Keynote speaker (45–60 min), event MC/host, facilitator, panelist.
Corporate leaders, Sales Teams, Executives, HR professionals, and teams seeking inspiration and actionable leadership strategies. 50 – 1, 000+
Average is comfortable, but comfort never changed the game. In this keynote, Clelland Kruger challenges audiences to break free from mediocrity and step into extraordinary by setting FIRE to average. Drawing from 30 years of leadership experience and a wealth of real-world stories, she introduces her F.I.R.E. model – Focus, Impact, Relationships, Energy – four deceptively simple words that, when lived with intent, can transform careers, teams, and lives.
This talk is both inspiring and practical, balancing storytelling with actionable tools that audiences can apply immediately. Expect laughter, reflection, and a spark to shift from “good enough” to truly great.
Takeaway Messages:
We are living through a turning point in history – one of the greatest seasons of disruption, uncertainty, and exponential change the world has ever seen. Technology is advancing at breathtaking speed, but in the chaos of constant transformation, our greatest advantage remains the human advantage. It’s our timeless human qualities – grit, empathy, creativity, and values that determine how we navigate disruption and thrive through change.
Clelland challenges audiences to anchor themselves in what makes us human, and to use that as a compass in uncertain times.
With her signature blend of warmth, storytelling, and practical insight, she equips leaders and teams not just to endure the age of AI, but to lead with clarity, purpose, and resilience.
Takeaway Messages:
Clelland Kruger brings more than three decades of experience in Human Capital and Learning & Development, with a proven track record of shaping organisational cultures that deliver results. Currently Head of Learning and Development at Metropolitan, she has worked across industries from hospitality to retail to financial services, and once managed a global HR portfolio stretching from New York to Dubai.
She has been invited to Harvard and has twice led companies to win the Deloitte Best Company to Work For award.
As a seasoned MC and keynote speaker, Clelland is known for bringing focus, clarity, and energy to the stage. Whether hosting a high-profile event or delivering content, she inspires action.
Away from work, she dabbles in photography, supports animal welfare causes, and her love of hiking has seen her complete the 13 Peaks mountain challenge across Table Mountain three times.
With more than 30 years of experience in Human Capital, Learning, and Leadership, Clelland Kruger knows what it takes to build teams that don’t just deliver, they outperform.
She’s led two companies to win Deloitte’s Best Company to Work For while heading up HR, and she currently leads Learning & Development at Metropolitan. Her signature keynote, Set FIRE to Average, is bold, energising, and refreshingly real. It inspires teams to rethink how they work, lead, and live, getting them to trade autopilot for intentional action.
Built around a deceptively simple framework: F.I.R.E. Each letter unlocks a critical element of exceptional performance. It’s about how we focus, how we create impact, how we build relationships, and how we manage our energy, so we don’t burn out while we burn bright.
In a world drowning in distractions, deadlines and dashboards, average can creep in unnoticed.
Until someone lights a match. That someone is Clelland Kruger.
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In this keynote, Clelland Kruger challenges audiences to stop settling for “good enough” and instead ignite their own FIRE. To move from ordinary to
extraordinary. From performance to high-performance. Drawing on over 30 years of leadership and human capital experience, she blends humour, storytelling, and practical insight into a message that is both inspiring and actionable.
At the heart of the talk is Clelland’s FIRE model : Focus, Impact, Relationships, and Energy. A simple yet powerful framework for becoming a super high performer. Through memorable stories and practical examples, she shows audiences how to:
“Set FIRE to Average” is more than motivation – it’s a call to action. Audiences leave not only inspired but equipped with a practical compass to
back themselves, raise their game, and set fire to the limitations of average.
00:01:00 – Traits of super high performers — they share common characteristics.
00:01:28 – Clear purpose gives them laser focus to achieve big goals.
00:02:31 – They build deep networks and relationships.
00:02:47 – They seem to achieve more with the same 24 hours.
00:03:30 – Introduction of the FIRE model: Focus, Impact, Relationships, Energy.
00:04:52 – Success does not follow a straight line.
00:05:38 – Life is short: the average life in weeks drives urgency
00:08:15 – Focus begins with purpose. 00:08:56 – Asking: What is your purpose?
00:09:02 – Clelland shares her purpose: “lighter of fires and igniter of flames.”
00:12:20 – The hidden thief of focus: distractions we face daily.
00:14:33 – Example: people spend 2.5 hours a day scrolling social media.
00:15:18 – Quiet time creates clarity and breakthrough moments.
00:16:48 – Focus is about choosing the right rabbits to chase.
00:17:17 – Impact doesn’t need to be massive or win awards.
00:17:34 – Clelland’s definition of impact: making the world better because you are here.
00:20:07 – Impact as a “performance- enhancing drug” — it energises without side effects.
00:20:16 – Real impact often happens behind the scenes, not in the spotlight.
00:22:36 – Relationships don’t live on a screen; they live in real connection.
00:23:00–27:00 – Stories about how authentic relationships build resilience and success.
00:27:00 – Relationships are the foundation for support, trust, and performance.
00:27:02 – Transition into Energy — the fuel behind everything.
00:27:50 – Common question: “Where do you get all your energy from?”
00:28:08 – Energy is easier to show up with when your body is healthy.
00:29:32 – Poor lifestyle choices drain energy, leaving us sluggish.
00:32:14 – Energy and mass — Einstein’s equation as a metaphor for potential.
00:33:50 – Energy is also about brand — what you project into the world.
00:38:04 – “Your energy speaks before you do.”
00:38:23 – Recap of the FIRE model: Focus, Impact, Relationships, Energy.
00:39:00 – Final challenge: don’t settle for average — Set FIRE to Average.
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
Virtual speaking appearances can indeed offer cost savings compared to in-person events. Virtual speaking rates are often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates due to factors such as reduced travel expenses and logistics. This makes virtual events a cost-effective alternative for organizations looking to book speakers within a budget.
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
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