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Eric Boles

Former NFL Wide Receiver Eric Boles Empowers Global Organizations to Navigate High-Stakes Change Through Fearless Leadership and Peak Performance. Changing World.

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Why hire Eric Boles?

Organizations hire Eric Boles to accelerate results by bridging the gap between elite athletic discipline and corporate strategy. As the CEO of The Game Changers, Inc., Boles provides a high-impact roadmap to master market volatility and overcome organizational complacency. He is a global authority on peak performance, helping Fortune 500 leaders maximize human assets through his proprietary “Moving to Great” methodology. Boles is distinct for translating elite sports principles—such as the “Huddle” alignment framework and “TNT” (Things that Take No Talent)—into actionable executive behaviors that drive measurable financial outcomes. By focusing on “Life Below the Waterline”—the character and heart of a leader—he empowers teams to dismantle the “prevent defense” mindset and play to win. His high-energy approach combines NFL-level performance standards with razor-sharp business insights, making him the definitive choice for organizations seeking sustainable excellence in a rapidly shifting economy.

Eric Boles’ journey to the pinnacle of executive consulting was forged in the high-pressure fields of the National Football League. Playing wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, Eric was mentored by legendary figures such as Mike Holmgren and Pete Carroll, witnessing firsthand the cultural architecture of championship teams. However, his most profound insights often stem from his period of professional upheaval; after leaving the league, Eric worked as a janitor—a transformative experience that shaped his resilience and deep empathy for the human struggle toward greatness.

Today, those lessons power The Game Changers, Inc., where Eric’s leadership and performance processes have shaped over half a million leaders worldwide. His work is a global standard, with his presentations translated into nine languages to support international teams navigating the “New Reality”. He is widely recognized for the “Oak Tree in the Acorn” metaphor, a strategic visioning tool that helps executives identify and nurture latent capacity within their staff during intense market disruption.

A two-time Hall of Fame inductee and graduate of Central Washington University, Eric is a trusted advisor to elite organizations including NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the Mayo Clinic. His impact is measurable and massive; for instance, he guided the insurer, Aviva, through a cultural transformation involving 30,000 employees, resulting in significant gains in accountability and morale. By teaching the “habit of courage,” Eric Boles ensures that leaders connect with both the “heads and hearts” of their people to deliver lasting, world-class results.

Videos

Eric Boles will weave powerful stories and depth around each of these strategies that will touch the heads and hearts of your people. Plus, he’ll work with you to customize his presentation around your meeting theme, key business issues and goals so you get the results you want. They’ll also receive relevant information that they can put to work immediately both personally and professionally.

Leading Change in the New Reality – What are the top methods for managing remote teams

Leading and Managing Change has never been easy. But it’s never been more challenging than it is today in this “New Normal” or “New Reality”. The customer has never been more demanding, the competition never stiffer, employees less engaged, and change and technology advances only getting faster. Plus, despite all these demands, many leaders are being asked to accomplish more, faster and remain flexible to marketplace demands and changes.

“Leading Change in the New Reality” by Eric Boles will focus on key strategies and insights to allow you to lead and manage change and even influence change more effectively.

Key Points of this Presentation:

Leaders becoming “Dealers of Hope”.
Changing the Momentum.
Three reasons you may be resisting change.
Leading to win or not to lose?
The need to give and receive timely feedback and act on it.
Overcoming fear and uncertainty and leading more courageously.
Seeing the potential through all the hazards and noise around you.
Communicating the “Why” and the “How” to change.
Having difficult conversations…making tough decisions….taking action.
No longer allowing good intentions to be a substitute for actual accomplishment.
Inspiring your people and leading and modeling the change.
Being at your “best” more of the time.
The need to be resilient and to bounce back quickly.
Collapsing time and course correcting quickly

Moving to Great – Which frameworks increase accountability and mastery in teams

How do you get to the next level? You may be in a “rut” or you may be doing incredibly, but the pressure from all around you demands that you “up” your game. You can’t rest on your past successes, and the good ole’ days are gone forever. You cannot be left behind. You don’t want to be left behind. Where do you get the energy and the strategies to move to the next level while the competition and the stress increase? Some of the limitations you identify may even be mental and self-imposed. How do you get of your own way and move forward?

Key Points of this Presentation:

Meeting expectations is another definition of mediocrity
Stop playing “prevent” defense
Confronting problems and fears releases potential
The danger of comparing yourself to the competition
Whatever your mind dwells on grows
Truly serving others and the organization
Accepting responsibility and self-correcting
Overcoming complacency and managing change
Returning to your first love and discovering your passion
Importance of working together and sharing successes
Looking for the big opportunities and avoiding the big hazards
Avoiding the “victim” mentality
Designing your own future

Lead With Purpose – Best ways to use character to deepen influence

Lead with Purpose (LWP) is a leadership development process designed to help you become more intentional in your leadership development and in the way you develop others to lead. In this highly interactive process you will receive, and experience, practical tools that will allow you to intentionally lead more effectively and meet the challenges of today’s rapidly changing workplace.

