- Tulsa, Oklahoma
David Burkus Keynote Speaker
- Organizational Psychologist & Professor at Columbia University
- Bestselling Author
- Leadership, Teamwork & Innovation Expert
David Burkus's Biography
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David’s forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are reshaping how organizations approach leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.
An organizational psychologist and professor at Columbia University, Dr. David Burkus is the bestselling author of five books on business and leadership. His work has won multiple awards and been translated into dozens of languages. Since 2017, he has been repeatedly ranked among the world’s top business thought leaders.
His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS Mornings.
David works with leaders across industries, including PepsiCo, Fidelity, Adobe, and NASA. His keynotes are not only engaging and insightful—they are evidence-based and highly practical, equipping leaders at all levels with actionable ideas they can implement immediately.
David Burkus's Speaking Topics
BEST TEAM EVER: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams
Every leader wants a high-performing team, but recruiting great talent and offering better incentives rarely delivers lasting results. Dr. David Burkus reveals why exceptional teams are built through intentional culture, shared habits, and the right environment—not individual star performers.
Drawing on research into the world's highest-performing teams, Burkus shares a practical blueprint for creating a culture that elevates performance, engagement, and collaboration.
In this keynote, audiences will learn:
- Why team culture has a greater impact on performance than individual talent.
- The habits that consistently drive high-performing teams.
- How leaders can create an environment where everyone performs at their best.
- A practical framework for building stronger, more effective teams.
CLICK: Why Some Teams Collaborate Fast and Others Just Collapse
Why do some teams click while others struggle? According to Dr. David Burkus, the answer isn't more talent or more meetings—it's clarity and empathy. When team members understand both their responsibilities and each other's working styles, collaboration becomes faster, stronger, and more resilient.
Using research-backed insights and practical tools, Burkus shows leaders how to build alignment, accountability, and trust from day one.
In this keynote, audiences will learn:
- Why clarity and empathy are the foundation of great collaboration.
- How to create alignment and accountability across teams.
- Strategies for preventing misunderstandings before they derail performance.
- Practical tools to improve collaboration immediately.
THE TRUST LOOP: The Hidden Pattern That Builds (or Breaks) Teams
Trust isn't built in a single moment—it's strengthened or weakened through everyday interactions. In this research-backed keynote, Dr. David Burkus introduces the Trust Loop, a practical framework for building, reinforcing, and restoring trust within teams.
Audiences learn why trust is reciprocal, how it erodes, and what leaders can do to strengthen it even after setbacks.
In this keynote, audiences will learn:
- How trust develops through consistent interactions.
- Why trust breaks down and how to rebuild it.
- How to reinforce trust across teams and organizations.
- Practical strategies that strengthen collaboration and performance.
GROWTH ON PURPOSE: The Hidden Factor in High-Performing Teams
Purpose isn't created through mission statements—it's created when people understand who benefits from their work. In this evidence-based keynote, Dr. David Burkus explores the science of prosocial purpose and the leadership behaviors that help employees connect meaning with measurable impact.
Leaders leave with practical strategies for building teams that are more engaged, motivated, and resilient.
In this keynote, audiences will learn:
- Why purpose is experienced through people, not slogans.
- How to help employees connect their work to meaningful impact.
- Leadership behaviors that increase motivation and retention.
- How purpose drives stronger team performance over time.
SMARTER TEAMS: Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
AI is changing how organizations work, but the foundations of great teamwork remain the same. In this forward-looking keynote, Dr. David Burkus shows leaders how the best teams are using AI to enhance—not replace—human collaboration.
Rather than treating AI as another technology rollout, Burkus demonstrates how organizations can combine AI with clarity, trust, and adaptive leadership to improve innovation, communication, and performance.
In this keynote, audiences will learn:
- How AI is reshaping collaboration and team performance.
- Ways AI can improve communication, transparency, and productivity.
- How to build trust in both AI tools and the teams using them.
- Leadership strategies for guiding teams through an AI-enabled future.
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