May 15 2025
IT-Security Inside 2025 – Keynote Speaker Keren Elazari – Zurich, Germany
AURA , Event Hall
Doug Manuel is an acclaimed speaker, performer, and social entrepreneur who turns audiences into communities—and meetings into transformative, interactive experiences.
Doug Manuel doesn’t just talk about collaboration—he creates it live, in real-time.
For nearly three decades, Doug has delivered interactive, soul-stirring keynotes that unite audiences through rhythm, story, and the wisdom of West African village life. A BBC documentary producer-turned-drummer, author, and keynote speaker, Doug’s one-of-a-kind journey—from London to rural Senegal, from film sets to Fortune 500 boardrooms—has shaped his immersive “Beats As One” experiences that get people on their feet, out of their silos, and truly connected.
Whether he’s guiding 45 skeptical CEOs through purpose-driven team exercises or leading thousands of employees in an electrifying session, Doug’s work leaves audiences energized, united, and deeply inspired. Oprah had Doug open her 3rd SuperSoul Sessions at UCLA and Christian Dior, Shell, McDonald’s, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle called on him to restore connection in their organizations. His breakout stage show Do You Speak Djembe? earned two JEFF Award nominations, and his upcoming documentary Beats As One explores how ancient African wisdom could be the cure for today’s epidemic of loneliness and isolation.
Doug is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Doug Manuel’s fees.
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Doug Manuel 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.
Doug Manuel’s story begins in London. From an early age, watching his father have a heart attack at age 6 and feeling isolated in boarding school at age 8, he has been on a lifelong search for meaning and belonging.
After eight years producing documentaries for the BBC—culminating in a project on African elephants—Doug discovered the djembe drum. What began as a side interest soon became a calling. In 1997, he left his career behind to immerse himself in the villages of West Africa, where he trained with drum masters and, more importantly but unknowingly, studied community, collaboration, and resilience.
Since that initial study trip more than 25 years ago, Doug has become an acclaimed thought leader and keynote speaker. Today, he blends rhythm, storytelling, and group interaction into world-class keynotes and workshops that transcend traditional formats. His message: the answers we seek about connection, empathy, and purpose have been here all along—in the communal traditions of rural Africa.
Doug’s work has taken him across the globe, working with clients from Procter & Gamble and Audemars Piguet to TEDx and CoreNet. His leadership retreats, often held in his adopted village of Abéné in Senegal, invite executives to unplug, listen deeply, and remember what it means to be human—together.
Doug’s upcoming documentary Beats As One, chronicles his journey with Babara Bangoura Fakoly to share the heartbeat of Africa with the world and heal the loneliness that’s killing us in the West. Additionally, in Fall 2025, BEATS As One—the book—will take a deeper dive into Doug’s signature methodology, revealing how the principles of Breath, Energy, Agency, Trust, and Soul interconnect not only within teams but across all of life. Through his nonprofit Lighting Up Lives, Doug also partners with African villagers to co-create local solutions to health, education, and energy needs.
Find out how to hire Doug Manuel to appear at your next event. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about Doug Manuel’s availability and cost. When booking Doug Manuel for an event, we need to know the type of venue and location the event will take place. Doug Manuel 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 Doug Manuel booking agent will get back to you within 48 hours.
How much to book Doug Manuel depends on the type of event. So, the cost to hire Doug Manuel for corporate or private events is available by contacting a Mollie Plotkin Group Agent. Notably, Doug Manuel 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.
Today’s world of work leaves people disconnected. Human connection seems lost, engagement is low, and, because of that, performance and productivity suffer.
For nearly 3 decades, Doug’s keynotes and workshops have been driving passion, enhancing active listening, boosting communication and empathy, and ultimately increasing performance in leading organizations around the globe. Using his signature blend of stories, music, and rhythm Doug transforms events into meaningful, memorable experiences.
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-510-6607 to book Doug Manuel for corporate or private events, keynotes, workshops, or leadership retreats.
Let’s make your people feel something—together.
An Interactive Keynote to Engage and Unite
Doug’s signature keynote brings his personal story to life. Alongside music, rhythm, and featured excerpts from his documentary Beats As One, Doug guides participants through a transformative process. Through personal reflection, small group sharing, collective music-making, and performance-enhancing exercises, your teams will bring engagement and collaboration to life in new and dynamic ways. Designed to foster empathy, boost engagement, and elevate collaboration, this session helps teams reconnect to their shared humanity and organizational mission.
This keynote can be tailored to groups of any size in a live, hybrid, or virtual environment.
A High-Energy Shared Musical Experience to Connect & Collaborate
Every participant receives a drum in this immersive musical breakout session. In this highly engaging, energetic musical experience, your audience will rediscover the power of communication using the most primal form of technology. Doug and his percussion team use rhythm as a metaphor for communication, unity, and performance, breaking down silos and leaving groups emotionally connected as one.
Great for conferences or offsites looking to create a “wow” moment, this program can be delivered in one block or as 3 or 4 shorter sessions during the day.
The Ultimate Unifying Experience
This large-scale theatrical performance turns your audience into the star of the show as a full-fledged rhythm ensemble. With a live band and curated soundtrack, audience members will learn to play djembe to the music of their favorite songs as Doug invites them to trace the roots of music back to our shared ancestry—proving we have far more in common than what divides us.
Customized to your organization’s vision and themes, this session builds an unmatched team spirit, strengthens the audience’s sense of purpose and brand, and creates a powerful moment of collaboration in action.
“When I hear about something good…I just have to share it.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Doug has gone from wanting to share a passion for Africa and the djembe drum to a consultant and social entrepreneur. Today, he is dedicating his life to the discovery of what leadership is all about.” – Professor Gilbert Probst, Former Managing Director, The World Economic Forum
“Doug enabled us to really work at being a team, providing immediate benefit to our business.” – Martyn Bale, Director, Shell International
“An excellent experience and demonstration of teamwork and cohesion. He also helped us address the importance of clear communication.” – Peter Van Bladeren, Nestlé Research Centre
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