Referee Leadership
Overview
A Referee’s Guide to Leadership isn’t your typical keynote, it’s a courtside experience that brings leadership lessons to life.
From the roar of the crowd to split-second calls that can change the game, referees face the same challenges leaders tackle every day: handling conflict, building teamwork, and making confident decisions when it counts. David Posner, a nationally recognized referee and speaker on leadership, he uses humor, interactive audience exercises, and real game footage to turn the arena into a leadership classroom.
Reviews
8 reviews
Carmina M. A.
September 25, 2025Great Leadership Call Outs
David Posner was an outstanding Keynote Speaker for our healthcare group. His talk on leadership really hit home and spoke directly to the challenges we face as managers in this industry. I especially appreciated how he wove in stories from his referee experience. it made the lessons practical and easy to remember. David’s energy and ability to connect with the audience left a lasting impression on everyone. We’re truly grateful for the value he brought to our convention!
Hired as: Business Motivational Speaker, Leadership/Success Speaker, Motivational Speaker
Nicole P.
September 25, 2025Dynamic, entertaining, and professional
David has spoken at at least 10 of our events over the years and he has always received positive ratings on our attendee surveys. He puts a lot of effort into creating the presentations, updating the content, connecting with the audience, and keeping things interactave and engaging. The other thing I love about working with David, as an event manager, is his professionalism. He meets all the submission deadlines leading up to the event, he's easy to reach if we have questions, and AT the event, he is always prepared ahead of his time, watches other presenters so he can make appropriate references to reinforce messages to the audience, and I never have to worry about him going under or over his alloted time. We will continue to have him speak at our events for as long as he is willing and able.
Hired as: Industry Expert, Leadership/Success Speaker
Peter M. L.
September 26, 2025Great keynoter
I've seen David present, speak, share his story, and motivate crowds multiple times in my 5 years of doing trade shows in the healthcare space. He's fantastic. He's as great a person as he is a good speaker. And that means a lot to me.
Hired as: Athlete/Sports Speaker, Business Motivational Speaker, Health & Fitness Expert, Industry Expert, Leadership/Success Speaker, Motivational Speaker
Kara G.
September 24, 2025Engaging, Relevant and Fresh
David is a wonderful speaker who gives a fresh perspective to leadership challenges and handling conflict. His sessions are engaging, energetic and leave attendees feeling empowered to embrace conflict and lead with confidence.
Hired as: Business Motivational Speaker, Industry Expert, Leadership/Success Speaker
Kimberly C.
September 24, 2025Professional, Engaging and ''Game-Changing''
David recently spoke for my association at our convention and he was very well received by our attendees. David is not your typical keynote. He really shows up and energizes and engages with the attendees. I would highly recommend David as a speaker at your next event!
Hired as: Athlete/Sports Speaker, Leadership/Success Speaker
Booking information
Price range: $4,000 - 15,000
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 240 minutes
What to expect
When David takes the stage, expect high-energy storytelling, laugh-out-loud referee moments, and practical leadership lessons your audience can use right away. He blends humor, audience interaction, and powerful sports parallels to keep everyone leaning in, taking notes, and having fun.
Event planners love working with David because he’s professional, easy to partner with, and tailors each talk to your group’s unique challenges. Your audience won’t just sit and listen they’ll participate, they’ll be inspired, and they’ll leave with actionable tools to improve decision-making, teamwork, and leadership.
What you get when you book David:
- A customized keynote packed with humor, energy, and real-world takeaways
- A speaker who engages your audience from the first minute to the last
- A smooth, stress-free partner who makes you (the planner) look like a rockstar
About
Most speakers talk about leadership. David Posner lives it on the court, in the boardroom, and on the big stage.
A TEDx speaker, TODAY Show guest, and professional basketball referee (including Ice Cube’s Big3 league), David knows what it’s like to make split-second decisions with thousands of people watching. He takes those high-pressure moments and flips them into unforgettable lessons on leadership, teamwork, and conflict the same challenges your audience faces every single day.
David’s style is high-energy, funny, and interactive. He doesn’t just lecture he gets your people engaged, laughing, and leaving with tools they’ll actually use Monday morning. Audiences rave: “Practical. Engaging. You want to keep listening.”
If you’re looking for a speaker who can deliver more than clichés, someone who can entertain AND equip your team book David. He’ll turn your event into an experience your audience talks about long after the lights go down.
Presentations Include:
"A Referee's Guide to Leadership"
"Marketing As An Introvert"
Setup requirements
David is easy to work with, just call.
