Curtis Morley

Curtis Morley is a bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, patent holder, mountain climber, and internationally recognized keynote speaker who helps leaders and organizations decode the emotions that create the foundation of success. Curtis founded Counterfeit Emotions. This groundbreaking framework empowers people to identify false emotional patterns that masquerade as truth but quietly sabotage communication, culture, and most importantly, connection. Through his signature keynotes, powerful masterclasses, and upcoming book, Curtis equips audiences with the tools to recognize and replace Counterfeit Emotions—those that look, act, and feel like authentic emotions but create destructive cycles of disconnection, which ultimately lead to burnout, misalignment, troubled relationships, and missed potential. His message blends the power of emotional intelligence with actionable strategies that drive high performance, psychological safety, and authentic leadership. Before launching Counterfeit Emotions, Curtis built and led five companies, achieving as high as 20x growth and serving 96 of the Fortune 100. He’s a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of his book The Entrepreneur’s Paradox and has worked with industry giants including NASA, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Walmart, Coca-Cola, Mercedes, and Goldman Sachs. His business achievements have earned recognition such as Entrepreneur of the Year, 40 Under 40, and Inc. 500/5000 Hall of Fame status. Curtis’s insights have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and LifeHacker, and he has been heard on over 1,000 podcasts and radio stations by millions of listeners. He’s also a passionate educator who has taught and built programs at five universities and has advised corporate and nonprofit boards. His speaking engagements span the globe—from Asia, Europe, and the U.S.—where he delivers high-impact messages that blend science, research, story, strategy, heart, and some laughs. Whether he’s helping an executive team smash fear, guiding a company to build a culture rooted in kindness and trust, or inspiring individuals to lead with emotional clarity, Curtis Morley delivers transformational insights with authenticity, depth, and heart.