Sherhara Burrell

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Presence That Holds Under Pressure

Sherhara Burrell is a dynamic keynote speaker, master facilitator, and trusted Communication Advisor who helps leaders turn inner clarity into outer confidence. With over 17 years of experience, she has trained more than 10,000 leaders and partnered with global organizations including Google, Under Armour, Toyota, Capital One, and Comcast.

Her work lives at the intersection of identity, presence, and influence, empowering leaders to communicate with conviction rather than performance. Known for her rare ability to both connect and challenge, Sherhara brings warmth, wisdom, and humor to every room while delivering practical frameworks that create lasting impact.

She has been featured on more than 20 podcasts and is widely recognized for helping leaders build trust, command rooms, and lead with authenticity during high-stakes moments.

Speaking Fee - $15,000
Travel and Expenses - $1,500 flat travel buyout to cover airfare, ground, meals and incidentals while travelling. Hotel accommodations are in addition.

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^{“I serve as Executive Director of Color Comm and when it was time to create programming to help our members learn how to network and gain confidence, Sherhara was the one to call. She is easy going, uses real world examples and is spot on in her approach.}

^{From start to finish she give my team members and I the tools we need to not only be in the room or have a seat at the table, but what to say when we arrive. From something as simple as having three questions to ask while networking made my team feel at ease. We laughed, we learned and left empowered and inspired to give networking and/or public speaking another try.}

^{She gave immediate feedback that reinforces what you have learned. She discussed how to navigate awkward situations and how to show up in the room. Her candor was felt from the moment she walked in the room. I noticed everyone taking notes or simply taking in her wealth of knowledge.”}

^{- Vanessa Wade, Executive Director, Color Comm}

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^{“Sherhara is an energetic, highly motivated, and professional public speaker gifted with the ability to relate to and touch diverse audiences. Sherhara is a self starter, very detail oriented and possesses exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. One of Sherhara's greatest assets is her ability to help others to find their own unique voice and to clearly and confidently communicate their message. Having worked directly with Sherhara, I would recommend Sherhara and the Sherhara School of Speaking to anyone in need of a host, presenter, speaking instructor, director or producer.”}^‍

^{- Whitney Mittons, Director of Student Experience, Accessibility and Events at Erikson Institute}‍

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Reel - https://youtu.be/yrGP2pr7L8s

Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/sherhara-burrell

Speaker Website - https://www.sherhara.com/

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Why Sherhara?

Elevate is designed for women navigating visibility, influence, and leadership growth. Sherhara’s work addresses a common challenge across career stages: the gap between confidence and alignment. Her approach resonates deeply with high-potential leaders and executives who want their presence to hold—especially under pressure.

Sherhara’s keynotes are particularly effective for audiences that value depth, trust, and sustainable influence over surface-level performance.

‍

Suggested Keynotes

Beyond Confidence: The Keys to Owning Any Room

The Challenge:

‍Many high-performing leaders still shrink in high-stakes rooms because they rely on performative confidence instead of grounded conviction.

Overview:

‍This keynote empowers professionals to own any room by embracing desire and identity. Through Sherhara’s You Are The Key Framework, attendees will learn to uncover their core desires, define their unique identity, and align aspirations with actionable strategies. Combining storytelling, empathy, and authenticity, Sherhara equips participants with tools to build trust, inspire change, and lead with authority.

Ideal Audience:

‍High-potential leaders and senior leadership teams driving organizational change, this dynamic presentation offers practical insights to elevate leadership presence, strengthen influence, and unlock their full potential.

