Live Hard: Dr Todd Dewett – Keynote speaker & Bestselling Author Inspiring leadership interview with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

Dr Todd Dewett – Keynote speaker & Bestselling Author Dr.

Live & Virtual Keynote Speaker around the Globe, Best-selling Author, top LinkedIn Learning author, Leadership and Authenticity Guru, two time TEDx speaker. After beginning his career with Andersen Consulting and Ernst & Young, he completed his PhD in Organisational Behaviour at Texas A&M University and enjoyed a career as an award-winning professor. Today, he is a widely recognised expert on authenticity, leadership, relationships, and success. He speaks, writes, coaches, and has created an educational library of courses enjoyed by millions of professionals in nearly every country in the world. Todd’s advice for professional success is timeless.

He reminds us to embrace candour and develop authentic human connections as the backbone of all productive relationships, to use mistakes as beautiful catalysts for growth and learning, and to face all challenges with our eyes open, clinging to a positive perspective as an essential mental asset. He pushes you to live fully, or as he likes to say it – live hard.

“As a speaker, my philosophy is simple. Don’t perform, just be real. Be honest. Be candid. Be personal. Be practical and helpful. Anyone can polish a performance, but very few can authentically inspire. That’s what I do. People are starving for useful information, delivered honestly. Add in a few smiles and laughs, and all of a sudden learning becomes a blast.

I’m Charlie and Judy’s kid. I grew up lower middle class in a suburb of Memphis. I started my career as a consultant, but soon felt drawn to academia. I earned a PhD at Texas A&M in Organisational Behaviour and for ten years I was a popular management professor. Along the way I became Dr. Dewett the speaker. Why did I leave a tenured position for life? I had to. I believe if you can help others, you should. Speaking is my superpower. I use it to improve lives. I was always a speaker, long before anyone paid me to tell stories. In high school, I was only ranked #62 in my senior class, but they asked me to speak at graduation anyway. Since then, speaking has defined my life in one way or another through three careers.

I’ve worn many hats along the way: professor, consultant, radio host, author, dean. As a business professional and social scientist, I’ve been fortunate to gain deep insights into how people, teams, and organisations function. What I’ve realised on this journey is very important. It’s a message that must be shared with others. Here it is: more is always possible. At home, at work, in life. Through speaking and writing, I help others see this reality and I help them commit to making it happen.

I focus on authenticity and aspects of interpersonal relationships that drive professional success. I’ve observed every manner of organisational challenge. At the heart of every one of them are the same core issues: a need for more self-awareness, better communication, better rapport, and more kindness. “