By applying the leadership fundamentals found in LWP, participants will achieve increased levels of success and productivity by:

Building Trust through Personal Integrity
Influencing Others by Adding Value to Their Lives
Being more Authentic, Vulnerable, Present, Courageous and Responsible
Identifying and Solving Problems — and Preventing Their Recurrence
Truly Serving Others and the Organization
Prioritizing (working smarter, not harder)
Developing Future Successors
Challenging, Coaching, and Inspiring toward results
Defining and Articulating a Compelling Vision for Your Organization or Team

LWP focuses on two areas that make up the life of a leader:

Life Below The Waterline speaks to the heart of a leader and focuses on his or her character.
Life Above The Waterline addresses the mind of the leader, developing the strategies, skills and methods of leadership.

Lead with Purpose focuses on the human side of leader-ship and what is necessary to achieve sustainable long term results from those you lead and influence. This program helps you discover your “Why” for leading and develops your “How” to lead.

More Than Winning – Why high-performance teams prioritize excellence as results

Fearless Leadership – How to neutralize organizational fear and build courage

Nordstrom
Dunkin Donuts
Nationwide Financial
Motorola
IBM
Zebra Technologies
John Deere
TD
Ameritrade
Michelin Tires
Alaska Airlines
Verizon Wireless
Starbucks
AVIVA
Barclays Bank
Swiss Re
Starbucks International
Lennox
Hilton
AXA Equitable Financial Services
Campbell’s Soup
Walser Automotive
MOD Pizza
Mid America Apts.
Arch Capital

Testimonials

“You did an “AMAZING” job! The halls were buzzing afterwards and you were spot on with your entire message. Your presentation on “Moving to Great” was just what our organization needed.”
Hasbro Toys Training Director

“Thank you for the wonderful job you did speaking with our leadership teams at Nationwide. Your message resonated with our culture and your energy and “real world” examples brought great inspiration, encouragement and motivation to the day to day tasks of leaders throughout our organization.”
Nationwide Financial

“Your presentation was awesome! You did an amazing job! You are the best speaker we’ve ever had at one of our events. I would certainly recommend your services to anyone looking for an inspiring, enthusiastic, energetic, and engaging speaker.”
Verizon Wireless

“I was truly impressed with Eric’s presentation! He was both inspirational and relevant and his presentation was tailored to match our culture and mission of our organization. Eric addressed our leadership in a very unique way, addressing the very human obstacles that we need to overcome in order to achieve our goals. His style, demeanor and message clearly conveyed our theme and we all walked out of the keynote feeling motivated and ready to win.”
Medtronic

“Teamwork, accountability, the ability to manage and lead change and employee morale are improving across all 30,000 Aviva employees. We are getting measurably better results, internally and in the marketplace, than we ever imagined!!! Your ability to connect and bring out the best in our people has made an impact on Aviva that will be felt a long time.”
Aviva

“Your stimulating presentation was the perfect kickoff for our audience of clients from across Europe, Africa and the Middle East along with our Swiss Re colleagues. Your fantastic speech combined with practical tips gave us so much food for thought and raised the energy level for the entire day. And your personal story about fear and danger and how fear can grow was just brilliant!”
Swiss Re Europe

F.A.Q.

What differentiates Eric Boles from other former athletes on the speaking circuit?

While many former players rely solely on locker-room anecdotes, Boles is an established global expert in talent development and business strategy. As the CEO of The Game Changers, Inc., his insights have helped over 500,000 leaders navigate complex organizational shifts. His NFL background provides a powerful, relatable metaphor for performance, but his 25+ years in the boardroom provide the actionable frameworks that drive measurable ROI.

How does Boles customize his presentations for specific industry challenges?

Boles works closely with event organizers beforehand to identify their “key business issues” and “meeting themes”. Whether the focus is on digital transformation in healthcare or sales momentum in finance, he weaves relevant industry data and powerful storytelling around his core strategies—ensuring the audience receives information they can “put to work immediately” both personally and professionally.

What is the significance of the “flyer” anecdote in his leadership teaching?

The “flyer” role in the NFL involves sprinting downfield to disrupt the “wedge”—a wall of massive blockers. Boles uses this as a signature metaphor for “Fearless Leadership.” He teaches that avoiding the “wedge” (the core problem) only increases organizational risk. True leaders must confront these challenges head-on to clear a path for their team’s success.

What are the primary takeaways from his “Moving to Great” framework?

The core objective is to shift teams from a “prevent defense” mindset—playing to avoid loss—to an offensive posture of “Peak Performance”. Key takeaways include increasing individual “Self-Efficacy,” fostering “Radical Accountability,” and aligning personal passions with the organization’s “Leading Purpose” to achieve sustainable excellence.

Can Eric Boles facilitate interactive workshops beyond a standard keynote?

Yes. Boles is a “seasoned veteran facilitator” who leads engaging breakout sessions and workshops. These sessions are designed to be highly interactive, utilizing his “Lead with Purpose” and “Moving to Great” frameworks to provide actionable insights into team alignment, collaboration, and sustainable success.

What is Eric Boles’ speaking fee and travel logistics?

Eric Boles travels from Washington state, USA. His fee for U.S.-based keynote events typically ranges between $20,001 and $30,000, which includes a degree of customization and pre-event collaboration to ensure the presentation meets the organization’s specific goals.

How does he address the “New Reality” of remote and hybrid work environments?

In his “Leading in the New Reality” module, Boles emphasizes that while the “venue” of work has changed, the “fundamentals of human effectiveness” have not. He teaches leaders to become “dealers of hope” who can communicate the “Why” and “How” of change effectively, regardless of whether their team is in a boardroom or on a Zoom screen.