What Participants Learn:

Identity clarity as a foundation for authentic communication.
Unlocking leadership potential through strengthening emotional internal alignment and external expression
Tactical presence-building techniques for meetings, stages, and leadership moments
Storytelling and self-expression as tools for influence and connection
Gain deeper clarity on personal identity and leadership voice
Learn actionable strategies to elevate confidence and executive presence
Leave with a repeatable framework (You Are The Key™) to align values, vision, and voice
Improve ability to connect authentically with teams, clients, and stakeholders
Build trust and influence through intentional storytelling and communication
Walk away with tools that enhance visibility, credibility, and leadership impact

Why It Matters For Organizations:

Strengthens culture of confident, authentic leadership
Develops high-potential talent ready to take initiative and lead change
Equips leaders with tools to show up powerfully in meetings, presentations, and public forums
Enhances organizational communication and employee engagement
Clarify your identity and leadership voice using the You Are The Key™ framework to align who you are with how you lead and communicate.
Elevate your presence and influence with practical tools to confidently show up in high-stakes rooms, meetings, and conversations.
Build authentic connection through intentional storytelling that earns trust and inspires action.

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Mastering the Shameless Plug: Advocate. Influence. Lead.

The Challenge:

Organizations struggle with rising talent staying invisible because self-advocacy feels uncomfortable, unclear, or unsafe.

Overview:

This keynote gives leaders the ability to articulate their value with clarity and courage. It dissolves the discomfort around self-advocacy by transforming the “shameless plug” into a leadership tool. Sherhara helps professionals confidently communicate achievements, ideas, and opportunities without overthinking or shrinking.

Ideal Audience:

‍Ideal for rising leaders, emerging senior leaders and entrepreneurs, this keynote offers tools to advocate for themselves, inspire confidence in others, and unlock opportunities for professional growth and influence.

What Participants Learn:

The art of self-advocacy without feeling salesy or self-centered
Overcoming imposter syndrome through narrative reframing
Influencing stakeholders by aligning personal narrative with organizational goals
Building trust and connection through honest, confident communication
Learn to advocate for themselves with clarity and confidence
Walk away with a personal “Persona Story” they can use in intros, interviews, or visibility moments
Gain tools to overcome imposter syndrome and speak to their value unapologetically
Strengthen strategic storytelling skills for internal and external influence
Master the Proud Talk™ framework for memorable, effective self-promotion
Become more visible, vocal, and valuable in their roles

Why It Matters For Organizations:

Empowers emerging and rising leaders to take ownership of their impact
Fosters a culture of confident communication and self-advocacy
Enhances cross-functional collaboration by improving how team members communicate their contributions
Supports retention by helping talent feel seen, heard, and capable of growth
Craft a powerful Persona Story that communicates your value and credibility with clarity and pride.
Use the Proud Talk™ framework to self-advocate and speak up without second-guessing or shrinking.
Build influence and visibility by owning your accomplishments and showing up as an authoritative voice in your field.

Transformation:

‍Leaders leave with a measurable shift in how they speak about themselves, advocate for their ideas, and command the room.

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Highlights

17+ years of leadership communication experience
Trained 10,000+ leaders globally
Partnered with Google, Capital One, Toyota, Under Armour, and Comcast
Creator of the You Are The Key™ and Proud Talk™ frameworks
Known for depth-driven, transformational leadership work

Dr. Lauren Cook

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Mental Resilience for Uncertain Times

Dr. Lauren Cook is a Clinical Psychologist, consultant, speaker, and author who supports organizations nationwide through in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs focused on retention, morale, engagement, and mental wellness. She is the founder of Heartship Psychological Services, a California-based practice specializing in anxiety, and is widely respected for translating empirically supported research and neuroscience into practical tools for the workplace.

Dr. Lauren applies third-wave therapeutic approaches including CBT, ACT, and DBT to help individuals and teams build mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and values-aligned decision-making. She brings a multiculturally informed, systems-based lens to her work, examining how identity, environment, and workplace dynamics intersect to impact wellbeing and performance.

Her academic training includes Psychology and Communication Studies at UCLA, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California, and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Dr. Lauren is the creator of the Name Your Story mental health training curriculum and the author of three books, including Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide for Staying Afloat in Uncertain Times.

