Kyle Payne, PhD

Kyle is a professional speaker, coach, facilitator, and consultant. He develops leaders through engaging and highly-interactive workshops and has established a strong reputation for fostering a safe and productive learning environment for participants. He has published groundbreaking research on the phenomenon of ethical followership, providing tools to help workers constructively resist an unethical request from a leader.

Kyle has a PhD in human capital management and master’s degrees in philosophy, education, and business. He’s very curious about how people think, how we learn, and how we do business. He lives in Chicago with his partner Sid and their two cats Queso and Fundido. Outside of work, you’re most likely to find him cheering on Chicago, UIC, and DePaul women’s basketball teams, visiting the city’s outstanding parks and museums, or otherwise exploring the rich history and culture of Chicago.

Below is a commencement speech delivered by Kyle at Bellevue University (2023) and a TED Talk at Lewis University (2025).​​​​​

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