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Mike Sarraille - <p>Mike Sarraille, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, best-selling author, and leadership expert, helping companies build elite teams with battlefield-tested leadership strategies.</p>

Mike Sarraille

Mike Sarraille, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, best-selling author, and leadership expert, helping companies build elite teams with battlefield-tested leadership strategies.

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5 of 5

Mike Sarraille knocked it out of the park with our management team. He gave us clear view of a how we should live life and lead at the highest level possible, all day and every day, no excuses. Looking forward to our continued journey with Mike.

Brian Ellis

President of ADS Services

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Why you should book Mike Sarraille for your next event

  • Former Navy SEAL commander with 20 years in Special Operations, leading missions in Ramadi and Sadr City.
  • 3x best-selling author and globally ranked #3 leadership speaker in 2026 with proven impact on teams and culture.
  • Founder, executive, and record-setting expedition leader translating elite mindset into real-world performance.

Non-binding request for Mike Sarraille

#3 Globally Ranked Leadership Speaker | Bestselling Author | Retired Navy SEAL | Chief Talent Officer

Mike Sarraille brings leadership to life with clarity, intensity, and real-world credibility. As a retired U.S. Navy SEAL with two decades in Special Operations, he has led teams in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Today, he channels those lessons into powerful keynote experiences focused on building resilient cultures, strengthening leadership at every level, and unlocking high performance. With a track record as a best-selling author, global top-ranked speaker, and business leader, Mike delivers insights that resonate long after the event ends.

 

Mike Sarraille – Leadership forged in Special Operations

Mike Sarraille is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, 3x best-selling author, and 4x Global Top 30 leadership speaker, ranked #3 in the world in 2026. Recognized as one of the most prominent military speakers of 2026, he is known for his work in leadership, organizational culture, the warrior mindset, and building high-performing teams.

Mike served 20 years in Special Operations, including assignments with the Joint Special Operations Command. During his military career, he led combat missions in some of the most challenging environments, including the Battles of Ramadi and Sadr City. These experiences shaped his leadership philosophy, one built on accountability, trust, and performance under pressure.

 

From battlefield to boardroom

After transitioning from military service, Mike founded Talent War Group, a leadership development and executive search firm focused on helping organizations identify and develop top talent. The company was successfully acquired in 2024, marking a significant milestone in his business career.

Today, Mike serves as Chief Talent Officer at Overwatch Mission Critical, a company specializing in labor solutions for the data center industry. In this role, he continues to apply his leadership expertise to help organizations scale, perform, and build strong cultures in highly competitive environments.

 

Author & thought leader

Mike is the author of three impactful books: The Talent War, The Everyday Warrior, and Scarlett’s Big Shot, part of the Left of Bang series designed to inspire young leaders. His writing translates elite military principles into actionable strategies for business leaders, teams, and individuals striving for excellence.

He also leads Everyday Warrior Nation, a leadership platform that has been featured in Sports Illustrated and Men’s Journal. Through this platform, Mike hosts a podcast and writes a column focused on leadership, mindset, and performance, reaching audiences looking to elevate both professionally and personally.

 

Media & storytelling

Mike extends his impact through storytelling that honors service and leadership. He is the host of The Unsung of Arlington (Season 1 and 2) on FOX Nation, a powerful series dedicated to telling the stories of fallen American heroes. His ability to connect emotion with leadership lessons makes his storytelling both meaningful and memorable.

In addition, he has served as executive producer for the documentaries Drop Zone Everest and Triple 7, both released in theaters nationwide. These projects highlight courage, resilience, and the pursuit of purpose beyond personal success.

 

Legacy Expeditions & record-setting missions

As the founder of Legacy Expeditions, Mike leads missions that honor fallen heroes while pushing the limits of human performance. In January 2023, his team set four world records by skydiving onto all seven continents in under seven days.

These expeditions are more than achievements, they are tributes. They reflect Mike’s commitment to service, remembrance, and inspiring others to live with intention and purpose.

 

Why book Mike Sarraille for your event

Mike Sarraille delivers more than a keynote he delivers a mindset shift. His presentations combine real-world experience, actionable leadership frameworks, and compelling storytelling. Audiences walk away with practical tools to strengthen culture, improve accountability, and build teams that perform at a higher level.

His key themes include:

  • Leadership under pressure
  • Building high-performing teams
  • Organizational culture and accountability
  • The warrior mindset in business and life
  • Talent development and retention

Mike’s ability to translate elite military principles into relatable, actionable insights makes him a sought-after speaker for organizations aiming to elevate performance and leadership.

 

Leadership grounded in purpose

Beyond his professional achievements, Mike continues to serve as an ambassador for veteran-focused nonprofits, supporting initiatives that advance leadership through service and example. His work reflects a consistent commitment to giving back and creating lasting impact.

At the core of everything he does is a strong sense of purpose, something he also brings into his personal life as a proud husband and father to three future leaders.

