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Kevin McGarry

Lead with Purpose

Built for Leaders who Perform

Leadership Can Change Lives, Companies and Entire Industries.

Dr. Kevin McGarry brings rare credibility as a speaker because he has lived inside the financial-services business at the highest levels. Unlike career speakers who speak about leadership from the outside, Kevin spent decades leading national sales organizations, working directly with advisors and wholesalers, and navigating the same performance pressures, regulatory realities, and cultural challenges your leaders face today. His insights are grounded in real-world experience, not theory.

Kevin translates leadership into practical, actionable behaviors that immediately apply to financial professionals—whether they are leading teams, managing client relationships, or driving growth in complex markets. His sessions resonate because he understands the advisor mindset, the sales environment, and the dynamics of multi-generational teams, and he delivers tools leaders can use the very next day.

Audiences consistently value Kevin’s ability to connect purpose with performance. He doesn’t just motivate—he helps leaders clarify why they lead, how they influence others, and what standards drive sustainable success. His approach is engaging, relatable, and thoughtful, creating space for meaningful reflection while still driving accountability and results.

Finally, Kevin is trusted by firms because he speaks the language of financial services. His content aligns naturally with advisor development, leadership pipelines, sales excellence, and cultural transformation, making him an ideal speaker for kickoffs, leadership conferences, advisor summits, and executive offsites. The result is a session that feels relevant, credible, and impactful—long after the event ends.

Leading With Purpose: The Leadership Advantage in Financial Services
Leading Through Constant Change — Strategies for a Rapidly Evolving Industry
The Future-Ready Leader — Leadership That Works Across Generations
From Sales Leader to Strategic Leader — Turning Performance Into Influence
Leadership that Drives Advisor & Client Trust

Great session for our leaders on future ready leadership.”
Lisa Jacobi, CHRO, COCC

“An outstanding keynote speaker.”
Kevin Savage, DesignerERG Leader, The Hartford

“You gave me the courage to believe in myself.”
Michael Chu, New York University

Dr. McGarry Short Speaker Reel

Dr. McGarry Long Speaker Reel

Lead with Purpose: A Story About Leading In Your Personal and Professional Life

Travels From: Connecticut
City:

$5,001 to $10,000

Biography

Dr. Kevin McGarry is a seasoned leadership expert, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author with more than 30 years of experience in financial services, where he built, led, and advised high-performing sales organizations and leadership teams across asset management, retirement, and wealth management. His career uniquely blends real-world leadership responsibility with deep expertise in advisor development, sales effectiveness, and organizational growth—making his work especially relevant to firms navigating complexity, change, and multi-generational leadership challenges.

Kevin spent a significant portion of his career in senior leadership roles at Nationwide Mutual Funds, including Vice President of National Sales, where he led mutual fund and ETF distribution across all channels, and as head of the Nationwide Retirement Institute, guiding advisors and institutions through evolving retirement income strategies. He also held leadership positions at AllianceBernstein and MFS Sub-Advisory Services, working closely with wholesalers, advisors, and home-office leadership on business development, sales execution, and strategic growth. These roles provided Kevin with firsthand insight into the pressures leaders face in driving performance, developing talent, and leading through constant industry change.

Building on this foundation, Kevin is the founder of McGarry Leadership and serves as CEO of Leading 360, a global leadership development organization based in London. In this role, he partners with financial institutions, boards, and leadership teams to develop leaders at all levels—helping them lead with clarity, purpose, and accountability while improving engagement and results. His work is grounded in practical leadership application, informed by research, and shaped by decades of experience inside the financial-services ecosystem.

A recognized industry thought leader, Dr. McGarry has been quoted extensively in leading financial publications including The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger, InvestmentNews, PLANSPONSOR, and Financial Planning Magazine on topics ranging from leadership and retirement to advisor behavior and organizational performance. He is also the author of Lead with Purpose: A Story About Leading in Your Personal and Professional Life, a narrative-driven leadership book that reflects his belief that strong leadership—rooted in purpose and connection—drives both professional success and personal fulfillment.

Dr. McGarry holds a Doctorate in Professional Practice in Leadership, with research focused on leading across generations, a Master’s degree in Coaching, and a finance degree from the University of Connecticut. Known for his ability to connect leadership theory with the realities of financial-services leadership, Kevin delivers practical, impactful insights that resonate with executives, advisors, and sales leaders alike—helping them lead better, perform stronger, and build cultures that endure.

Presentations

Big Idea: Great leaders don’t just manage results — they create meaning, influence behavior, and inspire performance from the inside out.