David  Burkus Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerDavid Burkus

Leadership & Teamwork Expert, Internationally Renowned Keynote Speaker, Bestselling Author

One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David’s forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are changing how companies approach leadership, teamwork, and collaboration. A skilled researcher and inspiring communicator, Dr. David Burkus is the bestselling author of five books about business and leadership, including the most recent Best Team Ever: The... Read more

Biography

One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David’s forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are changing how companies approach leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.

A skilled researcher and inspiring communicator, Dr. David Burkus is the bestselling author of five books about business and leadership, including the most recent Best Team Ever: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. Since 2017, David has been ranked multiple times as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS Mornings.

A former business school professor, David hold a doctorate in Strategic Leadership and a masters in organizational psychology. He now works with leaders from organizations across all industries, including PepsiCo, Fidelity, Adobe, and NASA. David’s keynotes aren’t just entertaining and enlightening, they’re evidence-based and immensely practical–offering leaders at all levels a set of actionable takeaways they can implement immediately.

"The team and I appreciated all David did to understand our challenges and tailor his talk to meet the needs of our workforce. David provided us with tips and practices we can easily implement." NASA
“We loved David’s presentation and delivery. He’s a genius. He paid attention to everything and incorporated it into his presentation.” SACRS
“David received very high ratings for providing useful and valuable information for attendees. Also his approach was well received and he was very engaging. He clearly had done his homework about the work the participants are involved in, and that allowed folks to make those direct connections to their own work.” The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
“Besides being a professional in this domain, David is a great partner to work with. He listens to our needs, working in collaboration, responsive and always looking for a way to bring value. The materials and session that David delivered were engaging, fun and meaningful. He is able to create connection with the learners even in remote sessions, which we all know is a big challenge.” Amdocs
“David has an incredibly engaging style, and I loved the way he introduced fluidly stories, research and models in a conversational way – it was like watching art!” Senior Learning & Talent Development Manager, Stryker
“David was awesome and extremely engaged with our group. We really enjoyed his time spent with us on stage and off the stage.” NRECA
“What I loved about his presentation was its intellectual underpinnings. That depth made his rise above the average motivational speech. And our Academy participants loved it.” Phi Theta Kappa

Popular Talks by David Burkus

  • Leading Smarter: From Artificial Intelligence to Authentic Leadership

    You didn’t choose to lead in a tech revolution—but here you are. AI is raising the stakes, and leaders must guide with clarity and trust. The goal isn’t to master every tool, but to stay human while helping teams adapt. In a world of smart machines, trusted leadership is irreplaceable....

  • Smarter Teams: Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of Intelligent Collaboration

    AI isn’t coming—it’s already here. The best teams don’t just use AI—they team up with it. They rethink how they work, build trust, and adapt how they lead. AI won’t replace your team—but teams that don’t adapt will fall behind. Are you ready to make your best team even smarter?

  • Best Team Ever: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams

    Most teams struggle to perform at their best despite recruiting star players and offering incentives. The secret isn’t talent or rewards—it’s building the right team habits and culture. This keynote reveals how to create a high-performing environment that unlocks everyone’s potential and boosts team success.

  • Innovation is a Team Sport: The Science of Creative Collaboration

    Today’s challenges demand bold, innovative ideas—but creativity isn’t a solo act. Research shows the best ideas come from teams that know how to collaborate effectively. This keynote offers practical, science-backed strategies to help teams unlock collective creativity, overcome silos, and turn diverse thinking into real solutions.

  • Click: Why Some Teams Collaborate Fast And Others Just Collapse

    Every leader wants a team that just clicks—one that collaborates smoothly and performs consistently. But when clarity and empathy are missing, even strong teams can stumble. This keynote reveals the science behind high-performing teams and offers practical tools to boost alignment, trust, and results—fast. Ready to make your team click?

  • The Trust Loop: The Hidden Pattern That Builds (or Breaks) Your Team

    Trust isn’t built in a moment—it’s built through every interaction. The best teams don’t just hope for trust; they actively create and protect it through a cycle of respect and feedback called The Trust Loop. This keynote reveals a proven framework to build, maintain, and rebuild trust to drive lasting...