Ryan Leak is built different.

July 25, 2025

Carl Ware

Vice President

Last week an event for Ryan Leak was held in Savannah, Georgia, and we received one of the best reviews for his keynote, and it was too good not to share:

Let’s be honest. So many conference keynote speakers are ho-hum and trot out a well groomed but very generic corporate message built around a few pithy human truths. Even those that excel at the performative part of speaking on stage can lack the substance and empathy to engage an audience. All sound and fury but no connection.

Now that’s where Ryan Leak is built different. We booked him to keynote hashtag#D2LFusion in Savannah this week. And (sigh of relief ), he was absolutely brilliant. Just look at the audience reaction in these photos if you don't believe me!

Ryan gave us 45 minutes of genuine, witty, funny, and insightful thinking clearly tailored to an audience of learning leaders. I didn't want it to end, which is a first for me! He talked about the keys to next-level leadership in a #edtech context, including the following:

Attitude paired with gratitude is a winning combo
Lead by helping others "get in the room"
Be brave and embrace failure (versus chasing success)
Let go of perfection, control, and pride
Show intellectual humility and open with the phrase "I could be wrong, but..."

I could be wrong, but...that was an absolutely amazing keynote. Pick your verb - you slayed, crushed, rocked, smoked, killed it. Thank you from everyone at D2L, Ryan.

- Brian Finnerty - CMO, D2L