VIrtual Speaker

The #1 Leadership Expert and Best Selling Author

John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, speaker, coach, and leadership expert whose work has transformed millions. He has sold over 34 million books, published in more than 50 languages, and authored over 70 titles, including The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 5 Levels of Leadership. His books are regarded as essential resources for personal growth and leadership development.

He is the founder of Maxwell Leadership®, which encompasses The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation. Through these organizations, Maxwell has trained tens of millions of leaders across the globe. He has been recognized as the #1 leadership expert by the American Management Association and named the “most influential leadership expert” by Inc. and Business Insider.

John’s influence extends to Fortune 500 CEOs, government officials, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders worldwide. With over five decades of experience, he has built one of the most comprehensive leadership development platforms, with more than 6 million certified leaders trained through his programs.

His bestselling books, including Developing the Leader Within You, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, and Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn, have made a profound impact on leaders and organizations at all levels. These books are celebrated for offering practical advice on leadership, self-awareness, and personal growth.

John continues to speak at events around the world, hosts the annual Live2Lead conference, and leads initiatives that promote leadership across various sectors. He believes that leadership is about influence, not titles or positions, and is focused on making a positive, lasting impact on others.

Recognized globally for his practical and inspirational style, John C. Maxwell remains one of the most trusted voices in leadership today. His work continues to inspire leaders to grow, serve, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and organizations.

Live Speaker

Kelly Merbler will be your host for Live2Lead South Florida 2025, bringing her signature energy, insight, and authenticity to guide you through a powerful day of leadership, connection, and inspiration.

With over 20 years of hands-on leadership experience as a senior executive in the staffing industry, Kelly knows what it’s like to lead large teams, navigate tough conversations, and keep people engaged in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. She’s been in the trenches—and now she helps leaders rise above them.

Kelly is an award-winning speaker, executive coach, and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who specializes in employee engagement, culture transformation, and leadership development. She’s also the founder of Coffee with Kelly, a global leadership community built on connection, conversation, and caffeine.

Speaking of caffeine… She's proudly addicted to coffee, so trust her—there will be great coffee in the room. And don’t be surprised if you meet her two boys, Evan and Cole, who often work the Kelly Merbler Company booth and bring their own spark to the event.

Known for her heartfelt storytelling, contagious energy, and practical strategies, Kelly doesn’t just inspire—she equips. Whether on stage or in a coaching session, she creates breakthrough moments that help people lead with courage, connect with purpose, and create teams that thrive.

Live Speaker

Assistant Vice President of Talent Management at JM Family Enterprises

As the Assistant Vice President of Talent Management, Lauren oversees Talent Acquisition, Talent Pipeline, and Talent Development. Before stepping into her AVP role, Lauren worked closely with the leadership in JM’s flagship business unit, Southeast Toyota Distributors. She also established the Executive Recruitment function upon joining the organization in 2022. With over a decade of experience in talent and organizational development across various industries, including healthcare and higher education, Lauren has been instrumental in transforming large-scale talent programs.

Prior to joining JM Family, Lauren served as the Director of Organizational Development for one of the largest non-profit healthcare systems in the nation. While in this role, she enabled meaningful change in the performance management program, eliminating the traditional annual evaluation in favor of developing frequent and quality check-in conversations. This approach was successfully scaled across 160,000 associates and directly impacted a significant reduction in turnover and increase in associate engagement.

 Previously, Lauren has designed and led strategic execution and implementation of a leadership competency model, and her skill was instrumental to the University of Florida’s inaugural Talent Management program, aligning the organization’s strategy, performance practice and talent acquisition approach.

 Lauren is passionate about developing others to grow in leadership competency and finding joy in their work. She holds a master’s degree in Management from the University of Florida and carries a Senior Certified Professional certification from the Society of Human Resource Management. 

Live Speaker

Executive Vice President of Maxwell Leadership and author of From Drift to Drive

He spearheads the global expansion of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, the premier community of coaches, speakers, and leadership trainers developed by the internationally renowned Dr. John C. Maxwell. As an accomplished executive and expert in leadership development, Chris combines his extensive business acumen with a passion for empowering others to reach their highest potential.

As a seasoned executive and leadership expert working alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell, Chris has observed the subtle ways success can erode drive and potential in even the most accomplished individuals. His dynamic speaking style and authentic approach to leadership development have made him particularly attuned to the warning signs of "success-induced complacency" that he addresses in this book.

With over two decades of experience in leadership, Chris has been instrumental in equipping thousands of leaders across diverse industries with the mindset and skills needed to make a meaningful impact. His work with diverse industries and leaders at various stages of their journey has equipped him with unique perspectives on how to transform comfortable success into sustained excellence.

A lifelong learner and dedicated coach, Chris embodies the principles he teaches about continuous growth and purposeful engagement. His commitment to helping others maximize their potential while avoiding the pitfalls of success makes him the ideal guide for accomplished professionals seeking to break free from the comfortable trap of satisfactory achievement.