About

Testimonials

I think that Chris is an excellent speaker. I really enjoyed listening to Chris and the fact he was in person/very interactive. His perspective on what it means to go outside your comfort zone and against the crowd was refreshing and empowering to hear. I also thought that he taught valuable lessons to finding the "why" behind goals and decisions. I am looking forward to reading his book.

Love Chris Burkhard. I enjoyed his session very much and was much anticipated for the group, Chris is a presence we need at [our retreat] to reflect on life goals, outside of [our industry].

Very humble and very wise person who showed me some new ways to evaluate my station in life and how to be grateful more.

LOVED this presentation. Incredibly insightful and thoughtful and helpful. I liked that we could tie what he taught us into the business, but there was also a huge personal benefit too!

Great session! I love talking about our mission and core values as a person and how this translates to our professional area, especially for a marketing agency. our industry is very fast-paced; it was nice to stop and refocus.

I am a fourth-generation entrepreneur who has been driving change in business for 30 years. As an award-winning servant leader, I firmly believe that organizations and leaders must give back to the communities they serve.

I’ve been fortunate to contribute to tremendous organizations, including Junior Achievement of Delaware, where I first participated as a young aspiring entrepreneur. Over the years, I’ve remained deeply involved as a coach, judge, donor, Board Member, and Chair Emeritus.

My commitment to fostering entrepreneurship extends to area incubators such as the New Castle County Chamber’s Emerging Enterprise Center, where I was a founding member, and the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program, where I serve as a volunteer, judge, and advisor to student businesses.

Beyond business, I am a Fellow Member of the Christiana and Wilmington Rotary Clubs and have been actively involved in state and local Chambers of Commerce, contributing to employee relations, small business initiatives, and board leadership. Additionally, I have served on the boards of private companies and non-profit organizations.

On the professional side, I have played an active role in staffing and human resources industry groups at both the leadership and board levels.

In the workplace, I strive to foster a culture where employees feel empowered to be themselves and take risks. I believe in trailblazing through thought leadership and innovation.

A Commitment to Culture & Leadership

As a result:

Inc. 5000 Recognition: Our companies have been recognized on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America list 10 times.
Delaware Small Business Person of the Year: Honored as Delaware’s Small Business Person of the Year (2020) by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Top Workplace Award: Placers earned a Top 5 ranking in Top Places to Work in Delaware (2022).
Scaling Up Coach Success: As a Scaling Up Coach, I have helped develop five companies that made the Inc. 5000 list.

My Passion for Sharing Insights

While my years in business have been incredibly rewarding, my true passion lies in the creative nature of sharing knowledge. Through Outside Insights, I engage as an author, blogger, and speaker, offering perspectives on workforce realities, leadership, business strategy, company culture, and life.

I believe in helping others grow—whether it’s through business coaching, thought leadership, or community involvement. Let’s connect and build something great together.

“Most of these guys are longtime friends and we backpack a few times a year including the Rainier trip, We call ourselves the Misfits. Misfits is a famous name for adventurers as the founders of Patagonia, North Face and Royal Robbins call themselves the Misfits too!”

Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, industry conference, or media segment, Chris delivers compelling insights and actionable takeaways that leave a lasting impact.