Respect for All: how a nice-to-have turned into an absolute organizational imperative

Respect for All

Fresh from keynoting at CultureCon 2025 in Madison, join Gregg Ward, the award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, thought leader and Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership as he helps us learn about the surprising power and effectiveness of respect and how we can chart a new, more human-centered approach to our organizational culture challenges. Developing an Actively Respectful Culture™ is entirely possible in any organization and Gregg – a former NYC actor and master storyteller - shows us how. In this highly impactful and engaging session participants will learn how respect and disrespect are as much about feelings as they are rational, cognitive thought, and how a respectful work environment is no longer a nice-to-have, but a vital business imperative that drives key performance indicators in productivity, partnership and retention. Gregg, who has graciously offered to share this program with us in person on his way home to California, has delivered this engaging, powerful, and informative keynote to great acclaim at dozens of ATD, SHRM and ICF conferences and at corporate audiences all over the world, with many calling him, “the best keynote speaker they’ve ever heard.” 

Speaker Bio

Gregg Ward is an electrifying keynote speaker, award-winning and bestselling author, and executive coach renowned for his transformative approach to self-respect and personal growth. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership® and The Respect for All Foundation.

Gregg is the son of the famous sportswriter, Gene Ward, and as a child he was powerfully influenced by the sports legends of his day including Joe Namath, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, and Muhammad Ali. Eventually, while working as an actor in New York, Gregg received an offer that changed his life – to pioneer a groundbreaking training program for the NYPD that leveraged his skills in live interactive theater and improvisation. Since then, he has delivered over 2,500 keynotes, seminars, and programs all over the world.

A writer like his dad, Gregg’s second book, the business fable The Respectful Leader was published by Wiley in 2016, was immediately named a Best Book of the Month by Amazon, went on to become a bestseller within a week, and was honored with a Gold Medal in the prestigious Axiom Business Book Awards competition. Gregg also worked as a freelance journalist on assignment throughout Europe for BBC Radio, The Times, Scotland on Sunday and The List Magazine. He’s most proud of having covered the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and during his keynotes, he passes around a piece of it that he recovered at the time.

Gregg’s recent and popular TEDx talk, Confessions of an Accidental Killer, shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming immense regret and discovering the power of self-respect. Gregg’s approach to cultural change and leadership has inspired thousands to break through limiting beliefs and step into their true power. Join Gregg for an inspiring, engaging,  unforgettable and even funny talk and learning session!