadership as a few simple practices: pay full attention to the moment you're in, notice your reactions before you act on them, respond with intention instead of habit, and stay open to new ideas. His Decision Gap turns this into three steps: notice the trigger, detach from the emotion, then get objective.
What does a mindfulness speaker talk about at a business event?
Mike covers how attention works, why distraction hurts decisions and relationships, and how a short daily practice builds focus. Every keynote includes stories, practical tools and a short guided session the audience can use the next day.
Is this a wellness talk?
No. Mike treats mindfulness as a leadership and performance skill. Wellbeing improves too, but the focus is on clearer thinking, better decisions and stronger teams.
Does the audience need any meditation experience?
No. Mike makes mindfulness plain and practical, without jargon. It works for people who have never meditated and for people who already practice.
Can Mike speak virtually?
Yes, Mike can present virtually. The format is confirmed with each client based on the event.
How long is the keynote, and do you offer workshops?
Keynotes run 45 to 75 minutes. Mike also leads half-day workshops for leadership teams that want to go deeper and build the practice together.
Can the keynote be tailored to our event?
Yes. Every talk starts with a discovery call to learn your people, your goals and your theme. Mike builds the stories and exercises around them.
We have a tight budget or we're a nonprofit. Can we still work together?
Reach out and tell Mike about your event. He works with associations, nonprofits and companies of all sizes, and he'll find the right fit where he can.
How far ahead should we book a mindful leadership keynote speaker?
Most events book three to six months ahead. Popular dates fill fast during conference season, so check availability as soon as you have a date.
Where is Mike based?
Mike is based in Miami and speaks across the U.S. and internationally.
Last updated November 2026
Bring mindful leadershipto your next event
Give your leaders the one skill that improves every other skill: the ability to be fully present when it counts.