Keynote speaker
Talks that leave the room with something they use Monday morning.
Russ Reeder is a keynote speaker on AI strategy, execution, and leadership for CEO audiences. Thirty years of running companies, distilled into keynotes on AI, execution, and leading when the stakes are real. Not a circuit speaker: an operator still in the chair.
Author of Heroes Don't Scale, coming later this year.
- 30+years
- 9PE-backed companies
- 6exits led or supported
- 36+Forbes Technology Council articles
- AuthorHeroes Don't Scale (later this year)
Seen on and on stage at
Forbes Technology CouncilFox NewsCNBCMSNBCHarvard Business SchoolXTIUM EdgeMSP SummitCloudFestVMworldYPO
Signature talks
Tailored to your audience, drawn from the chair.
- AI / Business
Why your AI strategy is failing
Enterprise AI adoption that delivers ROI. Why most companies spend millions with nothing to show, and how to sequence operations before AI.
- Strategy
The execution gap nobody talks about
Strategy isn't the problem. Closure is. The VOOCS operating system for turning a vision the team believes in into outcomes you can measure.
- Leadership
Your best people are your biggest risk
The thesis of Heroes Don't Scale, live. Organizations break when they depend on star performers instead of systems. How to turn heroes into systems that scale.
- PE / Growth
What breaks when you scale
M&A integration, culture collapse, and the 100 days that make or break a PE-backed company. Lessons from nine portfolio companies.
- PE / Exit
Preparing for sale
Companies are bought, not sold. How to create real, differentiated value before you try to exit.
- Crisis
Be a wartime CEO
Making the hard calls with clarity and empathy when the stakes are existential. Pulled from real crises, not a case study.
Forthcoming
Heroes Don't Scale.
An operator's playbook for turning strategy into coordinated execution. Coming later this year.
Thirty years across nine PE-backed companies and six continents, pulled together. The VOOCS operating system, the HEAR leadership philosophy, and the stories I learned the hard way. Bookers and event planners: get in touch for keynotes timed to the launch.
Formats
- Keynote
- Book-launch keynote + signing
- Workshop
- Offsite facilitation
- Panel / Fireside
- Podcast / Media
Ideal audiences
- C-suite and CEO peer groups (YPO, Vistage)
- PE operating partners and portfolio CEOs
- Industry conferences and summits
- Corporate leadership offsites
- Board retreats
Russ is a YPO member himself. For YPO, Vistage, and CEO peer groups, that means a peer in the room, not a vendor on a stage.
Have a date and an audience in mind?
On stage and on air
Real stages. Real audiences.
More talks and interviews
- Life Fulfilled Podcast: The Proven Success Strategy Is Helping Others SucceedListen →
- Full keynote: From AI Hype to Business ClarityWatch →
- MSP Summit 2025: Scaling Smart, Leadership & LegacyWatch →
- How to Scale Your Business During a CrisisWatch →
- How XTIUM Climbed to #9 on the MSP 501Watch →
- Why We Need Net NeutralityWatch →
For organizers
Everything you need to say yes.
Stage introduction, read it as written
Russ Reeder has spent thirty years in technology companies, the last twenty running them: nine PE-backed companies, six continents, more than fifty acquisitions, and six exits. He founded Rightsline, the rights platform that now powers Disney+ and Hulu, and today he leads KeyDelta, his advisory firm. He created the VOOCS execution framework, writes for the Forbes Technology Council, and his book, Heroes Don't Scale, comes out later this year. Please welcome Russ Reeder.
Downloads
What to include in your inquiry
- Date and city, or virtual
- Audience profile and size
- Format: keynote, workshop, offsite, panel, media
- What you want the room to walk out with
For bookers
Quick answers for event planners and booking teams.
How does Russ tailor a keynote to my audience?
Every keynote is shaped to the audience and the stage. Share the audience profile, the stakes, the outcome you want the room to walk out with, and the venue (boardroom, ballroom, livestream, conference plenary). Russ reads your context and rebuilds the talk around it. The stories change. The framework holds.
What formats does Russ offer?
Keynote (30 to 60 minutes), book-launch keynote and signing, half- or full-day workshop, leadership offsite facilitation (half-day to multi-day), panel or fireside chat (30 to 45 minutes), and podcast or broadcast media. In person or virtual.
What audiences does Russ speak for?
C-suite and CEO peer groups (YPO, Vistage), PE operating partners and portfolio CEOs, corporate leadership offsites, board retreats, and industry conferences and summits. Past stages include Harvard Business School, XTIUM Edge, Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, and Forbes.
Can Russ keynote a book-launch event?
Yes. With Heroes Don't Scale coming later this year, Russ is booking launch-tour keynotes and signings for booksellers, conference organizers, corporate events, and PE summits. Pair the launch keynote with a private leadership session or a fireside chat with the host.
How far in advance should I book Russ?
Sooner is better, especially in the book-launch window. Reach out at keydelta.com/contact with the date, audience, and format.
Where is Russ based, and will he travel?
Russ is based in the Washington, DC area and travels worldwide. He has operated on six continents and is open to international keynotes. Logistics and lead time depend on the date.
Where can I download a speaker one-sheet and watch a talk?
Download the one-sheet at russreeder.com/russ-reeder-speaker-one-sheet.pdf. Watch a full keynote and more talks at russreeder.com/speaking.
Is Russ a paid speaker, and what is the fee?
Yes. Fees vary by format, audience, travel, and date. Reach out at keydelta.com/contact with the details and Russ will get back to you quickly.
What does Russ need from us before the event?
A prep call and your audience context: who is in the room, what they are wrestling with, and what you want them to walk out with. AV needs are standard. Russ arrives early, stays for the hallway conversations, and is easy to work with on logistics.
Get in touch
Book Russ to speak.
Keynotes, workshops, leadership offsites, panels, media, and book-launch events. Tell me the audience and the date, and I'll tailor it.