Customer Reviews

5 of 5

Mike Sarraille knocked it out of the park with our management team. He gave us clear view of a how we should live life and lead at the highest level possible, all day and every day, no excuses. Looking forward to our continued journey with Mike.

President of ADS Services

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Motivating, informative, and excellent. I hope to look back at this speech years from now and still be constantly applying the principles.

General Manager, All- State Truck Sales

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

An inspiration to many. I am touched by the experiences and life lived so far. I can relate to Mike in many ways even as a Mother. I felt in my bones many experiences even though not the same, it felt empowering. I will take home to my kids the very meaning of being warrior for themselves and living a fulfilling life.

Sr. People Operations, Blue Bottle Coffee

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

WOW! Amazing speaker. I would listen to this again and again given the chance..

Director of Finance, Williams Bros Health Care Pharmacy

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike Sarraille’s keynote speeches on leadership and accountability were a masterclass in engaging and insightful communication. His ability to connect the ‘why’ behind these concepts to our diverse groups was nothing short of remarkable, resonating deeply with everyone present. Mike’s blend of expertise and captivating delivery not only left a lasting impact but also set a high bar for future events, making us eager to engage in our next collaboration with such an outstanding professional.

EHS Manager, Exyte

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike Sarraille is a MUST book speaker! From his book to his podcasts, Mike is a captivating & engaging speaker that had our leaders thinking differently. There is a reason we have brought him back and we are looking forward to welcoming him back for more session.

Principle Strategic Alliances Manager, UKG

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike has a way of engaging the audience that I haven’t seen before. His passion comes across in his delivery and inspires you to be a better person. His speech resonate

Chief Impact Officer, Folds of Honor

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike’s presentation was one of the best I ever witnessed. And trust me I have seen a lot of leadership presentations!

HR Manager, Total Environmental & Power Systems, Inc

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike's message on leadership was nothing short of transformative. He spoke candidly about what it truly means to lead, while also recognizing that not everyone is destined for a leadership role—and that’s perfectly okay. As someone who thrives in a supportive role, I found his insights deeply affirming and empowering. Mike emphasized the critical value of strong teams and the essential role they play in any leader’s success, a truth that resonated powerfully with our entire group. His ability to connect with every individual in the room, regardless of their position, made his talk both inspiring and profoundly impactful. Mike doesn’t just speak about leadership; he speaks to the heart of what makes teams excel.

Vice President Manufacturing & Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Best Keynote I’ve seen. I’ve been to 100 industry conferences over the past decade, but that was next level.

Divisional Vice President, Abbott

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Michael Sarraille visited ACV's Leadership Team at the end of 2021 and spoke about the importance of self-reflection. One of THE most important takeaways for me and my team was/is After Action Reviews (sincere reflection on what went right, what went wrong, and what we can do better). It's becoming a part of our culture and adding tremendous value to the organization. Thank you, TWG.

ACV

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike's ability to distill complex military strategy and business concepts into one singular message that impacts everyone in an organization from the operational to the executive tiers of leadership is unparalleled. He conveys information passionately due to his unwavering commitment to the message along with the confidence gained only from the daily application of the principles and strategies he shares. Attending a speaking engagement with Mike was a discussion amongst a diverse group of leaders in business and transitioning SOF Leaders, not as a lecture, but a collaborative panel discussion focused on solving problems and delivering results. Mike's proven leadership on the battlefield and in the business world is unique, but his ability to synthesize the two and communicate the lessons learned effectively while eliciting experiences from the group truly sets Mike and the TWG apart.

Founder of IEW

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

We have worked with Mike in both a classroom setting with many employees and a one on one setting with key managers and I can honestly say it was some of the best leadership and management training me or my employees have received. I have never had so many employees come up and thank me for providing training as I did when Mike came. He gave us all tools on how to properly deal with people and situations in the best way by taking the emotions out of it and making the best decision for all the stakeholders involved. The training and motivation he provided was invaluable and we will continue to use him into the future!

Vice President of Family PowerSports

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike came to speak to a Community of Practice at Intel exploring the topic of teamwork and leadership development. The discussion he led was impactful and hit on a number of relevant topics for a company like ours. We need to compete to retain, develop, engage and inspire our people and Mike provided accessible and practical ideas for us to do that. He displayed the highest level of preparation and professionalism. All attendees during the discussion provided positive feedback and said it was one of the most valuable speakers we have hosted here at Intel. We would like to have Mike back and as he is a strong advocate for the role of technology companies in the American and global economy, he is welcome here any time. We appreciated Mike’s experience and perspectives – great talk!

