The Signature Kickoff Keynote

Ancient wisdom.
Modern leaders.
A foundation that lasts.

Speaker, Organizational Psychologist, Bestselling Author of Beneath the Transaction

How you show up under pressure changes everything. Pineda creates experiences that help leaders step out of autopilot, define their purpose, and lead with clarity, intention, and impact.

Book Chris to Speak Download Speaker Packet
Chris Pineda Speaking on Stage to a Large Crowd

The perfect kickoff for your event.

Don't just open with a speech. Start with a powerful, immersive experience that shapes the mindset of your audience.

Audience Fit

  • C-Suite & Executive retreats
  • Mid-level management training
  • Emerging leader programs
  • All-hands culture events

Trusted by leaders at

doTERRA

Menlo Innovations

THREAD

YMCA

The Foundation

Chris Pineda is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and founder of Groundwork Leadership—a culture transformation company that blends modern psychology, 1,000-year-old Filipino indigenous wisdom, and purpose-driven leadership to create lasting change in people, organizations, and communities.

Throughout his career—from serving as a CEO in healthcare, to guiding corporate executives and educators, to partnering with philanthropic leaders on multi-year community change initiatives—Chris has seen the same truth proven again and again: transformation spreads through people, not programs. It begins with the leader and radiates into teams, organizations, and ultimately the communities they touch.

His work is rooted in three Filipino indigenous concepts — Pamana, Unggno, and Kapwa — that have guided communities through pressure, loss, and change for centuries. Together with a decade of original leadership research, they form the foundation of the 7 Conditions of Transformation™ and his signature keynote, Marked by Purpose—an experience that doesn't end when the event does. He is the author of Beneath the Transaction: Discover the 7 Conditions that Transform Life and Leadership.

Chris speaking to a large crowd Purpose Statement Lab

Live Beneath.

Transformation is caught,
not taught.

Keynote Offering

Marked by Purpose

The signature experience.

Chris speaking to the audience

Marked by Purpose goes deep into the first and most foundational of the seven conditions: Purpose. Because without it, nothing else holds.

In the room, leaders at every stage—from emerging talent to C-suite executives—don't just learn about purpose, they find theirs. They mark it on their bodies. They receive a professional portrait to memorialize the commitment they made in the room. And they step onto the journey of transformation, with Purpose as the ground beneath their feet and six conditions still ahead of them.

This is not a keynote your audience will politely applaud and forget. It is an experience they will carry—literally and personally—long after the event ends.

Best for: leadership conferences, corporate retreats, annual kickoffs, and culture-building events.

Keynote Lengths

  • 60–75 min (Recommended)
  • 45 min (Condensed)
  • 90 min (Extended Interactive)

Audience Fit

  • C-Suite & Executive retreats
  • Mid-level management training
  • Emerging leader programs
  • All-hands culture events

The Portrait Experience

At the close of the keynote, participants reflect deeply, create a personal symbol of their purpose, and draw it on their arm—a mark of commitment inspired by Filipino heritage. They are then photographed, receiving two professional portraits as a lasting reminder of their transformation.

Portrait Experience Setup

See Chris in Action

Keynote Themes & Breakout Sessions

These topics are rooted in Chris's research-backed framework, The 7 Conditions of Transformation, and can be delivered as keynotes, workshops, or breakout sessions.

Create Committed Teams

Build Accountability and Ownership That Lasts

Communication That Moves People

How the Way You Speak Shapes Culture and Results

The Courage to Lead

The Change You Want Is on the Other Side of Vulnerability

Consistent Leadership

Doing Ordinary Things with Sacred Intention

Build Trust That Holds

Creating Relationships That Withstand Pressure and Change

Psychological Safety That Performs

The 7 Pillars of Trust, Belonging, and High-Performing Teams

Why Chris

A Researcher. A Practitioner. A Leader.

Chris Pineda is not a leadership speaker who found a methodology. He is a researcher, organizational psychologist, and practitioner who discovered one—through a decade of community work, executive leadership, and a life lived from the inside out.

His Filipino heritage is not a backdrop to his work. It is the source of it. The indigenous wisdom that frames the 7 Conditions has been tested not in boardrooms but in communities, across generations, cultures, and centuries of human experience. Chris brings that depth into every room he enters.

He is the author of Beneath the Transaction—a book that takes leaders beneath the surface of strategy and performance into the conditions where transformation actually lives. Chris speaks to corporate leadership teams, executive conferences, nonprofit organizations, and mission-driven companies navigating growth, culture, and change.

Audience Takeaways

  • Gain clarity of purpose with a powerful "why" statement.
  • Experience a purpose-marking ritual rooted in indigenous tradition.
  • Memorialize commitment with a professional portrait.
  • Move from transactional culture to transformational leadership.
  • Leave equipped to unite communities and spark real transformation.

Your Event Experience

When you book Chris Pineda, you're not just hiring a keynote speaker—you're creating a transformational experience that will stay with your audience long after the event ends.

1

Before the Event

Preparing the Ground

Customized Connection Call

Chris will meet with your planning team to understand your audience, your goals, and the transformation you want to see. He aligns his keynote with your event's purpose.

Pre-Event Promo Video

Need to boost engagement? Chris will film a personalized video introducing Marked by Purpose and inviting attendees to come ready for a meaningful experience.

Resources & Messages

Optional welcome messages and prime-reading materials (blogs/newsletters) to set the tone before attendees even arrive.

2

During the Event

Creating Transformational Space

Immersive Storytelling

Through powerful storytelling and indigenous practices, Chris weaves together purpose, culture, and psychology.

Interactive Experience

Attendees reflect on their "why," create a personal symbol, and draw it on their arm—symbolizing a permanent commitment.

Professional Photography

Participants receive professional portraits displaying their purpose symbol. Your organization can also receive a highlight slideshow.

Customized Reflection

Intentional pauses that anchor your theme, objectives, and organizational values.

3

After the Event

Sustaining Transformation

Post-Event Debrief Call

Chris will connect with your team for a short conversation to reflect on what resonated most and how to keep the momentum alive.

Follow-Up Resource

You'll receive a short reflection video or message emphasizing one of the keynote's key lessons—perfect for sharing with attendees.

Next-Level Growth: Cohort

For organizations ready to go deeper, Chris offers the Transformation Cohort, a 2-day immersive experience built around The 7 Conditions of Transformation.

What Organizations Are Saying

"Chris exhibited remarkable speaking ability that truly inspired and empowered everyone in attendance. His willingness to vulnerably share the challenges he faced and how he overcame them was not only inspiring but also deeply impactful."

Lucy Escobar
Lucy Escobar Coaching

"I highly recommend Chris Pineda as an incredible speaker... Chris' ability to speak from the heart with authenticity and wisdom resonates deeply with his listeners inspiring them to understand their potential."

Brooke Goldsby
Executive Director, Salem Angels

"I would recommend Chris as a speaker because of his vast knowledge, life experience, and ability to captivate a room with his story. Chris cares deeply for others and his authenticity shines through."

Whitney Pitelo
Assistant Women's Soccer Coach, Boston College

"Chris brings you in and makes you feel comfortable, even though he knows WAY more than we do on these topics. He is inclusive and allows exploration of thought. He spoke to a group of leaders in our community and provided a powerful opportunity."

Tom Hoffert
Chief Executive Officer, Salem Chamber of Commerce

Invite Chris to Speak

Get your team beneath the transaction. Fill out the request form below to begin the conversation.