Able to reach audiences with a simple, transformative message on finding your passion, Kevin Carroll reawakens drive and ambition in both individuals and organizations allowing them to rediscover the things that propel them towards individual and organizational goals. Carroll has made a life out of pursuing his own passions in a career that includes being a globe-trotting language interpreter for the Air Force to becoming the head trainer of the Philadelphia 76ers where he was discovered and hired by Nike simply to act as “Katalyst”—someone who builds a culture of innovation where creative ideas are turned into reality. Energetic and humorous, Carroll deftly combines an anecdotal narrative with strategies for discovering new and creative ways of thinking and problem solving to help build mission-oriented teams. The result? A life-changing experience packaged in a presentation that’s not only fun, but provides return-on-investment and bottom-line success. Carroll has helped turn creative ideas into a reality of organizational success as Starbucks, Discovery Channel, ESPN, HSBC, Mattel, Capital One and the National Hockey League. He is the acclaimed author of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, What’s Your Red Rubber Ball?! and The Red Rubber Ball at Work.
Sense of Belonging: Kevin Carroll at Saint Joseph’s University 2020 Commencement
Kevin Carroll: Hard Work Never Goes Unrewarded
Kevin Carroll on Creativity, Resilience, and Potential
Kevin Carroll: #GSD: Get Stuff Done
AWSP TV with Kevin Carroll
Member Spotlight | Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll’s Speech Topics
#REALTALK: The Power + Value of Storytelling!
Good stories surprise us. They stick in our minds and help us remember ideas and concepts in a way that numbers, data and text on a page/slide/screen do not. Those who tell good stories have an increasing advantage with their ability to connect with the audiences that matter most for their personal + professional endeavors. Individuals that share compelling stories will be able to spark, inspire and motivate others to collaborate/rally to turn ideas/hopes/aspirations into reality.
Play@Work: Unleashing Growth through Creativity and Innovation
As children our days were filled with productive play. What was entertaining was also instructive. Games of tag were exercises in planning, teamwork, strategy, design, decision-making, creativity, interpersonal communication and risk-taking. Play was serious business in our youth—and it should be even more serious business in our professional lives if we hope to unleash the creative genius that spurs organizational growth.
The PIVOT: Adopting a Game Changing Mindset!
“Resilient people are everywhere. They are ordinary women and men, in every walk of life, who meet the definition of resilience set forth by American Psychological Association – adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress.” – Meg Jay. The tools, resources and best practices used by those that possess an uncanny ability to be resilient and overcome upheaval, uncertainty or difficult times can be taught and adopted. Learning the art + science of sustained determination (aka resilience) can provide a leader with the game changing mindset needed to face a challenging situation with grit, grace and studied confidence.
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll is one of one. My team recently engaged Kevin as the keynote speaker at our 2022 Leadership Kickoff. Kevin burned the place down! We did a survey of the 200+ individuals who were lucky enough to witness Kevin?s presentation and the results are VERY clear: Kevin delivered, by a wide margin, the BEST keynote presentation this team has ever witnessed. If you want to inspire your team, the answer is easy: Contact Kevin Carroll. Immediately!
Technology
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin was fantastic. I had many, many,many people come up and say he was the best keynote speaker we have ever booked. Kevin was also a terrifically nice guy.
Manufacturing
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin was WONDERFUL! His presentation was fantastic, our group was captivated and moved by him and our executive team was so impressed. Kevin breathed some much needed refreshing air into all of us!
Food
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll was the perfect start to our event. Many compliments from our members.
Retail
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll was incredible! Simply amazing. He was well spoken, engaging. He inspired so many people. We were all impressed how he customized his session to fit our specific conference theme on change and talked about our mayor and filled our hearts with his story. Kevin was the best speaker I’ve ever heard.
Government
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll is an amazing person with such warmth and enthusiasm!! He gave us a presentation like no other.
Media
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll is AMAZING and his lecture was PERFECT. Our new students were inspired, the parents and families were inspired, staff and faculty were recharged. Students who were looking at their cell phones as he introduced himself disengaged from their from them immediately, even some parents commented that they could not believe how quickly their student engaged with Kevin.
Universities & Colleges
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin was incredibly well-received during the weekend. He had that audience’s attention like nobody’s business. He was genuine, sincere, and his words were incredibly articulate. I had heard Kevin speak at conference three years ago and had been determined to get him to speak here for Commencement. He received a standing ovation from the graduates and those in attendance (over 3,000 people) and was incredibly cordial and friendly with everyone who he spoke with on both Saturday and Sunday. Everyone that I talked to and listened to, from graduates to parents to staff and administrators, were incredibly positive about him.
Universities & Colleges
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin Carroll was attentive in our pre-conference discussions. He took note of our internal language and messaging and worked that into his address. I was impressed it wasn’t just a canned speech that he has given 1,000 times. It was obvious that tried to take his message, his passion and intention, and relate it to WGU and our passion and intention. Our employees were talking all weekend about his presentation and we even have some virtual red balls being bounced around to each other this morning. Everyone seemed to catch his enthusiasm.
Universities & Colleges
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin was absolutely fabulous! I have had people coming up to me left and right saying how much they enjoyed his program. He was a wonderful combination of class, humor, motivation, inspiration and left us better people than when we started our day.
Health Care
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
I was a fan of Kevin Carroll’s before I was able to bring him out to Wisconsin. He was amazing as always. The perfect speaker for this event. And I think he really enjoyed being at Epic as well. Kevin (and a few of us that planned the event) even got a behind the scenes tour after the event that was over the top.
Health Care
What other organizations say about Kevin Carroll
Kevin was not only brilliant but was one of the highlights of the conference. He had a wonderful impact on our attendees.
