Fahd Alhattab

Every event needs a talk that sparks energy and shifts perspective. This is that talk.

Most organizations think their growth problem is strategy, technology, or talent acquisition. The uncomfortable truth? It’s managers.

Research shows that 70% of employee engagement is dictated by the manager. And yet, most managers are promoted accidentally—because they were good at their jobs, not because they were trained to lead. The result? Burnout, disengagement, costly turnover, and cultures that feel more like politics than performance.

In this electrifying keynote, Fahd Alhattab reveals the hidden lever every company overlooks: turning managers into multipliers. When managers are equipped with the right tools, they don’t just manage tasks—they multiply performance, energy, and culture.

Drawing on Unicorn Labs’ Six Levels of High-Performing Teams, Fahd shows how to unlock the untapped leadership potential already inside your managers—so teams execute faster, talent stays longer, and culture becomes a competitive edge. This is where managers shift into leaders.

This isn’t another pep talk about “leading with vision.” It’s a systemized, evidence-based roadmap to scaling leadership capacity at every level. Expect bold truths, surprising case studies, and practical tools attendees can use the very next day.

Event organizers love it because it hits the sweet spot of inspiration and action—attendees walk out buzzing with energy and equipped with a clear framework.

Key Takeaways
Discover the six step system every manager needs to create 1+1=3 team performance.
Learn how to diagnose and escape the hidden dysfunction traps stalling your team.
Get a repeatable blueprint to increase buy-in, engagement, and execution speed.
Understand the psychology of team dynamics—and how to use it to your advantage.
Learn why culture isn’t crafted at the top, but in the daily actions of managers.

Why do Davids win when they shouldn’t? Giants have the money, the brand, the head start. Yet time and again, the Davids — Shopify, Figma, Etsy — rewrite the rules and topple them.

The paradox? Being small isn’t a weakness. It’s your ultimate advantage.

In this keynote, startup leadership expert Fahd Alhattab reveals how scrappy teams beat bloated incumbents — not by playing harder, but by playing different. Drawing from a decade of research into underdog founders and Unicorn Labs’ framework for high-performing teams, Fahd unpacks the rebel mindset and everyday leadership practices that let Davids punch above their weight.

You’ll hear stories of founders who stared down impossible odds — and won. From SkipTheDishes placing fake orders to keep restaurants from leaving, to Wealthsimple simplifying investing in a world of Big Banks, to Shopify turning a snowboard shop into a global platform, the playbook is clear: size is an excuse, not a strategy.

‍This isn’t about disruption for disruption’s sake. It’s about learning from Davids who show us that small, mighty teams — led with clarity, culture, and courage — can change industries. The only question is: will you?

Key themes Fahd will explore:
Agility over abundance – why Davids move faster while Goliaths collapse under their own weight.
Culture as a weapon – how psychological safety and empowerment let small teams out-innovate giants.
The rebel mindset – what it takes to reject the template and rally people to a cause bigger than profit.
Bold decision-making – how Davids bet the farm at pivotal moments — and why it paid off.

Audience takeaways:
A fresh lens on leadership: why being a small team is an advantage, not a liability.
Underdog strategies today’s founders can borrow to outpace bigger, better-funded rivals.
The six leadership principles that separate high-performing “David” teams from bloated “Goliaths.”

Here’s the puzzle: Why do some teams, with average talent, achieve extraordinary results—while others, stacked with rockstars, somehow achieve less than the sum of their parts?

The answer lies in a deceptively simple equation: 1+1=3. High-performing teams generate outcomes no individual could achieve alone. When trust, conflict, purpose, and empowerment align, something exponential happens: every person amplifies the strengths of the others. But when those dynamics break down, the opposite occurs—1+1=0. Talent cancels itself out in politics, disengagement, and burnout.

In this keynote, Fahd Alhattab reveals the Six Levels of High-Performing Teams—a proven framework born from research, psychology, and years of coaching fast-growing startups. These six levels—Psychological Safety, Empowerment, Effective Communication, Culture of Leadership, Purpose, and Vision—map exactly how to turn groups of smart individuals into cohesive, agile powerhouses.

This isn’t just leadership theory. It’s a blueprint that any team member, at any level, can use to build a culture where 1+1=3. What makes this keynote resonate is its universality: frontline employees see practical ways to improve collaboration, managers walk away with concrete leadership tools, and executives gain a roadmap for scaling culture and performance. It delivers both inspiration and action.

Key Takeaways
Crack the 1+1=3 equation — understand why great teams always outperform great individuals.
A six-step blueprint for building trust, clarity, and cohesion into daily team life.
Spot and escape dysfunction traps that quietly sabotage performance.
Practical tools for creating psychological safety, the foundation of innovation and risk-taking.
Everyday acts of leadership—feedback, support, healthy conflict—that turn colleagues into allies.
Harnessing shared purpose and vision so that effort transforms into energy and meaning.

We’ve created this myth to expect singular, grandiose, charismatic leaders to pave the way forward. Be the north star. But true leadership can emerge from anyone, anywhere.

It's time to shatter the misconception that leadership rests solely on one person's shoulders. Effective leadership is a collaborative effort, a symphony of strengths and shared values. It's about fostering a culture where every individual is empowered to lead and embrace change with unwavering agility. The secret lies in the domino effect—you can be the catalyst, the first domino that sets it all in motion.

Say goodbye to outdated hierarchies that purely reward seniority. In today's dynamic world, routine-minded employees hinder their own growth and potential. The real magic happens when individuals are empowered to take risks and seize opportunities. And it all starts with cultivating a leadership mindset.

Drawing from a decade of leading and studying teams, Fahd unveils the path to discovering the leader within each of us. This captivating keynote equips your audience with the essential tools to embrace their brilliance, amplify their ideas, and lead with confidence. Fahd will delve into the common pitfalls of leadership and team dynamics, guiding managers through the transformative six-levels of team development.

Prepare to unlock the true potential of your teams and witness the remarkable transformation of any group into a high-performing machine. This actionable and empowering talk will leave any audience reinvigorated and biased for action.

Audience will learn how to:
Implement daily leadership practices
Position themselves for management positions
Inspire a culture self-leadership that rewards star performers
Motivate team members and improved culture with great retention and productivity
Become a more self-confident and disruptive team leader
Empower employees to take ownership of projects