Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Strengthen leadership and team performance with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA legend and cultural ambassador. Kareem helps organisations build high-performing cultures through insights on teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and education. A Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and New York Times bestselling author, he delivers practical perspectives drawn from elite sport, media, and activism.
California, United States
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With 38,387 points across his career, Kareem held the record as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer until 2023, and remains the only six-time league MVP. He dominated professional basketball for two decades, winning six championships and redefining the center position with his signature skyhook. Before his professional career, he led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA titles and remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.
Since retiring, Kareem has built an equally respected career as a writer and filmmaker. He is a regular columnist for leading publications including The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, Esquire, and Huffington Post, writing on politics, history, race, and popular culture. His body of work includes more than fifteen books, ranging from memoir and historical writing to children’s literature and fiction, alongside award-winning documentaries such as Kareem: Minority of One and On the Shoulders of Giants.
Kareem also serves as Chairman of the Skyhook Foundation, which provides outdoor STEM education to underserved communities in Los Angeles. Each year, thousands of schoolchildren take part in hands-on learning programs designed to make science and technology accessible, practical, and engaging. His public service includes roles as US Cultural Ambassador and California After School STEM Ambassador, and he is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Following his diagnosis with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2008, Kareem became a vocal advocate for cancer awareness, research, and healthy living, using his platform to support patients and promote early detection and long-term wellbeing.
Through keynote talks, university lectures, and corporate events, Kareem blends personal storytelling with social insight, reflecting on leadership, resilience, teamwork, and civic responsibility. Through his Mycroft Method for productivity, Kareem shares principles that improve critical thinking and decision making everywhere, from sports arenas to the boardroom.
Book Kareem to bring global perspective, leadership insight, and cultural authority to your event.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reflects on a life shaped by setbacks as much as success, from early criticism and social barriers to professional challenges and health battles. Kareem explores how discipline, patience, and self-awareness turned obstacles into opportunities, using stories from sport, media, and public life. The session reframes failure as a tool for growth, offering practical insight into resilience, adaptability, and long-term performance.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar draws on his Mycroft Holmes series to explore how sharper observation leads to better decision-making. Kareem connects analytical thinking with everyday work, showing how paying attention to patterns, details, and context improves productivity and problem-solving. Blending humor with logic, the session focuses on critical thinking, curiosity, and the value of slowing down to think more effectively.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar traces his journey from Harlem playgrounds to NBA championships, bestselling books, and cultural diplomacy. Kareem shares lessons from elite sport, creative work, and personal adversity, including his experience with cancer. The talk centres on ambition, purpose, and leadership, showing how consistent habits, self-belief, and learning from mentors can shape success across careers and industries.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar draws parallels between championship teams and high-performing organizations. Kareem reflects on lessons learned from legendary coaches and teammates, exploring trust, communication, accountability, and shared goals. Using real examples from sport and professional life, the session focuses on leadership styles, team culture, and the behaviors that turn individual talent into collective success.
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.
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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.