Damon Dunn
Damon Dunn is a 3-time CEO for three high net-worth family offices, former NFL wide receiver turned powerhouse entrepreneur, Stanford Hoover Fellow, and motivational keynote speaker who teaches audiences how to “LOCK IN” on vision, values, and disciplined execution.
Damon Dunn Booking & Availability
Speaking fees, availability and booking details for corporate events, keynotes and private appearances.
How do I book Damon Dunn for a corporate event?
Use the Check Availability form above to send your proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. The Mollie Plotkin Group will follow up with availability and next steps.
What is Damon Dunn’s speaking fee?
Damon Dunn’s current speaking fee depends on the date, location, event format and scope of the appearance. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group for current pricing.
Is Damon Dunn available for my event date?
Submit your proposed date and event details and the Mollie Plotkin Group will confirm current availability.
Who is Damon Dunn’s booking agent?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about booking Damon Dunn.
What types of events can Damon Dunn be booked for?
Corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events and virtual programs may be available depending on the engagement.
Damon Dunn Keynote Topics & Programs
Damon Dunn speaks on business, change management, corporate culture, culture creation, entrepreneurship and growth through keynote presentations and related programs. Additional themes are also available.
Damon customizes every keynote to align with your event’s theme, goals, and audience. Drawing from his four pillars of experience—athletics, academics, business, and public policy—he tailors stories and strategies to resonate deeply. With real-world insights (not just theory), Damon delivers content that’s relevant, actionable, and built specifically for your audience’s challenges and aspirations.
Drawing from his journey out of rural Texas poverty to Stanford, the NFL, Hoover, and CEO leadership, Damon shows that bold creators don’t wait for the future—they *build* it. In fact, a University of Pennsylvania study found that people who shape their own identity are 42% more likely to hit long-term goals. In this keynote, Damon teaches how anyone can rewrite their story, design their systems, and turn adversity into momentum. Audiences will leave with the mindset, strategies, and discipline to take decisive action for the future.
Key Takeaways from The Bold Create The Future
- The Obstacle Is the Way: When life blocks you, that’s the road sign showing where to grow next.
- We Fall to Our Systems: You don’t rise to big moments; you default to your daily habits. Build better defaults.
- Pre-Suade: Set the stage before you take the stage. Influence begins *before* the ask.
- Transmute Pain Into Fuel: Don’t run from hard moments—burn them as rocket fuel.
McKinsey research shows teams with strong cross-functional alignment are five times more likely to grow faster. In 360° Leadership, Damon Dunn shows that real leadership isn’t top-down — it’s all directions at once. He teaches what it takes to lead in every direction: those who report to you, those who work alongside you, those who outrank you, and, most importantly, yourself.
Drawing on real-world experience as a CEO, NFL veteran, and public policy strategist, Damon reveals how elite leaders elevate not just outcomes, but people. This isn’t about theory. It’s about high-performance habits and mindsets that move organizations forward. Damon equips leaders to elevate teams, build credibility, and sustain high performance no matter where they sit in the org chart.
Key Takeaways from 360° Leadership
- Lead in Every Direction: Down, across, up — influence is a full-circle skill, not a job title.
- Make Work Flow, Not Fight: Smooth systems beat heroic effort. Reduce friction, increase speed.
- Know Yourself to Grow Yourself: Better judgment starts with better self-awareness.
Damon shows how top performers turn failure into a competitive advantage. Harvard research proves teams that learn openly from mistakes improve results by up to 23%. Damon teaches how to fail smart — fast, forward, and cheap — so organizations innovate quicker, waste less, and climb faster.
Key Takeaways from Locked In
- Fail Fast, Learn Faster: The quicker the feedback, the quicker the breakthrough.
- Study the Miss, Not Just the Make: Every stumble carries data. Use it.
- Bounce Forward, Not Back: Don’t just recover — advance.
Damon breaks down how elite performers — athletes, operators, and creators — produce excellence on command.
Research from the American Psychological Association shows that consistent performance routines boost achievement by 27%. Damon teaches how to build a personal system that delivers energy, clarity, and results every day, not just on big days.
Key Takeaways from Locked In
- Do the Small Things Like They Matter, Because They Do: Daily reps build peak performance.
- Measure What Matters: Simple tracking = smarter decisions = better results.
- Build Systems That Hold You Up: When life gets heavy, your habits should carry the load.
Damon Dunn Biography & Credentials
From poverty to the pros, from the NFL to the C-suite, Damon Dunn has built an extraordinary life across four high-performance arenas: sports, academics, business, and public policy. Now as a sought-after keynote speaker and leadership strategist, he shares the hard-won principles that helped him dominate each stage of his journey. Whether speaking to CEOs, franchise owners, student-athletes, or policymakers, Damon helps audiences transform vision into results through focus, resilience, and relentless execution. Damon Dunn is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Damon Dunn’s fees.
Want to book Damon Dunn for an event?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Damon Dunn 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.
Defying the Odds
Raised in a trailer park in Fort Worth, Texas by a teenage single mother, Damon Dunn learned early that success would not be handed to him. He went on to become a standout student-athlete, earning a scholarship to Stanford University, where he was a four-year football star and track athlete. He broke multiple school records as a wide receiver and return specialist, earned All-Pac-10 and Academic All-Pac-10 honors, and graduated with a degree in Public Policy.
NFL to Entrepreneur
Damon continued to defy the odds as an undrafted player who made rosters with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys. But he didn’t stop at the end zone; he took the lessons of discipline, preparation, and mental toughness into the business world, where he has become a rare force across multiple industries.
Business & Investment Leader
Damon is a three-time CEO and private equity-backed operator who has delivered over $200 million in capital allocations with 5X investor returns. He scaled a 38-unit Dunkin’ franchise operation across six states, managing 700+ employees and $35 million in annual revenue. He also co-founded a retail development firm responsible for 31 properties anchored by tenants like CVS and Walmart, achieving 20%+ annual returns. As CEO of Sign Talent Solutions, Damon now leads a firm revolutionizing workforce placement in the signage and graphics industry. Additionally, as a sitting CEO, Damon completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program, an intensive curriculum designed specifically for CEOs.
Policy Shaper & Stanford Fellow
A former candidate for Secretary of State in California and Stanford Hoover Institution Fellow, Damon authored a college-level textbook on poverty reform and has been a leading advocate for K–14 education models, workforce re-skilling, and retirement equity. He brings a uniquely practical voice to conversations on upward mobility, market economics, and leadership that drives impact.
A Speaker with Substance
Damon doesn’t just talk about success, he’s lived it. Featured in Forbes, named to TIME Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40,” and recognized across industries for his leadership, Damon delivers keynotes that resonate. His “LOCKED IN” philosophy isn’t a catchphrase, it’s a framework for transformation. Audiences walk away with more than inspiration; they leave with tools, systems, and renewed clarity about how to turn bold vision into measurable success.
