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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. An organizational psychologist and professor at Columbia University, Dr. David Burkus is the bestselling author of five books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards... Read more

Watch David Burkus in action

Popular Talks by David Burkus

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

    Every leader wants to build a high-performing team, but most teams never reach their full potential. Drawing on the latest research, David reveals why culture—not talent alone—is the key to unlocking performance, giving leaders practical strategies to build stronger, more collaborative teams.

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

    Why do some teams collaborate effortlessly while others struggle? David explores the science behind successful collaboration, showing how clarity and empathy drive alignment, accountability and performance. Packed with research-backed insights and practical tools, this keynote helps leaders build teams that communicate better, solve problems faster and achieve stronger results.

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

    Trust is not built in a single moment—it is strengthened through everyday interactions. David introduces The Trust Loop, a practical framework for building and reinforcing trust within teams. Audiences learn how trust drives performance and how leaders can create stronger, more accountable teams.

  • Growth on Purpose: The Hidden Factor in High-Performing Teams

    Purpose is more than a mission statement—it is what helps people connect their work to meaningful impact. Drawing on the science of prosocial purpose, David explains how leaders can make purpose visible within their teams, increasing motivation, engagement, retention and performance through practical leadership behaviours.

  • Smarter Teams: Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    AI is transforming the workplace, but the fundamentals of high-performing teams remain the same. David explores how organisations can use AI to strengthen collaboration, communication and decision-making while maintaining trust and human leadership, helping teams work smarter and perform at their best.

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.

An organizational psychologist and professor at Columbia University, Dr. David Burkus is the bestselling author of five books about business and leadership. 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. 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.

David 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.

Ready to invite David Burkus to your event?

Tell us about your event, one of our consultants will reach out within 24 hours.

What clients say about David Burkus

"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

How to book David Burkus as a keynote speaker

How do I book David Burkus for a keynote speech?

You can book David Burkus through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with David's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are David Burkus's speaking fees?

David Burkus's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for David tailored to your event.

What topics does David Burkus speak about?

David Burkus speaks on Artificial Intelligence, Business & Management, Communication, Entrepreneurs, Leadership. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with David to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is David Burkus available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book David Burkus for events worldwide, subject to David's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does David Burkus deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether David Burkus is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by David Burkus?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what David can accommodate.

Can David Burkus tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief David Burkus on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what David can offer.

What languages does David Burkus present in?

David Burkus delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes David Burkus a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

David Burkus's areas of expertise include Artificial Intelligence, Business & Management, Communication, Entrepreneurs, Leadership. To get a clear sense of David's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can David Burkus speak at?

David Burkus can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Business & Management, Communication, Entrepreneurs, Leadership is relevant. Details of David's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does David Burkus offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what David Burkus is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book David Burkus?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with David Burkus, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check David's current availability for your dates.