By Patrick Dunn
Keynote Speaker | Global Partnership Chair, Roots of Peace | Founder, Paxaterra Global
“How do we keep leading when we’re barely holding it together?”
It’s a question I hear time and again—sometimes whispered in quiet corners after conferences, sometimes shared through tears during coaching calls.
It’s also a question I’ve asked myself.
In the relentless pace of today’s world, leaders are supposed to be the steady hands, the calm in the storm.
But what happens when the storm doesn’t pass—and we, the leaders, are the ones running on empty?
The Cost of Constant Performance
Over the last decade, I’ve spoken with hundreds of leaders—from tech CEOs navigating transformation, to nonprofit executives juggling impossible missions with shrinking budgets. They all share one thing in common: behind their polished professionalism is a weariness no performance review can measure.
The leadership crisis we face isn’t just about retention, culture, or innovation—it’s about soul.
It’s about the toll we pay when we lose sight of why we lead.
I know the feeling. I’ve led global teams in high-stakes environments. I’ve sat with sleepless nights balancing boardroom decisions with the heartbreak of caregiving. I’ve been the go-to person for everyone else—while quietly wondering who had my back.
And yet, I’ve never stopped believing in the power of purpose.
Reimagining Leadership: The Call to Lead With Soul
That belief is what inspired me to create my keynote experience, Leading with Soul.
This isn’t just another motivational talk. It’s a guided return—to purpose, to authenticity, to the values that got buried under metrics and milestones.
Leading with Soul is for leaders who want more than just success.
It’s for those seeking significance.
We explore what it means to lead from the inside out:
- To realign values with action
- To create spaces where people feel seen and safe
- To rebuild cultures not on pressure, but on presence
And ultimately, to lead in a way that feeds—not depletes—our humanity.
The Symptoms We Don’t Talk About
In my work, I see it all the time:
- Leaders who can’t sleep but don’t know how to stop
- Managers hiding behind performance while carrying emotional exhaustion
- Visionaries who’ve lost their voice in the noise of growth
- Founders who pour everything into their mission but feel like strangers to themselves
These aren’t failures. They’re warning signs—and invitations.
Invitations to lead differently.
To lead with soul.
The Stakes Are Higher Than Ever
We’re living through an era of disruption: economic, environmental, emotional.
In this kind of uncertainty, people aren’t just looking for direction—they’re craving meaning.
They want leaders who aren’t afraid to be real.
Who will walk through the fire with them.
Who choose courage over control, presence over perfection.
And when those leaders rise, organizations thrive.
Because when leadership becomes more human, so does the workplace.
Why This Keynote Resonates
Whether I’m speaking to a C-suite retreat, a Rotary summit, or a humanitarian forum, the message lands the same way:
It gives people permission to exhale.
It sparks conversations that go beyond KPIs.
It invites reflection—and action.
Most of all, it reminds leaders of something they often forget:
You are allowed to need renewal too.
Who I Speak To
This experience is designed for:
- Executive teams navigating burnout and change
- Nonprofit leaders carrying more than they should
- Conference audiences craving meaningful insight, not just hype
- Retreats seeking depth, restoration, and aligned purpose
- Leadership cohorts looking to reignite their inner fire
And it’s adaptable—as a keynote, a workshop, a facilitated leadership circle, or a custom experience tailored to your organization.
A Personal Invitation
If you’re reading this and feeling like the spark is flickering, know this:
You’re not alone.
You’re not failing.
You’re just being called back to soul.
Let’s have that conversation. Let’s rebuild from the inside out—together.
Let’s Connect
👉 Bring “Leading with Soul” to your event: [email protected]
👉 Interested in a leadership retreat or custom workshop? [email protected]
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