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 resist an unethical request from a leader. Drawing upon his experience in the structural steel industry, he also provides valuable guidance related to welding engineering and quality management systems. Kyle volunteers as an academic editor and reviewer, a committee member for professional ethics and accreditation, and an exam developer.

Kyle has a PhD in human capital management, a master's degree in adult education, and is currently completing an MBA and master's in philosophy dual degree program. 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 visiting the city's outstanding parks and museums, riding the "L" to see a show in the Loop, or cheering on the Chicago Sky and other women's basketball teams at UIC and DePaul.

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

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