Hall of Fame Leadership Development Expert & PhD Economist; Retired Navy Commander; Author of "Leadership Is Tough"

Colorado, USA

Mary Kelly Biography

Dr. Mary C. Kelly is a Hall of Fame leadership speaker, PhD economist, retired Navy Commander, and author of 22 books, including 'Leadership is Tough: What Great Leaders Do Differently."

A high-energy keynote speaker, Kelly focuses on using research, systems, and her military experience to show professionals how to excel. Kelly’s relatable, no-nonsense approach inspires audiences to embrace their roles, surpass their goals, and plan for the future.

Kelly speaks to 100+ organizations a year, and has worked with organizations such as the National Association of REALTORS, HealthOne, the U.S. Air Force, LPL Financial, and hundreds more.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/04/2026.

Mary Kelly Speaking Topics

  • Navigating Turbulence: Leadership For Guiding Teams Through Crisis, Challenge, and Change

    “Navigating Turbulence” equips leaders with the skills, strategies, and resilience needed to steer their teams through times of crisis, overcome challenges, and embrace change.

    Strategic Leadership During Crisis

    • Refine the art of strategic decision-making under pressure.
    • Develop crisis communication skills that inspire confidence and maintain team morale.
    • Understand successful crisis management across various industries.

    Build Resilient and Happy Teams During Challenges

    • Recognize the psychological dynamics of resilience and its impact on team performance.
    • Foster a culture of adaptability and innovation within your team.
    • Implement strategies to bolster individual and collective resilience.
    • See what happy workplaces are doing right and adapt those techniques.

    Embrace Change Management

    • Master the principles of effective change leadership.
    • Use Mary’s toolkit for leading teams through organizational transitions.
    • Gain insights into how to manage resistance.

    Using the acronym, P.I.V.O.T. leaders reinvigorate their teams with a sense of purpose; they are prepared to inspire and influence others every day, they assess volatile situations in the right way, they see opportunities when others see only problems, and make sure their teams have the tools, techniques, training, and tactics they need to succeed.

    This program is for executives, managers, and leaders across industries committed to enhancing their leadership skills and guiding their teams through the complexities of crisis, challenge, and change.

  • *P.I.V.O.T.: How to Lead Teams through Crisis, Challenge, and Change

    Do your people understand the six stages of a crisis?

    Do your leaders recognize the stage their people are in and do they react appropriately?

    Are your leaders leading, or just hoping for the right outcomes?

    • Understand the six stages of any change, challenge, or crisis.
    • Implement the five ways to P.I.V.O.T. through the crisis.
    • Use the seven leadership reminders to lead out of a crisis.

    In order to successfully lead people through and out of a crisis, first, we have to understand the 6 stages of the crisis. Based on her Navy experiences during the first and second Gulf Wars and 9-11, Commander Mary Kelly articulates the reactions of people in various stages of change, challenge, or crisis.

    As effective leaders, we have to be able to help our people P.I.V.O.T. through the crisis, by renewing their sense of purpose, influencing and inspiring others to take the right action, assessing the volatility levels, seeing the opportunities, providing the right tools, techniques, and technology that allow people to succeed. Then we can apply Mary’s seven leadership reminders, using the acronym C.L.A.M.P.E.R. so that we are providing the right response to the right people at the right time to achieve the right outcomes.

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Mary Kelly Videos

Mary Kelly - Top Secret Leadership - Leadership Keynote Speaker

Mary Kelly - Top Secret Leadership - Leadership Keynote Speaker

Unlock the Secrets of Exceptional Leadership with Mary Kelly! Dive into the world of transformative leadership with Mary Kelly's insightful...

Leading Through Crisis, Challenge, and Change with Mary Kelly, PhD, BF

Leading Through Crisis, Challenge, and Change with Mary Kelly, PhD, BF

Crises are all around us. Leaders, managers, and business owners need tangible tools, techniques, and tactics to effectively lead themselves and...

Dr. Mary Kelly's Virtual Programs, Virtual Events, and Virtual Summits

Dr. Mary Kelly's Virtual Programs, Virtual Events, and Virtual Summits

We need to stay positive, motivated, focused, and forward-thinking. This is especially difficult during uncertain times. We can continue to...

  • How do I book Mary Kelly to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mary Kelly for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Mary Kelly, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Mary Kelly or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Mary Kelly

    Speaking fees for Mary Kelly, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mary Kelly are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mary Kelly, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Mary Kelly speak about?

  • Where does Mary Kelly travel from?

    Mary Kelly generally travels from Colorado, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Mary Kelly’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Mary Kelly for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mary Kelly for your next private or corporate function.
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Mary Kelly is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Navigating Turbulence: Leadership For Guiding Teams Through Crisis, Challenge, and Change, *P.I.V.O.T.: How to Lead Teams through Crisis, Challenge, and Change, Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy, Why Leaders Fail and the 7 Prescriptions for Success, Futurenomics: The Economic Snapshot You Need to See Today and Master Your World: Unleashing Leaders’ Productivity for Maximum Profits, Peak Efficiency, and Superior Communication. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mary Kelly for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Mary Kelly generally travels from CO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Libby Gill, Karen Baetzel, Dr. Jackie Freiberg, Shoshana Johnson and Todd Buchholz. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mary Kelly for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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