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Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille is a 3x best-selling author and 3x Global Top 30 keynote speaker, ranked #9 in the world in 2025, recognised as a leading authority on leadership, organisational culture, and high-performing teams.
Drawing on decades of experience leading elite teams in combat and business, he empowers others to excel and reach their full potential.
Mike Sarraille began his military career in 1998, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he earned the prestigious titles of Recon Marine and Scout-Sniper.
After graduating with honours from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he commissioned into the U.S. Navy and completed the rigorous Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (BUD/S). His leadership in combat included pivotal roles during the Battle of Ramadi in 2006 and the Battle of Sadr City in 2008.
After 20 years of military service, including assignments with the elite Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and ten combat deployments, Mike transitioned to the private sector. He founded Talent War Group, a premier leadership development and executive search firm, which was successfully acquired in 2024, marking his first major business exit less than six years after retiring from the military. In 2025, Mike became the Chief Talent Officer at Overwatch Mission Critical, a leading provider of labour to the Data Centre Industry.
In 2020, Mike authored The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent, a best-selling guide for business leaders to build world-class teams by applying special operations principles. His second best-seller, The Everyday Warrior: A No-Hack, Practical Approach to Life, which hit #84 of all books, provides a framework for self-leadership, helping readers build positive habits and engage in personal growth. His latest best-seller, Scarlett’s Big Shot: Turning Setbacks into Success, is part of the Left of Bang Children’s Leadership Series, teaching young readers resilience and leadership skills.
As the driving force behind Sports Illustrated’s Everyday Warrior Nation, Mike produces a popular weekly podcast and column series focused on leadership, culture, human performance, and the warrior mindset. He has interviewed high-profile guests such as Bernie Marcus, Sammy Hagar, Terry Crews, Drew Brees, Kelly Slater, and Shaun White, alongside top performers from various fields.
Mike also hosts The Unsung of Arlington, a FOX Nation original series that honours the lives of lesser-known patriots laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Through powerful storytelling and first-hand accounts, the series pays tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of those who shaped the nation without seeking recognition.
Committed to honouring and supporting military families, Mike serves as an ambassador for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Folds of Honor Foundation. He also founded Legacy Expeditions, an extreme adventure company that sets records in honour of fallen heroes. In January
2023, Mike and his team set four world records by skydiving into all seven continents in under seven days. He has also served as executive producer for two documentaries, Drop Zone Everest and Triple 7, the latter released in theatres in 2024.
With an unparalleled record of leadership and a dedication to excellence, Mike Sarraille continues to inspire and serve, both on and off the battlefield.
As disruption reshapes industries, traditional leadership models are falling behind. Evolved Leadership offers a transformative, actionable framework built for today’s dynamic realities.
In this keynote, Mike Sarraille introduces the five pillars of Evolved Leadership:
Through compelling storytelling and real-world examples, Mike shows how each pillar strengthens organisational culture, inspires ownership, and aligns teams around shared purpose and high standards.
This session goes beyond theory—Mike emphasizes that leadership is rooted in behaviour, not position. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies to empower their teams, foster accountability, and drive sustained performance.
Mike also addresses how embracing failure as a catalyst for learning keeps organisations agile and prepared for new opportunities. By embedding Evolved Leadership into everyday actions, leaders can unlock resilience, accelerate growth, and future-proof their teams against whatever lies ahead.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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The Autonomy Advantage highlights the critical role of empowering teams and individuals to drive performance, innovation, and resilience.
In this keynote, Mike Sarraille shares actionable insights on how leaders can create an environment where initiative, ownership, and accountability flourish. He explores why breaking free from traditional hierarchical structures is essential for organisations aiming to foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement.
Through real-world examples, Mike demonstrates how autonomy increases motivation, sparks creativity, and accelerates decision-making. He emphasizes that trusting team members to lead at their level equips organisations to be more agile, responsive, and better positioned to succeed in an ever-changing landscape.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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Inspired Influence explores how a leader’s ability to inspire directly shapes engagement, collaboration, and performance.
In this keynote, Mike Sarraille dives into the mechanics of effective inspiration, offering practical insights on how leaders can craft and communicate a vision that truly resonates with their teams. Designed for leaders aiming to break down silos and strengthen collaboration across departments, this session provides actionable strategies to create a culture of inspiration that transcends traditional organisational boundaries.
Mike uses real-world stories and examples to show how inspired leadership doesn’t just enhance individual performance—it transforms entire team dynamics. Attendees will learn how to spark creativity, foster a sense of ownership, and drive collective success by inspiring from within.
When leaders lead through inspiration, they don’t just manage teams—they mobilise movements.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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Join Mike Sarraille on a thrilling journey as he recounts the planning, execution, and triumph of the Triple 7 Expedition—an audacious mission where a team of special operations veterans skydived onto all seven continents in just seven days, setting four world records.
This keynote captures the essence of elite teamwork and the power of unified purpose in overcoming obstacles and achieving extraordinary goals. In a world where challenges often seem insurmountable, Mike emphasises the critical role of optimism and resilience in driving success.
Attendees will explore how a positive mindset fuels determination, how trust and vulnerability strengthen team cohesion, and how professionalism and respect create an environment where collaboration and innovation thrive. Mike also highlights the importance of embracing failure as part of the learning process—showing that setbacks, when handled correctly, make teams stronger, more adaptable, and more committed to the mission.
Through captivating real-world stories, Mike delivers a compelling message about the behaviours, mindsets, and leadership principles that separate good teams from great ones.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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In a world that often feels overwhelming, many individuals struggle to find meaning, direction, and balance. The Everyday Warrior Mindset offers a refreshing, no-hacks approach to personal growth and self-leadership, empowering individuals to become the best version of themselves.
