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Marc Koehler

Former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer | Turnaround CEO | 35+ Years Leading Teams Through Pressure, Uncertainty, and Constant Disruption

Marc is a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO who spent over 35 years leading teams in environments defined by pressure, uncertainty, and constant disruption. He helps organizations stay aligned, make critical decisions without perfect information, and execute with confidence when conditions are rapidly changing.

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Bio

Marc Koehler, a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO, is a rare blend of expertise, engagement, and 35 years of battle-tested, proven experience leading teams in environments defined by pressure, uncertainty, and constant disruption.


While serving aboard nuclear submarines on missions critical to national security, Marc operated in environments where hesitation was not an option and decisions had to be made before all the answers were known. That experience shaped the leadership approach he now teaches organizations around the world through Fast Attack Leadership™ — a practical framework for helping teams stay aligned, strengthen decision-making, and execute with confidence when conditions are rapidly changing.


After leaving the Navy, Marc worked for Honeywell where he learned how to read a profit and loss statement, put together comprehensive strategic plans, and became a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. When his daughters were 6, 4, and 2, he faced a decision between continuing to climb the corporate ladder or being present for every back-to-school night, choir performance, and soccer practice. He chose the latter and started a turnaround consulting firm, where he developed a reputation for helping organizations stabilize performance and regain momentum during periods of uncertainty and transition.


During this time, Marc witnessed firsthand how quickly organizations can lose alignment when conditions change and how powerful it is when teams are prepared to step forward and make decisions with clarity and confidence. He realized that what organizations need most is not more complexity, but leaders at every level who are ready to act when the situation demands it.


He later founded Lead With Purpose, a leadership development and research firm, where he took the over $1M in leadership training the Navy poured into him, combined with decades of civilian turnaround experience, and distilled it into simple concepts and skills that help organizations strengthen readiness at every level. Over 51,000 leaders have been developed through Lead With Purpose’s SHRM-accredited organizational leadership consulting, coaching, courses, and simple systems.


Marc is keynote speaker addressing audiences of up to 50,000, the best-selling author of Leading With Purpose, and the host of the Surfacing Leaders podcast where he tells the stories of leaders in unlikely places and the human spirit that drives performance when the stakes are high and conditions are uncertain.


Residing in Oceanside, California, Marc is married to his wife Heidi of 30 years and Dad to their three grown daughters, Anja, Liesel, and Sophie.

Keynotes

Featured Keynote

  • Safety From The Silent Depths: Navigating The Seas Of Safety In High-Stakes Environments
  • Course Correct to Success: Cultivating Agility within Your Leadership Team
  • Lead With Purpose: The 3-Step Process to Communicating and Connecting Your Employees to Your Company's Inspiring Story and Mission
  • Bravo Zulu: Harnessing the Power of Recognitions, Celebrations, and Gratefulness
  • The Elite Leader: The Principles to Develop You and Your Team to the Highest Level of Leadership
  • Battle E: The Art of Personal and Collective Readiness at your Organization

Show

What We Need To Implement Right Now From The U.S. Navy's Art Of Readiness

In today's complex business arena, uncertainty has become a constant companion. As businesses face challenges ranging from lost opportunities to plummeting profits, the answer lies not just in adaptation, but in something deeper: readiness. It's a proactive stance that serves as a shield against these challenges, demonstrated by the U.S. military. Let's dissect the military's art of readiness, with a focus on the U.S. Navy's submarine force and how we accomplished readiness to unveil how this concept can transform today's companies into nimble, unflinching entities in an uncertain landscape.

The Evolution of Elite Leadership: Learning From Military Strategies In A Corporate World

Leadership has always been a critical factor in the success of any organization, whether in the military or the corporate world. Interestingly, the military's journey towards developing elite leadership styles began much earlier than their civilian counterparts. In this blog, we'll delve into the reasons behind the military's early adoption of adaptable, strategic, and inclusive leadership and explore why the corporate world is now being driven to embrace similar frameworks.

  • 2024 Leading with Purpose: How to Engage, Empower & Encourage Your People to Reach Their Full Potential
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