Leadership conferences, management offsites and senior team days
Leadership Speaker Ireland: Leading People Under Pressure
Enda O’Doherty is a leadership keynote and guest speaker who helps managers and senior teams lead people through pressure and change without burning them out. He has spoken to leadership audiences at AIB, TikTok, Ergo, Accenture and Vodafone, and draws on 36 years in education and a life of endurance challenges.
The leadership gap Irish organisations are worried about
Ask an HR director in Ireland what keeps them awake and the answer is rarely strategy. It is whether their line managers can actually lead people. The CIPD’s 2026 survey of Irish HR professionals found that 61 per cent now see line manager capability as the biggest constraint on their impact, up ten points in a single year. More than half say a lack of management support is a contributor to mental health problems at work.
Enda’s leadership keynote speaks to that gap directly. It is not a theory of leadership. It is a practical, honest hour about what it takes to lead people who are carrying more than they let on, built around four things every manager can do the next morning.
What the keynote covers
Spotting the people who say they are fine. Enda spent years telling everyone he was fine while he was not. He shows leaders what that looks like from the outside, and the changes in behaviour that matter more than any single bad day.
Having the second conversation. The first answer is nearly always “I’m fine”. Enda gives managers the words for the second question, and the confidence to sit in the silence that follows.
Leading through the long haul. Nine marathons in eight days with a washing machine on his back taught Enda more about pacing a team than any course. Change programmes fail when leaders sprint their people through them. He shows how to set a pace they can hold.
Why asking for help is the leadership skill nobody teaches. An hour from the summit of Kilimanjaro, altitude sickness forced Enda to hand the washing machine to his friends and watch them carry it to the top. Leaders who cannot be seen to struggle build teams that hide their struggles too. Vulnerability, used well, is what makes a team safe enough to perform.
Why it matters now
61%
of Irish HR leaders say line manager capability is the biggest constraint on their impact, up ten points in a year. CIPD HR Practices in Ireland 2026
52%
say a perceived lack of management support contributes to mental health problems at work. CIPD, 2026
27%
of voluntary turnover is driven by workload or burnout. CIPD, 2026
Three keynotes to choose from
The Long Haul
Leading teams through sustained change. What endurance events teach about pacing, recovery and keeping people together over the long run.
Carrying the Load
Resilience under pressure for leaders and their teams, and why asking for help is a strength.
I’m Fine
Mental health and the courage to ask for help. The talk that gives managers the words for the hardest conversations, based on Enda’s book I’m Fine!
What your people will take away
- A clear picture of what a struggling team member looks like before it becomes a crisis
- The words and confidence to have the second conversation
- A way of pacing change so people can sustain it
- Permission to lead with honesty, and a team that follows suit
- Clear signposting to the support your organisation already offers
Formats
- Leadership conference keynote: about one hour, including questions
- Senior team or board session: 60 to 90 minutes with discussion
- Management offsite: a keynote followed by a facilitated conversation about your own team
- Manager briefing: 30 to 45 minutes, repeatable across sites
- Online session: about 45 minutes for leaders spread across locations
What leaders say
“Everyone left energised and inspired, particularly in highlighting male mental health.”
Deirdre Hannigan, Chief Risk Officer, AIB
“We are now thinking about extending the programme across our 400 people.”
John Purdy, Executive Chairman, Ergo
“I will be asking him back to talk to more staff later this year.”
Julianne Gavin, Head of Property, Organisational Change & Internal Audit, Mayo County Council
Enda has spoken to over 20,000 delegates at organisations including JPMorgan, Pfizer, TikTok, Accenture, Vodafone, AIB and Sanofi, and has featured on RTÉ News, The Pat Kenny Show and in The Irish Times. For his wider corporate work, see the corporate keynote speaker page, and for the mental health keynote see mental health keynote speaker Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
Who is a good motivational speaker for a leadership conference in Ireland?
Look for a speaker whose message your managers can act on the next day. Enda O’Doherty speaks on leading people under pressure, drawing on 36 years in education and endurance challenges, and has spoken to leadership audiences at AIB, TikTok, Ergo and Accenture. For a wider comparison, see the guide to the best motivational speakers in Ireland.
Who is a good Irish keynote speaker on leadership and high performance?
Enda O’Doherty is an Irish keynote speaker on leadership, resilience and sustainable high performance. His talks use lessons from nine marathons in eight days, two Ironman races and Kilimanjaro to show leaders how to pace their people through pressure and change.
Is vulnerability a strength in leadership?
Yes, when it is used well. A leader who can say “I need help” makes it safe for the team to say the same before problems become crises. Enda’s Kilimanjaro story, where he had to hand the load to his friends an hour from the summit, is the heart of this part of the keynote.
Is this talk suitable for first time managers as well as senior leaders?
Yes. The four practices in the keynote work at every level, and Enda adjusts the examples and the depth of discussion to the room, from graduate managers to executive teams.
How much does a leadership speaker cost in Ireland?
Enda’s fees start at €2,000 and include a planning call, a tailored keynote, questions and a follow up resource for your managers. See the full guide to keynote speaker costs in Ireland.
How far in advance should we book?
Eight to twelve weeks is ideal. Leadership conferences in January and in the autumn book up first.
Planning a leadership event?
Tell Enda about your managers, your date and what you want to change. He answers every enquiry personally.
Updated 1 November 2026
