Damon Klotz

Founder at Damon Klotz Consulting

Damon Klotz is a sought-after speaker, workplace strategist, and host of the Culture First podcast. With over a decade of experience shaping culture at mission-driven companies, he helps leaders become more intentional storytellers and conversation designers. Damon’s work lives at the intersection of leadership, connection, and the conversations that truly matter—whether on stage, in coaching sessions, or inside fast-growing teams. He’s passionate about making the invisible work of leadership more tangible and building cultures that scale without losing meaning.

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The conversations that make or break a manager

What separates good managers from great ones? Often, it’s the conversations they’re willing to have. In this talk, Damon Klotz breaks down five essential conversations every manager needs to master—from expectation-setting to conflict navigation. Drawing from research and interviews on the Culture First podcast, he’ll show how avoiding key conversations erodes trust and performance over time. You’ll leave with frameworks and scripts to lead with more courage, clarity, and connection.