Walter Bond

Former NBA Star, Entrepreneur, Mr. Accountability & Peak Performance Coach

Walter Bond

Former NBA Star, Entrepreneur, Mr. Accountability & Peak Performance Coach

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Biography

When Walter Bond steps onto the stage, you can’t miss him. It could be because he’s 6’5” and stands out in a crowd, but it could also be because the stage is where he feels at home. A Hall of Fame speaker, former NBA athlete, former franchisee and franchise expert, Walter brings a rare combination of high-performance experience and real-world business insight to every audience. His expertise in franchising goes well beyond the stage: for eight years, Walter served on the Jersey Mike’s Subs Advisory Board, giving him an inside perspective on the leadership, culture and systems behind one of the franchise industry’s most recognized brands.

As a nationally recognized public speaker, Walter commands the stage while making everyone in the audience—whether in a small boardroom or a packed conference venue—feel seen. People walk out of Walter’s talks changed, motivated and inspired. His principles are simple but powerful, his delivery is smooth, and he combines humor, tough love and experience in a way that moves people to action.

Walter’s third book, Swim!, has become a staple for business professionals and students across the country. The easy-to-read professional development book combines memorable characters, relatable life lessons and hard truths that help readers understand the power of leadership, mentoring and next-level success.

Walter travels the country speaking, coaching, teaching and inspiring organizations across a wide range of industries, from financial services and agriculture to franchising, real estate and many more. His firsthand experience as a franchisee and advisor gives him particular insight into what it takes to build strong franchise cultures, develop high-performing leaders, align franchisees around a common vision and create sustainable growth.

At any given time, you can find Walter leading a mastermind class, providing one-on-one professional development, hosting book talks or coaching ambitious business leaders and entrepreneurs toward greater success.

While many first came to know Walter Bond as a former NBA player, today audiences know him as a passionate speaker, author, business coach and franchise expert with one goal: to help people and organizations see—and reach—their full potential.

Walter graduated from the University of Minnesota and has been married to his wife and business partner, Antoinette, for nearly 30 years. They have three adult children.

Speaker Videos

Promo Video

Walter Bond Promo Video June 2024

One of the Greatest Keynote Speeches Ever!

Shark Mindset

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Speech Topics

Unleash The Power of The Shark Mindset: Transform Your Team to Dominate The Market

In the fiercely competitive business world, having a mental edge is crucial. "Shark Mindset," a riveting keynote based on Walter’s acclaimed book Swim, is designed specifically for sales and business leaders seeking to outperform their rivals. This presentation delves deep into the transformative power of mindset, illustrating through compelling storytelling how your mental approach shapes your success.

Discover the journey of four engaging characters navigating the vast, challenging deep blue sea – a metaphor for the business landscape. Their experiences embody the essence of the "Shark Mindset," a strategic approach that equips your team to excel in your industry or niche market. Key takeaways include:

Mastery of the “sacred six principles” of the “Shark Mindset”
Practical strategies to instill resilience and a winning attitude in your team
Techniques to reorient your business trajectory towards unparalleled success

Ideal for sales and business leaders, this keynote is a gamechanger, providing the tools and insights to give your team the mental advantage they need to thrive and conquer in today’s competitive environment.

Peak Performance Fundamentals: No One Can Stop You But You

How does a benched college basketball player become the first undrafted rookie to play a season-opening game in the NBA?

Spoiler alert: it has everything to do with the fundamentals.

This powerful, honest, and eye-opening motivational keynote dives headfirst into the 7 fundamentals of living everyday as a peak performer, and helps equip teams with the mental tools they need to win against their greatest competition – themselves.

With a little bit of reflection and self-analysis, and a whole lot of hard truths, you might not recognize your team after this hard-hitting message!

Developing a winning mindset
Becoming an impact player
Using the power of 2
Developing the right habits and rituals
Continuous improvement
Accountability
Success is a team sport

Peak Performance For Business Owners: How to Think…Execute…& WIN!

‘“If you can dream it, then you can achieve it.'”

This highly requested keynote is designed to help business owners leverage the power of planning and follow-through. here, Walter uses thrilling anecdotes and personal experience to guide listeners through the steps all peak performers must master: vision, venture, and well-planned execution.

Teach your people to strive for greatness, excellence, and perfection in every performance, and give them the essential principles that will make this journey all the more fulfilling!

Instilling core values for business prosperity
Staying in sync with daily / weekly / quarterly / annual goals
Knowing your personal and organizational kpi’s (key performance indicators)
knowing and resolving challenges
Staying motivated to execute consistently
Guidance on how to reach the finish line, every time
Understanding the difference between immediate and long-term impact

Teamwork: Creating a Culture of High Performance

Teach your people the hidden habits that turn employees into peak- performing teams and siloed teams into progressive organizations.

This high-energy journey into the secrets of improving communication, chemistry, and accountability is the culmination of Walter’s hands-on experiences with good, bad, mediocre, and championship-level teams.

Takeaways

Discover the six traits all peak performing teams share
Increase by-in of your core values and culture
Develop more effective communication, collaboration, and trust
Sharpen leadership traits at the management level

The Off-Season

Walter’s book The Off Season, was inspired by his decade plus years of collegiate and professional basketball in the NBA and abroad. He learned the secrets of working on your work, intentionally making time to step away from your craft, and the power of self-reflection. Now, he tours the country teaching teams and businesses how to take care of themselves so they can take care of others. The Off-Season is perfect for strategic planning sessions and teaches teams how to eliminate time wasters, and activate the power of 2 in their personal and professional lives. Sometimes, speeding up the growth of your business starts with slowing down, identify the key signs that mean you business needs a detox, and learn how to prioritize an off season to increase productivity. This one-of-a-kind keynote is a must for any team who needs a strategic boost before steeping into their next season of success.

The Best Team Always Wins…Building Your iTeam

What are your strategies for team building? What specifics do you employ to get your team moving in one direction in harmony and growth mindedness? Walter has discovered the secrets of building not just winning teams but championship ones. Do you have innovators on your team? What about initiators? And that one person that always seems to be stirring the pot? He’s an instigator, and you need him on your team too! Walter explains the power of work expressions, steps to building powerful and focused teams, and ways to customize your communication style to lead each member of your team successfully. Prepare to carefully analyze your current team and learn ways to better understand, connect, and communicate with them. Walter breaks down the importance of teamwork in a brand new way. Perfect for improving work culture and focus, this keynote will change the way your team works together.

Teamastry: Mastering the Art of Teamwork

Think about it, is there anything more important than getting your team to perform better? Smart leaders know that teamwork is everything! Teamwork should be your competitive advantage. Imagine a team full of impact players, working together in harmony dominating your industry. Who would be against that?

The only issue is, how do we do it? Armed with over 30 years of team building experience, Walter shares a message designed to not only help your organization improve teamwork but to actually master it. Walter’s message is not only built on personal experience as a former NBA athlete but also on research.

Our proprietary teamwork model highlights the fundamentals of 6 key traits of high performing teams. The traits highlighted are trust, accountability, chemistry, commitment, communication and common goals. If your desire is for your team to outshine, outwork and outplan the competition, then this is the perfect message for your team. Great for all audiences!

Make Progress: The Championship Playbook for Franchise Growth

Walter challenges franchisees and leaders to eliminate excuses, take ownership, embrace the organization’s priorities, and consistently execute the behaviors that produce growth. This is not a generic motivational speech. The message is customized around the goals, language, initiatives, and desired outcomes of the franchise system.