Mark Carpenter
Mark Carpenter is a leadership development speaker and author who helps organizations transform high-performing individual contributors into trusted people leaders by strengthening communication, storytelling, and core human leadership skills.
Key Topics & Expertise
Leadership & People Development
Communication, Influence & Executive Presence
Workplace Culture, Teams & Belonging
Topics
Signature Programs
Keynote
Lead Like A Person:
Transforming Top Performers Into Trusted Leaders
Key Takeaways:
Understand why people skills are critical for leadership success
Recognize common gaps when top performers become people leaders
Strengthen listening, communication, and recognition practices
Read Description
Description:
When top performers become first-time people leaders, they often get training on process, policy, and procedures. But the most important part of their new job is people. Sometimes it works out, but without an emphasis on developing people skills, many first-time leaders lead more like a position than a person. This costs the company in low morale, high turnover, and weak engagement. Investing in core people skills for new leaders transforms them into leaders people love instead of leaders people leave. This interactive session addresses some of the common problems and standard objections in developing new leaders with the people skills they need, emphasizing the financial benefits of creating leaders people trust on the front lines.
Keynote
Five Mistakes We Make With New Leaders
& How to Avoid Them
Key Takeaways:
Identify systemic mistakes in developing first-time leaders
Understand the impact of poor leadership development on retention and engagement
Apply strategies that support stronger front-line leadership
Read Description
Description:·
Congratulations, top performer! You are now a leader. We naturally promote talented individuals to people-leader roles, but this is often a failure point. Many new leaders struggle not because they lack potential, but because the system around them sets them up to fail. In this engaging keynote, we’ll explore five common mistakes when developing first-time leaders and powerful solutions to overcome them, resulting in stronger teams, higher retention, and deeper leadership bench strength.
Keynote
Developing People Leaders in the Age of AI
Key Takeaways:
Understand why people leadership cannot be automated
Recognize the role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership
Explore how AI can be used to enhance people-centered leadership
Read Description
Description:
Artificial Intelligence makes it easier to do many tasks…except lead people. Leading people requires Emotional Intelligence – people skills – that can’t be faked by AI. At the same time, AI used right can help your people leaders be more human. In this fast-paced keynote, we’ll share why people skills are more important than ever and how using Actual Intelligence helps make Artificial Intelligence useful for people leaders.
Mark Carpenter
Mark Carpenter is a speaker, author, and serial storyteller. He’s on a mission to increase the humanity in corporate leadership – to get people to lead like people rather than positions.
In addition to inspiring people from the stage, Mark teaches people how to more intentionally tell stories that teach, lead, sell, and inspire to accomplish business and personal goals. He is the co-author of the best-selling book “Master Storytelling: How to Turn Your Experiences Into Stories that Teach, Lead, and Inspire.” Leveraging a 20-year career in corporate communication, 10 years working as an adjunct professor of communication, and 15 years facilitating training, Mark couples a lively, engaging style with purposeful, impactful learning.
When he’s not speaking, training, coaching, or creating new content, Mark is likely hiking or snowshoeing in the mountains near his home in Utah, playing the piano, bragging about his grandchildren, or writing children's books.
Website: www.leadlikeaperson.com
Contact: [email protected]
Speaker FAQs
Who is Mark Carpenter?
Mark Carpenter is an expert leadership speaker, author, and trainer who helps organizations develop people-centered leaders who lead with trust, clarity, and accountability rather than title or position.
Why is Mark Carpenter considered an expert in leadership development?
Mark Carpenter brings more than two decades of experience in corporate communication, leadership training, and higher education. His work focuses on preparing first-time and front-line leaders with the people skills required for long-term success.
What topics does Mark Carpenter speak on?
Mark Carpenter speaks on leadership development, people skills for leaders, communication and storytelling, developing front-line leaders, employee engagement, and building leadership bench strength.
What makes Mark Carpenter different from other leadership speakers?
Unlike speakers who focus primarily on strategy or motivation, Mark Carpenter emphasizes the human skills leaders need every day. His approach helps leaders listen more effectively, communicate intentionally, and build trust through authentic connection.
What outcomes can audiences expect from Mark Carpenter’s keynotes?
Organizations gain practical tools to develop stronger people leaders, improve communication, reduce turnover, and build teams that are more engaged and committed.
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