Speaking Fee - $17,000
Travel and Expenses - To be discussed, Speaker travels from Pasadena, CA

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^{“Dr. Lauren’s deep understanding of the professional landscape enabled her to offer thoughtful and tangible solutions. She has a rare ability to make a room full of people feel as if she is speaking directly to each one of them. Her compassion, empathy and clear communication style make her an asset to any group. We were so lucky to have her!”}

^{- Kenna Alemania, Sunshine Sachs}

^‍

^{“Dr. Lauren Cook hosted an insightful, informative and impactful session around the Power of Mentorship for our global community. Dr. Cook’s virtual presentation, complete with great research-supported content, was easy to follow, authentic and engaging. Participants were given actionable tools to connect either as a mentor or mentee and felt energized after the session to implement the steps in their lives.”}

^{- Charlene Shih, Senior Analyst, Global Tax and Insurance, Salesforce}

^‍

^{“From the very first moment we spoke I knew that Dr. Cook would understand our goals and our audience’s needs and meet them all. The session she delivered as part of our IWD and Women's History month celebrations was engaging, insightful, and above all, incredibly helpful for our audience. I recommend you work with her, you Will not be disappointed!”}

^{- Niki Dow, Senior Director, Technical Communications, Arm}

^‍

^{“We hired Dr. Cook to give a Keynote on ‘Riding the Waves’ of mental health. Dr. Cook was inspiring, compassionate and our company responded very well to her talk and we received a 100% positive feedback rate. Dr. Cook is kind, warm and up to date with all of the latest research and I especially appreciated her reminding everyone of the mind/body connection. Thank you Dr. Cook! You are an incredible human, speaker and teacher!”}

^{- Monique Viscetto, Senior Executive of Learning and Development, Collabera Inc.}

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Reel - https://youtu.be/1fkIkfMkLGU

Gravity Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/dr-lauren

Speaker Website - https://www.drlaurencook.com/

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Why Dr. Cook?

Elevate’s audience is navigating pressure, uncertainty, and sustained performance demands across every career stage. Dr. Lauren brings clinical credibility and practical application to conversations around resilience, decision-making, and mental wellbeing—areas that directly influence engagement, retention, and leadership effectiveness in accounting and finance environments.

Her grounded, empathetic style resonates with early-career professionals experiencing overwhelm, mid-level leaders managing competing demands, and executives responsible for sustaining high-performing teams. Dr. Lauren’s work normalizes mental health conversations while equipping attendees with tools they can immediately apply at work and in life.

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Highlights

Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in anxiety and resilience
Founder of Heartship Psychological Services
Creator of the Name Your Story mental health training curriculum
Author of three books on mental health and wellbeing
Academic training from UCLA, USC, and Pepperdine University

Jennifer Cassetta

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Black Belt Leadership for Modern Women

Jennifer Cassetta is a keynote speaker, author, self-defense expert, and health and high-performance coach whose mission is to help people feel strong, safe, and powerful—from the streets to the boardroom. A third-degree black belt, Jennifer blends martial arts wisdom with leadership, wellness, and mindset coaching to help individuals and teams banish burnout, build confidence, and perform at their highest levels.

Her journey began after surviving the September 11 attacks in New York City, an experience that ignited her commitment to never feel frozen by fear again—and to ensure others don’t either. Over the next decade, Jennifer immersed herself in martial arts, nutrition, wellness, and personal development, earning a master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, a health coaching certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and later NLP and high-performance coaching certifications.

Jennifer has delivered experiential keynotes and trainings for Apple, Nike, American Express, British Airways, Hyatt, Uber, and Visa, and has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Doctors, and the TEDx stage. She is the bestselling author of The Art of Badassery: Unleash Your Mojo With Wisdom of the Dojo and host of The Art of Badassery podcast.

