Speaking & workshops
Provocative ideas. Practical tools. Transformational conversations.
If you're looking to inspire your CEO forum, executive offsite, leadership conference or industry summit, Richard delivers a distinctive and powerful message that leaves high-performing leaders thinking differently—and acting boldly.
He’s spoken at leadership summits on Necker Island, global industry conferences, and private sessions for CEO forums around the world. He's even been known to release his "inner Freddie Mercury!"

Whether you're planning a high-stakes boardroom gathering or a 1,000-person stage, Richard brings a rare mix of strategy, soul, and humour that lands.
Featured Topic
The 10X Reckoning
You’ve already built something most people never will.
But behind the success, there’s a sense of friction:
👉 Maybe you’re still too deep in the weeds—everything depends on you.
👉 Maybe your team just isn’t keeping up with the vision you’re holding.
👉 Or maybe you’ve delayed your next bold move—because it still feels too risky or too costly.
Whatever the story—one truth remains:
You’re not moving at the speed or scale you know is possible.
And deep down, you know: You’re still playing it safer than you want to admit.
The 10X Reckoning Experience is a high-stakes wake-up call for elite leaders.
You’ll:
🔍 Expose the hidden constraints slowing you down or keeping you small
🔁 Name the shift between the leader you are today and who your next chapter demands
🚀 Clarify your boldest path forward—toward a future that actually excites you
This is a ‘moment of truth’ for elite leaders who refuse to be trapped by their own success.
And the beginning of everything that comes next.
Other featured talks
These keynote and workshop topics are regularly delivered for executive teams, forums, and events around the world. Each one is interactive, energising, and tailored to the audience.
Unlock your strategic potential and reclaim your time.
If you're like most leaders, you’re pulled into far too many operational issues, leaving you stuck in the weeds and unable to focus on the bigger picture. Imagine walking away with the tools to free yourself from the operational prison you’ve built—creating an extra 10 hours per week for deep strategic thinking.
In this insightful session, based on proven frameworks used by the world’s top CEOs and Richard's book of the same title, you'll:
- Learn the two ways leaders manage their time—and why the most popular approach keeps you permanently overloaded.
- Discover the 4 powerful shifts that will help you focus on what truly matters and operate more strategically.
- Walk away with 3 immediate actions to increase momentum on your most strategic projects.
This is your opportunity to finally break free from busyness and focus on the work that really matters to your business—and your legacy.
Elevate your executive team to the next level and free yourself for greater things.
Your executive team should be your greatest asset—but chances are, they’re bogged down in operations and not performing at the level you need them to. Imagine what would be possible if your senior leadership team were aligned, firing on all cylinders, and pushing your business forward while you focus on what only you can do.
In this powerful session, based on proven success with CEOs from start-ups to billion-dollar companies, we’ll:
- Use our Team Dynamics model to identify your team’s unique ‘stagnation loop’ and quickly move past it.
- Explore the 4 phase approach that prevents your progress from stalling, and create a roadmap for sustainable success over the next six months.
- Build your first Dream Team Scorecard to track progress and agree on the immediate next steps that will drive your team forward.
If you’re ready to turn your senior team into your greatest lever for success, this will show you the way forward.
Why book Richard?
- Leadership strategist & confidante to elite CEOs: Advises founders and CEOs of $20M–$2B+ businesses across multiple sectors
- Proven thought leadership: Author of Making TIME for Strategy and The 10X Reckoning
- Global experience: Speaker at Necker Island, CEO forums, private wealth conferences and international industry events—as well as private events for leadership teams globally
- Transformation, not just information: Richard doesn’t just share frameworks—he shifts how leaders see themselves and what they believe is possible.
Popular formats:
- 15–90 minute keynotes (inspiring, provocative, and packed with tools)
- Interactive half- or full-day workshops
- Fireside chats or roundtable provocations
- Private advisory sessions with select leader
Ideal audiences:
- Founders and CEOs (post-product market fit to industry leadership)
- Executive teams scaling fast and navigating complexity
- Leadership retreats and off-sites for high-stakes reflection
- Private equity portfolio leaders under pressure to perform and evolve
Session outcomes may include:
- Clarity on the leadership identity needed for their next level
- Practical tools to raise team standards and drive accountability
- Frameworks to escape operational gravity and prioritise what matters most
- A visceral sense of urgency—and renewed energy—for playing a bigger game
Event requirements:
- Minimal tech (slides optional)
- Flat stage or in-the-round layout preferred for interactivity
- Richard typically arrives early to engage with participants beforehand
Next steps:
- Want to check availability or talk through your event?
- Please contact us using the bottom below, or reach out via email.
We've been featured on some of the world's top podcasts

- Problem Solvers - Entrepreneur
- Extract Yourself From the Weeds and Lead More Strategically

