David Mead

Speech Topics

• Trust and Connection in a Hybrid World: How to keep people and keep them thriving

  Who it's for: Leaders and teams facing the challenges of hybrid and remote work who want simple, actionable tools to build and maintain strong connections to their organization and each other Talk overview: The way we work has changed. What hasn’t changed is the importance of trust and human connection. Although the human element was vital pre-pandemic, it was often ignored or minimized. Now, it demands our attention and the leaders and teams who embrace the human element of business will be those who thrive in the long term. This interactive talk covers three essential traits required to infuse the human element into our cultures, along with simple, frictionless daily practices we can implement regardless of whether we hold a position of authority or not. When we put these traits into daily practice, we experience work in a new way. Trust increases, psychological safety becomes the rule rather than the exception, innovation and creativity bloom, performance and retention increase. The result? Individuals thrive and organizations flourish. Participants will gain a greater understanding of: - The power of behaving in line with stated beliefs. - How to recognize and embrace their fallibility - and why that’s OK. - How to connect with members of their team on a more human level. - How focusing on input rather than output can yield better results for individuals and organizations.

• The Future of Work: Why humanity matters

  Who it’s for: Leaders and teams eager to navigate the future of work in a way that builds trust, performance, retention, and well-being Talk overview: In many ways, the pandemic catapulted us into the future of work at a speed that some of us weren’t quite ready for. The lines between work life and personal life have blurred like never before. As we all learn our way through a new way of working, major changes in how, when, and where we work are having a significant impact on leaders and their teams. As we deal with shifts in technology, geography, and flexibility, we must stay grounded in our humanity. Successfully navigating the future of work demands knowing, accepting, and caring for the whole human, not just the “work” human. This interactive talk explores why humanity matters to the future of work. David challenges participants to focus on culture and how they can take individual responsibility for it. By intentionally building and maintaining a culture of trust and human connection, leaders and teams can ignite transparent communication, collaboration, and a sense of belonging, which become the rocket fuel for future engagement, performance, and growth. Drawing on his personal experience, as well as the patterns he has observed in leaders and organizations around the world, David offers a simple, actionable framework that gives participants: • A greater awareness of their own leadership potential, no matter their role • A framework for building and maintaining sustainable relationships at work and beyond • Actionable tools and practices that build trust and human connection, tailored to their individual context • A shift in mindset that increases their ability to face the future, together, with a sense of hope and possibility

• Leading Through Uncertainty: How to take on the unknown we face, together

  Who it’s for: Those who want to prepare for challenges and uncertainty by unlocking the creativity and open minded thinking needed to weather the storm. Talk overview: It’s human nature to seek the sense of comfort we feel with consistency and stability. Yet, we look toward the future and see more change and uncertainty than ever - economic downturn, shifts in the workforce, residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more unknowns to come. A Stanford University survey assessed business uncertainty is at its highest since 2015, with the level accelerating at an unprecedented rate. So, the only thing that’s certain is that there is more uncertainty ahead. This state of instability can leave us feeling unsettled, demoralized, and anxious about the future. As a result, decision-making tends to become fear-based and progress slows; we become more rigid, and effective leadership declines. Rather than becoming adaptive, organization tend to be reactive. During these times, leadership expert David Mead urges you to stop resisting uncertainty and choose to run toward it by building and maintaining a resilient culture. In this interactive talk, David will share simple ideas to shift our perception of challenging situations and how we can see them as opportunities. Through polling and Q&A, David will encourage active participation that can prompt ideas for action for attendees. Audiences will walk away with tangible tools that can be practiced daily in order to fully engage their hearts and minds when obstacles arise. Key concepts of the session include: · Our two primary drivers - Love and Fear · How to understand and manage the way we lead and influence others · Leading when we don’t know the answer · The humility to say, “I don’t know” and empowering others to contribute to the solution · Activating innovation in our team · How to create an environment of trust and collaboration where people feel confident to share ideas and take risks

• Turning Attrition To Attraction: How to keep the grass greener on your side of the fence

  Who it’s for: Leaders eager to create and maintain an environment in which trust and human connection lead to greater well-being, higher individual and team performance, increased innovation, and higher levels of retention Talk overview: Every organization strives for high performance, growth, productivity, and results. And often, organizations don’t realize they are self-sabotaging those efforts through the experience they create for their people. When the culture we talk about doesn’t align with the culture our people experience, Culture Dissonance occurs. People go into self-preservation mode and they find it more difficult to trust and develop connections with others. Healthy, productive environments have Culture Congruence, where the stated culture aligns with daily behaviors. In this interactive talk, David draws on his personal experience, as well as the patterns he has observed in leaders and organizations around the world. He will identify the symptoms of Culture Dissonance and explore three specific leadership traits that, when put into practice, lead to Culture Congruence. Culture Congruence serves as a strong foundation for: - Well being -Performance -Discretionary effort -Retention -Innovation -Transparent communication -…and so much more At the end of the session, participants will have some simple, practical tools they can use to contribute to the congruence of the cultures they lead and influence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I check David Mead's availability or request a quote?

  You can inquire about David Mead's availability or get a customized quote by contacting Key Speakers directly. Our team will help you determine fit, logistics, and budget options for your upcoming event.
• What is David Mead's speaking fee?

  The typical range for David Mead's speaking fee is $15,000–$20,000. The low end of the fee range represents their standard virtual fee. The high end of the fee range represents their standard fee for a US-based in-person speaking engagement. Appearances which require an extended schedule of activities or international travel will possibly exceed this fee range. Speaker fees update frequently. To receive a personalized quote for David Mead to speak at your event, please consult with a Key Speakers advisor for up to date information and assistance.
• What factors influence the speaker's fee?

  Other factors that influence a keynote speaker's fee include their reputation, expertise, demand, experience, duration of the presentation, travel requirements for the event location, and any additional services, activities or customization options they offer.
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  Travel expenses are typically not included in the listed speaker's fee and are quoted separately. If the speaker needs to travel internationally, fees will be higher. These expenses may include airfare, accommodation, ground transportation at home and in the event city, and meals. We can provide more detailed information about travel expenses and arrangements once you've selected a speaker.
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• How long is a typical keynote speech?

  The duration of a standard keynote speech can vary depending on the speaker and the event's schedule. Typically, keynote speeches range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, including any Q&A sessions or interactive elements. Some speakers can accommodate half or full day sessions and extended keynotes. Discuss the desired duration with your representative to determine the appropriate length for participation.
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• Why book David Mead through Key Speakers?

  We provide a comprehensive service that takes the guesswork out of hiring a speaker — from speaker selection to logistics to post-event feedback. We know you have lots of responsibilities on top of finding and coordinating event speakers, so having a committed and proactive partner on your side that is an expert with the talent booking process is crucial. Every time you book a speaker with Key, your dedicated events manager will support you throughout the entire planning process. We help you negotiate contractual details such as speaker fees and travel terms so that you end up with the most favorable deal. With our highly communicative booking and proposal model, you'll never be left in the dark with the status of your speaker. To put it simply, Key Speakers is your one-stop resource for finding, booking and managing speakers for your event.