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Dr. Mark DeVolder Profile

  • Top Change Management and Transformation Expert.

  • Thought-Leading Speaker on Transitioning through Disruption.

  • Award Winning Speaker.
  • Known as “The Change Specialist,” Dr. Mark DeVolder has guided some of the most high-stake transitions of recent history, preparing Colombian business leaders for the NAFTA Free Trade Agreement, aiding in the wrap up of the NASA space shuttle program, and coaching multiple companies through mergers and acquisitions.

    While studies show that approximately only 30% of change initiatives reach their stated goals, DeVolder has a 95% success rate as a licensed mediator, advising companies through multi-million dollar change management projects and resolving multi-party disputes. As a speaker DeVolder shares his two decades of research in unity, diversity, and synergy, along with the same easily applicable strategies he takes to the consulting table with the goal of making his audience “change-ready.”

    In addition to his enviable track record in consultation and mediation, DeVolder raises the bar as a presenter with his powerful delivery. He has won the prestigious Top 5 Speaker Award U.S.A. in Business Management for four consecutive years due to the outstanding mix of substance, style, and impact he brings to every program.

    • View Extended/Alternate Bio

      Dr. Mark DeVolder is recognized as one of today’s original thinkers and motivators on transitions. His high-energy, content-rich and humor-filled presentations teach people how to be bold, flexible and innovative in face of constant change.

      Known by his clients as the Change Specialist, DeVolder’s presentations are in demand by some of the largest and most successful organizations in the world. And with good reason, DeVolder reveals why 70 percent of most change initiatives fail to achieve their stated goals. With convincing business examples and compelling stories, Mark unveils straight-forward strategies that produce dramatic results.

      Mark DeVolder delivers dynamic presentations in both the private and the public sector to industry leaders and Fortune 500 companies. Mark’s client list is impressive, including NASA, Re/Max, Siemens, PepsiCo Europe, Suncor Energy, Laird Technology, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medtronic, Produce Marketing Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers, to name a few. DeVolder has entertained, informed and delighted audiences from Monaco to Dubai, from Singapore to Barcelona and from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur.

      As a change expert, author and internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, Dr. DeVolder won the prestigious Top 5 Speaker Award U.S.A. in Business Management for four consecutive years.

      Mark’s keynotes are backed-up by impressive business acumen; as a licensed mediator, DeVolder has skilfully guided million dollar change management projects and resolved multiparty disputes with an enviable 95% success rate.

      DeVolder’s customized programs are a mix of practical tools, rigorous research, collaborative consulting, all punctuated with entertaining humor and engaging audience interaction. People leave with tools and a template to re-energize, re-engage and transform their workplace and life.

    Dr. Mark DeVolder Speaking Videos

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    Dr. Mark DeVolder's Speech Descriptions

    If change leaves you paralyzed or trapped, Dr. Mark DeVolder has the expertise and proven techniques to get you out of the doorway and moving forward. His high-energy interactive presentations are timeless, relevant, and applicable to anyone in the workplace and at home.

    DeVolder implements stories, humor, and entertaining activities to break down the elements of transition and give audiences the tools they need to shift quickly from old practices to new, make decisions faster, and stay on top of unpredictability.

    In a world where change is here to stay, DeVolder can help you gain a competitive edge through helping you and your organization foster a more flexible, trusting, and engaging work environment.

    Future Proof: Navigating Change with Confidence and Excitement

    Imagine a new way to change: unhurried, composed, and confident instead of the usual frenzy, chaos, and uncertainty. The Empowered Change strategy presented in this high-impact keynote equips participants to transform the pace of change and drive sustainable success by providing a clear roadmap for navigating the stages of change.

