In 2003, at just 22 years old, Philip Keil was among the youngest commercial pilots in Germany. Eager to explore the world, he spent several years flying across the USA, Canada, and Great Britain.
His flight log is remarkable: more than 9,000 hours of flying, thousands of take-offs and landings across four continents and nearly every climate zone. On February 24, 2009, during a routine flight in Africa with nearly 200 passengers, Philip Keil faced a critical emergency. Thanks to thorough preparation and training, he managed to control the situation and land the aircraft safely. Just days later, he returned to flying.
Philip Keil invites his audience into the cockpit. As a leader in the skies, he shares his hands-on experience:
- Leadership and decision-making
- Teamwork and communication
- Managing change
- Fostering a positive error culture
Philip Keil blends engaging storytelling with insightful expertise. He tailors his presentations individually through personal consultations with clients. His keynote speeches have reached tens of thousands of people across more than 20 countries in Europe and Asia.
Philip Keil lecture topics
Teamwork, communication & empowerment
Flying requires teamwork. What makes teams successful? Why do some teams fail? This award-winning keynote speech applies “crew resource management” principles from aviation to the business environment.
- The courage to make “survivable” mistakes: trust is built through taking risks
- Enhancing personal responsibility: clear roles replace rigid hierarchies
- The crew makes the difference: reaching goals means connecting with people
Leadership, error culture & trust
Making a wrong decision is preferable to making no decision at all—even in the corporate cockpit. As a leader above the clouds, Philip Keil discusses positive error culture and the elements of sound decision-making.
- You can’t pull over to the right: making safe decisions with focused clarity
- Trust is the fuel for success: growth happens outside the comfort zone
- How a positive error culture functions: focus on understanding the WHY, not WHO
Motivation, change management & resilience
What influence does the “inner compass” have on our thoughts and actions? What often prevents us from following it? This inspiring motivational talk explores comfort zones, difficult landings, and the bravery needed to shift perspectives.
- Pilot or passenger? Embracing challenges and personal growth
- The inner compass: a guide during times of change
- “We’ve always done it this way”: when habits become obstacles
Since 2014, Philip Keil has been delivering keynote speeches across Europe. He has been internationally recognized as a “TOP100 Excellent Keynote Speaker” since 2017. In 2019 and 2020, he was nominated for the Red Fox Award as Germany’s “Keynote Speaker of the Year.” Philip Keil offers all presentations in English and has lived in the USA, Canada, and Great Britain for several years. His keynotes have reached tens of thousands of people in over 20 countries across Europe and Asia. He often follows his presentations with panel discussions or Q&A sessions.
Companies engage Philip Keil for:
Executive events and leadership summits, annual meetings and corporate conferences, leadership offsites and management meetings, sales conferences and client events, change initiatives and transformation processes, kick-off events and corporate gatherings, as well as congresses and industry events within the DACH region.
Book Philip Keil for presentations through The Premium Speakers Agency.
