Marc Koehler

Marc Koehler, a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO, is a rare blend of expertise, engagement, and 35 years of battle-tested experience leading teams in environments defined by pressure, uncertainty, and constant change.

He captivates audiences with an approachable style and side-stitching humor while delivering hard-earned leadership lessons drawn from operating a nuclear submarine under pressure and guiding organizations through complex business turnarounds where alignment and execution are critical. Koehler blends declassified submarine stories and corporate transformation experience with case studies and research-backed insights into every keynote he delivers.

On stage, he shifts mindsets by helping audiences understand that regardless of title or role, every team member is a leader and must be ready to step forward and lead when conditions change quickly and decisions must be made under pressure.

Koehler is the founder of the leadership development and research firm Lead With Purpose, where he distilled more than $1M in Navy leadership training into simple systems that create leaders at every level of an organization. More than 51,000 leaders have been developed through Lead With Purpose’s SHRM-accredited consulting, coaching, courses, and tools.

He is the bestselling author of "Leading With Purpose" and the host of the Surfacing Leaders podcast. Koehler lives in Oceanside, California with his wife Heidi of 30 years and is the proud father of their three grown daughters, Anja, Liesel, and Sophie.