Drawing from insights in the best-selling book, The Everyday Warrior, Mike Sarraille shares the core principles that help individuals thrive despite life’s inevitable challenges. This keynote highlights the importance of self-awareness, discipline, and intentionality as the foundations for personal and professional success.
Attendees will learn how to lead themselves first—developing the resilience and clarity needed to drive meaningful impact in their organisations and communities. Mike also explores how aligning daily actions with core values creates lasting fulfilment, and how personal growth is most powerful when it extends beyond oneself through service to others.
Through real-world stories, practical strategies, and actionable takeaways, Mike inspires audiences to embrace a life of purpose, optimism, and continuous growth.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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Join Mike Sarraille as he shares transformative insights drawn from his work with a Fortune 50 company that uncovered a deep cultural challenge. During a pivotal executive meeting, Mike posed the question: “How readily can you admit a mistake within your company?” The laughter from all 50 executives—and the Chief Learning Officer’s response, “If you admit a mistake, you’ll put a bullseye on your chest,”—made the problem clear: fear, not trust, was driving the culture.
In this keynote, Mike explores why creating a culture that embraces vulnerability is essential for building resilient, innovative teams. Drawing from real-world examples, including elite Tier One Special Operations Units, Mike shows that emotional intimacy isn’t a weakness—it’s a critical foundation for psychological safety, high performance, and long-term organisational health.
Referencing Project Aristotle at Google, Mike reinforces that without trust, excellence is impossible. He shares actionable strategies for encouraging open dialogue, making failure part of the growth process, and using conflict as a productive tool for deeper collaboration and better decision-making.
Attendees will leave understanding that leading with authenticity and courage doesn’t just strengthen individual relationships—it transforms entire organisations.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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Connected Commitment explores the vital role of aligning individual and team efforts with the organisation’s overarching mission.
In this keynote, Mike Sarraille shares actionable insights on how to build a culture rooted in trust, vulnerability, and collaboration. Designed for organisations struggling with silos or misalignment, this session equips leaders with practical strategies to create a cohesive, high-performing team environment.
Through compelling stories and real-world examples, Mike demonstrates how a unified commitment strengthens teamwork, drives resilience, and elevates organisational performance. He emphasises that when teams are anchored by a shared purpose, they tackle challenges more effectively, innovate faster, and stay fully invested in the success of the whole—not just their individual roles.
Participants will leave understanding that connected commitment isn’t just about working together—it’s about building a culture where everyone is aligned, trusted, and motivated to achieve extraordinary results.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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Holistic Adaptability focuses on building a growth mindset at every level of the organisation—one that values flexibility, learning, and innovation over rigidity and fear of failure.
In this keynote, Mike Sarraille shares practical insights on how leaders can create an environment where teams feel empowered to pivot, experiment, and seize opportunities, even amid disruption. Especially relevant for organisations facing rapid change, this session equips leaders with actionable tools to navigate complexity and drive sustainable success.
Through compelling stories and real-world examples, Mike demonstrates how cultivating adaptability enhances resilience, unlocks creativity, and fuels long-term performance. He emphasises that failure, when embraced correctly, becomes a catalyst for growth rather than a setback, creating a culture where teams continuously evolve and innovate.
Participants will leave inspired to lead teams that not only survive change—but thrive because of it.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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The Excellence Imperative highlights why accountability and performance management are at the heart of effective leadership and organisational success.
In this keynote, Mike Sarraille shares how leaders can set ambitious benchmarks, clearly define expectations, and foster a culture where excellence is not just encouraged—it’s expected. Designed for leaders who understand that simply meeting expectations is not enough, this session offers practical frameworks for cultivating a relentless pursuit of excellence at every level of the organisation.
Mike introduces the concept of accountability as a form of love and commitment—an act of care that challenges individuals and teams to reach their highest potential. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, attendees will learn how to create environments where excellence becomes the norm, not the exception.
By embedding a mindset of continuous improvement and resilience, organisations can thrive in any environment and consistently deliver outstanding results.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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In a world where talent is the ultimate differentiator, organisations face increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining the right individuals. Many leaders still rely on outdated hiring practices and ineffective cultures that fail to nurture high performance and growth. To thrive, companies must adopt a new approach—one that prioritizes character over credentials, collaboration over hierarchy, and continuous development over complacency.
Drawing from insights in the best-selling book The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Companies Win on Talent, Mike Sarraille shares proven principles from the U.S. Special Operations community, translating them into actionable strategies for building elite corporate teams.
In this keynote, attendees will learn how to strengthen their team culture to attract top talent, how to identify candidates with the right character traits, and how to foster environments that drive engagement, innovation, and retention. Mike emphasises that effective talent management doesn’t end at hiring—it’s about actively developing individuals to maximize their contribution and potential.
By implementing these strategies, leaders can navigate today’s complex talent landscape with confidence and drive sustainable organisational success.
This keynote serves leaders and teams who are:
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We need to compete to retain, develop, engage and inspire our people and Mike provided accessible and practical ideas for us to do that. He displayed the highest level of preparation and professionalism. During the discussion, all attendees provided positive feedback, and they said it was one of the most valuable speakers we have hosted here at Intel.
Mike Sarraille is a MUST book speaker! From his book to his podcasts, Mike is a captivating & engaging speaker that had our leaders thinking differently. There is a reason we have brought him back and we are looking forward to welcoming him back for more session.
