morag barrett leadership keynote speaker

Leadership Keynotes That Build Connection, Courage, and Results

Practical, high-impact keynotes led by Morag Barrett and backed by SkyeTeam—designed to help leaders strengthen trust, spark connection, and improve performance.

Available in-person or virtually

Morag Barrett is SkyeTeam’s premier keynote speaker. For select topics and budgets, co-authors Ruby Vesely and Eric Spencer are also available for select keynotes, workshops, and co-speaking engagements.

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“I attended a virtual seminar with Eric and found both the content and the way it was delivered exceptional. I was able to apply what I learned the next day in a team meeting I was leading - simple, practical ideas to keep people engaged and help ensure we can work at our best as a team.”

Senior Director
Pfizer

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“Morag's talk was THE BEST I have heard so far. Engaging, interactive, and at the end of it, even many days later, I am still chewing on a lot of what she said. I wish I could've had another hour or more of her because, simply said, the talk was refreshing and inspiring with a whole lot of funny - memorable.”

Associate Director
Sr. HR Business Partner at FINRA

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“Ruby’s energy and passion light up a room and promote great connection and discussion among attendees. She is grounded and connected with people, and they can feel it.”

Director
Non-profit

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“I’ve attended a lot of conferences and never have I had a speaker that instantly captured an audience and provided such relevant information and had great crowd participation.”

Agile
Denver, Colorado

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"I still hear people talking about being an Ally, a month after your keynote. It left a lasting impression! Thank you!”

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Technology Company

Magical AF Unicorn

These Are the Keynotes That Get People Talking (for the right reasons)

Tried, tested, and refined in rooms where trust is fragile, stakes are high, and “fine” is usually code for something else.

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Morag's Signature Keynote
morag barrett leadership keynote speaker

Fine Is a Four-Letter Word

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How to Close the Connection Gap and Reignite Engagement

Inspired by Morag Barrett’s research, keynote work, and award-winning books Cultivate and You, Me, We

We’re drowning in communication but starving for connection.

In too many workplaces, “fine” is the default answer, and a dangerous one. It’s code for stretched thin, quietly disconnected, or just going through the motions.

In this keynote, Morag Barrett helps leaders spot the hidden costs of disconnection and shows them how to create more Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ at work, with practical tools, relatable stories, and a little tough love.

Because better teams don’t need more meetings. They need more moments that build trust, belonging, and real human connection.

Ideal For:

  • Leaders of distributed or hybrid teams who are working hard at “connection” but still watching engagement slip
  • HR and People Leaders who need practical ways to improve employee experience, retention, and trust
  • Organizations and teams where the usual engagement playbook has fallen flat
  • Executive teams ready to address the leadership loneliness and disconnection that quietly drag down performance
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Understand the real cost of workplace disconnection and how it sabotages performance, innovation, and retention
  • Apply a practical framework to transform "fine" into fully engaged—starting with yourself, then your team
  • Implement daily connection practices that strengthen relationships and results without adding meetings to the calendar
  • Bonus Resource: Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ starter kit with self-reflection prompts and practical next steps
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Ruby's Signature Keynote
The Four Yeses
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Be Your
Own Ally.

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Where Authentic Leadership Begins

Because self-care is not selfish - it's the source of sustainable impact.

We talk a lot about being great teammates, caring leaders, and trusted friends. But too often, we show up for everyone else while quietly abandoning the one relationship that shapes them all—the one we have with ourselves. You can't light the way for others if your own flame is out.

When you try, your energy wanes, your patience thins, and the joy that once fueled your life and work begins to fade. Many leaders carry this truth silently, believing that self-care is selfish or that their needs come last. But the truth is: taking care of yourself first is the key to unlocking your ability to deeply connect and authentically lead and serve others.

In this transformative keynote, Ruby flips the script on traditional leadership thinking. Using the five core practices of the Ally Mindset™—Abundance & Generosity, Connection & Compassion, Courage & Vulnerability, Candor & Debate, and Action & Accountability—she reveals how to apply these behaviors inward, not just outward.

With vulnerable storytelling and interactive reflection, Ruby guides leaders to reconnect with themselves and build the emotional resilience needed to lead authentically and sustainably.

Because being a friend to others starts with showing up for yourself—first, fully, and unapologetically.

Based on the book You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!)