Speaking Fee - $15,000
Travel and Expenses - To be discussed. Speaker travels from Santa Monica, CA

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^{“As a group of people always seeking the “why” behind what we do what we do, we loved hearing the science behind the advice that Jennifer was sharing. Her presentation was interactive, fun, informative, and left us all feeling like we could incorporate some basic improvements in our life for a healthier work/life balance.”}

^-^{DEANNA LEESS, TEK Systems}

^{“Jenn, you captivated us the moment you stepped on the stage. I looked around and not a sole was on their cell phones. We sat at attention waiting to learn what the next belt meant until we proudly reached the final BLACK BELT. Thank you for giving us such a dynamic presentation!”}

^-^{CHRIS REESE, 2020 President Ohio Realtors}

^{“CREW Kansas City hosted our annual membership dinner and Jenn Cassetta presented “The Art of Badassery!” to a room of 70 professional women. Jenn was extremely engaging and interactive with the audience that added an abundance of enthusiasm and joy throughout our event space. Her message resonated with all of us as we are still talking about it. You'll definitely walk away with an overwhelming sense of being a true BADASS!”}

^-^{CHRISTIE MONTAGUE, CREW Kansas City}‍

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_p1qD_sNqs

Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/jennifer-cassetta

Speaker Website - https://jennifercassetta.com/

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Why Jennifer?

Elevate is about confidence, resilience, and sustainable leadership—and Jennifer delivers all three through a powerful, embodied framework that resonates across career stages. Her Black Belt metaphor provides an accessible, memorable model for leadership growth, boundary-setting, and self-advocacy.

Jennifer’s high-energy, experiential delivery brings momentum and engagement to the room, making her particularly effective for audiences seeking inspiration that translates into action.

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Highlights

Third-degree black belt and high-performance coach
Keynote speaker for Apple, Nike, American Express, Visa, and British Airways
Featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Doctors, and TEDx
Bestselling author and podcast host
Highly experiential, high-energy keynote style

Karen MacNeill

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Performing at Your Best When It Matters Most

Dr. Karen MacNeill, PhD, RPsych, CMPC®, is a Performance Psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, and professional speaker who bridges elite sport and Fortune 500 leadership. A former Team Canada athlete, Dr. Karen has supported athletes and teams at six Olympic Games and served as Lead Mental Performance and Mental Health Consultant for Team Canada at multiple Games.

She has partnered with Fortune 500 organizations to help leaders withstand pressure, navigate uncertainty, and perform consistently at high levels. A TEDx speaker and recipient of multiple national awards—including Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100—Dr. Karen is known for blending science, storytelling, and practical tools that help people unlock their full potential.

Speaking Fee - $15,000 - To be confirmed
Travel and Expenses - To be confirmed
Availablity - To be confirmed

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^{“Having Dr. Karen MacNeill as a guest speaker for WXN gave our community an opportunity to learn about resiliency, responding to stress, and how to build the tools we need to excel when facing the most challenging times. Her focus on mental, physical, and emotional well-being is the kind of support we all need – and}^{wow did she deliver}^{! Dr. MacNeill’s presentation was easy to follow, and her insight on performance, mental fitness, and self-discovery was such a valuable tool for all who attended.”}

^-^{Sherri Stevens, Owner and CEO, Women’s Executive Network}

^{“Dr. Karen’s presentation has really opened my eyes to the many considerations of what it takes to be “high performance leader.” That being said, she really humanizes the concepts and inspires confidence in me that being “high performance” is achievable. Her presentation was very engaging and very entertaining!!!”}

^-^{Michael Baldwin, Senior VP, Corporate Development, Trican Well Service Ltd.}‍

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Video/Reel - https://youtu.be/ydZPRil6u0U

Speaker Website - https://macneillperformance.com/

Why Karen?

Elevate’s audience is navigating constant change while being asked to deliver at a high level. Dr. Karen’s work helps leaders build mental fitness, resilience, and performance consistency—skills directly transferable from elite sport to professional services and leadership environments.

Her Olympic-level credibility resonates strongly with executives while remaining accessible and inspiring for early- and mid-career professionals.

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Suggested Keynotes

Unlock Full Potential: How to Bring Your Best When It Matters Most

Have you ever wondered what separates the best from the rest?

