Colin D Ellis
The workplace culture expert
Colin D Ellis is a global workplace culture expert, author of five best-selling books, including Detox Your Culture, Culture Fix, and the award-winning Project Book. Featured in top media like Harvard Business Review, Sky News, and the BBC, Colin brings over 30 years of experience from both the public and private sectors. Book him now to inspire your team and transform your workplace culture.
Biography
For over 30 years, Colin’s journey has taken him from modest beginnings to leading ground-breaking projects in both the private and government sectors. Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all approach, he believes in empowering people to create and nurture their own vibrant cultures, building high-performance environments where everyone can truly thrive.
Throughout his career, Colin has teamed up with nearly 100 organisations in more than 20 countries. His impressive client list includes big names like Red Bull, Cisco, Microsoft, the US House of Representatives, the Dutch Olympic Team, Amgen and IAG Insurance. His talks are a delightful mix of hard data, real-world insights, and just the right amount of wit. Whether he’s speaking to a group of 20 or energising a crowd of 2,000, his lively presentations always leave audiences with practical tips and plenty of smiles.
Colin isn’t just an incredible speaker; he’s also a celebrated author of four best-selling books and an award-winning communicator who hosts two popular podcasts exploring the ever-changing world of workplace culture. His work has earned him plenty of praise, with clients lauding his knack for blending hard work with plenty of laughter—a philosophy he lives by every day.
Known for sparking genuine passion and inspiring teams to tap into their hidden potential, Colin has built a reputation as a trusted partner in culture building. His unique combination of hands-on experience, solid evidence and genuine human connection sets him apart as a true pioneer. Whether through his workshops or his insightful keynotes, he’s dedicated to creating workspaces that are not only safe and harmonious but also bursting with energy and life. Constantly challenging the status quo, Colin encourages emerging leaders to see workplace culture as a dynamic, evolving asset that truly fuels success.
Speaking
Broadcast
Writing
Topics
How to build a vibrant, high-performing culture
How to fix (or prevent!) a toxic culture
How to build a multi-generational culture
Making hybrid work, work
How to communicate any message successfully
Why culture in [industry] needs to change
Example Videos
Publications
Colin is the author of 5 books, the most recent of which, Detox Your Culture is the essential guide for organisations to understand how toxic cultures form, identify the warning signs, and take effective action to address and prevent them.
Feedback
"Colin's session at the Cisco Live program in Barcelona was inspirational, incredibly impactful, and so much fun! His passion was contagious and had the 600 members of the audience on the edge of their seats."
Cisco
"We had Colin speak at a recent event on High Performing Culture and the energy he brought to the event was amazing! We had feedback on the day and post event that it was one of the best keynotes people had ever seen."
Microsoft
Colin delivered the opening of our Leaders in Performance Conference XL at the Olympic Training Centre in the Netherlands. We wanted someone who could set the tone for the conference and get everyone inspired for the following 3 days. We got what we asked for and more. With his highly entertaining, infectious and passionate delivery he energised the audience and got them deeply engaged. The topic of culture is extremely important and relevant to everyone and Colin made it tangible and practical. The feedback from the audience was outstanding.”
Team Netherlands Olympic Team
