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Robert Kriegel  

Change Expert, Bestselling Author, Sports Psychologist

One of the most in-demand business speakers, Dr. Robert Kriegel teaches bold, innovative, "out of the box" strategies for keeping ahead of changes, challenges, and competition in today's dynamic marketplace.

Author of the national bestseller "If It Ain't Broke... BREAK IT!", Dr. Kriegel has been acknowledged by U.S. News & World Report as one of the country's leading authorities in the field of change and human performance. His other notable works include "Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers," a BusinessWeek Bestseller, "How to Succeed in Business Without Working So Damn Hard," which focuses on innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, and "Performance Under Pressure: Being at your best when it counts," based on his 30 years as a mental coach for high performers.

Dr. Kriegel has been a commentator on NPR's "Marketplace" program, produced two specials for PBS, and has appeared on "Oprah" and Donny Deutsch's "The Big Idea." An all-American athlete and pioneer in the field of sports psychology, Dr. Kriegel has coached both Olympic and professional athletes and was a co-founder of one of the first institutes of sports psychology in the country. The New York Times credited his work with spurring a revolution in performance practices. He is also the co-author of the New York Times Bestseller "Inner Skiing" and has provided color commentary for the US Professional Ski Tour on ESPN.

Dr. Kriegel has taught at Stanford University's Executive Management Program and is a former advertising executive for Young and Rubicam in New York, where he managed major accounts such as Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Travelers Insurance. He also served as a member of the California Governor's Council on Health Wellness and Physical Fitness.

In his tailored speeches and programs, Dr. Kriegel educates and motivates audiences on how to develop and lead change-ready people and organizations. He emphasizes the importance of rounding up "sacred cows" that cost money and inhibit change and innovation. His strategies for gaining a competitive edge include not competing but changing the game, leading customers, rethinking rules, redefining roles, and reinventing the game to thrive in turbulent times.

Speech Topics


Winning Under Pressure

Motivation & Recognition Events

  • Using success as a springboard to greater heights
  • Why some people keep winning and others don’t
  • The most overlooked strategy for keeping on top
  • How to conquer the sabotage thinking that traps winners
  • Why you should always mess with success

Leading Change-Ready People and Organizations

  • Three strategies for motivating people to change
  • Creating an environment where innovation flourishes
  • Steps for turning ideas into action
  • How to overcome ‘firehosing’ and resistance to change"

Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers

In this keynote speech, Krigel discusses eliminating outdated thinking and practices How to:

  • Round up Sacred Cows that cost money and prevent change and innovation
  • Have a Sacred Cow hunt
  • Streamline processes and operations
  • Control email epidemics, paper piles and meeting mania

Thriving in Times of Turbulence and Uncertainty

Kriegel discusses how to develop and lead Change-Ready people and organizations that are proactive not reactive, leaders not followers, and out in front of the wave rather than struggling to keep up.

Innovate Or Else!

  • Winners don’t respond quickly to change and new opportunities, they create them

  • If you use yesterday’s thinking in today’s game, you’re going to be in trouble tomorrow

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