“Own Your Journey!”

Recently recognized as a top 200 content creator worldwide!

A digital graphic of Herbie Thompson, a veteran advocate and leadership mentor, ranked 67th on a May 1, 2026, list. The graphic features his photo, a smiling man with long hair and a beard, with American flags and numerical stats indicating his influence, including a score of 80.0 and rankings in various categories.

Trusted By

Row of logos including United States Army Special Operations Command, INC, Cornerstone Building Brands, Joint Special Operations Command, Brown University, and an 'i' icon with a blue background.
Row of six podcast logos on a white background, including Urban Valor, Princeton, Akamai, Security Halt, Prime Therapeutics, and Fixed Right & Guaranteed.
Logos of various media and organization brands including TODAY, W, Amazon Best Seller, Big Media, Novartis, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A man with a beard smiling, wearing a white blazer, dark shirt, gray pants, and American flag themed slippers.

Meet Herb Thompson

Herb Thompson is an authentic influencer and trusted voice known for inspiring audiences with insight, experience, and authenticity. A retired Special Forces Team Sergeant and award-winning author of The Transition Mission, Herb is the only person in U.S. Army history to earn both the Drill Sergeant of the Year award (2008) and the Green Beret.

After his military career, Herb earned an MBA from Cornell University and held leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies, bringing the same discipline, strategy, and people first mindset to the corporate world. He and his wife, Corrie, are the co-founders of Liberty Speaks and co-host the Not Special Show, sharing stories that motivate, educate, and empower. They live on their slice of heaven in the woods near Washington, DC.

Signature Keynotes and Programs

  • In a powerful and inspiring talk, Herb shares his extraordinary journey from overcoming poverty and trauma to achieving historic military honors, earning an Ivy League MBA, and finding true purpose beyond success. Leaving audiences motivated to own their journey, wherever they are in life or career.

    Audience Takeaways

    • Stronger ownership of individual performance and career direction

    • Practical perspective on navigating change and challenge

    • Clear connection between personal values and organizational impact

    • Increased confidence to take initiative and execute effectively

    Delivery Format

    • 45–60 minute motivational keynote

    • Optional moderated Q&A

    • Appropriate for company-wide events, leadership conferences

    Ideal For

    • Annual Meetings 

    • Sales Kickoffs 

    • Mental Health & Wellness Employee Initiatives

    • Employee Engagement Events

    • Leadership Offsite

    Speaking Topics

    • Motivation & Inspiration 

    • Change Management & Adaptability

    • Leadership Development 

    • Decision Making Under Pressure 

    • Culture & Values in Action 

    • Teamwork & Collaboration 

    • Belonging, Identity & Meaning

  • A high-energy, motivational speech that empowers audiences to discover their deeper purpose. Not by chasing the perfect job, but by aligning personal growth with professional ambition. Herb shows how your career can be a meaningful piece of your life, and when you pursue purpose both inside and outside of work, you don't just succeed you thrive in every area.

    Audience Takeaways

    • Clarity on aligning personal growth with professional ambition

    • A practical approach to defining purpose beyond job titles

    • Increased engagement by connecting work to what matters most

    • Motivation to pursue meaningful success inside and outside of work

    Delivery Format

    • 45–60 minute motivational keynote

    • Optional moderated Q&A

    • Appropriate for company-wide events, leadership conferences, and wellbeing initiatives

    Ideal For:

    • Mental Health & Wellness Employee Initiatives

    • Employee Engagement Events

    • Leadership Offsite

    • Organizations Strengthening Cultures 

    • Team Building

    Speaking Topics

    • Motivation & Inspiration 

    • Leadership Development 

    • Belonging, Identity & Meaning 

    • Culture & Values in Action

    • Teamwork & Collaboration 

  • Organizations depend on individuals contributing in ways that strengthen collaboration and drive company-wide performance, yet as they grow, alignment often breaks down and outcomes become disconnected. 

    Drawing from real-world experience building high-performing teams with limited resources, Herb shows participants how to take personal ownership, align around shared goals, collaborate effectively under constraints, and execute measurable strategies that create cohesion at scale across the organization.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Enable employees to understand the common goal 

