Michael Hayes - Speaker

Michael Hayes, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy SEALs, with experience in two White House administrations and senior executive roles in the private sector, has become a master at helping organizations develop stronger leaders and improve their bottom line. 

Mike has led and learned from many crises during his SEAL service, including deployments throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. He has been involved in conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as dealing with national issues in the White House Situation Room and sensitive corporate strategy in the boardroom. 

His last role in the Navy was as the Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, which included ten months as the Commander of a 2000-person Special Operations Task Force in southeastern Afghanistan. 

As a White House Fellow (08/09), he served two years as the director of defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council. In the Bush Administration, Hayes was responsible for the START Treaty and conducted negotiations with the Russians in Moscow. In the Obama administration, Hayes led the White House response to President Obama's first major foreign policy showdown - the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia. 

Now a highly in-demand coach and speaker, Mike draws on examples from his illustrious career to teach clients how to think rather than what to think. He emphasizes that a leader's job is not to make the best decision but rather to ensure that the best decision is made. He also emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with discomfort, as it is a key tenet of high-performance individuals and organizations.