Dr. Joe Serio is a popular and entertaining trainer and conference keynote speaker on transformational leadership, positive interaction with difficult people, improving emotional intelligence, understanding fear and resistance, increasing productivity in a world of distractions, and overcoming barriers to improved performance. His motivational and inspirational programs move his audiences while providing thought-provoking content.
He is the founder and primary author of the Get the Nerve series of books. Titles in the series include Being Resilient: 50 Lessons on Leaving Chronic Stress Behind; Emotional Intelligence: 50 Lessons on Knowing Who You’re Dealing With; Time Management: 50 Lessons on Finding Time for What’s Important; Overcoming Fear: 50 Lessons on Being Bold and Living the Dream; and Public Speaking: 50 Lessons on Presenting Without Losing Your Cool.
Prior to launching his speaking, writing, and consulting career, Joe was the only American to work in the Organized Crime Control Department of the Soviet National Police. At the request of the police, Dr. Serio translated from Russian to English a book of secret Soviet crime statistics that had been prepared for Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviet Politburo.
Later, he was director of the Moscow office of the world's leading corporate investigation and business intelligence firm. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Investigating the Russian Mafia. His latest book is Vodka, Hookers, and the Russian Mafia: My Life in Moscow.
During his nearly ten years in the former Soviet Union, Dr. Serio worked as a media consultant with CNN, BBC, Fox News, New York Times, Washington Post, and other major media outlets. He worked on several films about Russian prisons, Russian prostitution, and Russian cops for A&E's Investigative Reports. He has been interviewed by news outlets around the world, including CBS's 48 Hours. Dr. Serio holds a Ph.D., with a specialization in Leadership and Organizational Behavior.
Speaking Topics -
Be an Inspired Leader
This high-energy, highly interactive, and motivational keynote explores the core of leadership and creates a roadmap your audience can use to become more inspired and inspiring to others. Dr. Joe infuses his presentation with humor, music, and a surprise or two. His talk includes a harmonica, what he learned from a Soviet General, and what happened that time he bombed in front of an audience. This is the perfect keynote to kick off a conference or as the first presentation after lunch to keep your audience energized, excited, and engaged.
Positive Interaction with Difficult People
In a funny, thought-provoking, and inspirational presentation, Dr. Joe demonstrates how to turn difficult people around—creating an ally instead of an adversary—and what to do when the difficult person can’t be changed or persuaded. He showcases embarrassing mistakes and tremendous victories, falling on his face as well as turning around the most intractable people. Dr. Joe’s stories and insights will impart powerful lessons your audience will remember for a lifetime.
Leadership Lessons of the CIA
In the 1980s and 1990s, the CIA agent network in Russia was decimated. Working in Moscow, Joe found himself at the intersection of the CIA, KGB, and Russian Mafia, gaining access to sensitive information. In this keynote, Joe shares the tools he used to get access to information that made him a legend in the corridors of the CIA, tools that any organization can use.
