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Andy Worshek      

Expert on Intent-Based Leadership, Author & Former Sonar Chief on the USS Santa Fe

Andy Worshek imagines a workplace where everyone engages and contributes their full intellectual capacity, a place where people are healthier and happier because they have more control over their work–a place where everyone is a leader.

Worshek served in the Navy for 24 years, and achieved the rank of Master Chief. Assigned to the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe with Captain David Marquet – then ranked last in retention and operational standing – they teamed up and “turned that ship around” by developing a new model of leadership that built leaders at every level. Intent-Based Leadership took the Santa Fe from “worst to first,” achieving the highest retention and operational standings in the Navy.

Stephen R. Covey rode the USS Santa Fe and said it was “the most empowering organization he’d ever seen” and wrote about the USS Santa Fe leadership practices in his book, “The 8th Habit.”

Worshek is prominently featured in the bestselling leadership book, “Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders,” which tells the turnaround story of the USS Santa Fe. Fortune magazine named it the #1 must-read book to read, and USA Today put it on their list of the 12 best business books of all time. In addition, Worshek co-authored “The Turn the Ship Around! Workbook” with David Marquet, listed as a top 10 best seller by the Washington Post.

Today, Worshek is a globally recognized speaker and trainer with a unique perspective as one who served in both the follower and leader roles. His enthusiasm for implementing intent-based leadership from all levels, as well as teaching and training others, are his passion.

Speech Topics


Executive Leadership Workshop:

The Executive Workshop is for organizations that would like to go more deeply into Intent-Based Leadership with an eye toward changing behaviors. This 5 hour session includes a discussion of the origin story of Intent-Based Leadership Turn the Ship Around! This interactive workshop has small groups working together to transition the story of the USS Santa Fe into your story of how you can transition into a highly engaged and motivated team. For online events we extend the learning by having 3 two-hour sessions spread over 3 week which will allow for reflection and practice so you can bring questions and success stories to the next session.

Turn the Ship Around! Creating Leaders at Every Level™

In this keynote, Andy Worshek shares the origins and principles of Intent-Based Leadership®. Andy was critical to implementing Intent-Based Leadership® on the USS Santa Fe with captain David Marquet. He shares his unique perspective as one who lived the story, influencing up and down the chain of command. He reveals how this submarine went from the worst submarine to the best submarine, achieving the highest retention and operational standings in the U.S. Navy.

This interactive keynote requires audience participation. Andy will take the audience inside a U.S. Navy fast attack submarine, using photographs and stories from the USS Santa Fe, to describe the challenges and frustrations of leading from the middle of the organization and the successes the team experienced .

While interacting with the audience, Andy covers the principles of this leadership movement by contrasting bosses and leaders. He will focus on these basic principles:

  • Giving control and creating leaders
  • Creating an environment that releases greatness
  • Getting people to think instead of just do
  • Using language that inspires collaboration

Create Leaders At Every Level

Why are only a few workplaces completely fulfilling to work in while many others aren’t? Why do only a few organizations unleash the power and potential of the people working there?

Imagine instead, workplaces where people eagerly come to work with a sense of purpose and go home with a sense of fulfillment.

Leaders in these workplaces do one fundamental thing different than other organizations. Instead of treating people like followers who need to be told what to do, they treat everyone like leaders. They trust their teams with the authority to make decisions and ensure they have the tools to succeed.

In this fast-paced, interactive and inspiring keynote, Andy Worshek explains how to build leaders at every level based upon his experience on a nuclear submarine and in business. Part story-telling, part leadership transformation, part actionable take-aways, this talk leaves audiences reinvigorated to lead from where they are and turn those around them into leaders as well. As a result, audiences will be on their way to unleashing the talent around them.

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