Alan O’Neill – Four Must-Have Values to Supercharge Your Organisation
Every organisation has a culture. The only question is whether it has been created by design or by accident. When culture is left to evolve on its own, businesses often end up with inconsistency, conflict and missed opportunities.
That’s why keynote speaker Alan O’Neill, known internationally as The Change Agent, believes culture isn’t a “soft” issue – it’s the foundation of performance. With over 30 years of experience advising brands such as Harrods, Fenwick, Landbell Group and Emirates, Alan has helped organisations transform from the inside out.
In his latest book Culture Matters, he explains how culture shapes everything from strategy to customer service, and why defining your values is the most powerful way to align people and performance.
Who is Alan O’Neill?
Alan O’Neill is a business consultant, author and keynote speaker who specialises in change management and organisational culture. He has worked across sectors – from retail to finance and hospitality – helping leaders create cultures that drive results.
He is best known for his work with Harrods, where he helped transform the iconic store’s culture to improve customer service and profitability. Today, he advises multinational companies and family businesses alike on how to get culture working for them, not against them.
On stage, Alan is energetic, practical and inspiring. He uses real-world case studies, storytelling, and a touch of humour to show leaders that culture isn’t abstract – it’s measurable, actionable, and a serious competitive advantage.
We love working with Alan at The Speakers Agency as he is so amenable to clients. He offers a no obligation exploratory call (sometimes even multiple) to discuss with the client how he could contribute to an event. He is so hardworking and genuinely cares about a client’s brief. We thoroughly recommend him as a keynote speaker.
What does Alan O’Neill speak about?
Alan’s keynote speeches focus on helping organisations adapt and grow. His themes include:
- Organisational culture – creating values that stick
- Change management – leading with clarity and confidence
- Customer experience – building service cultures that delight
- Leadership and accountability – empowering people to own results
Whether he’s speaking to a leadership team, a sales force, or an all-hands conference, Alan equips audiences with practical frameworks to take back to their businesses.
What are Alan O’Neill’s four must-have values?
In his book and talks, Alan outlines four values that every organisation should prioritise if they want to supercharge performance.
1. Customer-centricity
Customer experience has become the new battleground. Competing on price or location alone is no longer enough. Alan challenges organisations to put the customer at the heart of everything they do – because customer-centricity drives loyalty and long-term growth.
2. Respect
Respect is the foundation of strong teams and positive workplaces. Employees don’t want gimmicks; they want leaders who genuinely respect them. As Alan says, beanbags and free beer mean little if leaders don’t show consideration and care.
3. Accountability
Great cultures are built on ownership. Alan reminds leaders that accountability is a two-way street: organisations must support their people, and individuals must step up, deliver and own their responsibilities.
4. Agility
The pace of change is faster than ever. Agility – the ability to adapt quickly, innovate, and ban the phrase “this is how we’ve always done it” – is what separates thriving companies from those left behind.
Why is culture more important than strategy?
Alan argues that culture is the golden thread that runs through every business initiative. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if your culture doesn’t support it, you’ll struggle to deliver results.
By designing culture proactively – with values like customer-centricity, respect, accountability and agility – leaders can ensure that people, processes and strategy all pull in the same direction.
Key takeaway
Culture isn’t an add-on. It’s the beating heart of every organisation. Alan O’Neill shows leaders how to define values that inspire people, build trust, and drive results.
To book Alan O’Neill for your next event, contact The Speakers Agency.
