Richard Gerver

Richard Gerver came to prominence when, as a headteacher he turned around a failing school in the UK in under two years. Winning plaudits globally, Richard was referred to as “The Walt Disney of The Classroom” by the UK media, and went on to win a multitude of international awards including a UNESCO award for leadership and innovation, Global Gurus Top 30 Thinker, and The National Teaching Awards, Headteacher of the Year.

Richard has since taken to the global stage where he uses his trademark humour and natural style to deliver inspirational and authentic speeches. He draws upon his own experiences from frontline education to explore the links between great leadership, human potential, change and innovation. It is this authenticity and uniqueness which has helped Richard win him global acclaim and invitations to speak on the most recognised stages, including TED, the RSA and BBC radio.

Using his unique experience and insight, Richard has also authored 4 books and developed 2 courses for LinkedIn Learning as one of the world’s most influential experts on change and human leadership, helping those struggling with uncertainty and change caused by rapid and dramatic shifts in technological, economic, political, health and environmental developments.

His impactful and sustainable leadership philosophies and strategies for change, have seen him work with iconic brands, organisations and individuals including Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Visa, and GSK, President Obama, The Dalai Lama, Steve Wozniak and Eric Schmidt. He has spoken to audiences worldwide, including in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, Russia, The UAE, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil and Spain.

SPEAKING TOPICS

Change

Change is certainly not a new phenomenon, but it is an accelerating one. On the whole, we were educated and prepared to live lives where certainty would be our reward, personally and professionally. We were told that if we got our heads down and focused on doing the best we could, as efficiently as possible our reward would be stability. The rapid evolutions in technology, global economy, the environment, social and societal fabric have led to a world where doing enough, only seems to leave us lagging further and further behind, exhausted by the efforts we are expending just to try and keep pace. The brutal truth is that the world, our sectors and our lives are never going to slow down, or go back to ‘normal’, so we need to find ways to evolve- not just in the workplace but at home too. We must develop new ways of thinking and behaving if we are to find ways to feel in control of the future and enjoy the opportunities it will present. To do that, we must understand why we feel the way we do and what we can do, personally and professionally, to build new and proactive mindsets that will find us ahead of the curve, rather than breathlessly trying to cling on to the back of it.

Resilience

The world is spinning faster than ever and is throwing an increasing number of challenges and obstacles our way, be they social, technological, economic, medical or personal and the key to successfully navigating these periods is mental toughness; resilience. It won’t just help you survive but it’ll prepare you to thrive in the complexity and uncertainty. Whether we like to admit it or not, professional and personal lives often become intertwined – no matter how hard we try to prevent it. Stresses in one can soon take their toll on the other, and skills learned at home can also be brought into the workplace. For this reason, it’s of utmost importance to ensure your team has everything they need for mental resilience to allow them to shine – not just in the workplace but at home too. When we find ways to deal with the tough stuff, we can focus, with greater clarity and precision about a proactive future.

The Currency of Curiosity: Unlocking Growth, Innovation, and Human Potential

In today’s world of rapid change and uncertainty, the organisations that thrive are those fuelled by curiosity. Yet, in many workplaces, curiosity is undervalued—replaced by efficiency, compliance, and routine. Richard Gerver, world-renowned educator, author, and leadership expert, brings his unique insight into how curiosity drives learning, creativity, resilience, and ultimately, performance. This keynote reframes curiosity not as a “soft skill,” but as a critical business capability. By drawing on his experiences transforming schools, advising businesses, and working with elite performers in sport, entertainment, and innovation, Richard will show leaders how to embed curiosity into their culture, leadership, and decision-making.

Education

Why does education leadership matter? The future depends on our learning and education system not only being efficient but dynamic. If our core moral purpose is to prepare emerging generations for the challenges of their future, then we need to ensure that, as leaders and educators, we are cognisant of the challenges that that future may hold and be ready to evolve the system to meet not only the changing demands in terms of knowledge, but in behaviours, attributes, attitudes and skills. As leaders and as educators, we need to ensure that we develop cultures that are open to change and to us broadening horizons, to being prepared to be challenged and to challenge ourselves, so that we continue to provide a system worthy of our children and one that reflect the opportunities of the future as well as anchoring the achievements of the past. As organisations beyond the formal education sector, creating a culture of curiosity, education and learning, will be the defining characteristic of sustainable success as we head into the complexity of the 22nd Century.