Speaking & Keynotes
From conference main stages to organizational retreats, Dr. McRae delivers talks designed to engage a broad audience — ideal for audiences seeking reflection and renewed energy.
Author · CEO · Keynote Speaker
Where Vision
Meets Conviction.
Lead with purpose.
Dr. Andrew McRae helps leaders move beyond performative leadership by anchoring every decision, culture, and strategy in purpose, which serves as the foundation for sustainable organizations.
20+ Years in education leadership
Ed.D. Scholar-practitioner
CEO Education executive
2026 Debut book
The Book
Some leadership books hand you a framework.
This one hands you a mirror.
Purpose First
Mastering the Art of Meaningful Leadership
While some leadership books provide frameworks, Purpose First offers a mirror for self-reflection. Dr. McRae's debut book challenges leaders to address the most important question in their work: Why does this matter to you? From an honest, specific, and personal answer, all other elements follow — culture, strategy, trust, and performance.
Purpose First combines research-backed insight with practical, direct guidance. It addresses leadership theory, personal development, and concrete strategies to help leaders achieve meaningful results.
—Days to book launch
Speaking Engagements
A Voice That
Moves Rooms.
Dr. McRae's keynotes do more than inspire; they drive action. Drawing from Purpose First, his talks help leaders reconnect to their purpose, lead with courage and equity, and build organizations where people and performance thrive.
His style is clear and story-driven, incorporating humor to make complex ideas accessible and actionable.
- District leaders
- Corporate teams
- Conference audiences
- Organizational retreats
Dr. McRae meets each group at their current stage and guides them toward meaningful growth.
Meet Dr. McRae
Great leadership is not a performance, but the daily practice of self-awareness.
The leader behind the work
Dr. Andrew McRae is a CEO, scholar-practitioner, and speaker with a career at the intersection of leadership, equity, and organizational transformation. He not only teaches leadership theory; he has applied it in real-world organizations with tangible outcomes.
His work is guided by a clear conviction: great leadership is not a performance, but the daily practice of self-awareness — and allowing that clarity to inform every decision.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, and drawing on decades of experience in educational leadership, Dr. McRae brings credibility and a storytelling approach that clarifies complex issues and enables audiences to take action.
His forthcoming book, Purpose First: Mastering the Art of Meaningful Leadership, serves as both a manifesto and a practical guide for leaders who are ready to move beyond management and lead with purpose.
Purpose In Action
Dr. McRae is
available for…
Writing & Thought Partnership
Dr. McRae works with leadership teams to develop narrative strategies, communications, and messaging, ensuring purpose is clearly articulated and embedded throughout.
Leadership Coaching
Through individual and group sessions, Dr. McRae helps leaders develop their voice, lead authentically, and build stronger teams.
Leadership Consulting
Dr. McRae partners with organizations to align vision, culture, and strategy, transforming purpose into a practical driver for action.
Why Dr. McRae?
Purpose is a strategy,
not a slogan.
Too many leadership programs offer toolkits before preparing leaders for the core work. Dr. McRae begins with identity, clarity, and conviction, focusing first on the leader's internal foundation.
Guided by 3 core principles
Purpose must be operational, not aspirational.
Equity is not a program — it is a practice.
Leadership begins from the inside out.
This approach leads to lasting change that endures beyond the engagement.
Contact Dr. McRae
Ready to put
purpose first?
Drawing from two decades of leadership across classrooms, nonprofits, and the C-suite, Dr. Andrew McRae offers a candid, compelling roadmap for leaders who want to build organizations — and lives — that actually mean something. Through personal stories, practical tools, and hard-earned insight, McRae challenges readers to slow down, go deeper, and lead with clarity, courage, and conviction.
If you're ready to lead with meaning — not just momentum — Purpose First is your starting point.