Last Passenger, US Airways Flight 1549 | President, Dave Sanderson Speaks International | Author & Leadership Keynote

Dave Sanderson Speaking Fee: Contact Us For Pricing

Q: What is Dave Sanderson's speaking fee?

Dave Sanderson speaking fee typically ranges from Contact Us For Pricing. The lower end usually applies to virtual engagements, while the higher end is for in-person events in the US. However, fees may exceed this range for a variety of reasons, like extended activities or international travel. Other factors such as popularity, career stage, and current demand can also influence the final fee. For an accurate and up-to-date quote based on your specific event details, please contact Gotham Artists. We will provide detailed information and assistance to ensure you have the latest fee structure.

Last Passenger, US Airways Flight 1549 | President, Dave Sanderson Speaks International | Author & Leadership Keynote

Speaking Fee:

Travels From:

Available Upon Request

Primary Topic Category:

Inspiration / Motivation / Overcoming Obstacles

Secondary Topic Category:

Christian

Dave Sanderson Speaker Profile: At A Glance

Dave Sanderson is a leadership keynote speaker and author who turned his role as the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549 into actionable frameworks for calm, high-velocity decision-making. He spent nearly four decades as a top sales producer and served as Security Director for Robbins Research International after earning a BBA from James Madison University. Sanderson has spoken for Fortune 500 audiences, named to Inc.'s Top 100 Leadership Speakers, and has helped raise more than $14.8 million for the American Red Cross. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and is president of Dave Sanderson Speaks International.

Dave Sanderson is a leadership keynote speaker, mentor, and author whose defining public moment came on January 15, 2009, as the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549 during the Miracle on the Hudson. He translates that experience into practical lessons that help leaders and teams make clear, quick decisions under pressure, navigate uncertainty, and turn adversity into decisive action. He presents a mix of storytelling, decision frameworks, and sales and leadership discipline tailored to corporate audiences. Before full-time speaking, Sanderson built a career across sales and security spanning roughly 38 years. He began in restaurant management, rose through national sales and leadership roles at companies including ADP, PeopleSoft, KPMG Consulting, Genesis10, and Oracle, and later served as Security Director for Robbins Research International. He is the author of Moments Matter, From Turmoil to Triumph, and The Limitless Life, and delivers more than 100 presentations annually for corporate and association clients. Sanderson's programs emphasize that leadership can be exercised without a title: practical next-step decision-making, resilient team dynamics, and sales execution under pressure. His speaking and fundraising work has supported the American Red Cross to the tune of more than $14.8 million, and his message has been recognized by business outlets such as Inc., which named him among its Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and leads Dave Sanderson Speaks International LLC.

MOMENTS MATTER: Leading Calm Decisions When Everything Is on the Line

When a single instant determines whether a team survives or fails, most leaders freeze, overcomplicate, or wait for permission to act. That paralysis multiplies risk, damages trust, and dissolves momentum — especially when outcomes feel irreversible. Dave Sanderson reframes those defining instants as actionable opportunities: moments that, when understood and led well, create a lifetime of influence and results. Drawing on his experience as the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549 and decades of frontline sales and security leadership, Sanderson translates the Moments Matter message into a practical decision-making rhythm teams can use in any crisis. The talk breaks down how to recognize the critical moment, compress choice windows without panicking, and mobilize intentional action that preserves safety, reputation, and results. PERFECT FOR TEAMS & LEADERS WHO ARE: • Facing high-stakes operations where split-second decisions carry outsized consequences, and need a repeatable way to act with clarity • Leading distributed or cross-functional teams that must synchronize quickly under pressure without waiting for hierarchical sign-off • Responsible for incident response, reputational risk, or customer-facing crisis recovery where measured speed beats delayed certainty • Tasked with converting stressful, ambiguous moments into teachable leadership experiences that raise overall team competence YOUR AUDIENCE WILL WALK AWAY WITH: • A practical read-on-the-ground checklist to identify a “moment” and prioritize actions that reduce harm and preserve options • Techniques to coach non-executive leaders to act confidently in the absence of senior direction, lifting velocity across the organization • Language and practices to build calm, repeatable responses that reduce second-guessing and accelerate recovery after setbacks • A plan to embed after-action rituals that turn single events into cultural learning and long-term capability When moments matter, you can choose to freeze — or build the muscle to act well every time.

