Meet
Cy Wakeman

Cy Wakeman is the founder and former President of Reality-Based Leadership, a leadership development company she built over more than 25 years into a global movement helping organizations eliminate workplace drama and drive measurable results.

A sought-after keynote speaker, executive coach, and New York Times bestselling author, Cy's research and methodology have transformed how thousands of leaders across the world approach accountability, emotional waste, and team performance.

Cy Wakeman's Reality-Based Leadership Philosophy

Cy Wakeman pioneered the concept of Reality-Based Leadership - a no-ego approach to leadership that challenges conventional thinking about employee engagement and organizational culture. Her core belief: that most workplace suffering is self-imposed, and that leaders have the power to bypass drama and inspire genuine accountability.

Her methodology has been adopted by leading organizations across healthcare, finance, retail, and the public sector, with measurable improvements in team performance, retention, and results.

Cy Wakeman's Books

Cy is the author of three landmark leadership books:

• Reality-Based Leadership - The book that started the movement, offering a practical framework for leading without ego and driving results through accountability.
• Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace - A deep dive into the hidden costs of drama in organizations and how leaders can reclaim productivity.
• No Ego - Cy's most celebrated work, challenging the modern engagement movement and redefining what great leadership looks like.

These titles remain core reading at Reality-Based Leadership and continue to shape the programs and training delivered to organizations worldwide.

Cy Wakeman as a Keynote Speaker

Cy Wakeman is one of the most in-demand leadership keynote speakers in the world. Known for her candid, research-backed style and high-energy delivery, she has spoken at hundreds of events globally, helping leadership teams cut through complexity and lead with clarity.

Cy continues to be available for select speaking engagements through Reality-Based Leadership.

Reality-Based Leadership - The Next Chapter

In 2025, after 25 years of building Reality-Based Leadership, Cy made the strategic decision to transition ownership of the company to Alex Dorr, her handpicked successor and co-owner since 2023.

Alex joined the RBL team in 2015 and has been central to keynote delivery, brand growth, and strategic direction - growing the RBL social following to over 300,000 fans across platforms. As CEO, he now leads the company into its next chapter, continuing to build on the foundation Cy established.

The Reality-Based Leadership philosophy, methodology, and commitment to transformational results remain unchanged. This transition is about expanding the company's capacity to serve organizations - with fresh energy, new research, and continued innovation.

Explore Reality-Based Leadership Today

Whether you discovered RBL through Cy's books, her keynote speaking, or her years of research - the work continues. Explore our programs, speaker roster, and resources to see how Reality-Based Leadership can transform your organization.