- Awesome at Your Job Podcast (Pete Mockaitis)
- How to Build Exceptional Influence in a Noisy Digital Age

- Leaders of Transformation Podcast
- Multiplying Your Impact As A Leader

- Corporate Thought Podcast - Marc Marling
- "I Have a Saying"

- The Effective Founder Podcast
- How to Build Commitment in Your Remote Team

- The B2B Revenue Podcast
- How to Take Your Team/company to the Next Level

- A Geek Leader
- Strategic Leadership

- Total Picture Podcast
- How To Free Yourself Up from Low-Value Tasks and Be More Strategic

- Grow CFO Show
- The CFO/CEO Relationship

- The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
- Extracting Yourself From Operations To Lead More Strategically

- Human Capital Innovations Podcast
- Marrying the Disciplines of Strategy and Leadership in the Service of Our Clients

- On The Brink, with Andi Simon
- How to Amplify Your Story to Achieve Great Results

- The Fast Leader Show, with Jim Rembach
- 4 Shifts You Need to Make In Order to Break Through the Ceiling of Complexity

- InnovaBuzz, with Dr Jürgen Strauss
- How to Accelerate and Multiply Your Impact

- The Remote CEO Show, with Deniero Bartolini
- Strategic Leadership

- The Roots of Leadership Podcast
- Think like a CEO

- Rockstar CMO
- The CEO/CMO Relationship

- Good Morning, HR
- Strategy, Leadership, Purpose

- I Am CEO Podcast
- CEO Coaches Leaders to Create a Strategy with Purpose

- Unlabeled Leadership By Gary DePaul, Anchor.fm
- Shift from Incremental to Exponential

- The Leadership Hacker Podcast, Spotify
- The Productivity Paradigm

- The Institute of Directors
- Keeping Employees Motivated as the Effects of Covid Wear on

- Exhausted to Extraordinary
- How to Free Yourself Up for Strategic Activity

- Integrate & Ignite
- The Learning Mindset

- Startup Republic
- Extracting Yourself from Operations to Lead More Strategically

- Rockstar CMO
- How Rockstar CMOs make time for strategy

- Good Morning, HR
- HR Resolutions: Making Time For Strategy

- Breakfast Leadership Show
- Interview with Richard Medcalf

- Out of the Comfort Zone
- Making Time for Strategy with Richard Medcalf

- I Am CEO with Gresh Harkless
- Author and Coach Helps His Clients Achieve Strategic Results

- The Remote CEO Show with Deniero B
- Making Time for Strategy with Richard Medcalf

- Conscious Millionaire Podcast Network
- Richard Medcalf: Making Time for Strategy

- On The Brink, with Andi Simon
- Why Is Strategy So Challenging When Running Your Business? Shouldn't It Be The Best Part?

- The Evolving Leader
- Making TIME for Strategy with Richard Medcalf

- Let's Grow Leaders
- Making TIME for Strategy with Richard Medcalf

- Productivityist
- Richard Medcalf talks about XQuadrant

- Awesome at Your Job Podcast (Pete Mockaitis)
- How to Stop Being Busy and Start Being Strategic with Richard Medcalf

- Shareable Podcast
- T.I.M.E and Strategy Masterclass w/ Richard Medcalf

- Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors
- How to combine opportunity, inspiration and empathy into a positive lasting legacy

- Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast
- Make Time for Strategy with Richard Medcalf

- Better Under Pressure
- Richard Medcalf - Choose how your Past ignites your Present

