Michael Bergdahl

Michael Bergdahl is a motivational speaker, author and writer. He worked in Bentonville, Arkansas for Wal-Mart, as the Director of People for the headquarters office, where he worked directly with Sam Walton. Previous to Wal-Mart he worked for Pepsico's Frito-Lay Division in the sales organization and headquarters staff assignments. He has recent experience as a turnaround specialist who participated in two successful business turnarounds.

He wrote a book about his experiences working for the World's largest retailer entitled: What I Learned from Sam Walton: How to Compete and Thrive in a Wal-Mart World, which was published in the USA and Internationally by John Wiley in August 2004. His book is being translated into versions in Chinese, Thai, Korean, Russian, Japanese and Spanish. He wrote his book to help Wal-Mart's domestic and international competitors develop proactive success strategies. Interestingly, his book is sold on both the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club web sites.

He recently completed his second book entitled, Sam Walton's Golden Rules for Success: 10 Ways to Prosper Personally and Professionally in Today's Wal-Mart World, which will be published in early 2006.

Michael Bergdahl has appeared on CNN, CNBC, CNN FN, CBS National Radio and Bloomberg TV. He is considered an authority on Wal-Mart. The giant retailer's own Public Relations Department has referred Bergdahl to interviewers interested in gaining insights into the company. He is a columnist for VNU Publications and his articles have appeared in Retail Merchandiser, Investor's Business Daily, Convenience Store News, National Retail Federation's STORES Magazine, Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store Decisions Magazine, and the Grocery Manufacturer Association's FORUM Magazine.

Michael Bergdahl is a motivational speaker, who is one part business, one part inspiration, one part storyteller and one part entertainer. He has spoken at association and business conferences domestically and internationally to retailers, non-retailers, manufacturers and suppliers who are interested in improving their ability to compete successfully in a Wal-Mart World!