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Dan Heath

Dan Heath

Keynote Speaker: Bestselling Author, Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE Center & Co-Founder of Thinkwell

Dan Heath Biography

Dan Heath is a bestselling author and speaker. Alongside his brother Chip Heath, he has co-authored four books, namely "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die," "Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard," "Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work," and "The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact." These books have sold over three million copies worldwide and have been translated into 33 languages. "Made to Stick" was named the Best Business Book of the Year and has been translated into 29 languages. Notably, Heath released his first solo work, "Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen," in 2020, which was an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller.

Heath holds a senior fellow position at Duke University's CASE center, which advocates for entrepreneurs who fight for social good. He and his brother Chip Heath contributed to Fast Company magazine with a column from 2007 to 2011. In 2018, Heath hosted the first season of Choiceology, a podcast about behavioral economics. Heath is also an entrepreneur himself, having founded Thinkwell, an innovative education company that next year will celebrate its 25th anniversary. In 2013, he was included in the Thinkers 50, ranking the world’s 50 most influential management thinkers, and in Fast Company magazine’s list of the Most Creative People in Business.

Heath earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin. One unique achievement for Heath was winning the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest, beating out 13,000 other entrants. He has spoken to various professionals, including teachers, police chiefs, U.S. senators, interior designers, Navy admirals, healthcare leaders, marketers, ministers, and countless executive teams across 26 countries on six continents.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dan Heath and other top speakers and celebrities.

Dan Heath Speaking Topics

UPSTREAM: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

So often in our organizations and communities, we fall into a cycle of reaction. A problem happens, and we respond. We fight fires. We contend with emergencies. Researchers call this "tunneling": We don't see the big picture, and we don't think about the future, we just keep pushing forward from one crisis to the next. What if instead we could shift our energies upstream -- uncovering and addressing the source of those problems?

In this talk, Heath will reveal how some leaders have learned to spot problems in advance: There's a school district that can predict which students will drop out -- 4 years before graduation. There's an internet service company that can predict which customers are likely to cancel their subscriptions -- as early as two weeks after they sign up! When we shift from downstream response to upstream planning, it can cause miracles: One company eliminated 25 million customer support calls by asking, "How can we make sure our customers never need to call us?" And one nation in Europe has almost eliminated teenage substance abuse by asking, "How can we create a teenage culture that offers such compelling sober activities that teens simply don't feel like drinking or doing drugs?"

Heath will share the three forces that push us downstream, as well as the powerful levers we can use to start preventing problems before they happen.

Creating Moments That Matter

Some experiences are vastly more memorable and meaningful than others: A moment of extraordinary service that a customer can’t stop talking about. A moment of insight that helps a group of employees embrace a new vision. A moment of compassion that makes a patient’s burden feel lighter. Everywhere you look, people are trying to craft memorable experiences—from customer experiences to patient experiences. Leaders are working hard to boost employee engagement, student engagement, and parishioner engagement. But these discussions have been dominated by a focus on fixing problems (what Dan Heath calls “filling pits”), rather than creating memorable experiences (“raising peaks”). Yet Heath’s research suggests that it’s far more valuable to build peaks.

How do you build peaks for the people you care about? In this talk, drawing from his forthcoming book The Power of Moments, Heath will reveal the four elements that create defining moments. Armed with an understanding of these elements, we can be the authors of moments that spark delight, connection, and insight.

Being Decisive

Research in psychology has revealed that our decisions are disrupted by an array of biases and irrationalities. Unfortunately, merely being aware of these shortcomings doesn’t fix the problem, any more than knowing that we are near sighted helps us to see. The real question is: How can we do better?

In this session, Dan will introduce a four-step process designed to counteract these biases based on his #1 Wall Street Journal best-seller, Decisive. In the book, the Heath brothers sifted through voluminous literature on decision making to unearth practical solutions to our biases. This presentation will share an array of fascinating stories, from a rock star’s ingenious decision-making trick, to a CEO’s career-ending acquisition, to a single question that can often resolve thorny personal decisions.

Audience members will walk away with fresh strategies and practical tools enabling them to overcome decision paralysis and make better choices, faster. Because the right decision, at the right moment, can make all the difference.

Leading a Switch

Why do some big changes happen easily while many small changes prove impossible? The answer hinges on some of the most fascinating findings in psychology. Our mind is divided into two different systems—an analytical mind and an emotional mind—that are often in conflict, particularly in situations of change. Building on this research, and based on the book, Switch, which spent 47 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, Dan will reveal a simple, three-part framework that will help you change things in tough times.

All of us have things we want to change—in our families, our businesses, and our communities. Our goal might be as simple as losing a few pounds or as complex as changing the culture of an organization. Where do you start? And what do you do when you face resistance? This session is a must for any change leader who is struggling to make progress. Dan’s talk will give leaders the specific tools—and the inspiration—they need to make change happen.

Dan Heath Videos

Dan Heath On How You Can Solve Problems Before They Happen ...
Dan Heath: UPSTREAM Heroes - YouTube
Dan Heath: The New Employee First Day Experience - YouTube

How do I book Dan Heath to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dan Heath for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dan Heath, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dan Heath or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Dan Heath for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Dan Heath, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dan Heath, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Dan Heath speak about?

