About Mark

Developing Leaders in Business and in Life

“Few of us can be famous, but every one of us can be great.” This mantra is at the core of Mark Sanborn’s keynotes and leadership training programs, and one that resonates with organizations around the world who want to create workplace cultures that stand out.

As President of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., Mark has spent 30+ years cultivating extraordinary leaders.

He is an international bestselling author and an award-winning leadership keynote speaker who has written eight books, including the New York Times and International Bestseller, The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary, which has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. His latest book is The Intention Imperative: Three Essential Changes That Will Make You a Successful Leader Today.

Mark is also a Leadership Expert in Residence at High Point University, the Premier Life Skills University. Students are invigorated by his strategic and actionable principles that empower them to tap into their unique assets to achieve their best, but also to feel fulfilled.

Mark holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He was honored with the Cavett Award, the highest honor the NSA bestows on its members, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the speaking profession.

Mark’s ideas are taught in 90 counties by Crestcom Leadership Training and his list of more than 3,000 clients includes Costco, FedEx, Harley-Davidson, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, KPMG, New York Life, RE/MAX, ServiceMaster, ESPN, GM, IBM, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Sandvik and John Deere.

As Mark shares with audiences, “Nobody can prevent you from choosing to be extraordinary in whatever you do.” Are you ready to Be Extraordinary?

Mark Sanborn Headshot

Mark Sanborn’s Books

Mark is the author of eight books, including the bestseller The Fred Factor: How Passion In Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary which has sold more than 2 million copies internationally. His other books are below.

The Intention Imperative
The Fred Factor 20th Anniversary
You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader
The Encore Effect
Up, Down, or Sideways
The Potential Principle
Mark Sanborn

A Speaker is Born

Mark Sanborn gave his first speech at the age of 10 in a 4-H safety speaking contest. He did so poorly and lost so badly that he decided to try again. After that he was hooked. Public speaking became his passion and eventually his vocation.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Mark worked his way through college as an After Dinner Speaker. After graduation, he was an Account Executive, Regional Manager and Associate Publisher in the magazine publishing industry.

Mark Sanborn entered professional speaking full-time in 1986. 

What Drives Mark Sanborn?

Once asked what he would like as an epitaph, Mark explained, “Malcolm Forbes asked that his gravestone read, ‘While alive, he lived.’ I aim beyond that. As a result of my life, work and relationships, I would hope my headstone someday reads, “While alive, he lived. While he lived, he loved. Because he loved, he served. And when he served, he led.”

He resides in the greater Denver, Colorado area with his wife Darla and sons Hunter and Jackson. Mark is also an avid downhill skier, scuba diver and motorcyclist.

We invite you to learn more about Mark Sanborn and how his keynote presentations, books and learning resources on leadership, customer service, and remarkable performance can make an extraordinary difference in your work and life.