Speaker

Think clearly. Decide better.
Act with intention.

Charlie's work on stage is about making one of the most overused phrases in business practical, human, and real: “we need to be more strategic.”

It is said in almost every organisation, but rarely defined clearly. People are asked to be more strategic without always knowing what that means, what outcome is needed, or what behaviour has to change.

That is where his work begins.

bridgIng the worlds of strategy, leadership, behavioural science, and high performance to show why capable people can still become reactive, short-term, and unintentional under pressure.

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Charlie explores the human capabilities technology cannot replace: judgement, clarity, communication, and intentional leadership.

Through the exploration of ideas such as the 12-Month Trap, unconscious leadership, and reacting versus responding, Charlie provides leaders practical ways to change what happens in the moments that matter. Because strategy is what people practise when the pressure is on.

Talk to Charlie

Making it practical

Charlie helps audiences see that strategy is not just planning, slide decks, or clever frameworks. It is the human ability to think clearly, make good choices, communicate well, and act with intention when pressure rises.

He believes, being strategic is not about knowing more frameworks. It is the ability to think clearly, widen perspective, surface assumptions, hold tensions, make better judgements, communicate well, influence others, and act with intention under pressure.

His central contribution is the idea of strategic capability under pressure. It reframes strategy from something held in documents, plans, or offsites into something leaders and teams must practise in real moments. That thinking is grounded in years of work with thousands of leaders and teams globally, across strategy, leadership, execution, behaviour change and high performance.

watch Charlie in Action

Charlie talking at Instech Expo 2026

most organisations do not just have a strategy problem. They have a strategic capability problem: the human ability to think clearly, decide well, communicate effectively, and act with intention when it matters most.

About Charlie

Charlie Curson is a strategic leadership advisor, international best-selling author, and emerging keynote speaker on what it really takes to think and act strategically under pressure.

He is the founder of Mandarin, where he works with leadersand leadership teams to build strategic capability: the ability to think clearly, make better decisions, and stay aligned when the pressure is on.

Charlie is the author of Be More Strategic: 12 Essential Practices to Build the Life and Career You Want, an international bestseller and shortlisted title in the highly competitive Leadership category at the 2026 Business Book Awards. Since its release, his ideas have featured in more than 40 global publications, including Forbes, Inc. and Fast Company, helping establish him as a fresh voice in strategic leadership.

His keynotes combine practical strategy, behavioural science and real-world leadership experience, helping audiences understand why strategy often breaks down not in the plan, but in the pressured moments where people react, avoid, rush or lose perspective.

Testimonials

Charlie joined us as a guest speaker at a private BGF dinner for senior leaders, including CEOs, Chairs and Directors, co-sponsored by Barclays and Grant Thornton. Drawing on real-world experience, he offered clear, thought-provoking perspectives on how to develop effective strategy in uncertain conditions. His insights and provocations sparked meaningful discussion and debate across the room.

Arran Baker
Partner, BGF

Charlie is one of those unique individuals who is able to capture the attention of the whole room and yet have each person believe that he is speaking directly to them. Charlie recently gave an after-dinner speech to a mixed room of Insurance and Technology leaders in London (not a natural mix) and wove an entertaining and compelling narrative demonstrating that no matter what the differences, we all needed a shared vision for the future and a strategy to get there. It was a wonderful message and left everyone inspired, motivated, and excited for the future!

Andrew Yeoman
CEO, Concirrus

On behalf of the President, National Council and members of the Irish Hotels Federation, thank you for your excellent contribution to this year’s Annual Conference in Killarney. Your masterclass was engaging and motivating, with actionable improvements for our members to implement both personally and professionally. We received excellent feedback from delegates on your session.

Paul Gallagher
CEO, Irish Hotels Federation

Charlie was a fantastic keynote speaker for our event. His energy, combined with practical techniques to help our audience achieve more in their work and personal lives, set the tone for our two day event. Our guests could relate to his real life experience and stories, and many of us will forever remember to say “yes and”, not “no but”.