Ideal For Audiences Who Are:

  • High-performers who support everyone else—but rarely pause to support themselves
  • Navigating change, pressure, or burnout who need a mindset refresh (without the toxic positivity)
  • Ready to lead, live, and connect with greater authenticity—starting from the inside out
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Develop a renewed relationship with yourself: Learn to extend the same compassion and support to yourself that you give others.
  • Replace self-sabotage with Self-Leadership: Master tools to shift unhelpful habits into practices rooted in clarity, courage, and care.
  • Build a personal "Self-Ally" action plan: Support your energy, growth, and whole-person well-being—without burning out.
To Lead from Within - Book Ruby!
Eric's Signature Keynote
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Ally or Adversary

Choosing
Connection.

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The Simple Leadership Decision That Changes Everything

Small Actions, Big Impact: How to Bring Humanity Back to Work

Work doesn’t have to suck. But let’s face it—disengagement is rising, relationships are fraying, and too many people show up surrounded by colleagues… and still feel completely alone.

Even worse? A shocking 75% of employees say the most stressful part of their day is talking to their boss. Oof. Free snacks and foosball tables won’t fix that. But here’s the good news: you can.

The number one influencer of happiness, engagement, and productivity at work—and in life—is the quality and depth of your relationships. It’s all about connection.

In this engaging, vulnerable, and interactive keynote, executive coach and author Eric Spencer shares his personal rock-bottom moment—and the hard-earned lesson that friendship at work isn’t just nice to have, it’s mission-critical. Backed by research from You, Me, We and brought to life through stories, laughter, and real-time audience interaction, Eric shows how small, intentional relationship investments can transform culture and ignite team performance.

Eric offers a practical, human approach to building teams where people don’t just work together—they thrive together.

Based on the book You, Me, We. Why we all need a friend at work (and how to show up as one!)

Ideal For Audiences Who Are:

  • Wading through hybrid weirdness. Remote silence, siloed teams, and digital overload are eroding trust and slowing collaboration.
  • Feeling the slow creep of stress and “meh.” Low energy and rising disengagement are hurting morale—and performance.
  • Ready to rebuild real community. Because teams that connect deeply, deliver consistently—and stay longer.
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Discover the surprising power of workplace friendships: And why they’re not a “perk,” but a business and happiness imperative
  • Master the Ally Mindset™ framework: Understand the five practices that build deep, meaningful workplace relationships that weather any storm.
  • Create connection rituals that stick: Discover simple, budget-friendly practices that fundamentally shift how your team communicates and collaborates.
Yes, I Want Eric!

In addition to our signature keynotes, the following descriptions are our most frequently requested keynotes.
You pick the topic, the format, and the voice—we’ll bring the insight, energy, and British (or Colorado) charm.

Morag Barrett Keynote


The Four Yeses

Creating Connection One Relationship
at a Time

How to Foster Belonging in Today’s Hybrid Workplace

Hybrid work has left many teams feeling disconnected and disengaged. We all crave a sense of belonging—but too often we’re left wondering: Can I count on you? Can I depend on you? Do you care about me? Can I trust you? These are the Four Yeses that power every strong relationship.

In this interactive, story-rich keynote, your leaders will learn how to “go first” in building workplace friendships that spark loyalty, collaboration, and results. Participants won’t just hear about connection—they’ll practice it, watching new bonds form before the session ends.

Because when your team can answer “yes” to all four questions, performance and well-being rise together.

Based on the bestselling book You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up as One!)

Ideal for Audiences Who Are:

  • Feeling isolated in hybrid or remote setupsand missing everyday camaraderie
  • Seeing tension or disengagement erode trust and collaboration
  • Ready to rebuild real connection—one conversation, one “yes” at a time
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Recognize the Four Yeses. Understand the questions every teammate must answer to feel safe, valued, and committed
  • Increase self-awareness of leadership presence. Learn how your signals invite—or inhibit—belonging
  • Apply connection strategies in any setting. Leave with practical tools to deepen trust and collaboration across hybrid teams
Let's Say Yes!
Morag and Eric at WICT National

Relationship
Intelligence

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Your Leadership Multiplier

Based on the award-winning book Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships by Morag Barrett

Every leader has one: that colleague, client, or stakeholder who makes success harder than it needs to be. This keynote is your audience’s guide to turning workplace friction into forward momentum.

Your success isn’t powered by tasks and deliverables alone—it’s powered by people. Yet many leaders leave the health of their most critical relationships to chance, assuming trust, support, and alignment will just happen.

They don’t.

In times of change, uncertainty, and risk, relationships either rise or rupture. You can’t afford for key connections to wobble—or vanish. When it matters most, the real question is: Who has your back?

