About L. David Marquet About
Captain David Marquet imagines a workplace where everyone engages and contributes their
full intellectual capacity, a place where people are healthier and happier because they have
more control over their work — a place where everyone is a leader. His compelling
presentations deliver the powerful message that in highly effective organizations, leadership is
not for the select few at the top.
A 1981 US Naval Academy graduate, Marquet served in the US submarine force for 28 years.
After being assigned to command the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe — then ranked
last in retention and operational standing — he realized the traditional leadership approach of
“take control, give orders,” wouldn’t work. He “turned the ship around” by treating the crew as
leaders, not followers, and giving control, not taking control. This approach took the Santa Fe
from “worst to first,” achieving the highest retention and operational standings in the navy. It
also created more subsequent leaders than any other submarine.
Calling himself a continuous student of leadership, Marquet is the bestselling author of three
books: Turn the Ship Around, which was named Fortune magazine’s #1 must-read business book
of the year and has been listed as one of the top 12 business books of all time by USA Today;
Leadership is Language, which has been featured in the Wall Street Journal’s Top 10 bestselling
business books list; and his forthcoming, Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make
Better Decisions.
Marquet retired from the Navy in 2009, and now speaks to those who want to create
empowering work environments that release the passion, initiative, and intellect of each
person. His bold and highly effective framework is summarized as “give control, create leaders.”
He was named one of the top 100 leadership speakers by Inc. magazine.
Marquet is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and in 2015 was named to the
American Management Association’s “Leaders to Watch” list.
Where I'll Be Events
-
HSE Learning Summit – North America (H1)
27th April 2027 & 28th April 2027