Mike Barefoot · Leadership keynote speaker & coach:Stronger leaders.Winning teams.Extraordinary results.
The dojo and the boardroom run on the same playbook.
Mike Barefoot pairs 37 years of martial arts discipline with 27 years of building winning teams — and shows leaders how small daily micro actions compound into elite results.
“You challenged our audience to think differently about leadership…”
- Martial arts
- 37yrsMartial arts
- Professionals placed
- 1,000+Professionals placed
- Revenue generated
- $50M+Revenue generated
- Unbroken profitability
- 15+yrsUnbroken profitability
Featured By
- 60+ media features
01In action
Feel the room before you book.
Ninety seconds from the stage and the mic, and the live martial arts demonstration Mike uses to show why working smarter beats working harder.
02The leader
Two worlds. One discipline.
For 27 years Mike sat across the table from thousands of executives and candidates — as an elite recruiter, an account executive, and finally as the founder of a boutique IT staffing firm that stayed profitable through every one of its 15+ years.
For 37 years he has trained in Karate, Kickboxing and Ju-Jitsu. The lesson from both arenas is the same: elite performance isn't a single heroic act. It's technique, repeated with integrity, every day.
- Rookie of the Year
- Multiple Performer of the Year awards
- Regular President's Club honors
03The KAIZEN system
Six principles. Continuous improvement.
Kaizen is Japanese for continuous improvement — the credo Mike lives by on the mat. He built it into a six-part system for leading yourself and others.
KKnowledgeIQ, EQ — and the school of hard knocks.
Classroom intelligence gets you in the door. Emotional intelligence carries you further with people. And the lessons you only learn by living them? Mike calls that his PhD in the school of hard knocks.
AAuthenticBe your real self. It comes out in the wash.
Plenty of people will tell you what you want to hear. Over thousands of conversations with executives and candidates, Mike learned that who you really are always surfaces — so lead with it.
IIntegrityChoose the relationship over the fee.
Mike once advised a client to rescind an offer to his own candidate — walking away from a high five-figure fee — because protecting the relationship mattered more. One action can build trust for years or burn it down in a day. Over his career he has turned down more than $100,000 in placement fees rather than make a hire he didn't believe in.
ZZealFind your passion — then pour into it.
Whether it's your work, your family or your craft, figure out what lights you up. The more energy you put in, the more you get back — and the money usually follows.
EEnergyEnergy management beats time management.
Four times in his career Mike carried 50+ consultants at once while juggling 100+ open jobs a month. You may be dog tired, but when the opportunity lands you summon the energy at a moment's notice, and keep showing up through the battle of attrition.
NNoThe ability to say no — then go all in.
Charlie Munger, Berkshire Hathaway's famous “no man,” held that 99 of 100 opportunities aren't good. Be wary, be discerning, be agile — and when the right one comes, give it everything. Mike turned down a general manager role three times before recognizing his: running his own company.
Principle 01 / 06
Knowledge
IQ, EQ — and the school of hard knocks.
Classroom intelligence gets you in the door. Emotional intelligence carries you further with people. And the lessons you only learn by living them? Mike calls that his PhD in the school of hard knocks.
Principle 02 / 06
Authentic
Be your real self. It comes out in the wash.
Plenty of people will tell you what you want to hear. Over thousands of conversations with executives and candidates, Mike learned that who you really are always surfaces — so lead with it.
Principle 03 / 06
Integrity
Choose the relationship over the fee.
Mike once advised a client to rescind an offer to his own candidate — walking away from a high five-figure fee — because protecting the relationship mattered more. One action can build trust for years or burn it down in a day. Over his career he has turned down more than $100,000 in placement fees rather than make a hire he didn't believe in.
Principle 04 / 06
Zeal
Find your passion — then pour into it.
Whether it's your work, your family or your craft, figure out what lights you up. The more energy you put in, the more you get back — and the money usually follows.
Principle 05 / 06
Energy
Energy management beats time management.
Four times in his career Mike carried 50+ consultants at once while juggling 100+ open jobs a month. You may be dog tired, but when the opportunity lands you summon the energy at a moment's notice, and keep showing up through the battle of attrition.
Principle 06 / 06
No
The ability to say no — then go all in.
Charlie Munger, Berkshire Hathaway's famous “no man,” held that 99 of 100 opportunities aren't good. Be wary, be discerning, be agile — and when the right one comes, give it everything. Mike turned down a general manager role three times before recognizing his: running his own company.
04Micro actions
Four movements. One technique.
On stage, Mike demonstrates a self-defense technique built from four small movements — each one simple, together decisive. It's the same principle he teaches leaders: small micro actions, repeated daily, compound into big change.
- 01
Secure the grip
- 02
Control the hinge of the elbow
- 03
Step off-line at 45°
- 04
Use their momentum, not your strength
Shift 10 to 15 degrees and an immovable force gives way. It won't happen overnight — but over a year, the micro actions you commit to on your worst day will change everything.
The commitment card
Pick one. Write it down.
Everyone who sees the keynote leaves having committed to a single micro action for the next twelve months. This is that card, as one page you can print and keep somewhere you'll see it.
The question
“Look at yourself, at who you are today, and what do you have to do to close the gap to be a better version of yourself tomorrow?”
05In their words
Your ability to connect with the room, share practical wisdom, and inspire meaningful reflection made your session one of the highlights of the summit.
Read the full letter
Leadership Summit · Leading with Purpose
Dear Mike,
Thank you for being a featured speaker at our Leadership Summit, Leading with Purpose. Your insights, energy, and authentic perspective made a meaningful impact on our community and contributed greatly to the success of the event.
You challenged our audience to think differently about leadership—not simply as a position, but as an opportunity to lead with intention, clarity, and purpose. Your ability to connect with the room, share practical wisdom, and inspire meaningful reflection made your session one of the highlights of the summit.
We are incredibly grateful for the time and expertise you shared with Campbell University Community. It was a privilege to have you as part of this important conversation, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of your work.
With sincere appreciation,
Wendy and the entire Lundy Fetterman School of Business Staff
Wendy WelkerDirector of Development and Special ProjectsLundy-Fetterman School of Business
Thank you for generously giving of your time—once again—to help our MBA students understand the world of executive recruiting.
Annie MurrayDirector of MBA CareersNC State University
His depth of experience and knowledge as well as his interpersonal skills and ability to connect with the audience in a relaxed comfortable way made the presentation enjoyable. The students loved it!
Former Director of Human ResourcesWake Tech Community College
Thank you for speaking at our seminar. Keep doing great things!
Lawrence ArthurPresidentThe GOAT Awards
06The record
Proof, not theory.
- Years in martial arts
- 37Years in martial arts7th-degree black belt in Karate
- Year staffing career
- 27Year staffing careerRecruiter, account executive, founder
- Professionals placed
- 1,000+Professionals placedPersonally
- Revenue generated
- $50M+Revenue generatedAcross his career
- Years of unbroken profitability
- 15+Years of unbroken profitabilityAt the IT staffing firm he founded
- Media features
- 60+Media featuresIncluding USA Today & CareerBuilder
Spoken at
Speaking
Keynotes that move rooms to act
High-energy, story-driven and interactive — with a live demonstration and a micro-action commitment every attendee takes home.
Learn more
Coaching
An encourager, advisor & cheerleader
One-on-one guidance for leaders, career movers and entrepreneurs, built on 27 years of helping people make their biggest decisions.
Learn moreNow booking
Bring the KAIZEN playbook to your stage.
Leadership summits, sales kickoffs, university events and executive offsites. Tell Mike about your audience and he'll be in touch.