Chief Learning Officer and VP of Human Resources | INTEL

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Majestic has had Mike speak to our senior leadership (as well as our clients) on several occasions. Most of our discussions focus on leadership and ownership, that is ownership of yourself and your responsibilities. Mike brings a passion and knowledge to these subject that radiates the room and translates to team being engaged and inspired in the discussions and post-meeting. His ability to communicate his experiences and principles in leadership and ownership, translate in a very real and actionable way. It provided our team with a very clear mirror in which to review our actions by, so the sessions continue to give benefit well past any session. In my 25 years of leadership, I have not participated in more effective sessions that translate reflection and action then the sessions with Mike.

President & CEO of Majestic Kitchen + Bath

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

Mike came to our department and gave a training presentation on resiliency and leadership. Our department has tragically lost four officers in the past 18 months, and Mike’s message on resiliency hit home. It was the perfect message to a group still struggling with the loss of teammates. His presentation on leadership was the best I have ever seen. His ability to communicate to all levels of a team is simply outstanding. Everyone walked out of the training inspired and with new tools for resiliency and leadership at all levels. Awesome training. We have already had many requests to bring him back to our department.

Louisville Metro Police Department

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

The Gettysburg Staff Ride with Mike and his team left an indelible impression. It highlighted the depth of leadership abs sacrifice at those hallowed grounds; showed what Union and freedom cost; and reminded us that internecine conflict can be as vicious and destructive as war between nations. But more to the point, the Walk served as a reminder of Faulkner’s adage, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” As we walked from station to station and made decisions — hypothetical ones — with the same information available to battlefield leaders, we realized that those leaders in the summer of 1863 were fallible, sometimes heroic, often wrong. In short, just like us. The immediacy of the place reached across the long chasm of history; and the presence of the leadership instructors — guiding, Illuminating, empathizing with a hard-earned authenticity — drove the lessons home in a way that a self-guided walk never could. A required experience for anyone who wants to better understand our history, and the connection of that history to contemporary leadership.

Chief Executive Officer of HPC Specialty Pharmacy

Mike Sarraille

5 of 5

We were so honored to have Mike speak at our Sales Kickoff. Indeed, there was so much demand for the event that we made it available to the entire company and saw excellent attendance cross-functionally. Mike conveyed to our teams the importance of putting the success of the mission before the success of self. He taught us how important it is to hire for character and train for skill - a truism we would all do well to remember despite today’s competitive and fast-paced job market that can tempt us to act otherwise. He also reminded us that we are not truly leaders until our people say we are - and that being a leader is all about enabling the success of our people.

Vice President of Sales at Kazoo

Mike Sarraille

Rated 5.00/5 based on 18 customer reviews

Keynotes

Keynote by Mike Sarraille:

Evolved Leadership: Leadership Built for Growth, Anchored in Behavior

Leadership fails when standards slip after success. Evolved Leadership shows leaders how to sustain performance through behavior, not position. This keynote delivers a clear framework leaders use to build trust, reinforce accountability, and lead through influence in complex environments.

Audience takeaway:

  • Lead through behavior and standards
  • Create ownership without micromanagement
  • Sustain excellence after wins

Best for Senior leaders. Emerging leaders. Organizations scaling fast.

Request a quote: Mike Sarraille Evolved Leadership: Leadership Built for Growth, Anchored in Behavior

Keynote by Mike Sarraille:

The Everyday Warrior: Mindset A No-Hack, Practical Approach to Life

High performance starts with self leadership. This keynote delivers a no-nonsense approach to discipline, resilience, and personal ownership. Mike shows how individuals perform consistently by controlling what they can, responding better under pressure, and aligning daily actions with values.

Audience takeaway:

  • Stronger discipline and consistency
  • Practical tools for resilience
  • Ownership at every level

Best for Entire organizations. Sales teams. Operations. Front line leaders.

Request a quote: Mike Sarraille The Everyday Warrior: Mindset A No-Hack, Practical Approach to Life

Keynote by Mike Sarraille:

The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent

Talent is the ultimate competitive advantage. This keynote challenges outdated hiring and development models and reframes talent as a leadership responsibility. Mike shares proven principles used by elite teams to attract, select, and develop high performers built on character, alignment, and execution.

Audience takeaway

  • Shift from resumes to attributes
  • Build teams aligned to culture and standards
  • Protect performance through better talent decisions

Best for Executives. HR leaders. Hiring managers. Growth focused organizations.

Request a quote: Mike Sarraille The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent

Keynote by Mike Sarraille:

High Performing Teams: Making the Seemingly Impossible, Possible

Elite teams win through trust, clarity, and execution. Drawing from combat operations and world record expeditions, Mike breaks down the behaviors that separate average teams from elite ones. The focus is execution under pressure when failure is not an option.

Audience takeaway:

  • Trust driven team behaviors
  • Clear standards for execution
  • Accountability without fear

Best for Leadership teams. Project teams. High risk or high consequence environments.

Request a quote: Mike Sarraille High Performing Teams: Making the Seemingly Impossible, Possible

Mike Sarraille Keynot

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