Al Comeaux
Al Comeaux inspires new thinking when he speaks about leadership & change. Because he’s sat in our seat leading change, he’s that unique speaker who understands and explains change from our viewpoint, so we can inspire it among our people--who are most critical to any change.
Al Comeaux realized 25 years ago that something was wrong with how we think about and lead change. For example, we think organizations can change, but they can’t. (Organizations don’t change; people do.)
From that first failed change initiative in the late 1990s, he began studying scores of organizations going through change while also leading countless changes at the C-level inside companies large and small: an IPO, hostile takeover, leveraged buyout, globalization, technology launches, digital transformations, startups, CEO transitions and too many other changes to count.
This experience leading change inside companies such as American Airlines, GE, Travelocity and Sabre bring new and very different thinking to the topic of leadership and change. Today he’s a sought-after speaker on the subject, and his book, Change (the) Management: Why We as Leaders Must Change for the Change to Last—already considered one of The Best Change Management Books of All Time*, only four years after publication—is required reading for MBA candidates and others who want to learn what it actually takes to win at change.
Al’s keynotes bring fresh approaches and excitement about new ways to lead change by weaving together science and research with fun and engaging stories that support his very different vision for leading change—a vision based on the real, inside work of leading change himself.
With 2/3 of change efforts failing, you owe it to your organization, your people, your career and legacy to get change right. This new thinking has never been more needed, and Al would be honored to help you, your leadership team, partners, future leaders—anyone aspiring to lead—learn what it really (truly) takes to win during change.
* mostrecommendedbooks.com
Al Comeaux realized 25 years ago that something was wrong with how we think about and lead change. For example, we think organizations can change, but they can’t. (Organizations don’t change; people do.)
From that first failed change initiative in the late 1990s, he began studying scores of organizations going through change while also leading countless changes at the C-level inside companies large and small: an IPO, hostile takeover, leveraged buyout, globalization, technology launches, digital transformations, startups, CEO transitions and too many other changes to count.
This experience leading change inside companies such as American Airlines, GE, Travelocity and Sabre bring new and very different thinking to the topic of leadership and change. Today he’s a sought-after speaker on the subject, and his book, Change (the) Management: Why We as Leaders Must Change for the Change to Last—already considered one of The Best Change Management Books of All Time*, only four years after publication—is required reading for MBA candidates and others who want to learn what it actually takes to win at change.
Al’s keynotes bring fresh approaches and excitement about new ways to lead change by weaving together science and research with fun and engaging stories that support his very different vision for leading change—a vision based on the real, inside work of leading change himself.
With 2/3 of change efforts failing, you owe it to your organization, your people, your career and legacy to get change right. This new thinking has never been more needed, and Al would be honored to help you, your leadership team, partners, future leaders—anyone aspiring to lead—learn what it really (truly) takes to win during change.
* mostrecommendedbooks.com
Inspiring Change in Today's World
Turns out, the skills that make us great as leaders every day—habits and thinking ingrained in us, traits that make us leaders from the start—these very same capabilities and conventions can make us terrible at leading change. It’s a mind-boggling paradox I’ve discovered that holds us back as change-leaders, and we need to understand and embrace it to inspire lasting changes in the modern workplace. Because change efforts, unlike everyday initiatives, depend so much on our people—the very...
Give Your Innovation a Runway
You’re about to launch a market-moving innovation, something that’s bound to give you an advantage. The catch: It requires change at your customers, distributors, franchisees, partners—the third parties in your value chain in between you and success. Their people—their workers—will carry this change on their backs, but only if they choose to. Are their leaders up to the task? Do they know how to inspire change? This keynote is for the leaders at your partner organizations…the ones whose...
Leading Change in the Age of AI
Global forces and technology like artificial intelligence are driving the need for change in our organizations…and the need for change only becomes greater, faster with each development. So, how do we take advantage of these technologies? How do we change our organizations to keep up with the demands they drive? Well, it turns out, technologies don’t drive change; people do. If we lose our people—the ones who must decide to adopt the change and carry it on their backs—we lose the change....
