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  3. Michael Brody-Waite
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Michael Brody-Waite

Recovering Addict | Author |Inc. 500 Founder & CEO
MBW
Country or state 
United States
Available to 
Europe,
North America
City 
Nashville, TN
Fee 
Languages 
English
Volunteer
Yes

Personal Details

Current position (2)

Recovering Addict | Author |Inc. 500 Founder & CEO

MBW

Advisor

QueueDr

Bio

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Short Bio

Michael Brody-Waite, a recovering addict, 3x CEO, TEDx Speaker, Inc. 500 Founder, and leadership coach is on a mission to revolutionize the rules of leadership. Michael's background in overcoming addiction is the foundation for his Mask-Free Leadership System, which is built upon 3 principles that saved him from death and set him apart as a leader.

With no college degree, Michael entered Corporate America and received 8 promotions in 7 years. In 2009, Michael left his job to co-found and lead InQuicker, a company that revolutionized healthcare appointment scheduling. InQuicker landed on the Inc. 500 list, was named "Best Place to Work" 4 times, and recognized as Healthcare Company of the Year.

Most recently, Michael served as the CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, a 501c3 dedicated to connecting 2,000+ entrepreneurs with the resources they need to create, launch or grow a business.

Full Bio

At the age of 23, Michael was a full-blown drug addict. He was kicked out of college, fired from his job, and evicted from his apartment. He had no money and no home, was throwing up blood, and believed he would be dead before his 30th birthday. Then, on September 1, 2002, after running out of options and fearing death, he checked into rehab, entered recovery, and has been transforming himself every day since.

In 2010, Michael left a Fortune 50 company at the height of the recession to cofound and lead InQuicker, a healthcare SaaS company that allowed patients to self-schedule appointments online. Under his leadership, the organization grew to 20,000% revenue growth in less than six years. In addition to landing a spot on the Inc 500 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies, the organization was named “Best Places to Work” four times and recognized as Healthcare Company of the Year. After selling InQuicker to a publicly traded company in 2015, Michael served for three years as the CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, which helps over 2,000 entrepreneurs every year start or grow a business.

Michael is an acclaimed TEDx speaker, Inc 500 entrepreneur, award-winning, 3x CEO, a leadership coach and author of “Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: How to Lead Like Your Life Depends on It.” His accomplishments include being named a Most Admired CEO, named to the Top 40 Under 40, and being recognized by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce as Healthcare Entrepreneur of the Year.

Presentations

Presentations (4)
Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts

For recovering addicts, letting go of the uncontrollable and practicing rigorous authenticity aren't lifestyle choices - they are often matters of life or death. These same principles that helped pull me out of a life of homeless and the depths of addiction are the ones that also helped me become the leader of an Inc. 500 company years later.

I found that the habits of an addict helped create a culture where employees felt more comfortable being themselves, communication flowed freely as vulnerability was met with compassion, and work was performed with by passionate people who clearly understood their roles, purpose, and contributions.

I believe rigorous authenticity, more than any other practice of addiction recovery, can bolster or even save organizations or any type and any size. But it takes the right combination, timing, and implementation of four core principles to create a work culture that thrives - even after you finally dare to tell one another the truth.

The Keynote (1 Hour)

Michael shares his journey from drug addiction and homelessness to founding and leading a company on the Inc 500 list. He also introduces participants to The Mask-Free System and 3 Principles for mastering authentic leadership. These principles, if practiced one-minute per day, will help you remove the masks you wear and improve individual and team member productivity and motivation.

Your Audience Will Learn How To:
- Reclaim 25% of their time
- Build stronger relationships and trust with others
- Stop avoiding difficult conversations
- Grow talent by asking for what they need
- Increase energy and engagement
- Unlock their unique perspectives

The KeyShop (2 Hours)

This hybrid Keynote + Workshop includes everything in the Keynote, plus personalization and interactivity.

Participants:
- Take a Mask Assessment to identify which mask is holding them back in work and life.

- Complete 4 Mask-Free Action Card templates that teach them how to remove their masks.

- Break into small groups for “guided sharing” and breakthrough that they are not alone, that other leaders wear masks, and share ways they can unlock a tremendous competitive advantage through Mask-Free leadership.

- Leave feeling inspired and equipped with HOW to remove a mask that is affecting them professionally and personally.

The Private Workshop (1/2 Day or Full Day)

The most robust option is a 1/2 Day Workshop where participants receive even more coaching and personalized exercises on becoming Mask-Free.

Includes:
- Everything covered in the Keyshop, plus one personalized, in-depth focus area of Mask-Free leadership for each participant. 1x1 coaching from Michael and/or a Mask-Free workshop facilitator.

- Group work and sharing to facilitate greater understanding of how living and leading Mask-Free can benefit those around them, including teams, organizations, and their community.

- Laminated 3 Principle Action Plan card mailed after the event to use each day for one-minute to remove their mask and generate the benefits of living and leading Mask-Free.

Past talks (1)
Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do | Michael Brody-Waite
TEDx Nashville
Nashville, TN
July 13, 2018
  • All (3)
  • Videos
  • Photos (1)
  • Slides (1)
  • Press information (1)
This speaker hasn't uploaded any videos yet.
TEDx Nashville: Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do
This speaker hasn't uploaded any one sheet yet.
Can Transparency Transform Leadership? One Entrepreneur Says Yes.

Books & Articles (1)

Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts
Forefront Books,
2020

Expertise (34)

Leadership
Business
Culture Authentic Corporate Culture Authentic Leadership Authentic Communication 21st Century Leadership Authentic engagement Management employee retention Keynote Personal Development Inspirational Best practices and thought-provoking ideas Founder CEO Coaching Addiction recovery Healthcare SaaS Drug Addiction The 12 Steps Business Personal Development Authentic Personal Development Business Coaching Small Business Coaching Business Management Inspirational Coaching Inspirational Communication Business Communication C-Level Communications Coaching and Development Business Leadership Authenticity Vulnerablity

Clients

Google
Dell
Global Payments
Entrepreneur's Organization
Vistage
SAFE Project
WordStream
ORI
QueueDr

Awards & certifications (4)

Healthcare Entrepreneur of the year
Nashville Chamber of Commerce
2012
Inc 500 winner
Inc.com
2014
NYSE Featured Startup
TechCrunch's Disrupt NY Event
2013
Top 40 Under 40
Nashville Business Journal
Recommendations
Why choose me? 

Boring keynotes don't work and I learned everything about leadership by being a drug addict

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