On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with cybersecurity expert, former NSA senior executive, and current Morgan Stanley Managing Director Rachel Wilson to explore the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape — and why cybersecurity now affects everyone from global organizations to individual families.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Rachel’s experience leading counterterrorism operations and overseeing thousands of high-stakes cyber operations at the NSA
• Why cybersecurity has evolved from an IT issue into a leadership and business issue
• How artificial intelligence is accelerating cybercrime and lowering the barrier to entry for hackers
• Why employees are both the greatest cybersecurity vulnerability and the first line of defense
• The importance of developing “healthy skepticism” in today’s digital world
• Practical cybersecurity habits Rachel recommends for businesses, leaders, and families
• How organizations can better prepare teams to navigate modern cyber risks
• Why today’s cyber threats are impacting businesses and households alike
• The types of audiences and organizations that benefit most from Rachel’s message

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Rachel Wilson to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with New York Times bestselling author and positive psychology expert Shawn Achor to discuss his newest bestseller, The Power of Beliefs.

Known for transforming how organizations think about happiness and performance, Shawn shares the research behind the beliefs that predict success, resilience, engagement, and well-being. He explains why beliefs are far more powerful than most people realize and how leaders can intentionally shape them to create stronger teams and better outcomes.

Key topics in this episode include:

• What inspired Shawn to write The Power of Beliefs after an eight-year break from publishing
• How the new research builds upon the foundation of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential
• The seven core beliefs that influence performance, resilience, and success
• Why beliefs predict outcomes ranging from sales and retention to well-being and longevity
• The surprising lesson behind the "home field advantage" and what it teaches us about connection
• How organizations are using belief-based strategies to improve engagement, culture, and results
• Practical ways leaders can strengthen positive beliefs within their teams
• Why Shawn believes hope, meaning, and human potential matter more than ever in the age of AI

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Shawn Achor to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert David Burkus to explore what separates high-performing teams from teams that struggle to connect, communicate, and collaborate.

Key topics in this episode include:

• David’s concept of “fluid teams” and why they’ve become the dominant way modern organizations work
• The two key ingredients that make teams successful: clarity and empathy
• Why communication norms and trust matter more than most leaders realize
• How organizations often try to solve collaboration issues with more meetings and more tools — while missing the real problem
• The role psychological safety plays in creating healthy disagreement and stronger team performance
• Why AI should be viewed as a collaboration tool instead of just a productivity shortcut
• How leaders can strengthen trust, respect, and communication within their teams immediately
• The kinds of organizational challenges that most often lead companies to bring David in to speak

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing David Burkus to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with Amanda Lindhout — New York Times bestselling author of A House in the Sky and internationally recognized voice on resilience, mindset, and transformation — to explore how adversity can be reframed into strength, clarity, and purpose.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Amanda’s experience surviving 460 days as a hostage in Somalia
• How she mentally navigated captivity by embracing hope
• The role of forgiveness in Amanda’s healing and freedom
• Why Amanda’s keynote is relatable to every audience member and how it gives them practical tools for resilience
• Her four quadrants of a resilient mindset: gratitude, connection, presence, and purpose
• How leaders and teams can use resilience to navigate uncertainty, adversity, and change
• Practical steps anyone can take to begin rebuilding resilience during difficult seasons

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Amanda Lindhout to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with Alison Canavan — global wellness expert, mindfulness facilitator, and transformational speaker — to explore how leaders and teams can reduce stress, regain focus, and create sustainable wellbeing in a fast-paced world.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Alison’s journey from international supermodel to wellness and mindfulness expert
• The disconnect between external success and internal wellbeing — and how to close that gap
• Why energy management, not time management, is the key to sustained performance
• How burnout happens when we constantly “spend” energy without ever replenishing it
• Why mindfulness is simply reclaiming stillness, space, and silence in a distracted world
• How Alison integrates real-time breathing and grounding exercises into her keynotes and workshops
• Simple, practical tools — all five minutes or less — that audiences can implement immediately
• The power of “practicing the pause” to move from reactive to intentional leadership
• How leaders can better manage their energy to create stronger teams and healthier cultures

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Alison Canavan to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with Kevin Brown — bestselling author, leadership speaker, and one of GDA’s most rebooked experts — to explore what it really means to lead, serve, and show up at a higher level.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Kevin’s journey from blue-collar beginnings in Muskegon, Michigan to the executive boardroom
• The defining moments and mentors that helped him rewrite his story and shape his leadership philosophy
• The HERO Effect® and why it’s a simple, powerful framework that separates world-class organizations from the rest
• What organizations are really trying to solve when they bring in Kevin to speak — from culture to customer experience to leadership
• Why outside voices can unlock new perspective and reinforce messaging
• Kevin’s new keynote in development around gratitude: If it matters, prove it
• His practical framework for high performance: REPS — reach, expand, prepare, and serve
• How mastering the fundamentals allows your talent and leadership to naturally rise to the surface

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Kevin Brown to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with Dr. Rebecca Heiss — stress expert and researcher whose work has been recognized as “transformative” by the National Science Foundation — to challenge the way we think about stress and explore how it can be used as a performance advantage.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Why stress isn’t something to eliminate — and how trying to get rid of it can actually make it worse
• The difference between stressors and the stress response — and why that distinction matters
• How stress, when properly directed, sharpens focus, decision-making, and performance
• Simple, practical tools like “it’s not a tiger” to stop spiraling and regain control in high-pressure moments
• Why taking action — even small steps — is key to breaking cycles of overwhelm and inaction
• How high-performing teams use stress to fuel innovation instead of fear
• The role of stress as a signal for what we care about most — and how to use that insight to drive purpose and growth

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Dr. Rebecca Heiss to your next event!

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with Jeff Civillico — Las Vegas headliner, Hall of Fame speaker, and one of GDA’s most rebooked talents — to explore what makes audiences connect, laugh, and come back for more.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Jeff’s journey from juggling in his grandmother’s kitchen to producing his own Las Vegas residency
• The behind-the-scenes business mindset that helped him thrive as an entrepreneur in Vegas
• Why authenticity is what audiences crave most — no matter the room size
• The release of his new comedy special, Comedy in Action, now streaming on Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, and more
• How his TEDx talk sparked a research study on “everyday influence” — and the three factors that truly drive it: consistency, proximity, and presence
• The mission behind Win Win Charity and how it brings smiles to children in hospitals nationwide
• How Care Kits for Kids transforms corporate CSR into a high-impact, meaningful team experience

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Jeff Civillico to your next event!