General Rick Hillier

Former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces & Bestselling Leadership Author

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General Rick Hillier Biography

Rick Hillier is a retired Canadian army officer who served as the chief of the defense staff (CDS), the top-ranking officer in the Canadian military, from 2005 to 2008.

Hillier joined the army through the Regular Officer Training Plan in 1973 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1975. He first gained widespread public recognition in January 1998 when he took charge of Operation Recuperation. This effort involved more than 15,000 military personnel assigned to help New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec recover from a devastating ice storm that had destroyed infrastructure and killed 25 civilians. As an exchange officer, in July 1998 he was appointed the first-ever Canadian deputy commander of the U.S. Army’s III Corps and Fort Hood; he was promoted to major general in March 1999. In 2000 he commanded the NATO Stabilization Force’s Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a lieutenant general, Hillier became commander of the Canadian army in May 2003, and in February 2004 he was given a six-month assignment to lead NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He was promoted to full general and assumed his duties as CDS in February 2005.

Credited with restoring the domestic reputation of Canada’s armed forces, Hillier consistently emphasized the strategic importance of ground troops and openly criticized people who were inclined to think of the Canadian military as nothing more than a peacekeeping force. He retired as CDS in July 2008. Hillier’s honors included Commander of the Order of Military Merit, the Meritorious Service Cross, the Canadian Forces’ Decoration, and the U.S. Legion of Merit.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/01/2024.

General Rick Hillier Speaking Topics

  • Leadership in Tough Times

    With much opportunity on the horizon, many of us are called on to take on leadership roles or strengthen existing leadership skills & teams. Despite what many used to believe, leadership is not a “top-down” concept. It is cultivated with humility and discipline and merges the passion of the heart with the ability of the mind.

    A proven leader, General Hillier has held the role of Chief of the Defence Staff, been called on to lead the distribution task force for vaccines in Ontario, and is currently the Chair of the Ukrainian World Congress’ Strategic Advisory Council. Based on his years of experience, Hillier teaches audiences that leadership is all about people—embracing those you are in charge of and winning over those you need to work with—not about risk aversion or management fads.

    Whether on the front lines of a business or in any situation that requires strong communication and vision, this presentation will prepare leaders to go with their gut and make the tough decisions look easy.

    Key Takeaways from this presentation include:

    • How to accept failure and remain perpetually optimistic
    • How to act out of moral courage
    • How to take advantage of crisis and act

  • Global Affairs & Unfolding Events

    Watching global events unfold and wondering how they might impact your organization? General Hillier is here to help your audience understand current geopolitical challenges and unpack events from around the globe. As Chair of the Ukrainian World Congress’ Strategic Advisory Council and with his experience as the former Chief of Defence, Hillier has extensive experience navigating current global affairs from a leadership perspective.

    Key Takeaways:

    • The implications of current events on your organization
    • Strategies and tactics to help you lead through extraordinary times

  • 50 Points of Wisdom For Today's Leaders

    General Rick Hillier’s views on leadership evolved over his three decades as a soldier. Early in his career he watched as many of his superiors made bad decisions. Later he learned at the school of hard knocks as the head of emergency rescue operations in Canada and international task forces in eastern Europe and Afghanistan. Based on his best-selling book, Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom For Today’s Leaders, Hillier gives audiences a frank, straightforward, and often humorous look at leadership.

    For Hillier, leadership is all about people—embracing those you are in charge of and winning over those you need to work with—not about risk aversion or management fads. Leaders think long and have a plan. Their actions speak, not their words, and they make their own luck. But leaders also act out of moral courage, take advantage of crises, accept failure and remain perpetually optimistic. Whether on the front lines of a business or in any situation that requires strong communication and vision, leaders go with their gut and make the tough decisions look easy.

General Rick Hillier Videos

  • Former Canadian military commander wants no-fly zone over Ukraine
    Retired General Rick Hillier, former commander of the Canadian military, calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine: 'We have the colours of Ukraine on the...
  • Ask an Expert: Effective Leadership with General Rick Hillier
    Hear Canada's former top soldier General Rick Hillier talk about what leadership means to him. He compares the impacts of risk management against...

General Rick Hillier Books

  • Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom for Today's Leaders
    Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom for Today's Leaders
  • By Rick Hillier: A Soldier First First (1st) Edition
    By Rick Hillier: A Soldier First First (1st) Edition

Speaker Lists Featuring General Rick Hillier

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  • What topics does General Rick Hillier speak about?

    General Rick Hillier is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Inspirational, Leadership, Military, Motivational, Personal Growth, Storytelling, World Affairs.
  • Where does General Rick Hillier travel from?

    General Rick Hillier generally travels from Canada, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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General Rick Hillier is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Leadership in Tough Times, Global Affairs & Unfolding Events and 50 Points of Wisdom For Today's Leaders. The estimated speaking fee range to book General Rick Hillier for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. General Rick Hillier generally travels from Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Rye Barcott, John Wood, Ian Bremmer, Sir Richard Branson and Larry Brudnicki. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling General Rick Hillier for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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