FROM TURMOIL TO TRIUMPH: Turning Adversity into Accelerated Performance

Adversity is inevitable; thriving after it is a choice too few organizations make intentionally. Too often teams treat recovery as a checklist instead of a leadership moment to reinvent purpose, restore confidence, and reclaim momentum. Dave Sanderson shows leaders how to convert disruption into a competitive advantage by reframing setbacks as accelerants for growth. Grounded in Sanderson’s Hudson River experience and nearly four decades in sales and security leadership, this keynote outlines how to move teams through the shock of disruption into decisive action. Rather than vague platitudes about resilience, the talk provides concrete pathways for restoring trust, reestablishing clear priorities, and mobilizing people toward measurable recovery and renewed performance. PERFECT FOR TEAMS & LEADERS WHO ARE: • Recovering from a public failure, major client loss, or operational breakdown and needing a strategy to rebuild quickly and credibly • Leading workforce reintegration, restructuring, or cultural reset efforts where morale must be repaired while results are required • Preparing senior leaders and frontline managers to communicate with candor, restore confidence, and set immediate, attainable goals • Looking to transform one-off crises into institutional strengths that improve retention, customer trust, and execution speed YOUR AUDIENCE WILL WALK AWAY WITH: • A stepwise approach to triage damage, set short-term wins, and communicate a path forward that rebuilds stakeholder confidence • Practical templates for leader-led recovery huddles that align action, accountability, and empathy without slowing execution • Strategies to convert lessons learned into policies and rehearsals that prevent repeat failures and scale hard-earned resilience • Examples and stories that illustrate how purpose-driven response accelerates performance and fundraising or revenue recovery Adversity need not be an ending — with the right leadership it becomes the source of your next victory.

YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO LEAD: Influence, Initiative, and High-Velocity Execution

Too many organizations wait for permission. That delay costs deals, safety, and opportunity. Leadership isn’t a role on a chart; it’s a set of choices available to anyone willing to act. Dave Sanderson’s career — from restaurant floors to sales rooms to the Hudson River — is a case study in how frontline initiative changes outcomes and creates leaders where none were expected. This talk translates that ethos into scalable behaviors leaders can cultivate across the workforce. Sanderson shows how to identify moments where non-titled contributors can and should lead, how managers can empower distributed ownership, and how to convert everyday initiative into measurable impact. The emphasis is on repeatable practices that raise the organization’s tempo without increasing chaos. PERFECT FOR TEAMS & LEADERS WHO ARE: • Seeking to increase organizational velocity by enabling frontline decision-making without adding risky autonomy • Managing large, matrixed, or sales-driven teams that depend on rapid customer-facing judgments and immediate follow-through • Building cultures where influence and initiative are recognized, coached, and scaled across levels and geographies • Responsible for succession, talent development, or performance improvement programs that must deliver visible outcomes quickly YOUR AUDIENCE WILL WALK AWAY WITH: • Clear signals leaders can teach to help employees know when to step up, how to communicate decisions, and when to escalate • Coaching techniques to turn small acts of initiative into repeatable leadership behaviors and promotion-ready capabilities • Practical ways to align incentives and recognition systems so initiative is rewarded and risk is intelligently contained • Real-world examples that demonstrate how non-titled leadership closed deals, saved operations, and rebuilt trust under pressure You don’t need a title to move the needle — you need the habits to act when it matters.

What is Dave Sanderson's speaking fee?

