Joel Manby

Drawing on his 25+ years of experience as CEO of major corporations in multiple industries, Joel Manby assists CEOs and boards in transforming their organization’s business performance and culture through a set of proven processes and tools.

Previously, Manby was the President, CEO, and Director of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. He stepped in when SeaWorld was mired in a brand crisis which caused sales and profits to plummet. Manby reset SeaWorld’s vision and guest experience, turning around sales and cash flow while improving the culture, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction scores. He has also led significant transformations as the CEO of Herschend Family Enterprises, globally recognized for operating entities like Dollywood Parks and Resorts. During his leadership, he achieved remarkable business successes, such as recording the best sales result in Saab USA's 50+ year history when he served as CEO.

Manby authored "Love Works. Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders," detailing how to integrate love, the verb, into the leadership ethos and philosophy of any organization. "Love Works" has sold over 100,000 copies, emphasizing a leadership style centered around being patient, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, and dedicated. Currently, Manby continues to mentor, consult, and speak on leadership lessons drawn from his extensive career. He resides in Naples, Florida, and has been an active member of the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army for over a decade.