Dan Heath is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Inspirational, Sales, Communication, Personal Growth, Marketing, Business Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Authors, Education, Motivational, Culture, Literary, Leadership, Strategic Leadership and Thought Leadership.

Where does Dan Heath travel from?

Dan Heath generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Dan Heath?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dan Heath for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dan Heath for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dan Heath or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Dan Heath is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Inspirational and Sales. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Dan Heath generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Shawn Achor, Cassandra Worthy and Daymond John. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dan Heath for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 16/09/2024.

Dan Heath Speaking Topics

  • UPSTREAM: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

    So often in our organizations and communities, we fall into a cycle of reaction. A problem happens, and we respond. We fight fires. We contend with emergencies. Researchers call this "tunneling": We don't see the big picture, and we don't think about the future, we just keep pushing forward from one crisis to the next. What if instead we could shift our energies upstream -- uncovering and addressing the source of those problems?

    In this talk, Heath will reveal how some leaders have learned to spot problems in advance: There's a school district that can predict which students will drop out -- 4 years before graduation. There's an internet service company that can predict which customers are likely to cancel their subscriptions -- as early as two weeks after they sign up! When we shift from downstream response to upstream planning, it can cause miracles: One company eliminated 25 million customer support calls by asking, "How can we make sure our customers never need to call us?" And one nation in Europe has almost eliminated teenage substance abuse by asking, "How can we create a teenage culture that offers such compelling sober activities that teens simply don't feel like drinking or doing drugs?"

    Heath will share the three forces that push us downstream, as well as the powerful levers we can use to start preventing problems before they happen.

  • Creating Moments That Matter

    Some experiences are vastly more memorable and meaningful than others: A moment of extraordinary service that a customer can’t stop talking about. A moment of insight that helps a group of employees embrace a new vision. A moment of compassion that makes a patient’s burden feel lighter. Everywhere you look, people are trying to craft memorable experiences—from customer experiences to patient experiences. Leaders are working hard to boost employee engagement, student engagement, and parishioner engagement. But these discussions have been dominated by a focus on fixing problems (what Dan Heath calls “filling pits”), rather than creating memorable experiences (“raising peaks”). Yet Heath’s research suggests that it’s far more valuable to build peaks.

    How do you build peaks for the people you care about? In this talk, drawing from his forthcoming book The Power of Moments, Heath will reveal the four elements that create defining moments. Armed with an understanding of these elements, we can be the authors of moments that spark delight, connection, and insight.

  • Being Decisive

    Research in psychology has revealed that our decisions are disrupted by an array of biases and irrationalities. Unfortunately, merely being aware of these shortcomings doesn’t fix the problem, any more than knowing that we are near sighted helps us to see. The real question is: How can we do better?

    In this session, Dan will introduce a four-step process designed to counteract these biases based on his #1 Wall Street Journal best-seller, Decisive. In the book, the Heath brothers sifted through voluminous literature on decision making to unearth practical solutions to our biases. This presentation will share an array of fascinating stories, from a rock star’s ingenious decision-making trick, to a CEO’s career-ending acquisition, to a single question that can often resolve thorny personal decisions.

    Audience members will walk away with fresh strategies and practical tools enabling them to overcome decision paralysis and make better choices, faster. Because the right decision, at the right moment, can make all the difference.

  • Leading a Switch

    Why do some big changes happen easily while many small changes prove impossible? The answer hinges on some of the most fascinating findings in psychology. Our mind is divided into two different systems—an analytical mind and an emotional mind—that are often in conflict, particularly in situations of change. Building on this research, and based on the book, Switch, which spent 47 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, Dan will reveal a simple, three-part framework that will help you change things in tough times.

    All of us have things we want to change—in our families, our businesses, and our communities. Our goal might be as simple as losing a few pounds or as complex as changing the culture of an organization. Where do you start? And what do you do when you face resistance? This session is a must for any change leader who is struggling to make progress. Dan’s talk will give leaders the specific tools—and the inspiration—they need to make change happen.

Dan Heath Videos

Dan Heath On How You Can Solve Problems Before They Happen ...
Dan Heath: UPSTREAM Heroes - YouTube
Dan Heath: The New Employee First Day Experience - YouTube
Dan Heath: Build Peaks, Don't Fix Potholes
Dan Heath: Want Your Organization to Change? Put Feelings First

Dan Heath Reviews

  • Great experience overall. So far we've gotten wonderful feedback on Dan's presentation and Q&A! So many people found his talk helpful.
    Capital One Bank (Canada Branch) - Mar 14 2023

  • Our attendees very much enjoyed Dan Heath's 2 presentations at HR Indiana. He was very professional, knowledgeable, and also humorous in his presentations. Thanks!
    Shoe Carnival, Inc. - Sep 06 2017

  • How do I book Dan Heath to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dan Heath for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dan Heath, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dan Heath or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Dan Heath for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Dan Heath, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dan Heath, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Dan Heath speak about?

    Dan Heath is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Inspirational, Sales, Communication, Personal Growth, Marketing, Business Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Authors, Education, Motivational, Culture, Literary, Leadership, Strategic Leadership and Thought Leadership.
  • Where does Dan Heath travel from?

    Dan Heath generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Dan Heath?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dan Heath for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dan Heath for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dan Heath or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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