    This program is perfect for leaders and teams in the midst of constant change who are:

    • Going through organizational growth, such as mergers and acquisitions, leadership changes, restructuring, and digital transformation
    • Navigating their team members’ reactions to the volatility, complexity, and ambiguity in their work and life (like frustration, anxiety, confusion, and fear)
    • Feeling unprepared for their evolving roles and responsibilities or unable to change at the rate and pace needed to keep up with ever-increasing changes
    After this intensely practical session, the audience will leave with:
    • A Journey-map framework for understanding any change they experience
    • A personal plan for confidently navigating the transitions between each stage of change
    • The skills and mindset for boldly mobilizing through disruptive change to accomplish their objectives

    Harnessing the Hurricane: Leadership Secrets for Successfully Navigating Change

    Drawing from more than two decades of working with global industry leaders, Mark distills the secrets of effective change leadership into the five essential mindsets demonstrated by top leaders.
    This program is perfect for leaders and managers who are:
    • -Leading significant organizational changes that require alignment, buy-in, and engagement
    • -Struggling to keep up with the constant evolution of work, including remote/hybrid work, digital transformations, and new business models
    • -Needing to adapt to, anticipate, and initiate disruption in their industry
    During Mark’s high-octane presentation, your audience will learn how to:
    • -Avoid change-paralysis and develop change-ready thinking and behaviors
    • -Overcome decision-quicksand and make smart decisions faster
    • -Develop a leadership mindset for navigating themselves and their team through any change

    On Fire! Energized Together Everyone, Every Day

    This keynote empowers the audience to eliminate the mindsets and actions that extinguish motivation and enthusiasm and instead create life-giving opportunities to energize everyone every day.

    This program is ideal for anyone in the organization who is:
    • -Navigating multiple changes in the organization, some happening simultaneously
    • -Experiencing change saturation because of the pace and rate of constant change
    • -Frustrated and stressed about having to do more with less while contending with unclear direction and communication

    The audience will leave with:
    • -Tools for identifying which of their current behaviors build up and tear down engagement
    • -Strategies to increase engagement in four key areas: clarity, competence, influence, and appreciation
    • -A proven plan for igniting every employee’s passion for teamwork, communication, and innovation

    Getting to Target Zero: Developing High-Performance Safety

    Hazards and challenges abound in the fast and frenzied pace of business today: potentially dangerous situations, increased regulations, growing mental health issues in the workplace. However, the most common barrier is change itself. This safety keynote addresses the obstacles that cause people to disengage and empowers them to maintain both high performance and safety.

    This program is perfect for leaders and teams:

    - Working in a highly regulated environment that is under the pressure of constant change and government regulations.
    - Dealing with stressful, potentially dangerous, time-sensitive situations and crises.
    - Fostering a safer workplace environment such as physical safety, psychological well-being and healthy workplace protocols.

    The audience will leave with:
    - A framework to understand and navigate the changes they experience through the lens of safety.
    - Tools to identify current behaviors and practices that build high-performance safety and which practices tear it down.
    - The education and motivation to take the first step toward high-performance safety.

    Unstoppable Resilience: Developing the Mindset of Champions

    Resilience is the quintessential element (aka. secret sauce) behind champions and successful teams. This highly actionable keynote teaches the audience how to instill this mindset into the DNA of their culture and team.

    This program is perfect for leaders and teams who are:
    • Responsible for creating unity, well-being, and engagement in their team
    • Tasked with delivering profitability and high performance during organizational change and disruption
    • Seeking to create a resilient culture throughout their team and organization

    The audience will leave with:
    • Strategies for increasing elastic thinking, continuous learning, and unstoppable perseverance
    • The motivation and tools to increase innovation, creativity, and risk-taking in their personal and professional lives
    • The ability to cultivate a growth mindset of unlimited potential in the face of adversity, stress, and disruption

    Dr. Mark DeVolder on Speaking

    I want people to be inspired, motivated and equipped to navigate change and become fully engaged at work and at home.

    SPEAKING.COM: What do you want people to learn / take away from your presentations?


    DEVOLDER: I want people to be inspired, motivated and equipped to navigate change and become fully engaged at work and at home.

    I often receive comments from clients after my presentation thanking me for my high energy and humor, engaging audience interaction, and great content with practical takeaways.

    It’s important for me to touch people’s hearts and minds and spark their desire to change. In that regard, I like to include practical takeaways that are easy to understand and apply immediately. For instance, becoming change-ready, shift-ability (to be able to shift gears quickly and make decisions fast) and providing personal happiness / engagement tips.

    SPEAKING.COM: What kind of special prep work do you do prior to an event? How do you prepare for your speaking engagements?

