Gregg Ward

Gregg Ward never planned to become one of the country’s most sought-after keynote speakers on leadership, respect, and personal growth. His journey began far from corporate boardrooms—on the stages of New York, immersed in acting, writing, and directing. A single phone call changed everything: an invitation to help pioneer a revolutionary training program for the NYPD using live interactive theater and improvisation. That moment didn’t just alter the course of Ward’s life—it set the stage for a lifelong mission.

Today, Ward is an electrifying keynote speaker, bestselling and award-winning author, and respected executive coach who has delivered over 2,500 programs around the world. His message is as clear as it is urgent: self-respect and respectful leadership aren't optional—they're the foundation of lasting personal and organizational transformation.

The son of legendary sportswriter Gene Ward, Gregg grew up inspired by icons like Joe Namath, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, and Muhammad Ali. These legends didn’t just teach him about the power of the game—they modeled resilience, respect, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. It’s no surprise that these values are now woven into every keynote Ward delivers.

Whether he's speaking to Fortune 500 executives or frontline leaders, Ward’s style is interactive, vulnerable, and unforgettable. In his popular TEDx talk, "Confessions of an Accidental Killer," he shares a deeply personal story of regret and redemption that led him to uncover the most powerful tool in any leader’s toolkit: self-respect. That life-altering experience became the foundation for his keynote, "Stop Holding Yourself Back"—a call to action for anyone who knows they were meant for more but feels stuck by fear, doubt, or past mistakes.

Ward is also the author of the bestselling business fable "The Respectful Leader," named a Best Book of the Month by Amazon and honored with a Gold Medal by the prestigious Axiom Business Book Awards competition. He has worked with powerhouse organizations like ADP, Booz Allen Hamilton, Ford, Harley-Davidson, Intel, Qualcomm, Kaiser Permanente, Warner Bros. Studios, and the U.S. Navy, helping their leaders move away from outdated, fear-based leadership models to inclusive, empowering, psychologically safe cultures where people thrive.

A piece of the Berlin Wall—retrieved during his time as a journalist covering its fall—often appears on stage with him as a reminder: transformation is possible. Walls can come down. Lives and cultures can change. Ward doesn’t just speak—he sparks breakthroughs. A keynote speaker who blends powerful storytelling with proven strategies, who challenges and uplifts in equal measure, and who leaves audiences inspired to take action, Ward is the voice your event has been waiting for.