Keynote Speaker on Workplace Culture
Inspiring
Insightful
Interactive
Ben Swire shows leaders and teams how to build the trust and psychological safety that make real collaboration possible.
Connection is the key to culture.
Ben Swire is a keynote speaker, former Design Lead at IDEO, author of Safe Danger, and co-founder of Make Believe Works.
He has delivered keynote talks and workshops for leaders and teams at organizations including Google, Amazon, American Express, Salesforce, Pixar, Meta, Spotify, and Netflix.
Companies invite Ben to speak when they want to strengthen team trust, deepen connection, and create cultures where people feel safe to share ideas and collaborate more creatively.
His ideas on optimizing workplace culture have been featured in:
• Fast Company
• Forbes
• Next Big Idea Club
• Amazon Business Book Club
• TED Presents: How to Be a Better Human
See more media → Press & Podcasts
Signature Keynote
Safe Danger: The Surprising Conditions That Make Great Teams Work
Many organizations unintentionally create environments where people play it safe instead of sharing ideas, asking honest questions, or challenging each other’s thinking. When that happens, collaboration becomes polite but shallow, and teams miss the insights that lead to real innovation.
In this keynote, Ben introduces the concept of Safe Danger — the space where people feel secure enough to take small interpersonal risks. It’s in this space that trust grows, ideas surface, and teams begin to work together more openly and creatively.
Through storytelling, research, and moments of participation, the talk shows how leaders and teams can create the conditions where people feel safe to contribute ideas, speak candidly, and collaborate meaningfully.
Ben’s Audiences
Ben is typically invited to speak at:
leadership conferences
corporate offsites
innovation summits
team culture retreats
design and creative industry events
technology company gatherings
Clients range from small leadership teams to large conferences with hundreds of participants.
Key themes explored in his keynotes include:
Psychological safety in teams
Trust and openness in workplace culture
Meaningful collaboration and creative thinking
Why play and curiosity improve serious work
Building cultures where people feel safe to speak up
Ben’s keynote talks are designed to do more than inspire a room for an hour. They help leaders and teams see their work, their relationships, and their conversations with fresh eyes — and give them a shared language for building stronger collaboration long after the event.
Audiences leave with:
A clearer understanding of psychological safety and why it is essential for creativity, innovation, and honest collaboration.
Practical ways to build trust within teams, including small shifts in behavior that make it easier for people to contribute ideas and speak openly.
Renewed energy for working together, sparked by moments of participation and reflection that bring the ideas in the room to life.
A new perspective on collaboration, helping teams move beyond polite agreement toward more thoughtful and productive dialogue.
A shared language for better teamwork, making it easier for leaders and teams to continue the conversation long after the keynote ends.
"I usually dread team building activities, but this was different. The facilitation was magical and made all the difference. I sincerely enjoyed the process and learning so many new things about my colleagues. Thanks for pushing me out of my comfort zone. Absolutely want more of these."
— Amy O., Design Manager, Spotify
“Make Believe Works reinvents connection and development with its unique, fun, engaging and highly impactful workshops. Most recently, their ‘Super-Secret’ activation facilitated what our team called ‘the most meaningful & fun’ virtual get-to-know you’s they’ve ever participated in. We can’t wait to work with them again!”
— Naomi G., Director, Business Planning & Strategy, American Express
Ben Swire Speaking FAQ
What does Ben Swire speak about?
Ben Swire delivers keynote talks on workplace culture, psychological safety, trust in teams, and meaningful collaboration. His talks explore how organizations can create environments where people feel safe to share ideas, challenge each other’s thinking, and work together more creatively.
Who is Ben Swire’s keynote best suited for?
Ben Swire’s keynote talks are designed for leadership teams, corporate conferences, innovation events, and company offsites. Organizations invite him when they want to strengthen workplace culture, build psychological safety, and help teams communicate more openly and collaborate more creatively.
What types of events is Ben Swire’s keynote a good fit for?
Ben speaks to corporate conferences, leadership gatherings, innovation events, and team offsites. His talks are especially valuable for organizations looking to strengthen collaboration, build trust within teams, and create cultures where people feel comfortable contributing ideas.
How long are Ben’s keynote talks?
Most keynote talks run between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the event format. Many organizations also combine the keynote with interactive workshops or team-building experiences.
Does Ben customize his keynote talks?
Yes. Each keynote is tailored to the organization and the goals of the event. Ben works with organizers in advance to understand the audience, the company culture, and the outcomes they want the talk to support.
What makes Ben’s keynote talks different?
Many talks about workplace culture focus only on ideas. Ben’s talks combine storytelling, research, and moments of participation (without putting anyone on the spot) so audiences experience the concepts directly. This approach helps teams connect with each other and remember the ideas long after the event.
What is the Safe Danger concept?
Safe Danger describes the space where people feel secure enough to take small interpersonal risks — sharing ideas, asking questions, or challenging assumptions. Ben’s keynotes explore how organizations can create this balance between safety and challenge so teams can collaborate more openly and creatively.
Can Ben combine a keynote with workshops or team experiences?
Yes. Many organizations invite Ben to deliver a keynote and then facilitate workshops or team experiences that help participants explore the ideas in a more hands-on way.
Contact Us
We’d love to help your team connect and thrive. Tell us about your event or goals and let’s make a plan.
Reach us at: hello@makebelieveworks.com
Planning a Keynote with Ben
Event organizers often want more than an engaging keynote — they want a speaker who is thoughtful about the audience and easy to collaborate with.
Ben works closely with organizers before each event to understand the audience, the culture of the organization, and the goals of the gathering. His talks are tailored to reflect the context of the event.
Organizers often comment that the process feels collaborative and relaxed, allowing them to focus on creating a great experience for their audience.