    DEVOLDER: Like most speakers, I customize my presentations through client interviews, research, and on-site interviews. For instance, prior to one of my presentations, I met with the CEO of a national airline. During the meeting, he provided valuable information which would make my presentation even more relevant to the audience. Needless to say, after the meeting I then spent hours adding new material to my presentation. The next day, after my session, the CEO thanked me and told me how amazed he was that I was able to incorporate so many of his key comments into my presentation.

    SPEAKING.COM: Have you had any particularly memorable speaking engagements / unusual situations arise while on the road?

    DEVOLDER: Usually what makes the presentation memorable is not only working with the client and company, but getting to know the attendees and sometimes being part of their conference activities. I’ve had the privilege of working with many Fortune 500 companies and Industry leaders around the world in over 15 different countries. And in my travels, I’ve had some memorable experiences. For instance, after speaking for a multinational company in Monte Carlo, I was invited to be the guest of honor at a surprise private concert by Enrique Iglesias.

    Even though I speak to a variety of industries, the common theme is usually organizations going through change, such as reorganizations and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions.

    SPEAKING.COM: What types of audiences would most benefit from your message?

    DEVOLDER: Even though I speak to a variety of industries, the common theme is usually organizations going through change, such as reorganizations and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions. In addition, I’ve done master classes, as well as leadership sessions for C-level executives and other professionals.

    SPEAKING.COM: Which of your keynote topics are the most popular? How are your keynote presentations unique? Which of your keynote speeches do you enjoy the most and why?

    DEVOLDER:My most popular presentation is “Harness the Hurricane: Adapt to Extreme Change and Achieve New Heights.” This presentation brings together the topics of change, transition, and engagement.

    The response I love to hear from people is, “I can do that!”

    SPEAKING.COM: How much do case studies, personal stories and/or humor factor into your keynote speech content?

    DEVOLDER: Case studies, personal stories and humor are essential in getting the message across. But more importantly, these elements help participants relate it to their lives. The response I love to hear from people is, “I can do that!”

    SPEAKING.COM: What are some of the successes you have helped clients make?

    DEVOLDER: Change is extremely difficult on all levels. As the research shows, 70% of all change initiatives fail to achieve their stated goals. For many of the companies that hire me to speak, there is a lot at stake. If the change goes well and people stay engaged, it means the difference between success and failure. For me, it’s extremely gratifying to help people accomplish their goals and make a positive impact on their world.

    SPEAKING.com Exclusive Interview with Dr. Mark DeVolder
    Change Management with Dr. Mark DeVolder
    In this interview, Dr. Mark DeVolder discusses:
  • How organizations best adapt to change.
  • Tips for accelerating performance and productivity.
  • Some of the essential keys of entrepreneurship.
  • The concept of “practicing deliberate intuitiveness.”
  • How organizations adapting to change help with transitions.
    Read the Full Interview
  • "People who are not change-ready thinkers, often view change as a threat. Change-ready people see change as a challenge and an opportunity."
    - Dr. Mark DeVolder

    What People are Saying about Seeing Dr. Speak

    Rating Entries

    “Mark , you were nothing short of awesome!!!”
    – Chief Personnel Officer, PepsiCo Europe

    “Mark DeVolder was fantastic, highly engaged with the audience. The best part, we walked out of the room with tools to help us with change management.
    -Marlene Stanger, Operations Lead, Monsanto

    “We all left with a better grip on our own humanity and tools to soar higher.”
    – Spaceport Operations, NASA

    “Dr. DeVolder was thought-provoking and dynamic. Moving and powerful.”
    -Al-Noor Moosa, Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers

    “Dr. Mark DeVolder was very insightful. He speaks with lots of humour and engagement of the crowd.”
    -CEO, Purolator

    “Dr. DeVolder provided amazing examples of how we can get engaged, improve our lives and accept change.”
    -CEO, New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union

    “Dr. Mark DeVolder was very insightful. He speaks with lots of humour and engagement of the crowd.”
    -CEO, Purolator

    “Dr. DeVolder provided amazing examples of how we can get engaged, improve our lives and accept change.”
    -CEO, New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union

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