Cliff Sosamon is an Execution Under Pressure speaker, Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, writer, and host of Tailgate Chat. His work centers on one core challenge: helping leaders and teams execute in the moments where pressure, fear, uncertainty, and hesitation cause most people to stall.
After serving six years in the United States Marine Corps, including overseas assignments supporting diplomatic security operations, Cliff transitioned into leadership roles across business, nonprofit management, operations, and veteran advocacy. Over the last two decades, he has led organizations, built businesses, spoken to audiences ranging from leadership groups to conference stages, and worked directly with veterans navigating transition, identity, and purpose after service.
In 2014, Cliff received the Congressional Veteran Commendation Award from Congressman Sam Johnson in recognition of his leadership and service within the veteran community. Those experiences became the foundation of his speaking category: Execution Under Pressure.
Through his keynote presentations and Action Under Friction (A.U.F.) method, Cliff equips audiences with practical tools to move without perfect clarity, act despite fear and hesitation, and build consistency when pressure is at its highest. His message is grounded in real-world experience rather than theory and focuses on immediate application, accountability, and decisive action.
In addition to keynote speaking, Cliff is the creator and host of Tailgate Chat, a leadership and purpose-driven platform focused on conversations around pressure, consistency, identity, leadership, and execution. Through speaking engagements, media appearances, podcast interviews, and writing, Cliff continues helping audiences strengthen their ability to execute when it matters most.
Presentations
This is an example talk for Clifford Sosamon
Execution Under Pressure
When pressure rises, execution breaks down. Not because people lack talent, but because pressure changes how decisions are made. Teams hesitate, leaders second-guess themselves, communication breaks down, and opportunities are missed while everyone waits for more certainty, more information, or the perfect plan.
Execution Under Pressure helps leaders and teams make better decisions, take ownership, and continue executing when uncertainty, pressure, and adversity would normally cause hesitation. Drawing from experiences in the United States Marine Corps, business leadership, and high-stakes personal and professional transitions, Cliff Sosamon shares the principles and tools that allow people to keep moving forward when fear, doubt, and friction threaten to bring progress to a halt.
The need for this skill has never been greater. According to Gallup, only 20% of employees worldwide are engaged at work, and as much as 70% of team engagement is directly influenced by leadership. When leaders hesitate, teams hesitate. When uncertainty goes unmanaged, execution suffers. Rather than relying on motivation, this keynote equips audiences with a repeatable approach to making decisions, taking ownership, and acting with confidence even when conditions are less than ideal. Through the Action Under Friction method, attendees learn how to recognize pressure in real time, overcome hesitation, and build habits that create consistency, accountability, and resilient leadership.
What This Keynote Covers
- Understanding why capable leaders and teams hesitate when pressure, uncertainty, and adversity increase.
- Applying the Action Under Friction method to make decisions and take action without waiting for perfect conditions.
- Building a culture of ownership, accountability, and consistent execution that endures beyond moments of crisis.
Audience Takeaways
- A practical framework for reducing hesitation and making better decisions under pressure.
- Greater confidence leading through uncertainty, change, and high-stakes situations.
- Actionable tools that strengthen resilience, accountability, and consistent execution long after the event ends.