John Garrett—award-winning author and people-centric leadership speaker—is on a mission to create better workplaces. What the two-time Emmy nominee may do best is champion the human side of professionals, consulting with organizations to develop more productive cultures while shining a light on their people’s rich lives outside of work. Delivering inspiring keynotes about his research and recording over 600 podcast episodes of "What’s Your “And”?" landed him on Accounting Today’s list of the top 100 most influential people in the profession.
John received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a letterman jacket as a trombone player in the marching band. He went on to pass the CPA exam and received his certified public accountant certificate while working at PwC and performing stand-up comedy as a hobby.
Since then, he’s been on stage over 2,000 times and tracks from his debut album, Outside the Box, can be heard on several channels on SiriusXM Satellite Radio and Pandora. He’s also been on The Bob & Tom Show, featured in the New York Times, opened for Louie Anderson at resort casinos, opened for the band Train, and has been invited to perform at several comedy festivals.
John currently lives in Colorado and enjoys watching college football and eating cookie dough ice cream—especially at the same time.
Speaking Topics:
What’s Your “And”?: A People-Centric Approach to Leadership
With his refreshing blend of corporate insight, comedic wit, and people-centric advocacy, John Garrett truly stands at the intersection of professionalism and passion, reshaping the way we perceive organizational culture while championing a new understanding of corporate leadership. Prepare to think differently about your organization’s culture, and the value of the individual within it. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences and years of research, John explores the ways organizations can prioritize employee well-being, foster open communication, and tap into the hidden talents and diverse interests of their workforce. With humor, anecdotes, and insights, he challenges traditional notions of professionalism, encouraging attendees to embrace their "Ands" – the outside-of-work passions and hobbies that make them human – and to create a work environment where everyone can thrive. His one-of-a-kind keynote invites leaders to consider the power of human connection and personal authenticity in the workplace, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and fulfilling professional culture.
Learning Objectives
- Gain a deep understanding of the importance of prioritizing employee wellbeing and fostering open communication in organizational culture.
- Learn strategies and practices to tap into the hidden talents and diverse interests of your workforce, creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
- Challenge traditional notions of professionalism and embrace the power of personal authenticity and human connection in the workplace, ultimately creating a more inclusive and fulfilling professional culture.
"John is the epitome of a modern-day renaissance man—part comedian, part life coach, and all-around human catalyst. Forget the snooze-fest seminars; this guy brings the house down while lifting everyone up. He's on a mission to help organizations not just retain talent, but to ignite the human spirit. He values the worker as much as the work, and trust me, you'll feel valued and inspired after spending even just a few minutes taking in his work."
"John is the epitome of a modern-day renaissance man—part comedian, part life coach, and all-around human catalyst. Forget the snooze-fest seminars; this guy brings the house down while lifting everyone up. He's on a mission to help organizations not just retain talent, but to ignite the human spirit. He values the worker as much as the work, and trust me, you'll feel valued and inspired after spending even just a few minutes taking in his work."