    • Build collaborative teams, globally 

    • How to strategize towards achieving your goals 

    • How to measure sucess

    Core Workshop Modules

    • Alignment Starts With You

    • Defining the Common Goal

    • Collaboration Under Constraints

    • Strategy That Moves the Team Forward

    • Measuring What Matters

    • Sustaining Cohesion at Scale

    Delivery Format

    • 90-minute or half-day interactive workshop

    • Includes facilitated discussion, reflection exercises, and applied scenarios

    • Scalable for leaders, managers, or cross-functional teams

    Ideal For

    • Mid-level and frontline leaders driving strategy into daily execution

    • Cross-functional teams spanning departments, regions, or time zones

    • Organizations in growth, change, or restructuring needing alignment

    • Teams with limited resources delivering consistent outcomes

    • Managers and contributors influencing results without direct authority

    • Companies aiming to link individual performance with team success

    Speaking Topics

    • Leadership & Decision-Making 

    • Culture, Values & Belonging

    • Communication, Conflict & Influence  

    • Change, Adaptability & Performance

    • Teamwork & Collaboration

Click to Book Herb Thompson

Client Testimonials

Tommy Kile

"I have been following Herb on LinkedIn for years as he is a constant source of wisdom on veterans' issues particularly around the transition stage. We partnered with Herb and Liberty Speaks to meet with our Military Veterans' Employee Resource Group. Herb was well prepared and led a heartfelt discussion on owning one's journey and how that leads to better outcomes in business and life. The feedback from the team was off the charts and I received several comments on Herb's vulnerability, ability to connect to our members and the impact he had on everyone attending. I give Liberty Speaks and Herb my highest recommendation and will be reaching out to them again." Tommy Kile

"Herb truly made a great impact on our entire team. From the stories, to the games/exercises, to the genuine openness and humility there wasn't one team member who wasn't appreciative of the professional development event. Herb will definitely be great coaches and Mentors to any team who wants to get and be better. We will absolutely be inviting him back for future events!" -  Roy White Business Owner

Roy White

"Herb Thompson promoted our event and we got more viewers/attendees than we expected Love Liberty Speaks overall!" Executive Director, Kim Rulli 

Kim Rulli

Moments from the Journey!


