Ruth Gotian is an Advisory Council Member of Harvard Business Review and the former Associate Professor of Education at Weill Cornell Medicine. Described by Thinkers50 as a “prolific mentor and educator, leading important research into the secrets of success”, Ruth is on a mission to help high achievers reach the next level by uncovering the habits of the world’s most successful individuals. Named one of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches and on the Thinkers50 Coaches50 2024 list, Ruth is now highly sought after as a keynote speaker for events focused on optimising success, building strong working relationships and shaping futures.
Ruth’s decorated career began as an Assistant Residence Hall Director at State University of New York at Stony Brook, a Consultant at Cornell University Medical College and a Management Associate at Bank Leumi Le Israel. In 1996, she first joined Weill Cornell Medical as Administrative Director, with her 30-year career at the organisation culminating as Associate Professor of Education. Other prominent roles at Weill Cornell Medical included Assistant Dean for Mentoring, Executive Director of the Mentoring Academy and Chief Learning Officer in Anaesthesiology. In 2007, Ruth became a Steering Committee Member and a Member of the Communication Committee of the Association of American Medical Colleges, initiating and leading various panel discussions and setting national policy.
In addition to these roles, Ruth has also been an Advisory Committee Member to the Deputy Director for Intramural Research at the National Institutes of Health, an Associate Editorial Board Member of the British Journal of Anaesthesia and a Board Member of the American Physician Scientists Association. Her diverse and decorated career has allowed her to establish a reputation as an industry thought-leader, and she has since been a contributor to Psychology Today, Harvard Business Review and Fast Company. Ruth is also a bestselling author, with her most recent co-authored publication released in 2026 – Mentoring in Healthcare: The Definitive Guide to Cultivating Individual and Organisational Success. She is also the author of The Success Factor and co-author of The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring.
The recipient of the Thinkers50 Radar Award in 2021 and named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Mentoring, Ruth Gotian is now highly sought after as a keynote speaker to unveil the secrets to success. As a seasoned speaker, Ruth has delivered impactful presentations for the likes of Oprah Winfrey Leadership Scholars, Brazil’s National Academy of Science and two branches of the US Military. She has also delivered speeches for corporate giants like EY and Accenture, and at prominent events such as Thinkers50 and the Chief Learning Officer Symposium. If you are searching for a keynote speaker who speaks dynamically on optimising success, leadership development, finding passion and purpose, mentorship and networking, don’t hesitate to hire Ruth Gotian today.
Social Media
Books
Mentoring in Healthcare: The Definitive Guide to Cultivating Individual & Organisational Success
The Success Factor: Developing the Mindset & Skillset for Peak Business Performance
The Financial Times to Mentoring: A Complete Guide to Effective Mentoring
Ruth Gotian's official speaking topics are listed below:
The Success Factor:
Developing the Mindset & Skillset for Peak Performance -
Forget the ordinary - nobody wakes up aspiring to be average, and neither should you. Discover the proven path to success through riveting insights drawn from real-life interviews with astronauts, Nobel Prize winners, CEOs and Olympic champions. Unveiling the methodology that sets high achievers apart, this presentation showcases the four intrinsic attributes crucial to reaching the pinnacle of success: intrinsic motivation, perseverance, a strong foundation and a commitment to constant learning.
Buckle up for an exhilarating workshop experience, guided by the principles outlined in the groundbreaking book, The Success Factor. Explore the secrets of high achievers and supercharge your performance by identifying your passion through a dynamic Passion Audit, mastering the art of mentorship, building a dynamic mentoring team, cultivating a community of practice, fueling your interests through informal learning, and mastering the delicate balance of time and energy.
And that’s not all – attendees have the exclusive opportunity to grab bulk copies of “The Success Factor” for a deeper dive into these transformative concepts. Customisation options, from personalised forwards to unique book bands, ensure a tailored experience that goes beyond the ordinary. Elevate your aspirations, unlock your potential, and join us on this thrilling quest for success!
Relationships Over Transactions:
The Art of Authentic Transactions -
Embark on a transformative journey into the art of building lasting and impactful professional relationships, even in the absence of face-to-face encounters. This dynamic keynote, inspired by the acclaimed Harvard Business Review article, unveils the secrets to cultivating a diverse and robust network, a skill indispensable for success, especially in times when in-person meetings are not always possible and time is scarce. Uncover the keys to standing out amidst the noise and maintaining meaningful connections ina virtual landscape.
Participants will not only grasp the benefits of building professional relationships but will also master the art of utilising a minimum of three platforms for networking, both in person and virtually. Elevate your introduction game to leave an indelible mark, reducing networking anxiety with the strategic deployment of powerful ‘starter sentences.’ Get ready to revolutionise your approach to professional connections and step into a world where meaningful relationships thrive, transcending physical boundaries.