In this practical, research-informed keynote, your audience will explore Relationship Intelligence—the strategic skill of intentionally investing in the people who power their success. Through the lens of the Relationship Ecosystem™, they’ll learn how to assess and elevate their connections with clarity, purpose, and consistency.

Because in business, success is powered by relationships.

Ideal For:

  • Leaders managing high-stakes initiatives who are discovering the relationships they thought were solid... aren't
  • Executives navigating organizational change and realizing their influence stops at their title
  • Teams experiencing relationship friction that's slowing progress and creating unnecessary stress
  • Professionals ready to lead with intention rather than leaving critical relationships to chance
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Understand the true cost of neglected relationships. Explore how unspoken tension, misalignment, and trust gaps derail performance.
  • Apply the Relationship Ecosystem™ That Fortune 500 leaders use to map their most critical connections
  • Transform relationship friction into momentumwith concrete strategies to strengthen relationships that drive results
  • Includes: 9-Day Relationship Action Plan with pragmatic tools you can apply today.
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NEW Event Opener

From Small Talk
to Real Talk

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Creating Unforgettable Events Through Human Connection

Transform networking into genuine connections that spark collaboration

We show up for conferences hoping for fresh ideas, great speakers, and meaningful connections. But the moment we walk into the grand ballroom, all we can hear is Mom's voice whispering, "Stranger danger," and we wonder, "Is it too early to pretend I have urgent emails?"

So we play it safe: cling to our crew, hide behind our phones, or stick with that friendly coffee line buddy—anything to avoid the awkwardness of a real conversation.

This session flips that script.

In this fun, fast-paced, and highly interactive experience, participants learn to move beyond "So, what do you do?" into conversations that spark genuine connection—without all that forced networking cringe. Through smart, simple strategies, your audience will laugh, talk, and actually connect in ways that last long after the closing keynote.

Because what makes a conference unforgettable? It's not just the content-it's the connections.

Perfect For Events Where Attendees (and Event Organizers):

  • Tired of conference cliques. Ready to swap scrolling and small talk for real engagement
  • Hoping to turn strangers into collaborators. Wanting conversations that matter (minus the cringe)
  • Aiming for a memorable experience. Looking to host an event people remember because the connections stick
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Develop host mindset: Create inclusive, welcoming moments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued
  • Spark deeper conversations with confidence: Move beyond small talk into authentic exchanges—even with total strangers.
  • Embed post-event connection rituals: Turn new contacts into real relationships, not just forgotten name tags
Let's Kick Off with Connection
Resilience
A laptop with skyeteam attending a zoom meeting. On the screen is a Morag Barrett, Eric Spencer, Jose Acevedo, and Ruby Vesely


Contagious
Leadership

The Power of Emotional Intelligence

Because emotions are contagious—and so is your leadership.

As leaders, we bring the weather. Whether we realize it or not, our emotions travel with us from one conversation to the next—shaping trust, decision-making, and team performance. They don’t just affect the culture; they are the culture.

Being a great leader is easy when things are going well. But in moments of high stakes, uncertainty, or relentless change—when we need to be at our best—we often show up at our worst. In today’s back-to-back meeting culture, there’s no time to breathe, move, or reset. Emotions leak out in ways we never intended, and even seasoned leaders slip into reaction mode, leaving relationships scorched instead of strengthened.

But leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.

In this science-backed, story-filled keynote, you’ll discover how mastering emotional intelligence (EQ) transforms pressure moments into leadership opportunities. You’ll gain brain-based strategies delivered with signature humor and humanity—and walk away with clarity, connection, and resilience.

Because when you manage yourself well, you lead others better.

Ideal for Audiences Who Are:

  • Trying to lead with grace—even when the pressure’s high, the inbox is boiling, and emotions are running hot
  • Tired of unintentionally scorching relationships—and eager to strengthen them instead
  • Ready to stop reacting and start responding—with clarity, calm, and connection
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Audience Takeaways:

  • Understand the neuroscience of emotional contagion. Learn how emotions impact team, performance, and morale
  • Recognize pressure-triggered behavior patterns. Spot the leaders moves that build-or break-trust.
  • Stay emotionally clear under pressure. Walk away with practical tools to stay centered, connected, and self-aware-even on your hardest days.
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Our Keynote Speakers

and their downloadables

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Morag Barrett

Morag's Speaker Packet
Morag's Headshot
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Eric Spencer

Erc's Bio
Eric's Headshot
Ellipse 4 copy 2-min

Ruby Vesely

Ruby's Bio
Ruby's Headshot
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