Adam Pacifico: The Leadership Speaker For Real Change

When you want real change, not another dose of corporate cheerleading, Adam Pacifico is the leadership speaker to book. A former barrister turned global leadership advisor and author of The Leader's Secret Code, he combines razor-sharp legal thinking with human-first insight to provoke, challenge, and unlock something real in the room.

He's the host of The Leadership Enigma, a top-rated podcast that interviews the world's boldest leaders, from fighter pilots and psychologists to FTSE 100 CEOs.

Now a PepTalk exclusive speaker, Adam speaks at events across the globe on trust, culture, decision-making, and what it truly means to lead with conviction.

Why Organisations Book Adam Pacifico

As a partner at Heidrick & Struggles, Adam works with C-suite teams across the globe, and has designed and delivered leadership-focused experiential learning to more than 100,000 people at organisations including Google, Nike, Tottenham Hotspur FC, the International Criminal Court, and Red Bull.

His keynotes include The Rise of Leadership Superpowers, Give Leadership Back, and Lead Like a Human, each translating the eight components of Human-Centred Leadership, from humility to vigilance, into practical tools rather than theory. Sessions are built around findings from over 150,000 data points and more than 200 podcast interviews, with immersive exercises that get participants enacting new behaviours rather than just hearing about them.

"Adam's keynote, 'Lead Like a Human,' was inspiring, relatable, and incredibly engaging. He has a natural ability to connect with the audience on a personal level, making his session both memorable and impactful."— Head of Trade Marketing & Category Management, Red Bull South Africa

Clients also book Adam for smaller, high-stakes sessions alongside full conference keynotes: recent bookings have included an executive roundtable dinner on human leadership and a virtual talk on change management and leadership communication.

Here are five standout episodes that capture the range and depth of Adam's approach. They're grounded, practical, and loaded with insight:

🎙️ 5 Must-Watch Leadership Enigma Episodes with Adam Pacifico

A Leader of Leaders | Errol Gardner

Errol Gardner is the Global Vice Chair (Consulting) for Ernst & Young. He leads a consulting practice of over 125,000 people across 154 countries, while EY globally employs more than 400,000. Adam and Errol discuss what it means to be a "leader of leaders," how to scale human-centred leadership, and the importance of local relevance. Errol travels 60% of the year to stay close to teams and culture, casting a leadership shadow that extends far beyond direct reports.

The Dean of Dumbassery | Garry Ridge

In this energising episode, Garry Ridge, former Chairman & CEO of WD-40 (yes, the blue and yellow can with the red top), returns to The Leadership Enigma. Flying in from the West Coast to London just for this interview, Garry shares his practical wisdom on leadership, emotional intelligence, and how to build a culture of learning and care.

AI vs Human | Greg Orme

Award-winning author Greg Orme challenges fear-based AI narratives and explains why competing with AI is a losing game. Drawing on insights from his book The Human Edge, Greg makes the case for leaders to amplify uniquely human skills like creativity, curiosity, and empathy in order to stay relevant in an increasingly automated world.

To Infinity & Beyond | Kelly Latimer

Kelly Latimer is no ordinary pilot. A former NASA, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing test pilot, and a combat veteran, Kelly shares stories from some of the highest-risk environments on Earth and beyond. As Virgin Galactic's first female test pilot in the years following the programme's 2014 in-flight accident, she helped redefine safety, trust, and leadership under extreme pressure. This episode is a deep dive into what it means to lead when every decision counts.

Actually Doing Business Better | Atif Sheikh & Darren Ashby

This high-energy episode tackles how to align Purpose, Strategy, and Culture into a unified business "Blueprint." Atif and Darren challenge the typical corporate cascade model and argue for more authentic, collective leadership. Expect bold questions like: What does it mean to be a role model? How do you create conversations that matter? And how do you turn values into action?

What Adam Pacifico Brings to the Stage

• Real insight, from his Swiss-Army knife of datapoints
• A mix of storytelling, psychology, and strategic frameworks
• Experience working with leaders at Amazon, Google, and Red Bull
• The credibility of someone who's advised in boardrooms and courtrooms alike
• Available for keynotes, fireside chats, podcasts, panel discussions, event hosting and moderation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Adam Pacifico speak about?

Adam draws on Human-Centred Leadership research, built from over 150,000 data points and 200+ interviews on The Leadership Enigma, to explore trust, decision-making under pressure, and how to build genuinely human-centred culture.

What formats can I book Adam Pacifico for?

Adam is available for keynotes, fireside chats, panel discussions, and event hosting and moderation. He can also record a live podcast episode featuring your own leadership team as an alternative session format.

What has Adam Pacifico written?

Adam is the author of The Leader's Secret Code, and hosts The Leadership Enigma podcast, where more than 200 conversations with leaders across sectors feed directly into his keynote content and Human-Centred Leadership research.

How do I book Adam Pacifico for my event?

Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will confirm Adam's availability and fees. Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!