As a little girl, Dr. Karen MacNeill asked herself this question as she sat glued to the TV watching countless Olympic performers and World Cup soccer legends. Their ability to perform under pressure fascinated her, and that fascination has become her passion and life’s work.

For over two decades, Dr. Karen has had the privilege of supporting athletes and teams at 5 Olympic Games (and counting!), giving her a front row seat as some of the best athletes in the world perform their craft in high-pressure situations. This incredible learning lab has allowed Dr. Karen to formulate a practice her clients can use to unlock their full potential … over and over again.

You see, as a leader, coach, or top performer, you possess a container of capacity – the skills and abilities that allow you to shine in the moments that matter. However, under intense demands and pressure, this container can close up and prevent you from accessing your full potential.

In this talk, Dr. Karen will give you a glimpse inside her Olympics learning lab and teach you the C.A.R.E. practice you can use to unlock your full potential so you can rise to any occasion.

Presentation takeaways:

Get clear about who you are at your best
Be aware of the worries and fears that hold you back
Develop tools to increase your readiness to withstand the pressure
Identify key factors that contribute to your peak performance
Discover the strategies that will keep your mind from being a thief of your big moment

This presentation is for performance-minded individuals who are looking to unleash their full potential in demanding, ever-changing environments.

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The Resilient Leader: How to Excel and Be Well in Turbulent Times

Increasing complexity, rate of change, and unpredictability in the workplace are placing more demands on you and your employees than ever before. You are expected to deliver on high volumes of work, while also figuring out how to grow the business, retain staff and take care of yourself no less.

And then you’re blindsided by a challenge beyond anything you could have imagined.

As a leader, you know that these moments come in all shapes and sizes. You have an excellent team, but you can see that they’re starting to fray at the edges. They’re worn down by the constant pivots and unpredictable demands they face both inside and outside of the workplace.

When you face this kind of turbulence, do you know how to bolster resilience, drive results and protect your well-being?

In this interactive presentation, Dr. Karen MacNeill will demonstrate how to arm yourself with the tools you need to keep burning bright instead of burning out.

Presentation takeaways:

Gain clarity on the attributes of a resilient leader and map it out for yourself
Increase awareness of how you react to pressure and how this can impact your effectiveness as a leader
Develop tools to bolster your resilience when demands are high
Optimize your recovery with tangible energy management strategies
Enhance your ability to operate as a high-performing leader on a consistent basis

This presentation is for leaders and key contributors who operate in a demanding, fast-paced environment and want to show up at their best for every single challenge.

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Highlights

Performance Psychologist and CMPC®
Supported athletes and teams at six Olympic Games
Lead Mental Performance Consultant for Team Canada
TEDx speaker and award-winning leader
Trusted advisor to Fortune 500 organizations

Carolina Caro

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Leading Change Through Clarity, Connection, and Conscious Leadership

Carolina Caro is a globally recognized leadership and culture keynote speaker, CEO of Conscious Leadership Partners, and creator of The Unlearning Advantage™. With over 15 years of experience, she helps organizations evolve leadership, align teams, and transform culture by identifying and unlearning habits that no longer serve today’s complex, fast-changing workplaces.

Her work has impacted leaders and teams at organizations including NASA, the FBI, Warner Bros., Kaiser, McDonald’s, and many others navigating large-scale change and uncertainty. Carolina is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP)—a distinction held by fewer than 15% of speakers worldwide—as well as a Professional Certified Coach (ICF) and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), bringing deep credibility across leadership, culture, and inclusion.

A scientist by training with professional experience at Pfizer and Merck, Carolina blends evidence-based insight with humor and heart. As a triple citizen of Canada, the United States, and the European Union, she brings a global lens and a rare ability to connect across cultures, identities, and leadership levels. Her work centers on identity-level transformation that scales across teams and organizations.