A man with long hair and a beard sitting on a stool in a photography or video studio. He is smiling and wearing a hoodie and dark pants. Behind him is a yellow studio light, and a large black backdrop hangs on the left. A camera is on a tripod on the
Three people, two men and one woman, standing together smiling in front of a blue wall with medals and banners hanging on it.
Three smiling people, two men and a woman, standing together indoors near a large window with a cityscape view in the background.
Group of six people posing together at a formal event in a banquet hall with green-lit trees, a chandelier, and a decorated ceiling.
Four people posing together in front of a backdrop with media logos at an event, with three men and one woman all smiling and dressed in business or cocktail attire.
A man with a long gray beard and mustache holding a large dog-shaped sign that says "protected" in blue 3D letters, standing in a room with a wooden wall backdrop and beige curtains, with a beige sofa and a chair in the background.
A group of six people standing together in a warmly lit room, smiling for a photo. The group includes five men and one woman, dressed in smart casual attire, with one man wearing a white cap. The background features elegant decor, including a chandel
Two men are sitting at an outdoor table, engaging in conversation. The man on the left is wearing sunglasses, a black cap, and has a long gray beard. He has tattoos on his arm and is holding a black and white dog on his lap. The man on the right, who
A man with a long gray beard and a woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair are sitting together on armchairs, engaging in conversation. They are in a cozy room with wooden walls, a large green plant, and microphones set up in front of them, sugges
Five men standing together and smiling at an event with a backdrop that has logos for the Gary Sinise Foundation, QTS, and Robert Irvine Foundation. They are dressed in formal and casual attire.
Group of eight people posing indoors in front of a step and repeat banner with logos for the Robert Irvine Foundation and Gary Sinise Foundation.
A man and woman stand together in front of a backdrop with a logo and the text "The Heroes Journey." The man has long gray hair and a beard, and he is wearing a gray blazer, brown pants, and patriotic shoes with the American flag. The woman has shoul
Four people standing together in a living room decorated for Christmas with stockings and ornaments, smiling at the camera.
A group of five people dressed in formal attire posing together at a banquet or formal event in a decorated ballroom, with tables, wine glasses, and large green trees in the background.
A group of people talking and smiling at an indoor event, with chairs arranged in the background and a blue-lit wall.
Two men standing outdoors at sunset, smiling at the camera. One has a beard and is wearing a hat and dark clothing; the other has a beard and is wearing a black shirt and jeans. There are trees and a car in the background.
Two men are having a conversation inside a bright living room with large windows showing a scenic view of green hills and sky. One man has long gray hair and a beard, wearing a black t-shirt and tattooed arms. The other man has short dark hair, tatto
A group of three people in a workshop, two women and one man. The man in the foreground with a beard and hat is smiling and pointing at a metallic artwork of a lion's face on a workbench. The woman with brown hair, next to him, is smiling. The third
Two men are seated on stage at a panel or event. One man has long gray hair and a beard, wearing a black suit, and the other bald, wearing glasses and a dark blazer. They are smiling and appear engaged in conversation. There are large screens behind
A man with long gray hair and a beard is standing on a stage in a conference room. Behind him, there are chairs, plants, and a large screen displaying a slide titled "Stories" with text and a photo of three people sitting in a room. The environment i
A man and woman standing together in a room with theater seating, smiling for the camera. The man is wearing a baseball cap, T-shirt, and khaki pants. The woman is wearing a black dress and black boots.
Three people standing inside a building with display signs and a colorful patterned carpet area behind them. The person on the left is a man with a long, gray beard wearing a dark blazer, a black shirt, gray pants, and USA-themed shoes. The person in
Two men in suits are smiling and shaking hands. One man has long gray hair and a beard, the other has short gray hair. They are at an event with a backdrop that has text including 'BIG', 'MEDIA', and 'COLE'. A woman with dark hair tied back is in the
Three men in suits smiling and standing together in front of a backdrop with the logos of Comedy Central, Big USA, Daily Wire, and more.
Group of men smiling and posing together inside a building with a sign that reads 'NAVY' above them.
Three people standing together at a social event, indoors with green lighting, a large tree, and chandelier decorations. The group includes a woman in a red dress, a young man with a black hat and burgundy shirt, and a man with a gray beard in a dark
Two men smiling and posing for a photo in an elegant, well-lit room with a chandelier, white railings, and people in the background. One man has a long beard and is holding a drink. The other man is wearing a white shirt, black apron, and polka-dot s
Two smiling men, one with glasses and gray hair, the other with long gray beard, close together, in a warmly lit room with green foliage decoration in the background.
A man with a gray beard and a woman with shoulder-length brown hair standing together on a balcony with a view of greenery and parking lot, both smiling, dressed in semi-formal attire, with the man wearing patriotic shoes and the woman in a red dress
Three men standing and talking in a room with a sign on the wall that says "Trustar Bank." One man with long curly blonde hair and beard wearing a red shirt, another man with short dark hair and beard wearing a white shirt, and a third man with a sha
A man with a gray beard and long hair smiling in front of a stadium baseball field, with a woman with long brown hair smiling beside him.
Four people sitting on chairs in a room with wooden and fabric wall decor, microphones in front of them, a dog lying on the carpet, and a large framed document on the wall.
Two men standing indoors with their arms around each other, smiling at the camera. The man on the left is wearing a black t-shirt and beige pants, and the man on the right is wearing a dark t-shirt and dark pants, with comic-style sneakers. The backg
Two people smiling at the camera in a crowded indoor event, with a woman wearing a beige jacket and a man with a gray beard in the foreground.
Four people standing outdoors under large umbrellas, smiling for the camera, with waterfront and houses in the background.
Five men standing together on stage with their arms around each other, smiling. Behind them is a fitment with an American flag design, a pineapple logo, and the letters "LY". One man on the far right holds a book.
Two men standing in front of American and military flags, smiling, in a wood-paneled room. The man on the left wears a gray suit, glasses, and a blue tie. The man on the right has a long beard, gray hair, gray suit, and distinctive American flag-them
A man with a long beard and long hair, sitting on a chair in a room with a blue carpet with yellow flower patterns. He is wearing a light gray blazer, beige pants, and American flag-themed sneakers. He is smiling, with a handshake pose, and there is
A smiling man with a beard, wearing sunglasses, a light blue blazer, and khaki pants, stands next to a woman in a patterned blouse and white skirt. She is laughing, with one leg raised and her foot resting on a ledge, wearing nude high heels. They ar
Three people standing in front of a promotional backdrop with logos, smiling at the camera. The man on the left has long hair and a beard, wearing a light blue blazer and khaki pants. The man in the middle has short hair, wearing a dark jacket and a
Four friends smiling and taking a group selfie in a dimly lit environment, possibly a bar or club, wearing casual attire including a baseball cap and a backward cap.
People enjoying a football game at a stadium, with two individuals dressed in holiday costumes, one in a Santa Claus outfit and the other in a white coat, posing for a photo at a stadium entrance or balcony with a football field visible in the backgr
Three men in suits and uniforms standing under a memorial arch with the inscription "PROTECTOR FIRST-WARRIOR ALWAYS." Flags on either side of the arch.
Two men participating in a formal handover or signing ceremony, holding an orange flag with Arabic and Afghan national symbols. One man has long, curly gray hair and a beard, wearing a baseball cap and a gray shirt. The other man, with short dark hai
Three people posing for a photo at a formal event. The man on the left has a long beard, wearing a gray blazer, green pants, and polka dot sneakers. The man in the middle, wearing glasses, a blue plaid blazer with medals, and black shoes. The woman o
A stage with a large screen displaying the word 'TRIBAL' and 'PIR ENTERTAINMENT' logo. There are six people sitting on chairs on stage and one person standing and speaking into a microphone. The stage is lit with blue lighting and has a red curtain a
A man with long hair, a beard, wearing a light blue plaid blazer and gray pants, speaking at a conference or presentation in a room with a projector screen displaying "Profile Tips" and a black speaker on a stand.
Group of people, including military personnel and civilians, standing on a stage in front of a large screen with the text "What questions do you have?" and "Please connect with us."
Close-up of two smiling women and one smiling man in the foreground, with three men in the background, all indoors against a plain white wall.
Two men smiling on a football field with stadium seating in the background. One is wearing a hat with a logo, and the other is dressed in a suit with a tie. The stadium seats are mostly empty.
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