Keynote from Michael C. Bush

Michael is a former member of President Obama’s White House Business Council and a founding board member of the private equity seed-fund, Fund Good Jobs, which invests in small inner-city businesses. Michael was a member of the Board of Directors at Workday, Inc. until September 2021 when Great Place To Work® was acquired by UKG, Inc.  

For the 2027 NCEO Annual Conference, we're proud to introduce Michael C. Bush, as our keynote speaker. With 30 years of experience leading and growing organizations, Michael has spent his career studying why some companies simply function while others truly thrive. His answer comes down to something surprisingly small: purpose.

In "The Butterfly Effect: How Purpose Turns Good Companies Great," Michael shows how one leader's decision to build trust, or one employee's sense of ownership over their work, ripples outward into a culture that outperforms in revenue growth, on the stock market, and in the loyalty of the people who show up every day. Drawing on new findings from the employee-owned companies among 2026's Best Workplaces, he makes the case that the path from good to great runs through a high-trust culture where everyone has a stake in the outcome.

Attendees will leave with a "For All" Leadership Model built for every level, from the C-suite to the front line, and a clear answer to the question every leader is asking: how do I make this a place people choose to build, not just work at?