Keynote Speaker & Strategic Thought Partner
Build High-Performing Teams That Don’t Depend On You For Everything
John Chilkotowsky helps leaders create teams with greater ownership, better decision-making, and less dependence on the leader—so teams move faster, collaborate better, and sustain strong results
The more capable a leader becomes, the easier it is for a team to become dependent on them.
Decisions move upward. Problems find their way back to the leader. And the person holding everything together can eventually become the thing limiting the team’s capacity.
Drawing on more than a decade coaching CEOs, senior executives, and leadership teams, John helps leaders change that dynamic—creating greater ownership, moving decisions closer to the work, and building teams that can find their own way forward.
About John
“My mission is to bring humanity back into how we work — so that courage, compassion, and authenticity drive real and lasting change.”
Why John
John brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and more than a decade coaching senior executives and leadership teams. A former nonprofit CEO and COO and former Accenture consultant, he has worked with leaders across organizations ranging from mission-driven nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies.
He is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), certified in International Systemic Team Coaching, and brings the patterns he sees inside real leadership teams directly to the stage.
Speaking Topics
John’s keynotes and talks are tailored for leadership teams, corporate conferences, and professional associations. Each program blends storytelling, practical insight, and interactive reflection — inspiring leaders to take meaningful action.
BUILD HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS THAT DON'T DEPEND ON YOU FOR EVERYTHING
Many successful leaders become the person decisions run through, problems come back to, and others depend on to keep everything moving. What made them invaluable can eventually limit the team’s capacity.
In this practical, story-driven keynote, John explores three leadership shifts that change how teams operate:
Controlling → Coaching
Telling → Asking
Doing → Developing
Participants leave with practical ways to create greater ownership, move decisions closer to the work, strengthen collaboration, and build teams that perform without everything running through the leader.
Why Audiences Connect with John
John’s sessions are known for being:
Grounded and relatable
real stories and insights that resonate.
Interactive and energizing
audiences reflect, engage, and leave with tangible actions.
Transformational, not transactional
creating lasting shifts in mindset and behavior.
What Leadership Audiences Say
“My executive skillset grew exponentially thanks to John. I recommend him to anyone looking to level up for the next phase of their journey.”
“John’s session was the single most impactful professional development I’ve ever been a part of. It was dynamic, relevant, and challenged my perceptions without being too uncomfortable. In a word, transformative!”
— UVM Leader
“John has challenged me to think differently, and to “be better” as an executive leader. I now communicate more effectively, have stronger relationships with my team and peers, and I’m completely satisfied in my role. John is skilled at identifying and building momentum for executives!”
— Todd Conklin
EVP and CFO, Care New England Health System
CEO, Cape Abilities
Trusted By
Amazon
Cornell Universtiy
IBM
T-Mobile
Umiami
Uvm
Book John for Your Next Event
Whether you’re planning a leadership offsite, conference keynote, or company-wide event, John Chilkotowsky brings warmth, wisdom, and actionable insight that inspire change long after the session ends.
Event Organizer Toolkit
Planning an event should feel seamless. Below are resources to make working with John easy and stress-free.
Speaker Bio (for Event Programs)
John Chilkotowsky is an executive leadership coach and keynote speaker with more than a decade of experience helping leaders and teams build trust, collaboration, and fulfillment for sustainable high performance. Drawing from a unique blend of Fortune 500 consulting and nonprofit leadership, John brings a balance of strategic clarity and human connection to every engagement. He is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and holds international credentials in Systemic Team Coaching and Group Coaching. As an Affiliate Member of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital / Harvard Medical School, John partners with organizations to help leaders bring more courage, compassion, and authenticity into their work.
John’s Speaker One Sheet