For HR, leadership, and finance partners
Breaking Down the Numbers: The Cost of the Closet
The financial case for inclusion, in numbers that hold up under scrutiny.
The cost of not being inclusive rarely appears as a single line on a budget. It hides in disengagement scores, voluntary turnover, the price of replacing the people who left quietly, and in the ideas that never got said because someone did not feel safe enough to say them. This keynote makes all of it legible. Dig into the business case with my book Alphabet Soup.
If you’d like to build on this topic beyond the keynote, you can learn more about how I work with organizations on consulting engagements.
Trailer
See it in ninety seconds
Trailer
A short trailer for this talk lands here. Speaking feedback and a longer sample appear below.
Overview
What the closet costs the organization, put plainly
Most organizations have a gut feeling that exclusion is expensive. This keynote replaces the gut feeling with the actual number. Disengagement. Voluntary turnover. Replacement cost. The speed at which innovation stalls when people cannot bring themselves fully to work. It adds up to billions of dollars a year, and this session makes that clear.
I walk through the research with care: what the cost of the closet actually is, where it shows up in the business, and how it’s costing employers billions of dollars every year.
This is the talk for leaders who need the financial case to defend the human one, and for the HR partners who already know the cost is real but have not found the language to put it on paper.
What clients say
From the organizations that booked this talk
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It was our great pleasure to work with Michael Bach during our Pride Month 2022 lineup! Michael joined us in person and virtually to an audience of over 200 attendees and shared the importance of creating safe environments that are diverse, inclusive and welcoming to everyone. Michael’s keynote was delivered with clarity and humour, it was an absolute pleasure to learn from him.
Jacques Webster President, Business & Industry Compass Group Canada
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Working with Michael was a fantastic experience. He brought a deep wealth of knowledge, delivered with warmth, and impact. From the start, he was collaborative and open to tailoring his message to align with what we wanted to share with our audience. The end result was a session that truly resonated with our team. I’d recommend Michael to any organization looking to engage meaningfully on topics of inclusion and equity. Michael was an engaging speaker who brought both clarity and passion to a complex topic. His message resonated with the audience, sparking meaningful reflection on the importance and urgency of true inclusion. A powerful and thought-provoking session!
Marco Folino Senior Manager, Sustainable Investing BentallGreenOak
Verified attendee feedback
What the rooms said
Combined, response-weighted scores from every delivery of this keynote, collected independently through Talkadot.
- 99%Engaging
- 98%Inspiring
- 98%Memorable
- 98%Relevant
- Michael was an amazing, engaging, entertaining speaker, but most of all, he was educational! He just made the list of my all time favorite Canadians! Attendee
- Michael is hilarious and informative. A lot of public speakers aren't very engaging or entertaining, but Michael was making jokes and keeping the session entertaining, while incredibly informative Attendee
- Super informative. I love that you spoke about the monetary case study aspects. Truly helpful! Thank you for delivering your presentation in such an engaging way. You definitely deserve an Oscar. Your video was stellar! Attendee
Ten-minute speaking sample
Watch a longer sample
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Frequently asked
Quick answers before you reach out
How long is this keynote?
Sixty minutes is the standard, and it is adjustable in either direction. Tell me the slot and I will make it work.
Can it be delivered virtually?
Yes. The structure and the audience interaction are the same in both formats. Virtual delivery works on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or whatever platform your team is already using.
Who is this talk for?
Built for HR, finance partners, leadership teams, and boards. It also lands well with broader leadership audiences and anyone who needs the business case in language they can use.
Can the content be customized for our audience?
Yes. Every booking starts with a prep call to tailor the examples, language, and case studies to your sector, your audience, and the moment your organization is in. Customization is part of the speaking fee, not an add-on.
How do we book Michael for this talk?
Send a note through the contact page with your event date, audience, format, and budget range. You will hear back within two business days with availability, a fee, and a short note on fit.
Bring me to your stage
Tell me about the event, the audience, and what you want people to leave thinking about. I will come back with a short note on fit, format, and what a strong version of this looks like for your room.