Dave Sanderson's speaking fee typically ranges from Contact Us For Pricing. The lower end usually applies to virtual engagements, while the higher end is for in-person events in the US. However, fees may exceed this range for a variety of reasons, like extended activities or international travel. Other factors such as popularity, career stage, and current demand can also influence the final fee.

For an accurate and up-to-date quote based on your specific event details, please contact Gotham Artists. We will provide detailed information and assistance to ensure you have the latest fee structure.

Why Book Dave Sanderson with Gotham Artists?

Booking Dave Sanderson with Gotham ensures a seamless and personalized experience for your event. We’re dedicated to connecting audiences with top-tier talent, ensuring each event is not only successful but memorable. Here’s why you should choose Gotham Artists:

Expertise and Experience: With over a decade in the industry, we have the expertise to match the perfect speaker to any event, whether corporate, educational, non-profit, or private.

Personalized Service: We take a personalized approach, diving deep into the specifics of your event to recommend speakers that resonate with your audience.

Dedicated Support: From initial consultation to event day logistics, we provide comprehensive support, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Our dedicated team ensures that everyone is in the right place at the right time, and their fast response times guarantee you get accurate information quickly.

How Do I Know if Dave Sanderson is the Right Keynote Speaker for My Event?

We get it: Choosing the right keynote speaker is essential. Our team can provide personalized recommendations to ensure your event is a success. Here are key factors to consider:

Expertise: Ensure the speaker’s knowledge aligns with your event’s theme or industry.

Engagement: Look for a speaker who can captivate and inspire your audience.

Testimonials: Check past client reviews for insights into the speaker’s impact and reliability.

Budget and Availability: Confirm the speaker’s fees fit your budget and they are available for your event date.

Customization: See if the speaker can tailor their message to suit your audience.

For assistance in finding the perfect speaker, contact us . Click the “Check Availability” button to get started.

How Far in Advance Do I Need To Book Dave Sanderson?

The sooner, the better! In general, it’s best to book your keynote speaker as early as you can. Whether you know Dave Sanderson is your best choice, or are open to other fantastic options, speakers are in high demand and calendars fill up fast. If your event is during a busy season, early booking is especially crucial.

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you make your event a success!

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Dave Sanderson Speaking Fee: Contact Us For Pricing

Travels From:

Available Upon Request

Primary Topic Category:

Inspiration / Motivation / Overcoming Obstacles

Secondary Topic Category:

Christian

Dave Sanderson Speaker Profile: At A Glance

About

Speaking Topics

Speaker Video

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FAQ

MOMENTS MATTER: Leading Calm Decisions When Everything Is on the Line

FROM TURMOIL TO TRIUMPH: Turning Adversity into Accelerated Performance

YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO LEAD: Influence, Initiative, and High-Velocity Execution

What is Dave Sanderson's speaking fee?

Why Book Dave Sanderson with Gotham Artists?

How Do I Know if Dave Sanderson is the Right Keynote Speaker for My Event?

How Far in Advance Do I Need To Book Dave Sanderson?

Trending High Performance Keynote Speakers in 2024

Dave Sanderson Speaking Fee: Contact Us For Pricing

Travels From: Available Upon Request

Primary Topic Category: Inspiration / Motivation / Overcoming Obstacles

Secondary Topic Category: Christian

Dave Sanderson Speaker Profile: At A Glance

MOMENTS MATTER: Leading Calm Decisions When Everything Is on the Line

FROM TURMOIL TO TRIUMPH: Turning Adversity into Accelerated Performance

YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO LEAD: Influence, Initiative, and High-Velocity Execution

What is Dave Sanderson's speaking fee?

Why Book Dave Sanderson with Gotham Artists?

How Do I Know if Dave Sanderson is the Right Keynote Speaker for My Event?

How Far in Advance Do I Need To Book Dave Sanderson?

Related Speakers

Travels From:

Available Upon Request

Primary Topic Category:

Inspiration / Motivation / Overcoming Obstacles

Secondary Topic Category:

Christian