Speaker

Michael Puck

Michael Puck

Stop Managing Symptoms - Start Designing Outcomes

Kingsport, Tennessee, United States

Actions

Michael Puck turns workplace challenges into competitive advantages by helping organizations unlock the full potential of their people. Known for uncovering insights others overlook, his innovative approach has earned him 13 HR Innovation Awards and a reputation as a catalyst for transforming HR from a cost center into a true business driver.

With three decades of global HR leadership, Michael brings a rare combination of international experience, business acumen, and deep understanding of human behavior. Today, he is the President of Next Level Human Insights, where he partners with organizations, HR teams, and leaders to unlock human potential using his proprietary D.O.G. Impact Method — a practical, trust-centered approach that drives sustainable performance, reduces firefighting, and solves problems at the root.

A graduate of the German Air Force Academy, Michael combines military discipline with academic rigor. He holds degrees in business and economics from VWA in Essen, Germany, along with the SHRM-SCP designation.

As a two-time TEDx speaker and published author, Michael has delivered hundreds of high-impact keynotes and executive workshops, consistently earning top audience ratings while equipping leaders with actionable strategies they can apply immediately.

When he isn’t helping organizations perform at the next level, Michael channels his creativity into dog photography that raises funds for animal welfare — reflecting the same authenticity, trust, and purpose that define his work.

Area of Expertise

  • Business & Management
  • Manufacturing & Industrial Materials
  • Transports & Logistics

Topics

  • Human Insights
  • Human Enablement
  • Trust
  • Catalytic AI
  • Root Cause Thinking
  • HR Strategy
  • Strategic HR

What My Dog Taught Me About Solving HR Challenges

Are you exhausted by workforce shortages, AI-driven change, and constant fire drills that keep you running on empty while the most critical work gets sidelined? You’re not alone. HR leaders everywhere are stretched thin, stuck in reactive mode, and frustrated by how little time is left for being a strategic partner to the business.

This session flips that script. Discover how to break free from the cycle of endless triage and reclaim 10+ hours weekly for the work that truly matters. Drawing from the experience of how his childhood dog saved his life, Michael reveals how the power of trust—something dogs understand instinctively—translates into results-driven business strategies. With the Distinguish-Optimize-Gain (D.O.G.) Blueprint, you’ll learn how to:

• Distinguish root causes from surface-level symptoms
• Optimize employee trust to end the fractured employer–employee dynamic
• Gain fresh, research-based insights into what today’s employees really want

Through storytelling, vivid analogies, a mindset shift, and even pictures of dogs, Michael makes learning these insights fun, easy, and memorable—ensuring the strategies stick long after the session ends. You’ll leave with a practical blueprint to reposition HR from cost center mentality to strategic business driver.

Please check out my most recent audience feedback for this session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sSiwIA1JLkzSG7O5zVASoHrvnWeFVd_Z/view?usp=sharing

Michael Puck

Stop Managing Symptoms - Start Designing Outcomes

Kingsport, Tennessee, United States

Actions

Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers. If you suspect this profile to be fake or spam, please let us know.

Jump to top