Drawing on decades of experience emboldening people and organizations worldwide, Dr. Margie Warrell brings a rare ability to bridge intellect and emotion—connecting strategy with psychology to equip leaders to navigate today’s complexity with greater clarity, conviction, and courage.
A dynamic speaker with authentic Australian warmth, Margie has delivered high-impact presentations for organizations including NASA, US Special Operations, and Fortune 100 companies—earning standing ovations across industries and continents. Her message resonates whether she’s advising Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurial leaders, or Congressional Chiefs on Capitol Hill: courage is the ultimate differentiator—essential for taking smart risks, bridging divides, accelerating adaptation, and shaping a stronger future.
Margie has walked the talk. As a former Senior Partner in C-Suite Advisory at Korn Ferry, she has guided boards and C-suite leaders through critical challenges in leadership, team performance, succession, and cultural transformation. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles with BP and KPMG before launching her own global consulting work. This blend of corporate, advisory, and entrepreneurial experience equips her with unique credibility when addressing the realities leaders face today.
Beyond the stage, Margie is a member of the HBR (Harvard Business Review) Advisory Council, a regular contributor to Forbes, Fast Company, and NBC, and a Women’s Economic Forum honoree. She has served on multiple advisory boards including the International Advisory Council, Women’s Democracy Network, and the Forbes School of Business & Technology. Margie was also Australia’s first Ambassador for Women in Global Business and has taken the TEDx stage to inspire thousands worldwide. Along the way, she has interviewed global icons such as Richard Branson, Bill Marriott, Stan McChrystal, and Steve Forbes.
Furthering her mission to close the ‘courage gap’ globally, Margie recently launched her latest LinkedIn Learning course, Activating Courage: Transform Discomfort into Bold, Confident Action. This digital program serves as a high-impact extension of her award-winning book, The Courage Gap—which received the 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award and the International Impact Book Award, as well as named by The Globe and Mail as one of the Best Management Books of 2025—providing leaders with a scalable framework to move beyond the safety of the status quo. By blending the psychological insights found in her writing with the practical leadership strategies honed during her tenure at Korn Ferry, Margie ensures that her ‘courage strategist’ methodology is accessible to teams long after she leaves the keynote stage.
From a rural Australian dairy farm as a big sister of seven siblings to boardrooms and stages across Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America, Margie brings a global perspective to the universal challenges we all face. This lived international experience enables her to cut through complexity and get straight to the heart of what both limits and unlocks human potential across industries, cultures, and geographies.
In addition to her professional achievements, Margie’s insights are grounded in a deeply personal journey of resilience. She has raised four children while relocating across multiple continents, experiences that gave her first-hand insight into the pressures of leading through constant change. Margie has also faced profound personal trials—including surviving an armed robbery and navigating family tragedy—that tested her resolve and strengthened her belief in the human spirit. These challenges fuel her conviction that life’s greatest adversities can be transformed into catalysts for growth. They deepen her perspective on human behavior, leadership, and courage, and inform her work in cultivating “post-traumatic growth” and guiding others to higher ground amid uncertain and difficult times.
Her authentic style enables her to connect deeply with audiences at all levels, blending data-driven insights with memorable storytelling that leads to lasting behavioral shifts that move the needle.
Based in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia (just outside Washington, DC), Margie embodies the courage she champions in others—from climbing Kilimanjaro with her four children to crossing the Sahara to, most recently, running her first New York marathon.
For an unforgettable keynote that emboldens people to take the bold action these times demand – Margie delivers.
“If you want to embolden your teams or leaders to raise their sights, reframe risk and take more courageous action amid fear and uncertainty, Margie is the perfect adrenaline-like shot of inspiration you need. A global thought leader on courage, and wonderful storyteller, Margie will have you laughing all while empowering you with practical strategies to enjoy greater professional success and personal fulfillment.”
“If you want to embolden your teams or leaders to raise their sights, reframe risk and take more courageous action amid fear and uncertainty, Margie is the perfect adrenaline-like shot of inspiration you need. A global thought leader on courage, and wonderful storyteller, Margie will have you laughing all while empowering you with practical strategies to enjoy greater professional success and personal fulfillment.”