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Dan Heath

Business, Change Management, Innovation, Leadership

Travels from Durham, North Carolina, USA

Dan Heath's speaking fee falls within range:
$50,000 to $75,000

Check Dan Heath's Availability and Fee

Dan Heath Profile

  • Five time New York Times bestselling author of classic business books including Made to Stick, Switch, The Power of Moments, Upstream, and his latest book, Reset.

  • His podcast, What It’s Like to Be…, explores the world of work one profession at a time, with episodes featuring a mystery novelist, a forensic accountant, a couples therapist, and more. It landed on Apple’s ranking of the Top 50 Society & Culture podcasts.

  • A senior fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, which supports social entrepreneurs who are fighting for social good.

  • Co-founder of Thinkwell, an innovation education company that was one of the first firms to bring video courses to the internet.
  • Dan Heath is the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author (or author) of six beloved business books: Switch, Made to Stick, Decisive, The Power of Moments, Upstream, and his latest book, Reset.

    His books have been translated into 35 languages and have sold over 4 million copies worldwide. His writing honors include: One of the best nonfiction books of the year, according to Amazon. One of the best audiobooks of the year, according to Apple. And the Owl Award for Best Business Book of the Year.

    Dan also hosts a Top 5 Apple Careers podcast called: “What It’s Like to Be…” In every episode, he interviews someone from a different profession: a couples therapist, a homicide detective, a cattle rancher, and more.

    He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of Texas at Austin.

    He lives now in Durham, North Carolina.

    Dan Heath Speaking Videos

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    Dan Heath's Speech Descriptions

    Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working

    Changing how we work can feel overwhelming. Like trying to budge an enormous boulder. How do you move past “the way you’ve always done things”? Where do you find the time and energy for new efforts when you’re constantly fighting fires?

    With the right strategy, we can move the boulder. The secret is to find “leverage points”: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. And that search requires us to observe our work with fresh eyes.

    We’ll explore why getting “buy-in” is the wrong way to think about change. Why considering the “goal of the goal” is a critical discipline. And why the feeling of progress can be your secret weapon in accelerating change.

    In this talk, drawing from his book RESET, Heath unpacks a simple framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. What if we could unlock forward movement without the need for more resources? The same people, the same assets … but dramatically better results.

    Yesterday, we were stuck. Today, we reset.

    Creating Moments That Matter

    Some experiences are vastly more memorable and meaningful than others: A moment of extraordinary service that a customer can’t stop talking about. A moment of insight that helps a group of employees embrace a new vision. A moment of compassion that makes a patient’s burden feel lighter. Everywhere you look, people are trying to craft memorable experiences—from customer experiences to patient experiences. Leaders are working hard to boost employee engagement, student engagement, and parishioner engagement. But these discussions have been dominated by a focus on fixing problems (what Dan Heath calls “filling pits”), rather than creating memorable experiences (“raising peaks”). Yet Heath’s research suggests that it’s far more valuable to build peaks.

    How do you build peaks for the people you care about? In this talk, drawing from his book The Power of Moments, Heath will reveal the four elements that create defining moments. Armed with an understanding of these elements, we can be the authors of moments that spark delight, connection, and insight.

    Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

    So often in our organizations and communities, we fall into a cycle of reaction. A problem happens, and we respond. We fight fires. We contend with emergencies. Researchers call this “tunneling”: We don’t see the big picture, and we don’t think about the future, we just keep pushing forward from one crisis to the next. What if instead we could shift our energies upstream — uncovering and addressing the source of those problems?

    In this talk, Heath will reveal how some leaders have learned to spot problems in advance: There’s a school district that can predict which students will drop out – a full 4 years before graduation. There’s an internet service company that can predict which customers are likely to cancel their subscriptions — as early as two weeks after they sign up! When we shift from downstream response to upstream planning, it can cause miracles: One company eliminated 20 million customer support calls by asking, “How can we make sure our customers never need to call us?” And one nation in Europe has almost eliminated teenage substance abuse by asking, “How can we create a teenage culture that offers such compelling sober activities that teens simply don’t feel like drinking or doing drugs?”

    Heath will share the three forces that push us downstream, as well as the powerful levers we can use to start preventing problems before they happen.

