Richard Gerver is an internationally acclaimed speaker, celebrated for his profound insights into leadership, education, and organisational transformation. As a former educator who successfully turned around a failing UK school in just two years, Richard was labelled as the 'Walt Disney of the Classroom' by the UK Media and has since established himself as a leading voice on human leadership and change management. One of his most notable achievements includes being named ‘UK Business Speaker of the Year’ three times, a testament to his impact and influence.
Richard's early career was deeply rooted in education, where his passion for teaching and leadership flourished. After earning his qualifications, he quickly rose through the ranks to become a headteacher, where he faced the daunting task of revitalising a struggling Grange Primary School. His innovative approach not only reversed the school’s fortunes but also garnered international attention, setting the stage for his transition into a sought-after consultant and speaker. This journey underscores Richard’s deep understanding of growth, change, and resilience.
Throughout his career, Richard has achieved numerous accolades and milestones that highlight his expertise and commitment. He is the author of four books, including ‘Change: Learn to Love It, Learn to Lead It’ and ‘Simple Thinking’, which have become essential reads for those interested in leadership and innovation. His work with major organisations like Google, Microsoft, and Visa, coupled with his collaboration with global figures such as Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama, Eric Schmidt and more, further solidifies his standing as a global thought leader. In 2023, he continued to expand his influence through best-selling LinkedIn Learning courses on Smart Thinking and Mental Toughness. Richard has won numerous accolades, including a UNESCO award for leadership, being listed among Global Gurus Top 30 Thinkers, and the National Teaching Awards Headteacher of the Year.
Hiring Richard Gerver as a keynote speaker ensures access to a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies. His topics, including Change, Simple Thinking, Purpose, and Mental Toughness, are crucial for organisations navigating the complexities of the modern world and are demonstrated in his acclaimed TEDx talk 'Finding a Sense of Higher Purpose'. He has also given talks to the RSA and BBC Radio. Richard's ability to simplify complex concepts and provide actionable insights makes his presentations not only inspiring but also transformative, leaving audiences equipped to drive meaningful change.
Books
Education: A Manifesto for Change
Change: Learn to Love It, Learn to Lead It
Creating Tomorrow's Schools: Today Education - Our Children - Their Futures
Simple Thinking: How to Remove Complexity from Life and Work
Richard Gerver’s Official Speaker Topics are listed below:
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 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 and 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 on 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 also 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 reflects 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.
Richard is also known to discuss the following topics:
- Simple Thinking
- Purpose
- Mental Toughness
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"Richard was absolutely wonderful and positive comments have not stopped flooding in. He was a real crowd pleaser." - New Zealand Principals Federation Conference Committee
"Everything was wonderful. Richard is one of the most inspiring, fantastic people I have ever met. Richard was able to motivate, inspire and to engage the students positively." - University of Teacher Education, Syria
"Enthusiastic and passionate, Richard also has the knowledge and experience to back his thoughts up." - Wokingham District Council
- 2023 - Achieved global recognition for best-selling LinkedIn Learning courses: ‘Smart Thinking’ and ‘Mental Toughness’, reaching over 1 million learners worldwide
- 2022 - Delivered keynote speeches at major global leadership events in 20+ countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and across Europe
- 2020 - Named ‘UK Business Speaker of the Year’ for the third time
- 2019 - Launched highly acclaimed courses on LinkedIn Learning
- 2018 - Published the best-selling book ‘Simple Thinking’
- 2015 - Published ‘Change: Learn to Love It, Learn to Lead It’
- 2012 - Collaborated with global leaders, including Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama
- 2010 - Worked with industry giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Visa
- 2006 - Successfully turned around Grange Primary School, a failing UK school, in just two years, leading to international recognition and case studies in educational reform
- 2005 - Awarded the UNESCO prize for ‘Leadership and Innovation in Education’
- 2004 - Featured in leading publications including The Times and The Guardian
How to hire Richard Gerver
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Richard Gerver for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