- Enough, the Podcast with Dr. Mandy Lehto
- Bringing Fun, Play & Energy to Leadership, with Richard Medcalf & Antonia Kirkby
Appreciation from past participants
Spark self-reflection
I love Richard's ability to find the right angle of attack to spark self-reflection on my role as manager. He made me sit up and take action!
Bernard Lamy
Commercial Director
Sharp and insightful - a really good use of time
I find the sessions that Richard runs to be very benenficial in that they allow you to get perspective on your own thinking and approach through discussions with a group of your peers. I enjoyed the exercises and the quick insights from others with great experience. The sessions are sharp and insightful - a really good use of time.
Michel Robert
CEO
Ideal format, with proven leaders
It was a great forum with a very representative audience, expertly guided by Richard. It was exciting to exchange thoughts with such a diverse group of proven leaders, and I believe the format of the meeting was ideal.
Alex Shevchenko
CEO
Helped me get some altitude and sharpened my vision
Angela Philp
Executive Leadership Coach
Eye-opening
Thanks for the presentation. It was an eye-opener for me. I've identified 3 actions that need my immediate attention.
Timothy Kamombo
Finance Director
Made me feel less alone in my own role
The workshop was a fantastic way to meet other CEOs and hear what they are wrestling with. It definitely made me feel less alone in my own role.
Brad Flowers
CEO
Enjoyed the open discussion
I enjoyed the open discussion between CEOs; it was good to hear different perspectives and also recognise common challenges and experiences.
Nick Hale
CEO
Best presentation
Richard delivered simply the best presentation of the day.
ALEX D.
DIRECTOR
Really good material
Really good material. You helped me nail down some really practical next steps!
Delegate
Well structured
Really well structured with very practical examples.
MARTIN D.
COUNTRY MANAGER
Thought-provoking
Very thought-provoking, memorable and engaging.
James Atack
CTO
Time well spent
The best hour I've spent this entire year!
Delegate
Fantastic & amazing
Thanks again Richard for a fantastic session which has received amazing feedback.
Dan Wells
CEO
I was forced to think beyond my comfort zone
It was a very stimulating session, where I was forced to think beyond my comfort zone and discover new ideas. The format of the engagement was itself a great takeaway. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this.
Abhishek Rungta
Founder & CEO
A total supercharge!
The workshop was wonderful. It has absolutely led to a quantum shift in my direction. An incredibly valuable session: a total supercharge. Amazing!
Davina Stanley
Founder
Openness and honesty
Clear and structured, Richard brings an openness and honesty which really engaged me and helped me to apply the key messages.
TOBIAS N.
COO
CEOs at the top of their game
The event came at a very busy time so it was quite a commitment for me, but I am glad to have joined. I genuinely enjoyed meeting strangers who were obviously at the top of their game. It felt safe enough to be open about business challenges and to share useful insights.
John Argent
Founder and CEO
Rich & memorable session
The workshop brought together interesting fellow CEOs in a convivial atmosphere to address a fresh topic. It was a rich and memorable session.
Mark Griffiths
Managing Director
Thought provoking and challenging
Richard pushed us beyond the here and now to a more far-reaching future. The workshop was thought provoking and challenging, and I really benefitted from the diverse experiences of the other CEOs.
Andy Morris
CEO
Clear and impactful content
Vince Tickel
Chair
Clarity to design the future
I became aware of Richard through his book Making Time for Strategy which really spoke to me and where I am in my business journey. When I got the opportunity to join him with a small group of like minded individuals at The Reckoning Experience, I knew I needed to make time to attend and it did not disappoint. In just a short space of time, I came away with some clarity of thought on the shifts that I need to make to design the future I want, not settle for the default!
Liz Syms
CEO
Insightful reflections and new perspectives
The Reckoning Experience was incredibly beneficial as it provided an opportunity to reflect and review my current situation with like-minded individuals. The discussions were insightful and helped me gain new perspectives on our challenges and opportunities.
Joanne Goodall
Founder
A quick exercise break for your CEO brain
A quick exercise break for your CEO brain. I came away with one specific new angle that I’m actively looking into.
Christopher Traggio
CEO
Richard really challenged us!
We had a wonderful session with Richard today where he really challenged us to articulate and embrace our best selves and highest purpose to deeply enrich our lives.
Simon Mainwaring
Founder/CEO
Helped me be a better leader
Richard demonstrated the value of being able to think without constraints and how that takes a personal and company vision to a whole new level. An excellent exercise in the value of what I need to BE in order to become the best leader I can.
Hugo Fry
CEO
Insightful
Very insightful - on both a personal and team level.
IAN G.
DIVISIONAL HEAD
Helpful & informative
Thanks for a fascinating session that was very helpful and informative.
Delegate
Richard's Bio

Richard Medcalf
Founder
Richard Medcalf describes himself as "what you’d get if you put a McKinsey consultant, a slightly unorthodox pastor, and Freddie Mercury into a blender."
As the founder of Xquadrant, Richard is the trusted advisor to elite CEOs and entrepreneurs facing The 10X Reckoning—the moment they realise they’re stuck in their current success, playing too small, or moving too slow on their vision.
His 1:1 clients include billion-dollar CEOs, tech unicorn founders, an Entrepreneur of the Year, and an Olympic medallist—leaders determined to break out of incremental progress and create their life’s greatest work.
Richard has spent 25 years advising the C-Suite. He was the youngest-ever Partner at a top strategy consultancy, before spending 11 years at Cisco in an elite team reporting to the CEO. He holds a Masters from Oxford University, where he graduated top of his year.
He is the author of Making TIME for Strategy and the upcoming The 10X Reckoning, and the creator of The Crucible, a private ecosystem where visionary entrepreneurs and execs redefine their leadership, multiply their impact, and transform their industries.
Bi-national English/French, he lives near Paris with his wife and two children. He’s a licensed lay minister, a lover of spicy food, and a die-hard electric guitar enthusiast.
Featured Clients




















Media appearances
Richard has been featured on some of the world's top podcasts. Hover to see the episode title, and click to listen