    Making Ideas Stick

    In a world drowning in information, how do you make your idea stand out? It’s hard enough just to get an audience for your idea—and much harder still for it to be memorable and meaningful for your listeners. How much do you remember from the last PowerPoint presentation you saw?

    Yet there are ideas that seem to stick naturally, ranging from urban legends to proverbs. Dan’s international best-seller Made to Stick revealed the surprising parallels between these naturally sticky ideas and ideas in the workplace that change attitudes and behavior, including successful corporate strategies, product visions, public health messages, and even coaching advice. As a result of the unexpected analysis and the practical advice that derives from it, Made to Stick was named the “Best Business Book of the Year” and was subsequently translated into over 30 languages.

    In this talk, Dan will reveal that sticky messages of all kinds draw their power from six key traits, ranging from unexpectedness to emotion. If you understand these traits, you can communicate your own ideas in a way that is influential and lasting—in a way that sticks.

    Leading a Switch

    Why do some big changes happen easily while many small changes prove impossible? The answer hinges on some of the most fascinating findings in psychology. Our mind is divided into two different systems—an analytical mind and an emotional mind—that are often in conflict, particularly in situations of change. Building on this research, and based on the book, Switch, which spent 47 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, Dan will reveal a simple, three-part framework that will help you change things in tough times.

    All of us have things we want to change—in our families, our businesses, and our communities. Our goal might be as simple as losing a few pounds or as complex as changing the culture of an organization. Where do you start? And what do you do when you face resistance? This session is a must for any change leader who is struggling to make progress. Dan’s talk will give leaders the specific tools—and the inspiration—they need to make change happen.

    What People are Saying about Seeing Dan Speak

    Rating Entries

    “Dan delivered an outstanding presentation. We especially appreciated the structure of three 15-minute sessions interspersed with prompted discussion topics, which kept the keynote dynamic and maintained audience engagement throughout. The feedback from our audience has been overwhelmingly positive, and the presentation aligned perfectly with our quality and safety objectives.”
    – Ann Katherine Hoobler , Director of Operations, MedStar Health

    “Dan’s presentation was world class! Both in terms of clarity and relevance to our conference, but also from the tech aspect. Dan Heath’s presentation was next level and he was able to connect with the audience even though he was not on-site and connected to us through Zoom.”
    – Thorfinnnur Skulason, Chief Communications Officer, Planet Youth

    “I wanted to say that Dan Heath’s presentation at our First Movers Summit was superb. Even in a digital format, he is an extraordinarily gifted presenter. And the content really resonated with our audience. Thank you so much for helping to make it possible for us to work with him.”
    – Nancy McGaw, Senior Advisor, Aspen Institute Business & Society Program

    “The presentation exceeded my every expectation. Dan captivated and engaged the audience. He created an emotional connection with the audience and inspired us to think in moments. I have heard rave reviews from our team and how meaningful the presentation was.”
    – Linda Cooper, SVP, Director Consumer Delivery, BOK Financial

    “Dan was sensational as always. He had the highest rated session of the week. Many participants mentioned how it helped them shift their mindset, specifically around their individual business challenges. Dan was generous with his prep time and extremely thoughtful in customizing his content for us.”
    – Associate Partner, Consulting Firm

    “I cannot think of a more engaging speaker who manages to inspire, create hope, and also deliver insightful ideas that are accessible, practical and doable. Leaders walk away from a Dan Heath talk thinking differently about their work, grounded in a clear path forward, and approaching massive change with optimism. Because Dan’s thinking is memorable and actionable, they feel stronger, due to what feels like a masterclass in leadership.”
    – Erika Nielsen Andrew, Director of Professional Learning, Folio Collaborative

    “Dan Heath’s presentation was challenging and inspiring to our team. His preparation was unparalleled; he astutely customized his content to our distinctive organization. He cared about advancing our growth agenda and illuminated blind spots in our strategic approaches. We are already considering Dan for another session.”
    – Compassion International

    “Dan delivered an engaging and relevant session, specific to our topic and needs. We appreciated that he took the time to listen and understand our audience and event goals, and then delivered on multiple touchpoints. His production quality was incredible, with clear audio and visuals – taking a huge lift off our production team – and his ability to pivot between camera angles and whiteboarding kept the audience’s engagement. His session was the highest rated within our event, with above average CSATs. We hope to work together again one day! “
    – Qualtrics

