Chad Willett
- Innovation and leadership expert who helps leaders challenge conventional thinking and embrace what’s possible.
- Creator of Leadership from the Stage, a four-pillar framework for vision, strategy, and bold execution.
- TEDx presenter, two-time author, and professional actor who brings Hollywood storytelling and corporate leadership together.
Chad Willett Speaker Biography
Chad J. Willett (NSA, MA, SAG-AFTRA) is a renowned innovation and leadership speaker, founder of Broadway2LA Acting Studio, TEDx presenter, two-time author (“Smash the Box” and “Rip Off the Rearview Mirror”). He combines his acting background with his corporate experience to deliver one-of-a-kind keynote addresses and workshops that challenge leaders to think differently, break away from the past, and lead boldly into what’s next.
Chad created Leadership from the Stage, a leadership and innovation framework built around four pillars: Vision, Breaking the Script, Strategy, and Execution. His work helps leaders step beyond familiar ways of thinking, challenge what’s always been done, and see new possibilities—giving them the mindset and tools to write a new script, lead with confidence, and make the future happen.
His clients include McDonald’s, Nationwide Insurance, Johns Hopkins University, Raytheon, Bayer, and the Better Business Bureau. As an actor, Chad appeared in the Netflix feature film Shirley alongside Oscar-winning actress Regina King, and in She’s All That with Paul Walker.
Finally, Chad is an active member of the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, Ohio, and has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and an adult reading literacy program. He lives in Ohio with his wife, Erika, and their daughter, Scarlett.
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Speech Topics
Smash The Box
Time: 30- 90 minutes
Focus: Breaking the Script- Breaking Free From the Thinking that Holds Leaders Back
Smash the Box challenging leaders to go beyond thinking outside the box—to completely redefine it. By embracing big ideas, adopting an AI-Ready mindset, and tackling complex problems, leaders can create a culture where innovation thrives.
The Smash the Box experience centers on two powerful concepts:
1. The Box = Mindset
Participants discover what it means to break free from the Four Walls of the Mental Box—Fear, Perfection, Negativity, and Judgment. This immersive experience reveals how these mental walls limit creativity, collaboration, ideation, and progress.
2. Transformation by using the 4 “Smash the Box” Techniques
Leaders begin to shift their mindset from limitation to possibility.
THE “SMASH THE BOX” BREAKTHROUGH:
Leaders who “Smash the Box” spark a culture where ideas thrive and limits vanish.
The Innovative Leader
Time: 30- 90 minutes
Focus: Transforming Vision into Winning Results on Any Stage
In The Innovative Leader, Chad J. Willett brings dynamic lessons from the stage and screen directly to your organization—equipping leaders with practical, repeatable strategies that ignite creativity (Human Imagination + Artificial Intelligence), collaboration, and innovation in the workplace.
Leadership Development Takeaways:
Adaptability – Learn how to make spontaneous yet thoughtful decisions that spark innovation.
Vision- See beyond the present and chart a bold course that inspires innovation and success.
AI Mindset- A mindset that embraces collaboration between humans and AI.
Challenging the Status Quo – Ask bold questions and experiment with new approaches that lead to breakthrough results.
“THE INNOVATIVE LEADER” BREAKTHROUGH:
This keynote empowers leaders to become true Innovative Leaders—ready to adapt, collaborate, and create winning results on any STAGE.
Rip Off the Rearview Mirror
Time: 30- 90 minutes
Focus: Breaking Free From the Past to Build a Future Focused Strategy
The future belongs to leaders who “Rip Off the Rearview Mirror” and let their Through Line turn strategy into action.
When they “Rip Off the Rearview Mirror,” they become:
Leaders equipped to stay present, focus their energy, and move their story forward—turning today’s moments into meaningful progress.
Leaders who channel their creativity and strategy into deliberate, high-impact innovation, ensuring ideas align with long-term vision.
Leaders who discover their personal Through Line—the invisible thread that connects daily actions with long-term purpose.
THE “RIP OFF THE REARVIEW MIRROR” BREAKTHROUGH:
With the rearview mirror RIPPED away, leaders gain the focus to act decisively, innovate with purpose, and convert bold ideas into meaningful outcomes.
The Most Competitive Stage in the World
Time: 30- 90 minutes
Focus: Turn rejection into fuel, take bold risks, and reinvent relentlessly
Through compelling stories and high-impact insights, audiences will learn how to reframe rejection as momentum, take bold risks without waiting for permission, and continuously reinvent themselves in a world that rewards originality.
This keynote challenges leaders and teams to stop playing it safe and start creating—because in business, like Hollywood, those who innovate and differentiate are the ones who get the role.
Reframe Rejection as Fuel – Turn every “no” into data, momentum, and your next opportunity to improve and advance.
Take Bold, Calculated Risks – Stop waiting for certainty; growth and breakthrough performance live on the edge of discomfort.
Stand Out or Be Forgotten – Differentiate your leadership in a crowded, competitive marketplace.
Create Relentlessly – Innovate consistently, adapt quickly, and treat every day like an audition for what’s next.
THE “MOST COMPETITIVE STAGE IN THE WORLD” BREAKTHROUGH:
The result is a mindset shift that fuels resilience, unlocks creativity, and empowers organizations to perform at their highest level—no matter the stage.
“The Lost Art”
Time: 30- 90 minutes
Focus: 85% of What Really Matters is Happening Off-Script
Chad J. Willett brings one of the most important lessons he learned while training in LA as a professional actor for 7 years- Mastering the art of non-verbal communication. While most people focus on the 15% of communication that is spoken, over 85% happens off-script—through facial expressions, body language, tone, and energy.
“The Lost Art” is an immersive experience that teaches leaders to stop listening only to the dialogue and start reading your clients, customers, and co-workers non-verbal cues which include:
Facial Expressions – The close-up that reveals true emotion
Body Language – The blocking that signals openness, resistance, or neutrality
Tone of Voice – The delivery that changes the meaning of every line
Energy Levels – The intensity that fills the room, not the volume
“THE LOST ART” BREAKTHROUGH:
By mastering non-verbal communication, leaders reduce conflict, strengthen connection, and elevate PERFORMANCE.
