John “Gucci” Foley

A Culture of Excellence

The Blue Angels exemplify the pinnacle of excellence. They are a team of the top 0.01% of US military pilots. But excellent individuals don’t make an excellent team. The success of the Blue Angels is driven by their culture. And what if that legendary Blue Angels Culture of Excellence could be replicated and scaled?

John “Gucci” Foley is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, philanthropist, and top-rated keynote speaker. John inspires audiences to take action and rethink what they believe is possible. He has spoken to some of the top organizations such as Microsoft, Cisco, Merrill Lynch, IBM, and Coca-Cola.

John Foley is available to be booked for corporate and private events. He is also well-known for his keynote and motivational speaking. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about John Foley’s fees.

Want to book John “Gucci” Foley for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-995-0905 to book John “Gucci” Foley for a keynote speech, corporate event, leadership program, workshop, fireside chat, virtual appearance, or other private or professional event.

Our team will help confirm John “Gucci” Foley’s availability, speaking fee, travel requirements, and fit for your audience. To start the booking process, please share your event date, location, audience size, event format, and the type of presentation you are looking for.

The Mollie Plotkin Group is a full-service keynote speaker agency and entertainment bureau that helps organizations secure keynote speakers, entertainers, athletes, celebrities, and thought leaders for corporate meetings, conferences, fundraisers, and special events.

A World-Class Pilot

John “Gucci” Foley was named a “Top Ten Carrier Pilot” six times before leaving his mark as a Marine Instructor pilot and then Lead Solo pilot of the Blue Angels. His expertise even extended to the silver screen where he piloted jets in the iconic film Top Gun.

An expert in the “How?” that drives high-performance teams, “The Guru of Gratitude” will both inspire your audience and leave them with transformational takeaways.

As a Blue Angel, John learned to consistently perform in an extreme, high-stakes environment. Flying at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour in formations as close as 18 inches apart is a near-impossible task. To survive, he relied on a culture of high trust, leadership, and teamwork.

John employs the intense realities of his aviation career as a metaphor to inspire and breathe life into teams. John Foley’s presentations are highlighted by:

• An energizing delivery that inspires high performance with a grateful mindset.
• Awe-inspiring storytelling and electrifying video of the legendary Blue Angels in action.
• A contagious attitude of gratitude that he calls Glad To Be Here®.
• A unique approach that equips others to take the same journey toward excellence, teamwork, and transformation.

Hire John Foley

After completing his service in the Navy, John studied at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Naval War College, earning multiple degrees and seamlessly integrating the invaluable lessons learned from the Blue Angels into the business realm, he has become a trusted advisor to global business leaders, impacting organizations worldwide.

Since 2015, John has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Most In-Demand Speakers. He has spoken to organizations such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, BMW, Mercedes Benz, General Electric, Bank of America, IBM, Coca-Cola, and countless others. Through his signature “Glad To Be Here®” mindset and immersive keynotes, John inspires leaders to push past limits, embrace a culture of trust, and turn elite performance into everyday results.

Philanthropic Endeavors

In addition to his keynote speaking, John founded the Glad To Be Here Foundation in 2011. He donates 10% of his speaking fees to charities through the foundation. To date, the program has donated over $2.5 million to 455+ charities and impacted thousands of lives globally across 57 countries. Above all, this philanthropy is part of John’s mission to connect a shared “purpose larger than self” with every organization he speaks with.

To hire John “Gucci” Foley for an event, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with the proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. John “Gucci” Foley is available for corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, private events, workshops, fireside chats and virtual programs.

After receiving your request, a Mollie Plotkin Group booking agent will review John “Gucci” Foley’s availability, discuss the event details and get back to you within 48 hours with next steps for securing John “Gucci” Foley for your program.

The cost to book John “Gucci” Foley depends on the event date, location, format, audience size and scope of the appearance. John “Gucci” Foley’s speaking fee ranges from $63,000 to $73,000, while virtual programs typically start at $25,000. Speaking fees may vary for keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events, corporate meetings and virtual programs.

For the most accurate John “Gucci” Foley booking fee, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with your event details. Our team will help confirm availability, pricing and the best format for your event.

Elevating Mindset

John “Gucci” Foley’s keynote, Elevating Mindset, directly addresses the challenges many face in today’s fast-paced environment—stress, disconnection, and a lack of engagement.

Through his Glad to Be Here philosophy, John offers a compelling solution beyond mere positivity, diving into gratitude as a form of self-accountability and ownership, even when facing adversity. It’s about acknowledging mistakes, committing to improvement, and fostering a supportive team environment.

This approach builds a resilient culture where gratitude is a catalyst for growth, collaboration, and the betterment of the team as a whole, offering a profound way to strengthen bonds and drive collective success.

Audience will leave empowered with:

• Techniques to strengthen team bonds through shared gratitude practices.
• Ways to encourage vulnerability, spur openness, and enhance trust within teams.
• A blueprint for creating a positive, gratitude-infused organizational culture, leading to increased engagement and productivity.
• Strategies for maintaining a grateful outlook even in challenging situations, fostering resilience and positive change
• Understanding of gratitude’s neuroscience and its benefits.
• Insights on how gratitude fosters a culture of self-accountability and leadership.

