Dan Cockerell
Former Disney VP, Expert on Leadership & Service & Keynote Speaker
Known for his people-first leadership philosophy, Dan works with organisations to build stronger cultures, empower leaders and elevate customer experience. His presentations are authentic, engaging and packed with real-world lessons drawn from decades inside one of the world’s most iconic companies.
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Dan Cockerell knows how to create experiences that spark huge smiles, unbridled laughter and memories that last a lifetime. As the former Vice President of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Florida, he led the daily operations of the world’s largest theme park—overseeing 12,000 cast members and more than 20 million guests each year.
Across a 26-year Disney career, Dan rose through the ranks from parking cars and front-desk guest services to senior executive roles at three iconic parks: Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and, ultimately, Magic Kingdom. His leadership journey began in 1989 as part of the Walt Disney World College Program, continued through Disney’s Management Trainee Program, and took him to France to help open Disneyland Paris, where he gained hands-on experience in guest relations, operations, food & beverage and attractions.
Alongside his operational leadership, Dan spent 18 years as a keynote speaker with the world-renowned Disney Institute—delivering practical, people-first insights to clients including USAA, General Motors, the U.S. Department of State, Porsche A.G., Southern Methodist University, and United Airlines. In 2015 he appeared on the Sodexo Quality of Life Worldwide Conference panel moderated by Arianna Huffington.
In 2018, Dan launched his own consulting and speaking practice. Today, he travels the world helping organisations build stronger cultures, develop exceptional leaders and create experiences that truly matter. His presentations are authentic, engaging and rich with real-world lessons applicable across every sector.
Dan holds a B.A. in Political Science and Government from Boston University and an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. He has served on the board of Junior Achievement of Central Florida since 2004, including a term as Chairman.
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Culture is like the Weather
The weather is the environment that Mother Nature influences, and culture is the environment that leaders influence. If you want the best chance for success in your organization, focus on your culture. When your employees feel confident, respected, and valued, great things happen. Dan talks about how he approached influencing the culture of the Magic Kingdom, and the 12,000 Cast members he led.
Lead Yourself First
Before you can lead your people or your organization, you need to learn how to lead yourself. This is counter intuitive, but the reality is that in order to compete at the highest levels, you need to feel good, think clearly, and bring the energy that others will respond to. Dan shares his approach on how he prepared himself to effectively lead his Magic Kingdom team.
World Class Customer Service
What is the difference between very good and excellent? Your customers expect to get a “very good” experience every time when interacting with your product and your people. “Excellent” is the next level of service that will differentiate your organisation and insure your customers return, and recommend you to others. Dan will discuss what he has learned about the guest experience, and what it takes to create magic.
The Customer Does Not Come First
In order to create a sustained excellent experience for your customer, you first need to create a sustained excellent experience for your employees. Dan will talk about the value chain, and how putting your leadership focus on your employees will lead to great service and positive business results.