The Four Ways to Win at Change
Given the trillions wasted on failed change efforts each year, how must we as leaders go about change differently? What do leaders at companies that win at change do vs the unsuccessful among us? In this signature keynote, I offer an insider’s view—having led changes of all sorts at the C-level for two decades, in addition to a quarter century studying change at scores of companies—to share a brutal truth: Organizations don’t change. People do. It turns out, change is a decision made by...
Two Day Course: Winning the Change
If we're going to improve how we execute change, we need to first re-think how we view change. Today we learn to think anew about change by looking at the common pitfalls of human nature as it relates to change leadership.
- Cognitive Dissonance. Everyone's brain deals with psychological discomfort when faced with dissonant ideas. We encounter this feeling together through an exercise.
- Our People and Change. We focus on the various...
Half Day Course: Winning the Change
RE-THINKING CHANGE
If we're going to improve how we execute change, we need to first re-think how we view change. Today we learn to think anew about change by looking at the common pitfalls of human nature as it relates to change leadership.
- Cognitive Dissonance. Everyone's brain deals with psychological discomfort when faced with dissonant ideas. We encounter this feeling together through an exercise.
- Our People and Change. We focus on the various ways...
7 recommend Al
Post your own verified review when you hire this speaker through eSpeakers.
LIMRA
Virtual
D.E., Director, Conferences, LIMRA
Verified @limra.com"Al Comeaux was a hit as he kicked off our recent conference! He has an authentic and engaging style, which is supported by extensive research and practical experience. The audience appreciated the stories he related to drive home main points and used such phrases to describe his session as - 'engaging and on point,' 'actionable insights,' and 'cohesive and compelling content.' In addition to strong content and delivery, Al was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. He did his homework to understand our event and audience, and customized to meet our needs. The audience especially appreciated his candor during the Q&A segment. Thank you, Al, for sharing your important message with our group."
Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Virtual
B.R., Vice President, Business Transformation & Execution, Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Verified @raytheon.comAl Comeaux knows how to hold an audience. At a time when the phone is the speaker's (and, I imagine, the event planner's) biggest enemy, Al had our audience focused and attentive. His material and message are great, and just as important, he got through.
Sunwest Communications
Virtual
C.W., CEO and Owner, Sunwest Communications
Verified @sunwestpr.comOur clients and prospects were impressed by the very different dimension Al Comeaux brought to the topic of change in his recent virtual presentation. I can't think of a more timely topic, even if it sometimes can be dry, but Al made it compelling, we all learned a lot, and we had fun, too. Al was really great to work with throughout the process and in the end, he brought all of us a lot of value. Thanks to Al for bringing such great thinking to the Sunwest community. Crayton Webb, CEO and Owner, Sunwest Communications, Dallas
ThinkBeyond
Virtual
J.H., CEO, ThinkBeyond
Verified @wethinkbeyond.comReally insightful talk yesterday by Al Comeaux, author of Change (the) Management. He inspires ALL of us to lead better, with greater empathy and understanding so we create the kind of work environment that motivates and inspires staff to be partners in the changes we so often simply throw at them.
BR Consulting
On-Site
B.R., CEO, BR Consulting
Verified @gmail.com"Al Comeaux shared actionable insights, not theory, in his great keynote on 'Winning at Change.' Anyone trying to lead an organization through change should hear what he has to say first, as it might surprise you what it takes to win.”
Northwestern Mutual
Virtual
T.D., Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Our industry absolutely needs to hear Al Comeaux's message. He brings great experience and an even greater message: That we as leaders are the X factor, the real differentiator in determining whether our change efforts fail or succeed. I've heard lots of people talk about change; Al Comeaux speaks from having been there. I would love for others in our industry—at every level—to hear and understand what he has to say.
University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics
On-Site
B.P., Executive in Residence, University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics
Verified @uky.edu"Al Comeaux bridges the research and academic literature with practical examples and stories about leadership and the commitment it takes to properly transform and lead an organization through change. Al uses storytelling to share positive examples and not-so-great actions to bring to life real and meaningful insights that reinforce an effective change leadership and implementation mindset. I can listen to Al tell real change stories all day."
Videos
Photos
Certifications & Awards