Creating A Culture of Excellence

John’s Creating a Culture of Excellence keynote transcends the conventional, and channels his elite Blue Angels experience into a beacon of transformation for teams and leaders.

This session isn’t just about listening; it’s an immersive journey into reshaping how we perceive challenges and opportunities, marked by actionable insights for breakthrough growth. Attendees will emerge with a vibrant toolkit for personal and collective innovation, ready to navigate the complexities of their industries with newfound resilience and creativity.

Perfect for forward-thinking leaders, dynamic teams, and organizations poised for transformative success, this keynote promises to be a pivotal moment of inspiration and strategic empowerment.

Audience will leave empowered with:

• The ability to foster a culture of creativity and innovation.
• Enhanced team collaboration and communication skills.
• A toolkit for driving personal and organizational growth.
• New perspectives on change and innovation.
• How to shift from limiting to empowering beliefs.
• Insights on leveraging gratitude within teams.
• Actionable steps to elevate belief levels for peak performance.

High Trust, High Execution

High Trust, High Execution delves into the critical role trust and clear communication play in achieving peak performance, especially under pressure. Drawing from his experiences with the Blue Angels, John illustrates how deep trust and precise communication enable teams to operate with extraordinary precision and reliability.

This session offers a roadmap for cultivating an environment where trust is the foundation. After this keynote, you will empower individuals and teams to execute their tasks flawlessly, even in high-stakes situations, and drive unparalleled success and cohesion in your organization.

While ideal for leaders, managers, and teams across all sectors looking to enhance their performance in high-stakes environments, this keynote is particularly valuable for organizations striving to improve teamwork, communication, and trust within their ranks, ensuring every member operates at their peak with confidence and precision.

Audience will leave empowered with:

• A deeper understanding of the role of trust in achieving high performance.
• Tools for fostering a cohesive, supportive team environment.
• Practical steps for applying Blue Angels’ principles to drive success and teamwork in any organization.
• Strategies for building unshakeable trust within teams.
• Techniques for enhancing clear, precise communication.
• Insights into performing with precision in high-pressure situations.

Inspiring Leadership

What is the core of dynamic leadership? How can leaders inspire action and foster an environment of growth and innovation? This presentation guides leaders in creating a transformative impact.

By emphasizing the power of inspiration to motivate and drive progress, commitment to continuous improvement for achieving excellence, and mastering the art of empowering others to unlock their full potential, your organization’s leaders can drive transformative growth.

The keynote offers practical insights into cultivating a leadership style that not only achieves

goals but also inspires your team to rise and meet their highest potential. This presentation is ideal for leaders, managers, and anyone aspiring to make a significant impact through dynamic leadership.

Audience will leave empowered with:

• Insights into the essence of dynamic leadership.
• Practical strategies for fostering inspiration within teams.
• Techniques for continuous personal and professional growth.
• An understanding of effective communication and influence.
• Tools for building resilience and adaptability.
• Methods for creating a positive, impactful leadership legacy.

Mastering Teamwork

John ‘Gucci’ Foley’s Mastering Teamwork keynote is ideal for teams aiming for high performance. This session offers tools for seamless cooperation and a profound understanding of what it takes to achieve excellence collectively.

John dives deep into the Blue Angels’ centerpoint strategy for supreme team alignment and decision-making which enhances collaboration across all teamwork aspects.

John explores moments that tested the Blue Angels’ limits, weaving riveting cliffhangers with stories that demonstrate the resilience and transformative growth that emerges from facing the unknown together.

Audience will leave empowered with:

• Insights into the Blue Angels’ strategies for peak team alignment and decision-making.
• Techniques for enhancing trust and collaboration within their teams.
• Practical tools for adapting to and overcoming unexpected challenges collectively.
• Methods for fostering a high-performance team culture focused on mutual support and excellence.
• Understanding of how to leverage individual strengths for team success.
• Strategies for maintaining composure and clarity under pressure, ensuring effective teamwork in any situation.

Embracing Change with Innovation

This engaging keynote offers a roadmap for leveraging unforeseen challenges as opportunities for transformative growth, making it a vital resource for leaders and teams committed to excellence in an ever-evolving marketplace.

John “Gucci” Foley combines gripping tales from his Blue Angels experience with practical insights for thriving in today’s dynamic landscape.

He illustrates how adaptability, collaboration, and a unified response to challenges can drive innovation and success. John emphasizes the importance of building a resilient culture that leverages these principles to foster growth, enhance competitive edge, and navigate the complexities of change.

Audience will leave empowered with:

• Insights into the Blue Angels’ adaptability and teamwork strategies.
• Techniques for turning challenges into opportunities for innovation.
• Principles for maintaining high performance in changing environments.
• Strategies for fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
• Methods for enhancing resilience and competitive edge in business.
• Tools for transformative growth and achieving excellence through unity.