Dean Leak
Master the art and science of productive disagreement with Dean Leak, speaker and Olympic performance strategist. Dean works with global leaders to enhance conflict readiness and resolution, build psychological safety, and drive innovation, delivering proven frameworks for IBM, LinkedIn, and L'Oréal.
London, United Kingdom
Enquire Now
Send us your event details
.svg){kind=icon}
Dean has worked with Olympic gold medal winning teams, Commanding Officers in the British Army, and senior government advisors. His clients include IBM, LinkedIn, L'Oréal, Baker McKenzie, Specsavers, and Air New Zealand. Trained by Professor Steve Peters, UK Special Forces leaders, and a leading hostage negotiator, he brings insights from elite sport, military operations, and FTSE 100 boardrooms.
Dean helps organisations build cultures where people challenge thinking and work through discomfort without damaging trust. His approach combines performance science, behavioural psychology, and practical leadership tools to enable courageous conversation and effective decision-making. Rather than teaching teams to avoid disagreement, Dean shows how to design conflict that drives momentum. This shift transforms high pressure situations from breaking points into breakthroughs, creating environments where innovation and accountability flourish.
Audiences learn how to speak up constructively in high-stakes situations, navigate difficult conversations that strengthen rather than fracture relationships, and build psychological safety that supports both challenge and cohesion. Dean delivers practical frameworks that move teams from avoidance to alignment and from politeness to measurable progress.
Book Dean to equip your organisation with the skills that separate teams who manage conflict from those who harness it.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
In his talk, Dean Leak highlights the importance of conflict readiness over conflict resolution. He explores the five powers of disagreement that transform conflict avoidance into a performance-driven culture. Attendees will discover how high-performing teams embrace conflict, the value of constructive challenges, and how healthy friction fosters innovation, trust, and accountability. By the end of the session, participants will learn to harness productive disagreement to drive momentum and enhance team performance.
In this talk, Dean Leak addresses the rapid pace of change that leads to "Emotional Jet Lag" within organisations, highlighting the disconnect between organisational shifts and human adaptation. He emphasises the importance of emotional regulation in high-pressure situations and the need for both psychological safety and accountability to thrive. Attendees will learn how to foster courageous conversations that cultivate adaptable teams capable of delivering sustained excellence, even in challenging environments.
In this insightful talk, Dean Leak explores the common traits of the world’s elite teams, emphasising that culture, not just talent, drives success. He discusses how mindset training enhances performance and how pressure tests a team's culture. Attendees will discover that a balance of challenge and support fosters excellence, transforming individuals into a cohesive, adaptable team capable of sustained performance under pressure. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to cultivate a high-performing team culture.
Dean Leak draws on his experiences with Olympians and British Army Commanding Officers to illustrate how to cultivate mental resilience under pressure. He shares that mental fitness is developed, not innate, and that resilience must be established before challenges arise. Attendees will learn techniques to regulate emotions and lead effectively in high-pressure situations, as well as the importance of training the mind just as one would train any other skill.
In this session, Dean Leak reveals how imposter syndrome can be transformed into a powerful asset for career success. He shares insights from his own experiences, emphasising that self-doubt signals growth and should be viewed as data rather than danger. Attendees will learn to reframe fear into focus and understand that confidence stems from taking action despite uncertainty. This session will empower participants to leverage their doubts as a catalyst for professional development.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
.svg)
Book
.svg)
.svg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.