John “Gucci” Foley

John “Gucci” Foley is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels and renowned expert on elite performance, leadership, and trust. His high-energy keynotes translate the awe-inspiring culture of the Blue Angels into actionable strategies for building high-performance teams.

Speaking Fee $63,000–$73,000

John “Gucci” Foley Booking & Availability

Speaking fees, availability and booking details for corporate events, keynotes and private appearances.

How do I book John “Gucci” Foley 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 John “Gucci” Foley’s speaking fee?

John “Gucci” Foley’s current speaking fee is $63,000–$73,000. Final pricing can vary by date, location, event format and scope of the appearance.

Is John “Gucci” Foley available for my event date?

Submit your proposed date and event details and the Mollie Plotkin Group will confirm current availability.

Who is John “Gucci” Foley’s booking agent?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about booking John “Gucci” Foley.

What types of events can John “Gucci” Foley 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.

John “Gucci” Foley Keynote Topics & Programs

John “Gucci” Foley speaks on change management, communications, corporate culture, culture creation, growth and inspiration through keynote presentations and related programs. Additional themes are also available.

  • John “Gucci” Foley’s keynote, Elevating Mindset, directly addresses the challenges many face in today’s fast-paced environment—stress, disconnection, and a lack of engagement.

    Through his Glad to Be Here philosophy, John offers a compelling solution beyond mere positivity, diving into gratitude as a form of self-accountability and ownership, even when facing adversity. It’s about acknowledging mistakes, committing to improvement, and fostering a supportive team environment.

    This approach builds a resilient culture where gratitude is a catalyst for growth, collaboration, and the betterment of the team as a whole, offering a profound way to strengthen bonds and drive collective success.

    Audience will leave empowered with: Elevating Mindset

    • Techniques to strengthen team bonds through shared gratitude practices.
    • Ways to encourage vulnerability, spur openness, and enhance trust within teams.
    • A blueprint for creating a positive, gratitude-infused organizational culture, leading to increased engagement and productivity.
    • Strategies for maintaining a grateful outlook even in challenging situations, fostering resilience and positive change
    • Understanding of gratitude’s neuroscience and its benefits.
    • Insights on how gratitude fosters a culture of self-accountability and leadership.

John “Gucci” Foley Biography & Credentials

A Culture of Excellence

The Blue Angels exemplify the pinnacle of excellence. They are a team of the top 0.01% of US military pilots. But excellent individuals don’t make an excellent team. The success of the Blue Angels is driven by their culture. And what if that legendary Blue Angels Culture of Excellence could be replicated and scaled?

John “Gucci” Foley is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, philanthropist, and top-rated keynote speaker. John inspires audiences to take action and rethink what they believe is possible. He has spoken to some of the top organizations such as Microsoft, Cisco, Merrill Lynch, IBM, and Coca-Cola.

John Foley is available to be booked for corporate and private events. He is also well-known for his keynote and motivational speaking. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about John Foley’s fees.

Want to book John “Gucci” Foley for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-995-0905 to book John “Gucci” Foley for a keynote speech, corporate event, leadership program, workshop, fireside chat, virtual appearance, or other private or professional event.

Our team will help confirm John “Gucci” Foley’s availability, speaking fee, travel requirements, and fit for your audience. To start the booking process, please share your event date, location, audience size, event format, and the type of presentation you are looking for.

The Mollie Plotkin Group is a full-service keynote speaker agency and entertainment bureau that helps organizations secure keynote speakers, entertainers, athletes, celebrities, and thought leaders for corporate meetings, conferences, fundraisers, and special events.

A World-Class Pilot

John “Gucci” Foley was named a “Top Ten Carrier Pilot” six times before leaving his mark as a Marine Instructor pilot and then Lead Solo pilot of the Blue Angels. His expertise even extended to the silver screen where he piloted jets in the iconic film Top Gun.

An expert in the “How?” that drives high-performance teams, “The Guru of Gratitude” will both inspire your audience and leave them with transformational takeaways.

As a Blue Angel, John learned to consistently perform in an extreme, high-stakes environment. Flying at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour in formations as close as 18 inches apart is a near-impossible task. To survive, he relied on a culture of high trust, leadership, and teamwork.

John employs the intense realities of his aviation career as a metaphor to inspire and breathe life into teams. John Foley’s presentations are highlighted by:

  • An energizing delivery that inspires high performance with a grateful mindset.
  • Awe-inspiring storytelling and electrifying video of the legendary Blue Angels in action.
  • A contagious attitude of gratitude that he calls Glad To Be Here®.
  • A unique approach that equips others to take the same journey toward excellence, teamwork, and transformation.

Hire John Foley

After completing his service in the Navy, John studied at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Naval War College, earning multiple degrees and seamlessly integrating the invaluable lessons learned from the Blue Angels into the business realm, he has become a trusted advisor to global business leaders, impacting organizations worldwide.

Since 2015, John has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Most In-Demand Speakers. He has spoken to organizations such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, BMW, Mercedes Benz, General Electric, Bank of America, IBM, Coca-Cola, and countless others. Through his signature “Glad To Be Here®” mindset and immersive keynotes, John inspires leaders to push past limits, embrace a culture of trust, and turn elite performance into everyday results.

Philanthropic Endeavors

In addition to his keynote speaking, John founded the Glad To Be Here Foundation in 2011. He donates 10% of his speaking fees to charities through the foundation. To date, the program has donated over $2.5 million to 455+ charities and impacted thousands of lives globally across 57 countries. Above all, this philanthropy is part of John’s mission to connect a shared “purpose larger than self” with every organization he speaks with.

Featured Client Reviews for John “Gucci” Foley

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Books by John “Gucci” Foley

Ideas worth taking offstage.

Discover books from John “Gucci” Foley and continue exploring their ideas beyond the keynote.

Fearless Success: Beyond High Performance book cover
Featured Book

Fearless Success: Beyond High Performance

Greenleaf Book Group · 2026

Fearless Success draws on the precision and trust required by the Blue Angels to explore what high performance looks like when there is no room for casual execution. The book focuses on preparation, teamwork, accountability and a shared commitment to excellence, translating those principles into a framework for organizations. Its goal is not perfection for its own sake, but consistent performance built through disciplined habits and mutual trust.

John “Gucci” Foley Videos

John Foley-America Strong

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High Performance - Top Keynote Speaker & Former Blue Angel Pilot - John Foley

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Leadership Keynote Speaker John Foley asks How Good Do You Want to Be?

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The Blue Angels - Official Trailer | Prime Video

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