Author of "Leading with Purpose: How to Engage, Empower & Encourage Your People to Reach Their Full Potential"; Former Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and Elite Leadership Expert, Leading in Disruptive Environments and Veteran

San Diego, CA, USA

Marc Koehler Biography

Marc Koehler, Marc Koehler is a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer, Best Selling Leadership Author, 35+ Year Sought-After Elite Leadership Expert and Founder of the Leadership Development and Research Firm Lead With Purpose.

Marc Koehler uses his expertise and ability to engage, along with 35 years of battle-tested, proven experience to curate Elite Leadership. He evangelizes that what the world needs is not more management systems – it needs more leadership. Marc’s experience in both the nuclear submariner service, including receiving two Battle E’s over the course of his career, as well as the business world has led him to become one of the foremost experts on Elite Leadership – a needed, relevant, and achievable approach to leadership for this new, disruptive world. His leadership development and research firm, Lead With Purpose, has developed over 51,000 leaders through the company’s SHRM-accredited organizational leadership consulting, coaching, courses, and simple systems.

Koehler is a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO, is a rare blend of expertise, engagement, and 35 years of battle-tested, proven experience in Elite Leadership, evangelizing that what the world needs is not more management systems – it needs more leadership.

After leaving the Navy, Koehler worked for Honeywell where he learned how to read a profit and loss statement, put together comprehensive strategic plans, and became a master black belt in Lean Six Sigma. When his daughters were 6, 4, and 2, he could either climb the corporate ladder or be at every back-to-school night, choir performance, and soccer practice. He chose the latter and started a turnaround consulting firm. He developed a reputation as someone who could tackle the worst business situations after leading many companies back to profitability from being on the precipice of going under.

During this time, Koehler witnessed the power of the human spirit and realized that a new approach to leadership is needed – not more management systems. He founded Lead With Purpose, a leadership development and research firm, where he took the over $1M in leadership training the Navy poured into him, in combination with his civilian turnaround experience, and distilled it into simple concepts and skills to create leaders at every level of an organization. Over 51,000 leaders have been developed through Lead With Purpose’s SHRM-accredited organizational leadership consulting, coaching, courses, and simple systems.

Koehler’s experience in both the nuclear submariner service, including receiving two Battle E’s over the course of his career, as well as the business world has led him to become one of the foremost experts on Elite Leadership – a needed, relevant, and achievable approach to leadership for this new, disruptive world.

Koehler is a keynote speaker addressing audiences of up to 50,000, the best-selling author of Leading With Purpose, and the host of the Surfacing Leaders podcast where he tells the stories of leaders in unlikely places and the human spirit that drives us all.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 01/21/2025.

Marc Koehler Speaking Topics

  • Course Correct to Success: Cultivating Agility within Your Leadership Team

    Keynote Description:

    Picture this: a workforce fully connected to the mission, brimming with engagement, and eager to seize responsibility and make crucial decisions. This ideal scenario hinges on enabling every individual, irrespective of rank, to step up and take well-informed shots. In today's landscape, the triumph belongs to the teams that consistently make the smartest decisions at breakneck speed. Marc Koehler advocates for leadership where every team member is empowered to do just that—nurturing a culture that thrives on agility. In the relentless and ever-shifting landscape of today's business world, the capacity to navigate uncertainty, make well-informed choices and pivot with precision stands as the cornerstone of triumphant leadership. Join Marc for a journey through the intricacies of rapid decision-making in Course Correct to Success: Cultivating Agility within Your Leadership Team. Drawing upon his 35 years of hands-on expertise, he unveils a transformative blueprint that empowers leaders across all tiers to steer their teams toward unparalleled victory.

    Keynote Result:

    Equip your leadership team with the tools and confidence to cultivate agility and excel in decision-making, fostering a culture of adaptability and success within your organization.

    Keynote Takeaways:

    • Agile Decision-Making Empowers Success: In today's dynamic business landscape, agility and fast decision-making are paramount for success. Leaders who can navigate ambiguity, make informed choices, and pivot swiftly are best equipped to guide their teams toward victory.

    • Decentralized Decision-Making Amplifies Impact: Contrasting the results of pushing decision-making down the organizational hierarchy, the audience will understand that when decision authority is distributed, teams make more, smart decisions, paving the way for increased adaptability, responsiveness, and overall success.

