I’m Charlie and Judy’s kid. I grew up lower middle class in a suburb of Memphis. I started my career as a consultant, but soon felt drawn to academia. I earned a PhD at Texas A&M in Organizational Behavior and for ten years I was a popular management professor. Along the way I became Dr. Dewett the speaker. Why did I leave a tenured position for life? I had to. I believe if you can help others, you should. Speaking is one of my superpowers. I use it to improve lives. I was always a speaker, long before anyone paid me to tell stories. In high school, I was only ranked #62 in my senior class, but they asked me to speak at graduation anyway. Since then, speaking has defined my life in one way or another through three careers.

I add value using my three superpowers.  The first is performing.  So far, I’ve delivered over one thousand talks around the world, convincing every audience that more is always possible.  Next, is writing.  I’ve written several books people really enjoy, not to mention a mountain of essays, blog posts, tweets, and more.  Third is teaching.  Whether in the classroom or online, I’m a world-class educator with a unique ability to explain things in an accessible manner that makes learners feel empowered.

As a speaker, my philosophy is simple. Don’t perform, just be real. Be honest. Be candid. Be personal. Be practical and helpful. Anyone can polish a performance, but very few can authentically inspire. That’s what I do. People are starving for useful information, delivered honestly. Add in a few smiles and laughs, and all of a sudden learning becomes a blast.

On top of raw speaking ability, I have amassed a ton of valuable knowledge. I’ve worn many hats along the way: professor, consultant, radio host, author, dean. As a business professional and social scientist, I’ve been fortunate to gain deep insights into how people, teams, and organizations function. What I’ve realized on this journey is very important. It’s a message that must be shared with others. Here it is: more is always possible. At home, at work, in life. Through speaking and writing, I help others see this reality and I help them commit to making it happen.

I focus on authenticity and aspects of interpersonal relationships that drive professional success. I’ve observed every manner of organizational challenge. At the heart of every one of them are the same core issues: a need for more self-awareness, the ability to face and conquer your fears, better communication, better rapport, and more kindness. In response, I’ve crafted stories and advice that illuminate a productive path forward. When I’m done with an audience, they not only leave believing that more is possible, but they know how to make it happen, and feel inspired to get started immediately.

I have a passion for sharing this message. It’s taken me around the world in venues including hotels, convention centers, resorts, aquariums, race car speedways, museums, theaters, churches and prisons. I’ve delivered over one thousand speeches live to hundreds of thousands of people, been recognized as a top leadership speaker and author, and been quoted everywhere from the New York Times to Forbes. Thanks to my collaboration with LinkedIn, I have created content enjoyed by millions of people in over one hundred countries in several languages.

Off the stage, my goal is to be helpful and utterly low-maintenance. I am helpful to my clients by engaging social media, creating promotional videos, and taking the time to learn about your workplace challenges to make sure the event a huge hit. I also love to brag about being successful but very low maintenance. No rider, no fuss, no muss. Give me an audience, some water, and a microphone, and I’ll deliver an experience to remember.

The result is the same every time: they laugh, they learn, and sometimes they cry. Honestly, I have so much fun doing this. I sometimes can’t believe this is a job.