Feb 02 - 04 2025
AK Ikwuakor is a Google Master Faculty Trainer and founder of LeadLyft whose keynotes focus on motivation, unlocking your full potential, and sustainable work-life balance.
You would be hard-pressed to find another resume like AK Ikwuakor’s. AK is a Google Master Faculty Trainer, former Top 10 world-ranked athlete, internationally known philanthropist and sports diplomat, entrepreneur, and high-performance executive coach. AK is also well-known for his keynote and motivational speaking. He speaks on motivation, sales techniques, self-discovery, storytelling, unlocking your full potential, creating exponential business growth, and more. AK Ikwuakor is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about AK Ikwuakor’s fees.
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-510-6607 to book AK Ikwuakor for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.
The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field, so whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting, or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.
AK Ikwuakor wasn’t the kid anyone expected to succeed. He was quiet, unsure of his place, and often underestimated. He struggled in school and believed he wouldn’t amount to anything during his lifetime.
Then, one person made a difference – Coach Bishop.
Coach Bishop saw potential in AK that he didn’t see in himself. That belief sparked a monumental change in AK’s life.
With his encouragement, AK earned a scholarship to run track at the University of Oregon, one of the country’s top programs. He became a four-time All-American and learned invaluable lessons about habits, discipline, and community.
More importantly, he discovered that performance isn’t just about talent. It’s about consistency, structure, and support.
AK competed on the European track circuit and later coached track in Long Beach, California. There, he witnessed firsthand how belief and accountability could help kids labeled as “failures” surpass expectations and set records.
His journey continued at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he supported students and faculty through mentorship and leadership programs. Later, he founded an NGO focused on sports diplomacy, partnering with the U.S. State Department to promote peace through athletics.
He also worked with Dear World, helping people craft and share their personal stories. This experience reinforced a powerful truth: storytelling can unlock potential—in both business and life.
Despite these accomplishments, a consistent challenge stood out:
No matter the industry—athletes, students, or executives—people were battling burnout and balancing work with their personal lives.
This reality became even clearer during AK’s time as an executive coach at Google. Working with leaders in sales and AI, he saw that while their technical skills were strong, many were held back by personal challenges:
And AK wasn’t immune to it.
At the height of his career, he was overworked, going through a separation, and facing health issues. It forced him to reflect: What’s the point of success if it leads to burnout?
That realization led him to make a pivotal decision: he left Google.
He recognized that the tools to optimize work could be applied to something more meaningful—helping people achieve balance and well-being.
Since then, AK has spent years studying behavioral patterns, uncovering that a significant portion of work performance is influenced by personal factors like well-being, relationships, and mental health.
To address this at scale, he developed tools designed to drive meaningful transformation.
Through Dynamic Action-Based Assessments (DABA), AK and his team track real-time behaviors to foster sustainable change. This methodology focuses on identifying patterns, building habits, and measuring progress over time—because what gets measured improves.
At LeadLyft and The Next Right Move, AK tackles burnout and work-life integration head-on.
His mission isn’t just about helping people manage work more effectively—it’s about enabling them to thrive in all aspects of life. AK believes:
By leveraging technology, data, and behavioral insights, he aims to make this vision a reality—enhancing human connection rather than replacing it.
Find out how to hire AK Ikwuakor to appear at your next event. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about AK Ikwuakor’s availability and cost. When booking AK Ikwuakor for an event, we need to know the type of venue and location the event will take place. AK Ikwuakor is a popular choice for corporate events, private events, and virtual events. So, you can click the Check Availability button or contact us and an MPG AK Ikwuakor booking agent will get back to you within 48 hours.
How much to book AK Ikwuakor depends on the type of event. So, the cost to hire AK Ikwuakor for corporate or private events is available by contacting a Mollie Plotkin Group Agent. Notably, AK Ikwuakor is available for conferences, festivals, private parties, and events. Just contact the Mollie Plotkin Group and tell the booking agent the proposed date, time, and location.
Our speakers are in high demand! View their upcoming events.
Designed to empower individuals, ignite motivation, and drive tangible growth, AK’s keynotes achieve exceptional results with non-profit groups to Fortune 100 companies alike. In fact, the word most often used to describe AK’s keynotes is “transformative.”
Part of AK’s success comes from his tailored approach to each keynote. He will sit with your team and understand the intricacies of your audience and event objectives. So, if the suggested keynote topics below do not fit your needs, schedule a Zoom call with AK and the MPG team to discuss tailoring AK’s keynote for your event – we’ll work closely with you to curate the perfect talk.
Are you ready to unlock your full potential and become the Who You Want to Be? Based on the Amazon Bestseller, The Next Right Move, AK guides you through a powerful workshop on creating and maintaining a growth mindset in chaos and uncertainty. This session will help you identify your key strengths, influence, and create a roadmap to success while navigating the supports and distractions on the path to achieving your goals.
This workshop is designed to empower you to take the first step towards achieving your goals and becoming the “Who You Want to Be” this year. Whether you’re new to the organization, a seasoned leader, or even just looking to unlock your full potential, this session will give you the tools and knowledge to succeed in helping you identify your next right moves.
Do you ever feel like you’re going through the motions? This interactive workshop is your chance to hit pause, reconnect with yourself, and gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping your life.
Through a series of powerful exercises and insightful discussions, AK will guide you on a journey of self-discovery. You’ll explore the multiple layers of your identity, uncovering your core values, motivations, and the driving forces behind your decisions.
This isn’t just about individual reflection. “Unbranded” also fosters empathy and understanding within your team. By learning to appreciate the unique strengths, perspectives, and backgrounds of your colleagues, you can cultivate a truly connected and cohesive unit.
A 10-step approach to navigating difficult conversations to get the results you want
We all know that difficult conversations are an inevitable part of your job and life. Whether you’re dealing with a challenging employee, a difficult client, or a sensitive situation, having the skills to engage in difficult conversations can help you build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and achieve better outcomes.
In this workshop, you’ll learn a 10-step approach to engaging in difficult conversations that will help you develop trust, reduce resistance, create the right mind frame, and effectively manage the conversation from start to finish. You’ll leave the workshop with practical tools and strategies that you can use immediately to improve your communication skills and achieve better results in your difficult conversations.
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the skills and confidence to handle difficult conversations with ease and achieve better outcomes for yourself and your organization. Sign up today and learn how to engage in difficult conversations with success.
Coach, your presentation at Inbound was the fastest 45 minutes of my week. It was a challenge to my thought processes that I am still working with and through. Powerful. Thank you. – Matt Frank, Director Of Business Development, Fortney & Weygandt, Inc.
Upon meeting Coach AK, I knew right away that I was working with someone who is confident and capable of leading, not only executives through an interesting experience as a public speaker, but also one-on-one as an executive coach…AK is certainly unforgettable, he’s someone you will not regret working with! – Megan Marini, Transformational Coach
I had the opportunity to hear him speak at an event a few years ago, and he captivated the audience with his storytelling and messages…AK is a dedicated, hardworking individual who continuously spreads his message, and is a leading example to everyone of how far determination and hard work can get you! – Alan Lazaros, CEO, Founder & Co-Host, Next Level University
My number one was my niece, but this wasn’t an easy exercise! I think you mentioned that what started as just words on a paper ended up taking on so much emotion. Thank you for challenging us! – Alyssa Argenti, Account Manager, Scoppechio
Case studies demonstrate the impact that our talent can have on leading organizations.