    “Dan Heath is a captivating speaker who will challenge your audience to think outside the box. Dan personalized his program to our company and industry, which multiplied the impact of his message. Dan was the highlight of our day’s program and our associates are still raving about his message!”
    – Dan Piotrowski, SVP Operations

    “Dan was fantastic. Zoom can be a challenge to hook and keep an audience’s attention but Dan used multiple channels to keep the audience engaged and listening. Our attendees were very impressed and excited to talk upstream.”
    – Amber Weir, Project Director, NorCal4Health

    “Dan is a engaging speaker and his communication skills led to a high level of success and satisfaction. His exceptional presentation inspired our regional school systems to take steps to work “Upstream” to overcome barriers to fix the systems that cause problems. After speaking at our annual Summer Leadership Conference, educational leaders left with a renewed enthusiasm for the commitment to work “Upstream”. This important work shifts our focus from reacting to problems, putting out fires, and dealing with emergencies, to focusing our attention and energy to preventing them. Dan’s keynote and work will have a great impact towards the success of the 100,000+ students in our region.”
    – Dr. Stephanie Gordy, Executive Director, Griffin RESA

    “The Board of Trustees was fully engaged and appreciated the challenge he left us to begin to act more Upstream. We have already taken the design framework and started to think differently, more inclusively, and more broadly. He has already made an impact on how we are thinking about higher education.”
    – Lorrie Clemo, President, D’Youville College

    “Our HR group was highly engaged and many of our team offered that they would ‘seek the bright spots.’ I think that was a concrete phrase and concept that our team will latch on to. The lead up to and the program were excellent quality.”
    – Kelley Weil, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, BOK Financial

    “Dan’s presentation was fantastic! His preparation, research and deep knowledge of business and technology connected with a global audience watching it virtually. Not only that, but he fully understood our company culture, values, and voice and translated those to the virtual stage impeccably. He is a complete pro in every way and we would welcome the opportunity to work together again in the future.”
    – Belen Alvarez, Communication Lead LATAM, Globant

    “I do not think I would be exaggerating to say that Dan Heath was one of (if not THE) best speaker we have ever had. … He is a fantastic presenter who has mastered the ability to deliver his message to an audience in a likable, engaging, entertaining, persuasive and memorable way.”
    – ManageCamp

    “The seminar was a great success and I think Dan is one of the best speakers of the world at the moment (together with Marshall Goldsmith). He combines a very relaxed style with a very intense message. That’s a brilliant mix.”
    – DenkProducties (Netherlands)

    “Dan was incredible!!!!!! He really moved us and now we are calling ourselves moment makers. Dan is funny, motivational, and one of the best presenters I have seen. He was a blessing and exactly what we needed.”
    – VANS

    “I have booked Dan three times and he’s a slam dunk every single time. His last talk had our attendees laughing, crying and thinking differently about what they do and how they do it. It was one of the top 5 best talks I’ve ever seen delivered in my 25 years as an event strategist. He’s flexible and easy to work with. Most importantly, he cares—about you, your organization, and if what he’s sharing is truly resonating with your audience.”
    – LeadingAge

    “Dan brought down the house and was the highlight of the conference for many of the folks. Thank you again for bringing such a rewarding and valuable message to our group!”
    – CASE/NAIS Independent Schools conference

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    Books by Dan Heath:

    Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A revolutionary guide to fixing what’s not working—in systems and processes, organizations and companies, and even in our daily lives—by identifying leverage points and concentrating resources to achieve our goals.

    Changing how we work can feel overwhelming. Like trying to budge an enormous boulder. We’re stifled by the gravity of the way we’ve always done things. And we spend so much time fighting fires—and fighting colleagues—that we lack the energy to shift direction.

    But with the right strategy, we can move the boulder. In Reset, Heath explores a framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. The secret is to find “leverage points”: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. Then, we can thoughtfully rearrange our resources to push on those points.

    Heath weaves together fascinating examples, ranging from a freakishly effective fast-food drive-thru to a simple trick from couples therapy to an inspirational campaign that saved a million cats.

