JIM BOUCHARD
KEEP IT HUMAN!™ Lead with Heart. Guide with Strength. Thrive Through Uncertainty.
WHY JIM?
Jim doesn’t just talk about leadership. He models it. His sessions are highly interactive, deeply personal, and refreshingly honest. He connects across all levels—executives, middle managers, and emerging leaders alike.
5 Reasons Planners Book Jim:
- ENGAGEMENT: Jim’s sessions are not lectures. They’re interactive experiences.
- EXTRA VALUE: Need a keynote and a breakout? VIP roundtable? Jim includes them. No extra charge.
- PERSONALIZATION: Every talk is tailored to your goals. Discovery Calls ensure a strong fit.
- EASY TO WORK WITH: Responsive, flexible, no drama—he makes your life easier.
- PROVEN TRACK RECORD: Strong testimonials, repeat bookings. That says it all.
ABOUT JIM...
By his own admission, Jim should have been dead or in jail many times over. Martial arts helped him overcome a life of crippling self-doubt and self-destruction. In his programs, Jim shares his inspiring transformation from dropout and drug addict to Black Belt and Sensei -- and how that experience made him a genuine leader. He went on to help hundreds of people achieve their Black Belt rank, and thousands more discover their best selves.
Today, Jim helps leaders around the world connect on a deeply human level to inspire, empower and guide people to their highest levels of performance and productivity.
Jim is the author of several books including The Sensei Leader, Think Like a Black Belt, and Inspire, Empower, Guide: Essential Disciplines for Today's Leader.
His newest book, The Only Certainty Is UN-Certainty, is scheduled to release in late 2025!
“Jim shows us how to unshackle, release, and become the leader we aspire to be.”
WHY JIM?
Jim doesn’t just talk about leadership. He models it. His sessions are highly interactive, deeply personal, and refreshingly honest. He connects across all levels—executives, middle managers, and emerging leaders alike.
5 Reasons Planners Book Jim:
- ENGAGEMENT: Jim’s sessions are not lectures. They’re interactive experiences.
- EXTRA VALUE: Need a keynote and a breakout? VIP roundtable? Jim includes them. No extra charge.
- PERSONALIZATION: Every talk is tailored to your goals. Discovery Calls ensure a strong fit.
- EASY TO WORK WITH: Responsive, flexible, no drama—he makes your life easier.
- PROVEN TRACK RECORD: Strong testimonials, repeat bookings. That says it all.
ABOUT JIM...
By his own admission, Jim should have been dead or in jail many times over. Martial arts helped him overcome a life of crippling self-doubt and self-destruction. In his programs, Jim shares his inspiring transformation from dropout and drug addict to Black Belt and Sensei -- and how that experience made him a genuine leader. He went on to help hundreds of people achieve their Black Belt rank, and thousands more discover their best selves.
Today, Jim helps leaders around the world connect on a deeply human level to inspire, empower and guide people to their highest levels of performance and productivity.
Jim is the author of several books including The Sensei Leader, Think Like a Black Belt, and Inspire, Empower, Guide: Essential Disciplines for Today's Leader.
His newest book, The Only Certainty Is UN-Certainty, is scheduled to release in late 2025!
“Jim shows us how to unshackle, release, and become the leader we aspire to be.”
KEEP IT HUMAN!™ Lead with Heart. Guide with Strength. Thrive Through Uncertainty.
Today’s leaders are navigating nonstop change, uncertainty, and the rising expectations of their people. What matters most right now? Human connection. Trust. Empathy. That’s where real leadership begins—and where resilient, future-ready teams are built. In this powerful and interactive session, Human-Centric Leadership expert Jim Bouchard shares the KEEP IT HUMAN!© framework—a practical, energizing approach that helps leaders stay grounded, inspire action, and...
Keep It Human™: The Heart of Exceptional Service
Have you ever screamed “REPRESENTATIVE!” into your phone?
AI can handle a lot. But it’s never calmed an angry customer, restored trust, or turned frustration into loyalty. That takes a human.
In this energizing program, Jim Bouchard helps leaders and teams build real connections that technology alone can’t deliver.
- INSPIRE – Go beyond solving the problem—make people feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared...
THE ONLY CERTAINTY IS UN-CERTAINTY!
Uncertainty isn’t going away. In fact, it's the new constant. But here’s the truth: thriving in change isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating a culture of trust and connection.
This session is for leaders who want to strengthen their people, not just their process. Jim brings a refreshingly human approach to leading in unpredictable times—and shows why the best leaders don’t wait for clarity, they create it.
Jim doesn’t give all the answers—he asks...
WALKING THE WALK: Strategies And Tactics for The Advanced Leader
The best leaders never stop learning, growing and developing. That's how you stay on top.
And the best leaders know that the higher you go, the more important it is to stay connected to people at all levels.
- Inspire top performance at all levels.
- Connect people to a meaningful purpose.
- Mentor your next generation of leaders--your ultimate succession plan!
- Share your vision...