    • Overcoming Decision Fatigue and Choice Overload: Modern leadership wrestles with the challenges of decision fatigue and choice overload, as we're bombarded with data and complex choices. Embracing the 40-70 principle encourages a shift in mindset, allowing leaders and teams to make informed decisions even when faced with uncertainty.

    • Leveraging Technology for Agility: Just as submarines use technology to decipher a cacophony of sounds, modern leaders can leverage technology to align teams, communicate objectives, and foster a culture of shared purpose. Simple Systems like Fast Attack serve as invaluable tools for keeping everyone connected, informed, and focused on their goals.

    • Embracing Ambiguity and Taking the Shot: By accepting that initial decisions are not final and adopting a continuous course correction approach, organizations can foster a culture of bold decision-making, encouraging each team member to 'take the shot' and contribute to the organization's success.

  • Lead With Purpose: The 3-Step Process to Communicating and Connecting Your Employees to Your Company’s Inspiring Story and Mission

    Keynote Description:

    Research is showing us that 95% of employees don’t how what they do connects to making a difference in the world, eroding employee engagement, productivity, and retention. In Marc Koehler’s keynote Lead With Purpose, he presents The 3-Step Process to Communicating and Connecting Employees to Your Company’s Inspiring Story. He shares his transition from the U.S. Navy to the corporate world, where he learned the intricacies of big business tools and strategies. However, his early experiences as an interim CEO revealed a startling truth: despite having complex management systems, most employees lacked a genuine connection to their company's mission and purpose. This realization ignited Marc's pursuit of a new approach that would create engaged, empowered, and encouraged teams: an E3 Culture powered by purpose. By using images, code words, and a clear narrative derived from the Silent Service, leaders can empower their teams to understand not only their individual roles but also their collective impact on the company's long-term success. Consider this the new Start With Why for this generation.

    Keynote Result:

    Implement a brand purpose for today’s disruptive environment to boost your team’s productivity and performance.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Understanding the Importance of Purpose: The audience will comprehend the critical role of purpose-driven leadership in today's disruptive environment, recognizing how it goes beyond traditional management systems to create engaged, motivated, and high-performing teams.

    • Exploring the Fast Attack Framework: Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of the Fast Attack framework. They will grasp how each step contributes to fostering employee engagement and alignment.

    • Simplifying Complex Concepts: the audience will learn effective strategies to distill complex organizational concepts into simple, memorable formats. Through real-world examples and practical tips, they will discover how to communicate the company's mission, values, and vision in ways that resonate with every team member.

    • Measuring and Addressing Disengagement: Attendees will acquire the skills to identify signs of employee disengagement, and understand its implications for productivity and performance. They will learn how to calculate the financial impact of disengagement and develop strategies to mitigate it.

    • Applying Purpose-Driven Leadership: the audience will be equipped with actionable steps to implement purpose-driven leadership within their own organizations. By examining case studies and success stories, they will leave with practical insights on leveraging the Fast Attack framework to enhance communication, build a stronger team culture, and drive tangible results.

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Marc Koehler Videos

Marc Koehler Speaker Reel 2025

Marc Koehler Speaker Reel 2025

Safety From The Silent Depths

Safety From The Silent Depths

  • How do I book Marc Koehler to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Marc Koehler 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 Marc Koehler, 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 Marc Koehler or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Marc Koehler

    Speaking fees for Marc Koehler, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Marc Koehler are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Marc Koehler, 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 Marc Koehler speak about?

    Marc Koehler is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Business, Business Leadership, Executive Leadership, Human Resources, Leadership, Military, Motivational, Navy, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Veterans
  • Where does Marc Koehler travel from?

    Marc Koehler generally travels from San Diego, CA, 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 Marc Koehler’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Marc Koehler 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 Marc Koehler for your next private or corporate function.
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Marc Koehler is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Course Correct to Success: Cultivating Agility within Your Leadership Team, Lead With Purpose: The 3-Step Process to Communicating and Connecting Your Employees to Your Company’s Inspiring Story and Mission, The Elite Leader: The Principles to Develop You and Your Team to the Highest Level of Leadership, Battle E: The Art of Personal and Collective Readiness at your Organization and Fast Attack Leadership: The 5 Step Framework US Nuclear Submarine Officers Use To Create World-Class Teams. The estimated speaking fee range to book Marc Koehler for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Marc Koehler generally travels from San Diego, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robert Pizzini, Lonnie Bedwell, Johnny Elsasser, Jacob Werksman and John Vyhlidal. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Marc Koehler for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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