Martha McSally Speaking Topics

• Be Unbreakable: The Leadership Edge in Uncertain Times

  Lead Yourself First with Courage. Adapt with Agility. Accelerate Growth.

  Leadership today moves faster than ever. The margin for error is thinner. Markets shift overnight. AI is reshaping industries in real time. Teams are navigating uncertainty, burnout, and constant change. Most leaders know what to do. The challenge is what happens under pressure. When the stakes rise, even strong leaders hesitate. They overanalyze. They default to safe. They react instead of lead. This is a self-leadership problem. Martha McSally learned hesitation has consequences during her time leading combat missions. Later, in Congress and the Senate, the pressure looked different, but the leadership stakes were just as real. Today, she works with CEOs and leadership teams navigating that same reality: high pressure, high visibility, and no room for hesitation.

  The Framework

  Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework, a practical system for leading yourself first:

  • Who Am I: Define who you are as a leader
  • Examine: Identify patterns that show up under pressure
  • Drop the Drag: Let go of what’s holding you back
  • Gaze: Get clear on where you’re leading
  • Execute: Take focused, aligned action

  What Audiences Walk Away With

  • Lead with clarity under pressure
  • Make faster, better decisions
  • Build trust and alignment across teams
  • Navigate uncertainty without losing momentum
  • Step into leadership instead of reacting

  Best For

  • Executive leadership teams
  • C-suite and senior leaders
  • Organizations navigating change or growth
  • Industry conferences focused on leadership

• Be Unbreakable: The Courage to Rise and Get Stronger from Life’s Hits

  Face Fear, Navigate Adversity, and Move Forward Stronger

  At some point, life hits everyone. A setback you didn’t see coming. A loss that changes everything. A moment that makes you question what comes next. Most people aren’t prepared for those moments. We’re taught to push through, distract ourselves, or wait for things to get better. But real resilience doesn’t come from avoiding difficulty. It comes from how you respond when things get hard. The difference isn’t talent or luck. It’s whether you’re willing to face reality and take the next step forward. Martha McSally’s life has been shaped by moments that could have stopped her. She lost her father at a young age. She survived abuse and assault. She fought for nearly a decade to become a fighter pilot when the law said she couldn’t. She didn’t avoid those moments. She moved through them. And those experiences shaped how she leads and what she teaches today.

  The Framework

  Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework, a practical approach for navigating adversity and building real resilience:

  • Who Am I: Anchor yourself in who you are
  • Examine: Understand your reactions and patterns
  • Drop the Drag: Let go of fear and limiting beliefs
  • Gaze: Focus forward with clarity and intention
  • Execute: Take action, even when the path isn’t fully clear

  What Audiences Walk Away With

  • A stronger, more grounded mindset
  • Greater clarity in the face of adversity
  • Tools for navigating fear and uncertainty
  • The confidence to take the next step forward
  • A practical way to keep moving, even when things are hard

  Best For

  • Leadership conferences
  • Women’s leadership audiences
  • Military and veteran communities
  • Organizations navigating change
  • Personal development events

• Be Unbreakable The High-Trust Team Advantage

  Build Teams That Communicate Clearly, Move Fast, and Deliver Under Pressure

  Teams don’t break when things are easy. They break under pressure. Deadlines tighten. Priorities shift. Information is incomplete. And the small cracks start to show. Communication breaks down. People protect their turf. Decisions slow down because trust isn’t there. On paper, the team may look strong. But talent alone doesn’t create execution. Trust does. Martha McSally learned this flying combat missions and leading as a squadron commander, where communication had to be clear, decisions had to be fast, and trust had to be absolute. If trust broke down, the mission was at risk. Those same dynamics show up in organizations every day.

  The Framework

  Martha introduces the WEDGE Framework, a practical approach for building high-trust, high-performance teams:

  • Who Am I: Understand how individual leadership impacts the team
  • Examine: Identify behaviors that strengthen or weaken trust
  • Drop the Drag: Remove friction, silos, and hidden tension
  • Gaze: Align around mission, priorities, and direction
  • Execute: Move forward with accountability and clarity

  What Audiences Walk Away With

  • Stronger trust across teams
  • Clearer, more direct communication
  • Better alignment around priorities
  • Increased accountability at every level
  • Faster, more confident execution

  Best For

  • Cross-functional teams
  • Leadership offsites
  • Organizations rebuilding trust or culture
  • Teams navigating growth or transition

• Soar Like a Top-Gun Pilot: Leadership Lessons

  Inspirational | Motivational | Actionable

  Does your audience need inspiration, motivation, and actionable takeaways to push through adversity, overcome fear, and kick productivity into afterburner? Colonel Martha McSally has proven she has the right stuff to survive and excel in high-pressure, high-risk, high-stakes environments.

  In today’s world of uncertainty and constant challenges, setbacks are inevitable. When your team needs motivation and practical tools to push through obstacles with innovation and resilience, Martha McSally is the leader to guide them. As the first American woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, she knows firsthand how to persevere, excel, and inspire others to succeed—even in the toughest circumstances.

  A Bronze Star recipient and pioneer in aviation, Colonel McSally brings unparalleled experience leading men and women in combat, thriving in adversity, and navigating complex, high-stakes operations. Beyond her military career, she’s also an endurance athlete, mountain climber, and survivor who overcame personal tragedy and trauma with strength and determination.