THINK Like A BLACK BELT: Unleash Your Resilient Mindset!!
Through martial arts, Jim transformed himself from loser to leader--from dropout and drug addict to Black Belt, and now to internationally recognized leadership activist, speaker and author.
By his own admission, Jim should have been dead or in jail many times over. He developed the resilience and "black belt mindset" he needed to overcome his greatest challenges - now he shares those tools with you.
You'll leave with...
27 recommend JIM
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Utah Credit Union Association
On-Site
L.W., Director of Professional Development, Utah Credit Union Association
Verified @utahscreditunions.orgJim spoke at our 2024 CU Summit. I was impressed with his ability to connect with the audience & adapt his content on the spot. His session on day two was standing room only. Our attendees wanted more!
Woodworking Network
On-Site
W.S., Editorial Director, Woodworking Network
Verified @woodworkingnetwork.comJim Bouchard offered a one-two punch that energized our audience, His thought-provoking keynote talk inspired many in the audience to come back for more in an interactive workshop that drew engaged and enthusiastic attendance from our audience of high-level executives. Jim also helped tremendously with advance publicity for the event, providing video, podcast, and column materials to promote his appearance and give our audience a better idea of what to expect. He also showed a willingness to learn about our industry and incorporate what he learned into his presentation and workshop.
North Dakota Hospital Association
On-Site
P.C., Director of Educational Services, North Dakota Hospital Association
Verified @ndha.orgWow! Jim was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed his presentations!
National Association of Home Builders
On-Site
C.F., Program Manager, Executive Officers Council, National Association of Home Builders
Verified @nahb.orgJim's content was from the heart and delivered in a fresh, fun and stimulating style that kept the audience engaged and entertained. He used real-world stories and turned them into tangible ideas for self-reflection and leadership.
North Dakota Board of Nursing
On-Site
T.B., Associate Director for Education, North Dakota Board of Nursing
Verified @ndbon.orgI heard nothing but positive comments from everyone who took part in our Retreat. Jim has a gift for allowing the group to lead him where they need, and his down to earth and honest approach were a breath of fresh air. It truly was a pleasure and privilege to host him at our event!
AIM/R Association of Independent Manufacturers Representatives)
On-Site
C.P., 2019 Conference Chair, AIM/R Association of Independent Manufacturers Representatives)
Verified @pepcosales.comThe "5 Rings" was lights out. That was exactly what I wanted and it was a blast. Great way to end the day.
Hartford FCU
On-Site
E.D., President, CEO, Hartford FCU
Verified @hartfordfcu.comWish I had your book 30 years ago. I have already identified several events over the next few weeks where I can deploy more advantageous tactics. Great stuff! An honor meeting you.
Kenya Union of Savings & Credit Co-operatives (KUSCCO)
Virtual
E.M., Head of Education & Training, Kenya Union of Savings & Credit Co-operatives (KUSCCO)
Verified @kuscco.comGreetings of the day and thank you very much for your efforts in availing Jim! At KUSCCO we believe that this is the beginning of great things to come. We will definitely take advantage of Jim's experience and knowledge to develop our leaders in the SACCO sector in our country. Once again we say thank you very much!
NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction)
On-Site
C.S., President, NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction)
Verified @aol.comJim has gone above and beyond in his service to NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction). His passion to enhance our success is transparent. His message easily passes through the RED filter- relevant, engaging and dynamic!"
GenRE Life Corporation
On-Site
J.S., AVP, Marketing, GenRE Life Corporation
Verified @genre.comJim presented to our group of senior level insurance executives, sharing his thought-provoking message on leadership. He really made an impact with the audience - many commented that his ideas were spot-on. His message resonates at all levels of an organization - from the rookie to the seasoned professional - who can all learn something from his approach.
ASIS International Boston Chapter
On-Site
C.M., Chair, ASIS International Boston Chapter
Verified @takeda.comJim is a dynamic speaker who shares his personal story in his discussion of leadership. I have attended many leadership presentations over the years and delivered several myself. Jim tops them all. Highly recommended!
Tallahassee International Airport
Virtual
H.N., Capital Programs Construction Coordinator, Tallahassee International Airport
Verified @talgov.comTHANK YOU for all you did to get this pulled together. This is a great first step. I look forward to a long relationship working with you!
MCCU Jamaica
On-Site
O.G., IT Manager, MCCU Jamaica
Verified @yahoo.comThe CCCU convention held in Cuba, had as one of its presenters, a gentleman that brought forward an interesting perspective in managing (or for a better word- "empowering") our key resource - our staff. Jim Bouchard presented "Eight Strategies for Effective Leaders". Through his unique blend of quoting real world examples, his undeniable sense of humour, and his interactive sessions with his audience, his talk was both riveting and relevant. Debates and discussions were encouraged, making the session even more meaningful,lively and memorable. His presentation was truly an amazing experience.
The Chief Executive Officers Club of Boston
On-Site
F.G., MBA, CPCU, Chairman, The Chief Executive Officers Club of Boston
Verified @gmail.comThank you Jim for your outstanding presentation to the CEO Club of Boston! One of our long time Members said it was one of the best presentations he has ever seen! That says it all!
