Michael Bergdahl

Michael Bergdahl is an internationally recognised business speaker, bestselling author and turnaround specialist, renowned for his first-hand insight into Walmart and the leadership philosophy of its founder, Sam Walton. With more than 25 years’ experience in human resources and organisational leadership, Michael has worked at the highest levels of some of the world’s most influential companies.

Michael spent several years at Walmart’s global headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, serving as Director of People, where he worked directly with Sam Walton — who famously gave him the nickname “Bird Dawg”. Prior to Walmart, Michael built his commercial expertise with PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Division, working across sales and corporate roles within the FMCG sector.

As a turnaround specialist, Michael played key leadership roles in two major corporate transformations, serving as Vice President of Human Resources at both American Eagle Outfitters and Waste Management. He holds lifetime Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from SHRM and is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Behavioural Science.

Considered a global authority on Walmart’s best practices and Sam Walton’s leadership principles, Michael is a regular media commentator and has appeared on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV and other international networks. His commentary and writing have been published in business media around the world, including Progressive Grocer, Hardware Retailer Magazine, and industry publications across Asia and Europe. He also moderates two influential LinkedIn leadership communities with more than 10,000 global members.

Michael is the author of three internationally published books: What I Learned from Sam Walton, The 10 Rules of Sam Walton — featuring a foreword by Rob Walton — and The Sam Walton Way. His books have been translated into multiple languages and distributed worldwide by John Wiley & Sons.

As a professional speaker, Michael has delivered keynote presentations across six continents, addressing audiences throughout Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America. His presentations combine real-world leadership lessons, practical strategy and engaging storytelling drawn from his unique experience at the heart of the world’s largest company.