And that’s not all – attendees have the exclusive opportunity to grab bulk copies of “The Success Factor” for a deeper dive into these transformative concepts. Customisation options, from personalised forwards to unique book bands, ensure a tailored experience that goes beyond the ordinary. Elevate your aspirations, unlock your potential, and join us on this thrilling quest for success!
Mentorship Mastery
Shaping Futures, Inspiring Success -
Join us on this mentorship journey where success isn't just a goal: it's a guaranteed outcome! Remember, those with mentors not only outperform but also outearn the rest - let's chart your path to success together! Uncover the secrets unveiled in her latest book, Financial Times Guide to Mentoring, and in top-tier articles from Forbes, Nature and Harvard Business Review.
Be the mentor everyone dreams of, fostering success and propelling your mentees to new heights. Learn the art of creating a dynamic mentoring team, master networking strategies, amplify voices on the mentor-sponsor continuum, and unlock the keys to approaching your next mentor or mentee.
Explore the vital skill of identifying toxic mentors (tormentors) and discover why being both a mentor and a mentee, regardless of your rank, is crucial for a thriving career. Let’s redefine mentorship together!
Other Topics:
- Optimising Success
- Mentorship
- Networking
- How Adults Learn
- Leadership Development
- Finding Your Passion & Purpose
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events:
"Ruth shared her deep insights on both high achievers and mentoring, creating a unique piece of content that resonated deeply with our audience of high achievers. She expertly demonstrated the negotiation skills necessary to be an effective mentor and how the principles of success can be applied to negotiation to become a high-achieving negotiator." - Kwame, Host, Negotiate Anything Podcast
"Dr Ruth is a warm and positive person who exudes professionalism in everything she turns her hand to. Having heard her speak publically I was blown away and felt she came across as extremely authentic and personal. Her range of expertise is vast, but aside from her excellent public speaking and affable manner, what impressed me most about her work is her book The Success Factor. It not only showed the depth of research and analysis she is capable of, but also how all of us need to improve in all aspects of our higher performance. It's beyond doubt one of my favourite books and one everyone in all walks of life should read so that they get the most from themselves and others they lead to." - Dr Conor, CEO, Consult Conor
- 2026 - Co-Author of "Mentoring in Healthcare: The Definitive Guide to Cultivating Individual & Organisational Success"
- 2024 - Advisory Council Member of Harvard Business Review
- 2024 - Contributor to Fast Company
- 2024 - Advisory Committee Member to the Deputy Director for Intramural Research at the National Institutes of Health: Intramural Research Program
- 2024 - Co-Author of "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring: A Complete Guide to Effective Mentoring"
- 2023 - Delivered the TEDx Talk "The Success Factor: Developing the Mindsets of High Achievers"
- 2023 - Named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Mentoring
- 2023 - Board Member of the American Physician Scientist Association
- 2023 - Associate Professor of Education at Weill Cornell Medicine
- 2022 - Author of "The Success Factor: Developing the Mindset & Skillset for Peak Business Performance"
- 2022 - Named a Top 20 Mentor in the World by the International Federation of Learning & Development
- 2021 - Named in the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches
- 2021 - Recipient of the Thinkers50 Radar Award
- 2021 - Named on the Thinkers50 Radar List
- 2020 - Contributor to Harvard Business Review
- 2020 - Contributor to Psychology Today
- 2020 - Contributor to Forbes
- 2019 - Associate Editorial Board Member of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
- 2019 - Recipient of the Bert I. Shapiro Award for Outstanding National Contributions to MD-PhD Training from the Association of American Medical Colleges
- 2018 - Chief Learning Officer in Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine
- 2018 - Assistant Professor of Education at Weill Cornell Medicine
- 2018 - Assistant Dean for Mentoring & Executive Director of the Mentoring Academy at Weill Cornell Medicine
- 2016 - Recipient of the Provost's Doctoral Dissertation Grant of the Teachers College of Columbia University
- 2015 - Recipient of the Shared Values Award from Weill Cornell Medical College
- 2007 - Member of the Communication Committee of the Association of American Medical Colleges
- 2007 - Steering Committee Member of the Association of American Medical Colleges
- 1996 - Administrative Director of Weill Cornell Medicine
- 1994 - Management Associate at Bank Leumi Le Israel
- 1993 - Consultant for Cornell University Medical College
- 1992 - Assistant Residence Hall Director of the State University of New York at Stony Brook
How to hire Ruth Gotian
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Ruth Gotian 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.
