Ross Bernstein CSP, CPAE

The best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, Ross Bernstein is an award-winning peak performance business speaker who’s keynoted conferences on ALL SEVEN continents for audiences as small as 10 and as large as 10,000. Ross and his books have been featured on thousands of television and radio programs over the years including CNN, ESPN, Bloomberg, Fox News, and “CBS This Morning,” as well as in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today.

He’s spent the better part of the past 25 years studying the DNA of championship teams and his program, “The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World,” not only illustrates what it takes to become the best of the best, it also explores the fine line between cheating and gamesmanship in sports as it relates to values and integrity in the workplace.

As a working member of the media in his home state of Minnesota, Ross has a unique behind the scenes access to all of the local sports franchises in the area, including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild and Gophers. As such, he spends lots of his time in dugouts, club houses, locker rooms, and press boxes — and it’s here where Ross has met and interviewed thousands of professional athletes over the years.

Ross’ program is all about the DNA of what makes champions in sports so unique and how that relates to business. His PowerPoint is full of amazing photos about inspirational sports stories and about successful teams that tie into ethics and accountability, and about doing things the right way — with respect. There are reasons certain teams win consistently, whereas others don’t… and he explains why. It’s based largely on the “Good to Great” concept of how the best companies are able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack through servant leadership, by creating a culture of excellence, by developing deeper relationships, and by giving extraordinary customer service.

Ross speaks at over 100 conferences per year, mostly at large association conferences, at franchise leadership events, and to Fortune 500 sales groups — his program is very high energy and a great way to open or close a big event. Give him a call, he would LOVE to be a member of YOUR team for the day!

Signature Keynote: The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons Of Integrity And Accountability From The Sports World To The Business World

Ross’ signature keynote, “The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World,” is all about the DNA of champions in sports and how that relates to business. It’s based on more than six years of research that resulted in two critically acclaimed series of sports-business books. The first examines how and why certain teams win world championships; while the other chronicles the unwritten and unspoken rules in the world of sports, or “codes” as they are known, which explores the fine line between cheating and gamesmanship — and the ethical consequences involved when that line is crossed. Ross interviewed more than 1,000 professional athletes and coaches for the six books and along the way he saw some fascinating trends, patterns, metrics, and analytics develop among certain peak performers who possessed a very unique DNA. For these special individuals, or “champions,” it wasn’t always about winning, it was about following their moral compass’ in order to play the game the right way — with respect — in order to achieve success. In his research he concluded that the same metrics and characteristics that were common among champions in sports, were also common among peak performers in business. There are reasons certain teams win consistently, whereas others don’t… and Ross explains why. It’s based largely on the “Good to Great” concept of how the best companies are able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack through servant leadership, by creating a culture of excellence, by developing deeper relationships, and by giving extraordinary customer service.

Weaving inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports, along with success stories and best-practice ideas on ways to overcome disruption from businesses and executives who he has worked with — Ross challenges his audiences to think about the differentiators they possess which would ultimately lead customers to choose to do business with them or be influenced and led by them. At the core of his message is the simple fact that we like to do business with people who we trust, who we like, and who just “get it” — CHAMPIONS. Ross’ message reinforces the fact that individuals win games, but TEAMS win championships. Momentum, roles, buy-in, motivation, consistency, sacrifice, trust, failure, chemistry, culture, work-ethic, innovation, karma, and being humble — they’re all a part of what it takes to become the best of the best — a champion both on and off the field.

So… who are the CHAMPIONS in your organization? Let Ross customize a program (from one hour to an interactive full-day) for your next sales meeting, franchise leadership event, or annual association conference — his PASSION and ENERGY is contagious. Give him a call — he speaks at over 100 live events per year… but he’d LOVE to be a member of YOUR team for the day!

In an engaging, provocative, and visually entertaining style, Ross will use inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports to show attendees how to:

• Create a “culture of excellence” by giving extraordinary customer service…
  • Generate momentum by utilizing the “currency of karma”…
  • Follow their moral compasses to win “the right way,” with respect, ethics, and integrity…
• Be better leaders and create more “buy-in” by embracing change and failure…
• Evolve from “order takers” to “trusted partners” by enhancing the quality of their relationships…

Breakout Program: Wearing The C: Leadership Lessons from The Greatest Captains And Coaches In Sports

This program is based on a critically acclaimed book he wrote in which he was able to interview more than 500 captains and coaches in order to answer one question: What is it that makes the great ones great?  In this keynote session Ross will focus on dozens of amazing leaders from the world of sports and explain how they were able to create “buy-in” through some very unorthodox methods. Success in business today is all about trust, communication and building deeper relationships — and it’s no different in sports.  Coaches have to motivate their players in order to not only win, but to keep their jobs — so they have a lot of different tools in their toolboxes. Ross learned that there is no right way to lead, so he will share many different philosophies that sales professionals and business leaders can use to develop better relationships in the workplace. At the core of his message is the simple fact that we like to do business with people who we trust, who we like, and who just “get it.”  In an engaging, provocative, and visually entertaining style, Ross will use inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports — as well as from some of the biggest brands in corporate America — to show attendees how to:

• Lead with integrity in order to achieve success
• Create buy-in to connect with millennials, boomers, and challenging co-workers
• Generate momentum through leading by example and mentorship of others
• Create a winner’s mindset in order to stay self-motivated through good times and bad