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Patrick Houlahan on Stage - National Sale Meeting

Patrick Houlahan

Founder of SL Partners, Top Leadership and Motivational Speaker, Management Executive Consultant, Organizational Development Executive, Entrepreneur, and U.S. Marine Corps “TOPGUN” Fighter Pilot

Patrick brings 20+ years and 600+ engagements to the stage, combining experience as a Marine Fighter pilot, TOPGUN graduate, business executive, consultant, and coach. Though powerful, relatable stories, he delivers practical lessons in leadership, accountability, resilience, and execution, giving audiences actionable tools while creating an engaging, memorable experience.

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Bio

“Grit and determination” are not always the right answers to overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Often it takes the right mindset, coupled with the right skillsets to push through barriers, conquer challenges, and win every day. Having gone through the highs and lows of winning and losing, Patrick brings dynamic stories that are relatable and teaches practical lessons that your teams can use every day. His entertaining and thought-provoking keynotes teach audiences how to develop the mindsets and skillsets necessary to win in today’s high-stakes environments.

Patrick grew up in Charlotte, NC, Jackson, MS, and Leawood, KS and is a graduate of The Citadel. Patrick accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps and spent a combined 27 years on active duty and in the reserves in San Diego, CA. Patrick rose to the rank of Colonel, was the Instructor Pilot of the Year in the F/A-18 Hornet, and graduated from the United States Fighter Weapons School, “TOPGUN.” Patrick earned his Master of Strategic Studies, “Distinguished Graduate,” from the Unites States Army War College and served as a Reserve Chief of Staff.

Patrick started his speaking and consulting career after leaving active duty in 2004. He was the Director of Seminars, MPI speaker of the year, and has led over 600 keynotes, breakouts, and workshops from the Fortune 100 to individual teams. In addition, Patrick has been a Regional Account Manager, Director of Business Development, Organizational Development Executive and has Founded or Co-Founded three start-ups.

Patrick’s keynote presentations and breakout workshop sessions on Execution, Debriefing, Accountability, Safety, Team Dynamics, Change Management, Leadership, and Resiliency are always customized to your messaging and participants. His goal is to not only inspire the audience, but to teach practical tools, techniques, and procedures that can be utilized long after the event has ended.

In 2019, Patrick’s military and business experiences led him to start Strategic Leadership Consultants to address a gap in leadership, execution, and operational excellence. In 2025, Patrick partnered with Jake Duffy and launched Strategic Leadership Partners (SL Partners.) With a primary focus of “Doing Work that Matters,” SL Partners’ goal is to scale and expand the capabilities of every company and every team member they engage.

What TOPGUN Taught Me (article 1): Purpose of TOPGUN

Teach the Teachers A “Teaching Organization” is far better than a “Learning Organization.” It's fun to teach. It's fun to learn. But most of all it's fun to win over and over again. If you want a high performing team, then the purpose of your organization should be to “teach the teachers” and become a teaching organization.

Never Forget

The Next Time You Win NEVER FORGET the admin folks, computer techs, physician assistants, warehouse workers, accounts receivable people, front desk greeters, etc., that make your company go zoom. Even though they may not have the most glorious jobs, they are the ones with whom everything is possible, and they are the ones that will help take your organization to the next level. Know your people and look out for their well-being and the next time you win an account, a contract, or an award, thank at least ten people that supported the effort.

Leadership Has Consequences. Most Organizations Measure the Wrong Ones.

What is this leader causing the organization around them to become? That question is the foundation of what we call Leadership Consequence™ at SL Partners. The premise is simple: leadership should be evaluated not only by what a leader accomplishes, but also by the capability their repeated behavior creates—or reduces—in other people.

The Burden of Leadership

The beauty of leadership is that you get to help shape another person's future. The burden is that you may not know how well you've done it until you've turned over control. Know your people. Look out for their welfare. Hold the standard. Develop them. And push leadership opportunities as far down as possible.

As a Leader, What is Your True Function?

If you were asked what is your true function as a leader, how would you respond? Would it be, “My function is to lead the team. My responsibility is to achieve our goals. My job is to make sure that everyone gets their job done.” While these are all good answers, they miss the True Function of Leadership.

Officers Eat Last: What burnt hotdogs taught me about being a servant leader.

Success Leaders eat last, Officers eat last, be a servant leader. All of these phrases point to one thing; Put your teams first and set them up for success. Believe me the rest will follow.

The Leadership Wake

Look at What Continues Without You Some of the strongest evidence of leadership appears after the leader is no longer part of the immediate interaction. A manager handles a difficult conversation without asking what to say. A salesperson works through a complex customer problem without immediately escalating it. A team makes a sound decision while the executive is unavailable. A developing leader begins coaching someone else with the same discipline once invested in them. Because of the way I lead, what are people becoming more capable of doing without me?

The Leadership Mirror Audit

THE LEADERSHIP PROBLEM WE RARELY SEE You Are Not Experienced by Your Intentions Most leaders know what they intend to be. They intend to be clear. They intend to empower people. They intend to hold a high standard without becoming controlling. They intend to coach, listen, stay composed, make good decisions, and create trust. But leadership does not happen inside the leader's head. It happens in the experience of the people being led.

Keynotes

Featured Keynote

  • Accountability is Key: The Art of the Debrief
  • Safety Culture: It's Just What We Do
  • Resiliency: Build and Lead Resilient Teams
  • Simplifying Leadership: Keys to Leading a Successful Team
  • Change Management
  • Fast and Effective Planning
  • Cross Communication: Break Down Silos
  • Breakouts / Workshops

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