Speaking & Keynotes
Speaking that creates space for meaning, connection, and service.
Through keynotes and facilitated conversations, I help leaders and teams reconnect to purpose and to one another.
How I Approach Speaking
When I speak, my goal isn’t to deliver a performance — it’s to create a shared experience. I believe the most meaningful moments happen when people feel invited into the conversation, not talked at.
My speaking is grounded in real stories, lived experience, and the lessons I’ve learned alongside communities over time. I listen carefully to the context of each group and shape every keynote to meet people where they are — honoring their challenges, their strengths, and the work they are being asked to do.
At its heart, my speaking is about service: creating space for reflection, honest dialogue, and renewed clarity about what matters most.
Keynote Experiences
I offer keynote presentations that are thoughtful, engaging, and deeply human.
These sessions are designed to help audiences pause, listen, and reconnect with the purpose behind their work.
Common themes I explore include:
Leadership as service
Belonging and trust within teams
Culture as a daily practice, not a statement
The role of story in shaping how we lead and work together
Each keynote blends storytelling, reflection, and practical insight — leaving participants with shared language and a clearer sense of how they want to show up for one another.
What It Feels Like in the Room
People often tell me that my speaking feels less like a presentation and more like a conversation the room is having together.
Rather than focusing on slides or scripted delivery, I focus on presence… reading the room, responding to energy, and creating moments where people feel seen and included. Whether I’m speaking to a large audience or a more intimate gathering, my intention is the same: to help people feel connected to the work and to each other.
Where I Speak
I regularly deliver keynotes and facilitated talks for:
Conferences and summits
School districts and educational organizations
Public service and nonprofit organizations
Each setting is different, but the purpose remains consistent: supporting leaders and teams as they navigate complexity with clarity, care, and intention.
I've been a school board member for 15 years. I've served as president of a statewide association, worked with national board leadership organizations, and spent years training board members in leadership and development.
And the question I get asked most often — by administrators, by board members, by system leaders — is some version of this: why is this so hard when everyone says they're here for the kids?
Here's the honest answer: governance is designed to slow decisions down, manage risk, and protect long-term trust. Leadership is designed to move systems forward. Neither of those is wrong. But when they aren't well understood, even well-intended people end up working at cross purposes.
That's what my new Catapult Masterclass, Partner with Board Members to Transform Student Outcomes, is built to address. This isn't a technical training on bylaws or compliance procedure. It's a leadership class — for board members, administrators, workforce leaders, and anyone whose decisions shape student outcomes.
Explore my masterclass and the full library at catapultlpd.com.
Catapult MasterClass
Invitation
If you’re looking for a keynote that centers people, purpose and service, I’d be honored to be part of your event.
Tell me a bit about your audience, your goals, and the conversation you hope to create.