David Burkus

Every leader wants to build a high-performing team, and nearly everyone wants to be on one. But most teams fail to perform at their optimal level.

We try to recruit star players, improve compensation, give copious feedback, obsess over engagement surveys, and in the end, we still don’t have the results we want and often feel we’re out of options. But the secret to unlocking performance isn’t recruiting new teammates or designing the perfect incentive. The most effective teams became that way by building the habits and culture of the team that allows for optimal performance.

Talent doesn’t make the team; the team makes the talent.

That’s what building the best team ever is all about. When you focus on improving the culture of the teams you lead—or the teams you’re on—you create an environment that improves the performance of everyone on it.

In this entertaining and enlightening keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals the secrets of the highest-performing teams in the world and how you can get started tomorrow applying those secrets. Leaders will leave with a clear and concise understanding of how the culture of their team affects its performance, and a simple and practical blueprint for how to build the best team ever.

Every leader dreams of a team that just “clicks,” one that collaborates effortlessly, tackles challenges head-on, and delivers results time and time again. But not every team reaches this pinnacle of performance. Some teams struggle from the beginning, others start strong and fall apart. And many just coast along. In each case, engagement breaks down and performance suffers. Why is it that some teams break records while others just break down?

Most leaders think the solution is more talent, more resources, or even more meetings. But the real key is mastering the two elements of great collaboration: clarity and empathy. When people understand not just their roles and responsibilities (clarity), but also the personalities and work preferences of their teammates (empathy), their teams operate at a higher level. When they don’t, they’re just one misunderstanding away from collapse.

In this evidence-based, high-energy keynote, Dr. David Burkus will reveal the surprising science behind why some teams succeed while others spiral into dysfunction. You’ll learn how to establish instant clarity, alignment, and accountability, even in the newest or most complex teams. And you’ll leave with research-backed insights, practical tools, and actionable strategies to elevate your team’s performance immediately.

Ready to unlock effortless collaboration and unstoppable performance? Let’s make your team “click.”

Every leader wants a team they can trust. Every teammate wants to know their trust is earned. But here’s the reality: Trust isn’t built in a moment; it’s grown over time with each and every interaction.

Trust isn’t given. Trust isn’t earned. Trust is reciprocated.

The highest-performing teams don’t just hope for trust—they build it, reinforce it, and protect it through a powerful feedback cycle—The Trust Loop. Every time trust is extended, it needs to be met with respect to keep the cycle going.

In this dynamic and research-backed keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals a proven framework for reinforcing trust in every interaction. You’ll learn why trust erodes faster than you think—and how to prevent it from slipping away, but also how great teams recover from failures and setbacks without losing trust. And you’ll leave with a practical blueprint to strengthen trust and drive results.

Let’s get The Trust Loop going.

Most purpose initiatives follow the same playbook: rewrite the mission statement, launch a campaign, hope it sticks. And most of them fail—not because leaders don’t care, but because statements aren’t felt. Research shows 82 percent of employees say purpose matters, yet fewer than half feel their organization’s purpose actually affects their work. That gap isn’t a communications problem. It’s a leadership problem.

People want to do work that matters. And they want to work for leaders who show them they matter. The leaders who do that know something most don’t: people don’t feel purpose by reading about it. They feel it when they can answer one question—”who is served by the work we do?” And when leaders make that answer visible, the results aren’t soft. Teams perform at measurably higher levels, retain talent at significantly higher rates, and sustain motivation through difficulty that compensation and perks simply can’t touch.

In this research-backed keynote, Dr. David Burkus reveals the science of prosocial purpose and the specific leadership behaviors that make purpose felt at the team level. You’ll leave with practical tools to build both Meaning—helping people see their contribution matters—and Impact—connecting them to the real humans counting on their work.

AI isn’t coming—it’s already here. And for most leaders, that’s as exciting as it is overwhelming. The landscape is changing rapidly, and just keeping pace with the tools can feel like a full-time job. But beyond the hype and headlines, one question matters most: How will AI and teamwork evolve together in the new world of work?

Because even as the technology evolves, the fundamentals of high-performing teams haven’t changed. People still need clarity, connection, and trust. What’s changed is the context—and the opportunity.

Too many organizations treat AI like a software rollout—another platform, another dashboard, another wave of training. But that narrow approach misses the real opportunity. The best teams aren’t just using AI—they’re working with it as a teammate. They’re rethinking how they work, re-establishing collaboration, and adapting how they lead. AI won’t replace your team—but teams that don’t learn how to partner with AI will be outmaneuvered by those that do.

In this fast-paced and insightful keynote, bestselling author and renowned teamwork expert Dr. David Burkus reveals how the most effective teams are adapting in response to AI—not by abandoning what makes them great, but by refining it.

You’ll explore how AI can free your people to focus on innovation, strategy, and collaboration. You’ll see how new tools are reshaping team communication—clarifying messages, reducing misunderstandings, and enhancing transparency. You’ll discover how to cultivate trust in both the tools and the teams using them. And you’ll gain insight into what adaptive leadership looks like in an AI-enabled workplace—how to lead through uncertainty, foster resilience, and support continuous learning.

The future of work isn’t about choosing between people or machines—it’s about leveraging both to empower high-performing teams.

Are you ready to make your best team even smarter?