  With a life filled with triumphs, setbacks, and powerful lessons, McSally authentically inspires audiences while equipping them with actionable strategies to thrive. She shares how vulnerability, courage, and resilience are the keys to pushing beyond limits and soaring to your full potential.

  What to Expect:

  Colonel McSally will have your audience on the edge of their seats, feeling like they’re in the cockpit of the A-10 “Warthog” on a complex combat mission. Through humor, transparency, and gripping storytelling, she connects with each attendee’s personal challenges and provides a realistic yet optimistic flight plan for success—both professionally and personally.

  Audiences Will Learn:

  • How to face fear head-on and turn setbacks into fuel for growth The leadership principles needed to thrive in high-pressure environments
  • Strategies for building resilience and staying mission-focused in times of uncertainty
  • How to create routines and decisions that align with core values and drive success
  • The power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership and life

• How to Overcome Adversity and Adapt to Reach the Next Level

  Inspiration | Peak Performance | Leadership & Agility

  In a highly competitive world, overcoming adversity and adapting quickly are essential for success. Greatness comes from learning that nothing can stop you. When you can move through obstacles with confidence and resilience, success becomes inevitable. It’s the role of leaders to teach, push, and empower their teams to reach this mindset and perform at their highest potential.

  Today’s fast-moving business landscape—marked by constant change, technological advancements, and global disruptions—can feel like modern-day warfare. Imagine unlocking combat-proven strategies to systematically take risks, adapt, and thrive. Colonel Martha McSally, the first woman in U.S. history to command a fighter squadron in combat, knows exactly how to lead under fire.

  As a decorated combat leader awarded the Bronze Star, Colonel McSally commanded 24 A-10 attack aircraft and hundreds of personnel. She was responsible for $500 million in assets and deployed her squadron worldwide with just 24-hours’ notice. Under her leadership, her squadron earned the prestigious David C. Shilling Award for the best contribution to national defense.

  Fighter pilots are trained to assess risks, adapt in real time, and execute with precision in dangerous environments—skills that apply directly to business and leadership. In this gripping and practical keynote, Colonel McSally shares battle-tested peak performance and risk-management strategies that will help your teams innovate, collaborate, and execute with agility and confidence.

  To thrive in today’s ever-changing world, teams must adopt an agility mindset. When you’re light on your feet, leaning forward, and ready to adapt, challenges become opportunities for exponential growth. McSally’s step-by-step approach helps your team develop this mindset, beat the competition, and soar to new heights of performance.

  From leading initial air operations in Afghanistan after 9/11 to setting up the U.S. Africa Command from scratch—overseeing counterterrorism, disaster relief, and large-scale operations—McSally’s expertise in strategic planning, process improvement, and leadership under pressure makes her uniquely qualified to inspire and equip teams for peak performance.

  If you’re seeking a speaker who can inspire and practically equip your team for success in a turbulent world, book Colonel McSally now.

  Audiences Will Learn:

  • Combat-tested risk management and decision-making strategies for high-pressure environments
  • How to develop an agility mindset to stay competitive and adaptable in a fast-changing world
  • Leadership lessons on motivating and empowering teams to achieve peak performance
  • Innovative approaches to overcoming challenges and turning setbacks into opportunities
  • Step-by-step tools to improve collaboration, strategic planning, and execution under pressure

• IAM…How to Soar as Your Best Self

  Inspiration | Personal Growth | Authentic Leadership

  In this powerful and deeply moving keynote, Colonel Martha McSally takes the audience on a transformative journey to discover their true identity—unlocking a life of authenticity, connection, and freedom in both their personal and professional lives. This keynote will have your teams inspired, energized, and ready to take off and take on the world.

  “Who are you?” How you answer that question defines your core identity and shapes your decision-making, priorities, and overall life satisfaction. For many, the answer is tied to job titles, academic degrees, or roles in life (mother, father, executive, veteran). While these roles are important, they don’t define who you truly are.

  When those roles are stripped away, it can leave us feeling lost or unsure of ourselves. Often, we mistakenly attach our identity to painful life experiences (I AM a victim, survivor, divorcee) or emotions (I AM anxious, I AM depressed), but those are experiences and feelings—not who we are.

  Martha draws from her own journey of personal growth and healing, sharing how she initially attached her identity to external roles, titles, and traumatic experiences. She opens up about the courageous steps she took to shed false identities and reconnect with her true self. Now, she coaches others through a step-by-step process to break free from limiting beliefs and thrive as their authentic selves.

  In this keynote, Martha combines powerful storytelling, life-changing insights, and interactive audience engagement—including hands-on worksheets and exercises—to guide participants in reconnecting with who they truly are. This clarity empowers them to show up and perform in their “Zone of Genius” at work while making life decisions that align with their core identity.

  Audiences Will Learn:

  • How to strip away limiting beliefs, false identities, and labels to connect with their true selves
  • Practical steps to thrive authentically in both life and work
  • The connection between identity and decision-making in leadership and personal growth
  • How to develop resilience and self-awareness to lead with greater confidence and impact
  • Techniques to cultivate alignment and clarity for better performance and life satisfaction

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