    In Reset, you’ll learn:
    -Why the feeling of progress can be your secret weapon in accelerating change
    -How leaders can uncover and stop wasteful activities
    -Why your team’s motivation is often squandered—and how to avoid that mistake
    -How you can jumpstart your change efforts by beginning with a “burst”

    The book investigates mysteries: Why the middle is the roughest part of a change effort. Why inefficiency can sometimes accelerate progress. Why getting “buy-in” is the wrong way to think about change.

    What if we could unlock forward movement—achieving progress on what matters most—without the need for more resources? The same people, the same assets…but dramatically better results. Yesterday, we were stuck. Today, we reset.




    The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

    The New York Times best-selling authors of Switch and Made to Stick explore why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us – and how we can learn to create such extraordinary moments in our life and work.

    While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter. What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember 20 years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children?

    This book delves into some fascinating mysteries of experience: Why we tend to remember the best or worst moment of an experience as well as the last moment and forget the rest. Why “we feel most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel most alive when they’re not”. And why our most cherished memories are clustered into a brief period during our youth.

    Listeners discover how brief experiences can change lives, such as the experiment in which two strangers meet in a room, and, 45 minutes later, they leave as best friends. (What happens in that time?) Or the tale of the world’s youngest female billionaire, who credits her resilience to something her father asked the family at the dinner table. (What was that simple question?)

    Many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck – but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them? The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences.




    Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

    Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives?

    The primary obstacle is a conflict that’s built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed bestseller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems – the rational mind and the emotional mind – that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort – but if it is overcome, change can come quickly.

    In Switch, the Heaths show how everyday people – employees and managers, parents and nurses – have united both minds and, as a result, achieved dramatic results:

    ● The lowly medical interns who managed to defeat an entrenched, decades-old medical practice that was endangering patients
    ● The home-organizing guru who developed a simple technique for overcoming the dread of housekeeping
    ● The manager who transformed a lackadaisical customer-support team into service zealots by removing a standard tool of customer service

    In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switchshows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.




    Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

    New York Times best-selling author Dan Heath explores how to prevent problems before they happen, drawing on insights from hundreds of interviews with unconventional problem solvers.

    So often in life, we get stuck in a cycle of response. We put out fires. We deal with emergencies. We stay downstream, handling one problem after another, but we never make our way upstream to fix the systems that caused the problems. Cops chase robbers, doctors treat patients with chronic illnesses, and call-center reps address customer complaints. But many crimes, chronic illnesses, and customer complaints are preventable. So why do our efforts skew so heavily toward reaction rather than prevention?

    Upstream probes the psychological forces that push us downstream – including “problem blindness,” which can leave us oblivious to serious problems in our midst. And Heath introduces us to the thinkers who have overcome these obstacles and scored massive victories by switching to an upstream mindset. One online travel website prevented 20 million customer service calls every year by making some simple tweaks to its booking system. A major urban school district cut its dropout rate in half after it figured out that it could predict which students would drop out – as early as the ninth grade. A European nation almost eliminated teenage alcohol and drug abuse by deliberately changing the nation’s culture. And one EMS system accelerated the emergency-response time of its ambulances by using data to predict where 911 calls would emerge – and forward-deploying its ambulances to stand by in those areas.

    Upstream delivers practical solutions for preventing problems rather than reacting to them. How many problems in our lives and in society are we tolerating simply because we’ve forgotten that we can fix them?




    Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The instant classic about why some ideas thrive, why others die, and how to make your ideas stick.

    “Anyone interested in influencing others—to buy, to vote, to learn, to diet, to give to charity or to start a revolution—can learn from this book.”—The Washington Post

    Mark Twain once observed, “A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.” His observation rings true: Urban legends, conspiracy theories, and bogus news stories circulate effortlessly. Meanwhile, people with important ideas—entrepreneurs, teachers, politicians, and journalists—struggle to make them “stick.”

    In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds—from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony—draw their power from the same six traits.

    Made to Stick will transform the way you communicate. It’s a fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures): the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who drank a glass of bacteria to prove a point about stomach ulcers; the charities who make use of the Mother Teresa Effect; the elementary-school teacher whose simulation actually prevented racial prejudice.

    Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas—and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.

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