David Burkus

One of the most forward-thinking voices in business today, Dr. David Burkus is a bestselling author and seasoned researcher whose groundbreaking ideas are reshaping how leaders manage teams, drive collaboration, and inspire innovation. Consistently ranked among the world’s top business thought leaders, his insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The New York Times, CNN, the BBC, and NPR. He is also well-known for his keynote and motivational speaking. David Burkus is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about David Burkus’s fees.

Want to book David Burkus for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book David Burkus 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.

Business School Professor & Bestselling Author

A former business school professor with a doctorate in strategic leadership, David Burkus brings a rare combination of academic rigor and real-world application to his work. He’s the author of five bestselling books, translated into dozens of languages, and a trusted advisor to global companies including PepsiCo, Microsoft, Google, Fidelity, Adobe, and even NASA.

A Trusted Voice in Modern Leadership

Since 2017, David has been ranked multiple times as one of the world’s most influential business thinkers. His work unpacks the science behind how the best leaders build trust, communicate purpose, and cultivate thriving workplace cultures.

His books, including Under New Management, Friend of a Friend, and Best Team Ever, have won numerous awards and have changed how companies think about everything from management to networking to team performance.

Evidence-Based Keynotes That Inspire Action

David’s keynotes are consistently described as practical, research-driven, and refreshingly actionable. Rather than offering fluff or clichés, he distills complex concepts into immediately useful takeaways that empower audiences to lead with more clarity and confidence. Whether he’s speaking to Fortune 500 executives or fast-growing startups, David equips leaders with tools they can implement the very next day.

Hire David Burkus

With a client list that spans tech, finance, and aerospace, David Burkus is a dynamic and speaker who delivers lasting impact. If you’re looking for a keynote that blends storytelling, science, and strategy, Dr. David Burkus is your ideal speaker.

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

The cost to book David Burkus depends on the event date, location, format, audience size and scope of the appearance. David Burkus’s speaking fee starts at $27,500. Speaking fees may vary for keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events, corporate meetings and virtual programs.

For the most accurate David Burkus 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.

Best Team Ever: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams

Every leader wants to build a high-performing team, and nearly everyone wants to be on one. But most teams fail to perform at their optimal level. We try to recruit star players, improve compensation, give copious feedback, obsess over engagement surveys, and in the end, we still don’t have the results we want and often feel we’re out of options. But the secret to unlocking performance isn’t recruiting new teammates or designing the perfect incentive. The most effective teams became that way by building the habits and culture of the team that allows for optimal performance.

Talent doesn’t make the team; the team makes the talent.

That’s what building the best team ever is all about. When you focus on improving the culture of the teams you lead–or the teams you’re on–you create an environment that improves the performance of everyone on it. In this entertaining and enlightening keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals the secrets of the highest-performing teams in the world and how you can get started tomorrow applying those secrets. Leaders will leave with a clear and concise understanding of how the culture of their team affects its performance, and a simple and practical blueprint for how to build the best team ever.

Click: Why Some Teams Collaborate Fast and Others Just Collapse

Every leader dreams of a team that just “clicks,” one that collaborates effortlessly, tackles challenges head-on, and delivers results time and time again. But not every team reaches this pinnacle of performance. Some teams struggle from the beginning, while others start strong and fall apart. And many just coast along. In each case, engagement breaks down and performance suffers. Why is it that some teams break records while others just break down?

Most leaders think the solution is more talent, more resources, or even more meetings. But the real key is mastering the two elements of great collaboration: clarity and empathy. When people understand not just their roles and responsibilities (clarity), but also the personalities and work preferences of their teammates (empathy), their teams operate at a higher level. When they don’t, they’re just one misunderstanding away from collapse.

In this evidence-based, high-energy keynote, Dr. David Burkus will reveal the surprising science behind why some teams succeed while others spiral into dysfunction. You’ll learn how to establish instant clarity, alignment, and accountability, even in the newest or most complex teams. And you’ll leave with research-backed insights, practical tools, and actionable strategies to elevate your team’s performance immediately.

Ready to unlock effortless collaboration and unstoppable performance?

Let’s make your team “click.”

The Trust Loop: The Hidden Pattern That Builds (or Breaks) Teams

Every leader wants a team they can trust. Every teammate wants to know their trust is earned. But here’s the reality: Trust isn’t built in a moment; it’s grown over time with each and every interaction.

Trust isn’t given, Trust isn’t earned. Trust is reciprocated.

The highest-performing teams don’t just hope for trust—they build it, reinforce it, and protect it through a powerful feedback cycle–The Trust Loop. Every time trust is extended, it needs to be met with respect to keep the cycle going.

In this dynamic and research-backed keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals a proven framework for reinforcing trust in every interaction. You’ll learn why trust erodes faster than you think—and how to prevent it from slipping away, but also how great teams recover from failures and setbacks without losing trust. And you’ll leave with a practical blueprint to strengthen trust and drive results.

Let’s get The Trust Loop going.

Innovation Is a Team Sport: The Science of Creative Collaboration

As the challenges organizations face seem to compound, we need innovative ideas more than ever. But many teams struggle to find and implement their brightest ideas. Much of this struggle comes from a common misconception: you can’t create an innovative company by teaching individuals to be more creative. Instead, research reveals that “lone creators” are historically rare, and for most innovations, creativity is a team sport.

Teams bring a broader perspective and a more diverse set of solutions, but only if they know how to leverage the wisdom of everyone involved.

By combining insights from social science research and practical takeaways from the most innovative companies and teams, Dr. David Burkus outlines a prescription for any team or organization to work more creatively together, without silos, politics, or frustration. You’ll learn how to leverage the expertise of the whole team, how to harness conflict to strengthen ideas, and how to find and implement the best solutions to the challenges your teams face.