Atlantic FCU
On-Site
J.A., Director of Human Resources, Atlantic FCU
Verified @atlanticfcu.comWOW!!! Consider my mind blown! Everything you talked about is all we strive for! I was so excited that I had five of our emerging leaders with me! They are our future and soaked up the knowledge you gave them. I know they will put that knowledge to work as well!
Reed & Reed
On-Site
R.W., President, HR, Reed & Reed
Verified @reed-reed.comJim presented at our conference this past summer. To say he captured and held the attention of the room during his presentation would be an understatement. His ability to engage his audience and draw them into the topic is phenomenal. He's a real person with real life experiences that shaped his life. His training provides insight into the skills required to achieve your goals as a leader, but he doesn't solve your problems or tell you how to do it. This is a fantastic training program and I've already scheduled him to do a leadership training class for my company.
New Jersey Credit Union League
On-Site
Y.S., Manager of Member Experience, Conferences, & Events, New Jersey Credit Union League
Verified @njcul.orgWe just came off a very successful Reality Check Conference - Jim Bouchard, The Sensei Leader, presented Parts I & II for us and he was a home run! His presentation was outstanding and we couldn't be happier.
Franchise Source Brands International
On-Site
A.L., Conference Director, Franchise Source Brands International
Verified @FranchiseSource.comJim spoke at our National Conference and his presentation made an impact with all our attendees. His message regarding overcoming tremendous obstacles to achieve success was inspirational, heartfelt and moving. So many times in life the difference between success and continued struggles is our response to the challenges we all face. Jim demonstrated that achieving your dreams is possible despite all odds. A great message to reinforce for people you are looking to motivate to take their life and business to the next level!
NACMSW
On-Site
S.M., Conference & Education Director, NACMSW
Verified @nacmsw.comThank you so much!!! Jim was amazing and I had nothing but VERY POSITIVE comments received from those in attendance. I loved the way he had the group participating…it made all the difference in the world.
VA CU League
On-Site
M.R., Vice President of Strategic Resources, VA CU League
Verified @vacul.orgWe were privileged to have Jim lead our first Executive Management Conference for Virginia credit unions. Jim was energetic and mesmerizing in his message delivery and all of our attendees left wanting more! He related extremely well with our group using his real life experiences to provide valuable insight into successful leadership. We will definitely have Jim back for future conferences!
Family First Credit Union
Virtual
S.S., CEO, President, Family First Credit Union
Verified @ffcuga.orgJim Bouchard spoke at the Greater Atlanta Credit Union Chapter on February 25, 2021. He did a fantastic job!! He was able to get the 110 members engaged and brought the discussion along in a positive way! I was very happy to have him as our guest speaker and would recommend him to other groups. I received many emails after the meeting saying they thought the meeting was a great success and Jim was a wonderful guest speaker!
Bath Savings Institution
On-Site
S.W., Assistant Vice President, Administration, Bath Savings Institution
Verified @bathsavings.comJim was fantastic! He was everything we hoped he would be and everything he shared was a lot of positive reinforcement for our management team.
Georgia Credit Union Affiliates
On-Site
M.B., Director, Education, Georgia Credit Union Affiliates
Verified @gcua.orgYou were awesome to work with. Our CUs really responded to Jim. Thanks for your time and talent. You are the best!!!!
Retail Security Services
On-Site
A.S., Security Manager, Retail Security Services
Verified @retailsecurityservices.comJim spoke at our most recent vendor conference. His interactive session broke the ice and got people comfortable with one another really quickly. Having Jim speak first thing in the morning helped to set the tone for the rest of the day. He engaged the audience with thought provoking questions and interactive martial art moves connected to the teachings in his book, The 5 Rings: Essential Tactics for Today's Leader. We really enjoyed the session. We would highly recommend Jim to speak at your event. He will provide you with tools to give you a different perspective on how to be a successful leader!
GA Credit Union Executive Association
On-Site
K.P., President, CEO, GA Credit Union Executive Association
Verified @unitedmethodistcu.comI only heard positive reviews. Jim did a great job. Usually, our conferences focus on cyber security, regulations or policies. This was a refreshing difference and something we all need to think about! We appreciate the ease of working with y'all!
Virginia Commonwealth Bank
On-Site
B.P.A., Senior Vice President, Virginia Commonwealth Bank
Your talk was excellent, and it made me think very hard about some ways that I am looking at certain situations and how I can better manage them and more importantly manage myself. I enjoyed your session more than any of the others at the event.
Maine Bankers' Association
On-Site
E.E., Director Of Education, Maine Bankers' Association
Verified @mainebankers.comI had the pleasure of working with Jim as our Keynote speaker for our Emerging Leaders conference. What an amazing experience! He was prepared, prompt, thoughtful, and our attendees had nothing but positive reviews about his session. I would highly recommend him if you are piecing together programming in the leadership and business management space!