Lead from wherever you are—authority optional.

I help emerging leaders become better people and better employees (in that order).

Hi, I’m Clay.

I speak, write, and create resources on professional development for emerging leaders. And after 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, I've decided to go full-time with it. Unlike my golf game, this ain't a hobby any more.

Meet Clay
 

Three Different Ways I Can Help You

1.

INSIGHTS

Leadership | Levity | Links
Leadership emails you'll want to open. Join the 13k+ subscribers who receive an email from me every week with How to Lead tips, links and resources. And some good jokes too.

3.

SPEAKING

One of the greatest myths of leadership is that you must be in charge in order to lead. I explain the nature of leadership and what’s needed to be a great leader—even when you answer to someone else.

What People Are Saying About Me

  • “Clay’s presentation on ‘How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge’ came just at the right time for our organization. His engaging, witty, and real-life approach to leadership is simple and applicable no matter where you are in your leadership journey. We appreciate Clay’s insights and the impact he has made on our associates.”

    Scott Ault, Executive Vice President, Workplace Solutions, Mutual of Omaha

  • "Clay doesn’t just speak; he moves people. His session on 'Bosses Are Out; Coaches Are In' lit a fire in our sales managers and reframed how we think about leadership. I’d bring him back in a heartbeat."

    Lauren Seymour, GVP of Sales, Insulet

  • "Clay has a way of cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of what leadership really is. He reminded our team that it’s not about titles or authority—it’s about influence. His session struck the right balance between inspiration and practical takeaways. Our team walked away not just believing they could lead but knowing exactly how to start."

    Doug Dawson, SVP of Revenue, Dallas Cowboys

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