Leadership is a Verb: Everyday Actions That Build Belonging and Impact
In this deeply personal keynote, Fahd Alhattab reframes leadership as something every person can—and must—practice daily. Drawing on his journey from at-risk immigrant searching for belonging to building communities that change lives, Fahd reveals a simple truth: leadership isn't about titles. It's about showing up. For each other.
A Talk That Will Stay With Your Audience
This isn't a keynote you forget. It's the one people talk about at dinner that night—and reference for years.
⚡ This isn't a "sit back and listen" talk. Fahd brings vulnerability, energy, and moments that catch you off guard—and stay with you.
We've Been Sold a Lie About Leadership
For too long, we've been taught that leadership belongs to a select few. The charismatic CEO. The visionary founder. The inspiring executive who carries the team on their shoulders.
We've been told to wait. Wait for the title. Wait for permission. Wait for someone to tap us on the shoulder and say, "Now you're ready to lead."
Here's the truth they didn't tell you: That myth is holding your organization back.
Because while you're waiting for permission, the person next to you is struggling. The new hire is feeling lost. The teammate who just went through something hard is suffering in silence. And nobody is showing up for them—because everyone assumes that's "leadership's job."
But leadership isn't a job. Leadership is a verb. It's action. It's daily. It's available to every single person in your organization—right now, today, without asking anyone's permission.
Leadership Is a Verb: Everyday Actions That Build Belonging and Impact
In this keynote, Fahd Alhattab challenges everything you thought you knew about leadership—and hands you something better: a way to practice it right now, regardless of your title.
This isn't a talk about executives. It's not about strategy or frameworks or organizational charts. This is a talk about you. About the power you already have to shape the culture around you. About the small, consistent actions that build trust, create belonging, and turn workplaces into communities people never want to leave.
"Playing small doesn't serve your team. When each of us claims the leader within, we create organizations that are better than when we first joined them."
Through powerful storytelling, unexpected humor, and practical tools, Fahd shows your audience how to:
This keynote doesn't just inspire. It transforms how people see themselves—and what they believe they're capable of.
It works for everyone.
Frontline employees, middle managers, executives—every person in the room leaves feeling seen, challenged, and equipped. No one walks out thinking, "That wasn't for me."
How a Kid Who Didn't Belong Learned What Leadership Really Is
Fahd Alhattab knows what it feels like to not belong. As an at-risk immigrant kid, he spent years searching for a place where he mattered. Where someone knew his name. Where he wasn't invisible.
That search led him to start a March Break camp for underprivileged children—kids who felt exactly like he once did. Kids who just needed someone to see them.
And that's when Fahd discovered something that changed everything: The small acts matter most.
These aren't "nice to haves." These are the building blocks of belonging. And belonging is the foundation of every culture worth being part of.
Fahd didn't become a leader by getting a title. He became a leader by deciding to show up—for the kids at that camp, for the communities he built, and eventually for the thousands of people he's helped find the leader within themselves.
Now he shares that story—and that challenge—with audiences who are ready to stop waiting and start leading.
Simple. Daily. Available to everyone.
These aren't leadership programs. They're leadership decisions—available to every single person in your organization, right now, today, without asking anyone's permission.
What Your Audience Walks Away With
Leadership Is a Verb, Not a Noun
The mindset shift that changes everything. Leadership isn't a position you hold—it's something you do, every day, in moments big and small.
The Everyday Leadership Playbook
Practical ways to show up as a leader in ordinary moments—learning names, welcoming newcomers, giving feedback that builds rather than breaks.
Breaking Free from the Hero Myth
Why waiting for the "real leaders" to lead is the biggest mistake teams make—and how to claim your own leadership power today.
Culture vs. Community
The crucial difference between a "good culture" and genuine belonging—and why belonging is your organization's ultimate competitive edge.
Self-Leadership and Ownership
Tools to cultivate personal accountability at every level—because the best teams are built by people who don't wait to be told what to do.
The Power of Playing Big
Why playing small doesn't serve anyone—and how leaning into your leadership power transforms not just you, but everyone around you.
Is This Keynote Right for Your Event?
All-Hands & Company-Wide Meetings
When you need a message that resonates with every person in the room—not just managers.
DEI & Belonging Initiatives
When you want to go deeper than compliance and create genuine connection and inclusion.
Culture Kickoffs & Transformation Events
When you're building (or rebuilding) a culture and need everyone to take ownership.
New Employee Orientations & Onboarding
When you want to set the tone from Day 1: "You belong here, and you're a leader here."
Association & Industry Conferences
When your audience spans roles and levels, and you need universal relevance.
Non-Profit & Mission-Driven Organizations
When purpose is already central—and you want to activate everyday leadership around it.
