Biography

John Foley is a former Lead Solo Pilot of the Navy’s Blue Angels, “Top Ten Carrier Pilot,” a bestselling author and an expert on high-performance teams. As a keynote speaker, John has inspired over 1,000 organizations to increase trust, elevate execution and build a culture of excellence.

No other speaker in the world shares John’s life experiences. Through keynote presentations and hands-on workshops, John clearly applies his lifetime of discovery to real-world situations. He has delivered his extraordinary message at over 1,000 events, to over 1 million people worldwide.

John’s keynotes, workshops, and programs inspire individuals, teams, and organizations to reach and operate at their highest potential. His high-performance framework is vital for leaders reaching for the next level of success, and his Glad to Be Here® Mindset is a fundamental tool for maximizing possibility and achieving goals.

John Foley’s message goes above and beyond expectations. With engaging stories and electrifying videos of Blue Angel aerobatics, his presentations will give your organization a renewed spirit, purpose and energy. John’s events inspire, motivate and align teams to improve performance, strengthen teamwork, and thrive with a Glad to Be Here Mindset.

As the founder and CEO of CenterPoint Companies—which provides business performance training to companies worldwide—John knows first-hand how the best of the best excel and continually improve. By thoroughly studying the current climate within your workplace and reflecting on his past experiences, John Foley delivers personalized programs aligned with company culture and event goals. This detail-oriented customization will give your people the experience of a lifetime.

John graduated from the US Naval Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering and was a defensive back for the Midshipmen. As a pilot, John was a “Top Ten Carrier Pilot” six times before becoming a Marine instructor pilot and then a Blue Angel.

He holds three master’s degrees:

  • a master’s degree as a Sloan Fellow from Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • a master’s in Strategic Studies from the Naval War College
  • a master’s in International Policy Studies from Stanford University

John was also a Fellow at the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiations and was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México).

He has continually reinvented himself, working as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, leadership expert, keynote speaker, and the bestselling author of Fearless Success.

In 2011, John and his wife Carol founded The Glad to Be Here Foundation to work with charitable organizations close to their hearts. John works with every single client to donate a portion of his fee to a charity of their choice. To date, the foundation has donated over $2,000,000 to 360+ charities in 57 countries around the world.

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Testimonials

I have seen 100’s of speakers and John’s message was caring and prepared, but what hit my heart most was the Glad to Be Here® messaging. This was by far the best engagement ever between a speaker and our attendees. When John took our employees into breakout rooms it made them feel at ease and opened up to one another. Communication is so crucial, and this is one amazing way to do so in any organization.
– Todd Brown, CEO, Tech Qualled
I think of John's presentation quite a bit actually as he is one of the most dynamic speakers I have seen in quite some time I taught at Dale Carnegie for 15 years - Effective Speaking and How to Win Friends and Influence People here in San Diego while I was also working at Dale Carnegie - so I recognize a presenter who makes an impact!
– Barbara Claire Schroer, Luxottica Group Brand Ambassador Luxury, Tiffany, Valentino & Giorgio Armani
Our employees keep the five dynamics at hand during all meetings. It has completely re-framed the way that we interact with one another, and started some difficult conversations about how to move forward from failure and success.
– Melissa Cox, SVP, Brighthouse Financial
John was amazing! He is quite the buzz on the conference floor and with our execs!
– Shelly Fox, Trades & Events Manager, NextGen Healthcare
John has a way of connecting with the audience that’s meaningful and his message resonates! He’s inspiring, humble and connects with all participants on many different levels! John’s Diamond Performance Framework will help any company or team achieve even greater results without question.
– Jeff Myers, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership
The most inspirational and transformational Keynote on the planet.
– Patrick Cowden, CEO, Beyond Leadership

Booksby John “Gucci” Foley

Fearless Success

For Meeting Planners

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