Leadership keynote speaker: Tony Joseph Jr.
Talks that give people something to use on Monday.
Tony Joseph Jr. is a Minnesota-based leadership keynote speaker, executive coach and U.S. Air Force veteran. He gives three signature talks for conferences, all-staff days and leadership events, on stage or virtual. Every keynote tells real stories, includes a short moment where the room practices, and sends people home with a tool they can use with their team.
ICF PCC executive coach · facilitator for executive teams and school districts · U.S. Air Force veteran
At a glance
- Signature talks
- The First Sentence · Coach in the Hallway · The Human Side of AI
- Length
- 45 to 60 minutes, or keynote plus breakout or workshop
- Audiences
- School leaders, managers, HR teams, executive teams, associations
- Where
- Minnesota and nationwide, on stage or virtual
- Attendees get
- A take-home tool tied to the talk
- Fee
- Ask about speaking fees
Three talks, each built for the room you have.
Before every event we talk with you about your audience and what you want them to do afterward, then tailor the stories and examples to fit.
The First Sentence
Starting the conversation you've been putting off
Most teams carry a few conversations nobody wants to start. This talk is about the first sentence: the one that gets a hard conversation moving while keeping trust. Tony shares what he has heard from leaders who practiced these talks out loud, and then the room practices too.
- A simple three-part opening people can use the next day
- How to ask for a hard conversation without putting people on guard
- Two minutes of live practice in pairs, so the first try happens in a safe room
Coach in the Hallway
Growing people in the moments you already have
Leaders are stretched thin. Gallup found manager engagement fell to 22% in 2025, down from 27% a year earlier. This talk shows how to coach in the five minutes you already have: in a hallway, after a meeting, during a status update.
- Five questions that turn a status update into a coaching moment
- A five-minute GROW conversation, practiced live
- Ways to make feedback a weekly habit instead of a yearly event
The Human Side of AI
Leading people through change they didn't choose
AI is the topic events ask for most right now. This talk focuses on the people side of it: the worry, the questions about identity and worth, and the trust a leader needs to bring a team along. It draws on leading change in real organizations and on what helps people learn something new together.
- What to say first when AI changes someone's work
- Three questions that bring fears into the open early
- A simple plan for a team to learn together, with clear agreements
Pair a keynote with time to practice.
Many event planners want more than an hour on stage. These options let a keynote turn into lasting change.
Keynote
One signature talk, tailored to your audience, with a take-home tool.
Keynote + breakout
The keynote for everyone, then a hands-on session for a smaller group.
Keynote + workshop
Open with the keynote, then build the skill in a full workshop.
Planning call
We learn about your audience, your theme and what you want people to do next.
Tailor
Stories, examples and the practice moment are shaped for your room.
Deliver
On stage or virtual, with a tool every attendee can use.
Follow on
A short follow-up guide for your team to keep the conversation going.
Stories from real rooms, and a room that does something.
Tony has spent his career in rooms where hard decisions get made: as an Air Force intelligence analyst, in defense consulting, leading talent and leadership work at large companies, and now coaching executives and school leaders. His talks bring that experience to the stage in plain language, and every one asks the audience to try something before they leave.
Speaker sheet (PDF)
Photo, bio, the three talks, formats and contact details on one page. Share it with your planning committee.
Request the speaker sheetCheck Tony's availability
Send your event name, date, city or virtual, audience size and what you want people to leave with.
Email your event detailsQuestions about keynotes
Can you speak virtually?
Yes. Virtual keynotes keep the practice moment, using breakout rooms or chat.
Can the talk fit our theme?
Yes. We tailor stories and examples to your theme and audience on the planning call.
Do you travel?
Yes. Tony is based in Lakeville, Minnesota and speaks nationwide. Travel is quoted with the fee.
What do attendees take home?
A one-page tool tied to the talk, and your team gets a short follow-up guide to keep the conversation going.
Bring Tony to your next event.
Tell us about your audience and date, and we'll get back to you with availability and options.
Check Tony's availability