Milestone Celebrations & Anniversary Events
When you're honoring the past while challenging your people to build an even better future.
From intimate gatherings (50) to arena-scale events (5,000+). The story scales; the impact doesn't diminish.
This keynote is designed for everyone—frontline to C-suite. It's most powerful when executives and entry-level employees hear it together. The message is the same: leadership belongs to all of us.
Why This Talk Stays With People
Some keynotes teach. This one transforms.
Event organizers consistently tell us: "Leadership Is a Verb" is the talk people remember. The one they mention at dinner that night. The one that comes up in team meetings months later.
Why? Because Fahd doesn't just deliver information. He shares his story—with vulnerability, with humor, with moments that catch you off guard and stay with you.
And then he turns the mirror toward the audience:
This isn't inspiration for inspiration's sake. It's a call to action that people actually answer—because they leave believing something new about themselves.
The Talk That Changes How People See Themselves
Fahd joined us as our keynote speaker for our annual Leadership Retreat and our team absolutely loved him! He was dynamic, entertaining, and an incredible storyteller who captivated our audience from start to finish. His delivery was the perfect mix of thoughtful, heartfelt, and inspiring, and was coupled with the perfect amount of humor. We know that our leaders left the retreat with several lessons that will make them stronger leaders for their individual teams, for our firm, and for our clients….We'd gladly recommend Fahd to anyone seeking a keynote speaker to inspire their audience!
Fahd led me through such a powerful journey of learning and growth into leadership. I've been applying his principles at work and in my personal life, and I've seen the positive effects these learnings have had in my endeavours.
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Unicorn Labs has been fantastic for our organization for nearly three years now. I work with Fahd monthly, and he and his team are phenomenal. He's helped us grow our company and dramatically improve our company culture. I can't recommend them enough.
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Trusted by organizations that believe leadership belongs to everyone
Fahd Alhattab's Story Isn't Typical.
He didn't grow up dreaming of keynote stages or leadership programs. He grew up as an at-risk immigrant kid, trying to figure out where he belonged.
That search for belonging led him somewhere unexpected: to a March Break camp for underprivileged children. Kids who felt invisible, just like he once had. Kids who just needed someone to learn their name, to welcome them, to show up.
And that's where Fahd discovered the truth he now teaches: Leadership isn't about titles. It's about daily action. It's about the small moments that build trust, create community, and make people feel like they matter.
Since then, Fahd has built Unicorn Labs, helping over 200 companies develop leaders at every level. He's delivered keynotes to audiences across North America. He's won the "Most Entertaining Speaker" award.
But ask him what he's most proud of, and he'll tell you: it's the messages he gets from people who heard his story and decided to stop playing small. People who finally gave themselves permission to lead.
That's the transformation this keynote offers. Not information — identity shift.
Tailored to Your
Audience and Mission
Every organization has its own story. Fahd tailors this keynote to honor yours. Want to discuss how this fits your event? Let's talk →
Stories That Speak Your Language
Fahd incorporates stories and scenarios relevant to your industry—healthcare, tech, non-profit, manufacturing, or beyond.
Connected to Your Purpose
Connect the keynote directly to your organization's purpose, making "leadership is a verb" actionable within your specific culture.
Extend the Experience
A half-day workshop where teams practice everyday leadership in small groups and create personal action plans.
Prime Your Audience Before the Big Day
Custom video messages or materials to build anticipation and prime your audience—so they arrive ready to engage, not starting from zero.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before booking. Still have questions? We're happy to jump on a quick call.
Book a Discovery CallBoth—and that's the point. The most powerful moments happen when everyone hears this message together. Executives are reminded that leadership is action, not position. Frontline employees are challenged to step up. The shared experience creates alignment.
Most leadership talks focus on what managers should do. This one focuses on what everyone should do. It's also deeply personal—Fahd's story isn't theory; it's lived experience. Audiences connect with vulnerability, not just expertise.
Yes. The core message—that belonging is built through small daily acts—aligns perfectly with DEI initiatives. But it approaches inclusion through action and story, not compliance language. It resonates with diverse audiences because it's about human experience, not corporate policy.
This keynote works for intimate groups (50) to arena events (5,000+). The storytelling scales beautifully, and the call to action is personal regardless of room size.
Yes. Fahd has delivered this keynote to distributed teams around the world. The emotional connection translates—though in-person delivery allows for the full impact of live storytelling.
Options include a companion workshop, post-event toolkit with everyday leadership practices, or integration with ongoing culture initiatives. Many organizations use "Leadership is a verb" as a rallying cry long after the event.
Fahd's keynote fee varies based on event type, audience size, and whether add-ons are included. Book a discovery call and we'll send over a custom proposal within 24 hours. We work with event budgets of all sizes.
