Cy Wakeman

Cy Wakeman is a drama researcher and one of the most influential voices in modern leadership, known for her Reality Based approach that helps organizations eliminate workplace drama and improve performance. With more than 25 years of experience working with top global brands, she equips leaders with practical strategies to increase accountability, engagement, and results.

Her approach challenges conventional leadership thinking by showing how teams can achieve more with less emotional waste, creating stronger cultures and more effective workplaces. Cy’s work resonates across industries, making her a sought after keynote speaker for organizations navigating complex challenges.

Cy Wakeman is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Cy Wakeman’s fees.

Want to book Cy Wakeman for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Cy Wakeman 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.

Reality Based Leadership in Action

Cy Wakeman is a drama researcher, New York Times bestselling author, Hall of Fame speaker, and recognized leadership expert known for her Reality Based approach to leadership. Her philosophy helps leaders and teams deliver stronger results with less drama, increase engagement without entitlement, and maintain effectiveness even in challenging workplace environments.

She has partnered with leading organizations across industries, including Google, Meta, Viacom, NBC Universal, Keurig Dr Pepper, NASA, Pfizer, CVS, Johns Hopkins, Stanford Medicine, and Bank of America, bringing practical leadership solutions to complex organizational challenges.

Author, Speaker, and Thought Leader

Cy is a Certified Speaking Professional, a designation held by a small percentage of speakers worldwide, and a highly sought after conference headliner. She has published four bestselling books, including Life’s Messy, Live Happy: Things Don’t Have to Be Perfect for You to Be Content.

Her insights reach a wide audience through her Reality Based Leadership newsletter, which engages tens of thousands of readers each week, and her podcast, where she shares practical strategies for modern leadership. Her work continues to shape how leaders think about accountability, performance, and workplace culture.

To hire Cy Wakeman for an event, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with the proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. Cy Wakeman 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 Cy Wakeman’s availability, discuss the event details and get back to you within 48 hours with next steps for securing Cy Wakeman for your program.

The cost to book Cy Wakeman depends on the event date, location, format, audience size and scope of the appearance. Cy Wakeman’s speaking fee starts at $52,500. Speaking fees may vary for keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events, corporate meetings and virtual programs.

For the most accurate Cy Wakeman 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.

Cy Wakeman delivers direct, research backed keynotes that challenge conventional leadership thinking and replace it with practical, results driven strategies. Her approach helps organizations eliminate workplace drama, strengthen accountability, and build teams that are ready to adapt and perform in changing environments.

Common keynote themes include: accountability, leadership effectiveness, workplace culture, employee engagement, change readiness, and eliminating workplace drama.

No Ego: Cut the Cost of Drama and Drive Results

Workplace drama drains time, energy, and performance, but leaders can eliminate it with the right approach.

In this keynote, Cy presents research showing how traditional leadership practices can unintentionally fuel drama and inefficiency. She introduces a new model that redefines engagement, accountability, and leadership strategy to reduce wasted time and improve results. Audiences leave with clear tools to shift behaviors and create more productive workplaces.

• Identify how workplace drama impacts time, cost, and performance
• Replace outdated leadership practices with research based strategies
• Apply tools that reduce inefficiency and improve team results

Ideal for leaders and organizations focused on improving performance and reducing workplace inefficiency.

Reality-Based Leadership: Turning Excuses into Results

Accountability and mindset are the foundation for restoring sanity and performance in the workplace.

This session introduces the core principles of Reality-Based Leadership and challenges leaders to rethink how they lead in modern organizations. Cy provides practical strategies to eliminate excuses, improve accountability, and bring focus back to results. Her approach helps leaders create more stable, productive, and accountable teams.

• Shift from excuse driven thinking to result driven action
• Strengthen personal accountability across teams
• Apply leadership principles that restore focus and clarity

Ideal for leaders seeking to improve accountability and team performance.

Hardwiring Accountability into Your Workforce

Personal accountability is a core competency that can be taught, coached, and sustained.

In this keynote, Cy breaks down accountability into practical, teachable components that can be embedded into everyday operations. She shares no nonsense strategies for hiring, coaching, and developing teams that take ownership of results. The session reinforces accountability as a foundation for consistent performance.

• Define and operationalize personal accountability in the workplace
• Implement strategies to hire and develop accountable employees
• Build systems that reinforce ownership and responsibility

Ideal for organizations committed to building a culture of accountability and consistent results.

Closing Takeaway

Cy Wakeman’s message is clear and practical. When organizations reduce drama, rethink outdated leadership practices, and prioritize accountability, they create teams that are more focused, adaptable, and capable of delivering meaningful results.