Speaking Fee - $15,000
Travel and Expenses - To be discussed. Speaker travels from Pasadena

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^“^{The response to her keynote was overwhelmingly positive. It delivered a poignant experience that addressed important challenges that were relevant for our participants while providing clear, actionable takeaways.}^”

^{- LaTanya Bogin-Jordan, Director of Program Development & Strategic Engagement, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power}

^“^{Carolina gave an excellent presentation. The internal feedback I received included comments like “Best ever!”. More importantly, the exercises and frameworks she provided started us on a very positive change for our team.}^”

^{- Anne Novamo, R&D Manager, Hemostasis Werfen}

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Demo - https://youtu.be/WtHnQplL9v4

Gravity Speakers Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/carolina-caro

Speaker Website - https://carolinacaro.com

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Why Carolina?

Elevate is focused on helping women lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change with confidence and alignment. Carolina’s work speaks directly to this moment by addressing the internal habits and identity patterns that shape how leaders show up, make decisions, and build trust.

Her message resonates strongly with mid-level and senior leaders who are navigating change fatigue, fractured connection, and the pressure to deliver results while maintaining cohesion. Carolina offers a leadership lens that moves beyond tactics—helping attendees understand how who they are being as leaders directly influences performance, culture, and collective momentum.

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Suggested Keynote

The Next Level Leader: Why Unlearning Is the Key to Leading Change Together

In periods of accelerated change, performance depends on the quality of connection between people, the speed at which trust forms and decisions are coordinated. This capacity for community-building is one of the most underdeveloped advantages of future-ready organizations, and it demands a new level of leadership.

The next level leader is one who can discern and unlearn the habits that fracture connection within themselves first, knowing those patterns ripple outward. This shift is not about doing more, but about creating the conditions for community to flourish. It requires moving from driving outcomes to holding space for alignment, from managing individuals to regulating the system they operate within, and from individual achievement to collective excellence.

Next level leadership begins by recognizing and letting go of what no longer serves the collective even when those habits were once the source of success. When leaders change how they show up internally, they change what becomes possible around them. They become the stabilizing force that allows people to think more clearly, align more quickly, and move forward together, especially in moments of uncertainty.

Participants will learn to:

See the pattern: Recognize how identity conditioning fragments attention and presence
Break the loop: Apply the POCA® Model for Unlearning to create space between reaction and response and choose from awareness instead of conditioning
Lead from coherence: Shift from doing leadership to embodying it; where clarity, trust, and authentic influence naturally emerge

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Highlights

CEO of Conscious Leadership Partners
Creator of The Unlearning Advantage™ and POCA® Model for Unlearning
Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) — top 15% of speakers globally
Professional Certified Coach (ICF) and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)
Clients include NASA, FBI, Warner Bros., Kaiser, and McDonald’s
Scientific background with experience at Pfizer and Merck
Globally fluent leader with a cross-cultural, systems-level perspective

Diane Allen

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Lead from Alignment, Not Exhaustion

Violinist Diane Allen is an international keynote speaker, thought leader, and best-selling author of Flow: Unlock Your Genius, Love What You Do. She is widely known for translating the science of Flow into practical, repeatable leadership frameworks through her proprietary Flow Strategy™. Diane spent 15 years as Concertmaster (lead violinist) of the Central Oregon Symphony, where she led more than 100 musicians through high-stakes performances requiring precision, emotional intelligence, and trust under pressure.

Her work exploring peak performance, confidence, and sustainable leadership earned her a TEDxNaperville stage and national media features across TED, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. In addition to her speaking career, Diane is a respected educator with nearly three decades of experience teaching musicians and leaders how to perform at their best without burnout. Her keynotes uniquely blend live musical performance, neuroscience, storytelling, and positive psychology to create immersive, memorable leadership experiences.

‍In-person Fee: $15,000 + $2,000 flat travel fee
Plus, Organizer to provide Hotel
Available both dates

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Reel - https://vimeo.com/1082633673?fl=pl&fe=sh

Gravity Speakers Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/diane-allen

Speaker Website: https://dianeallen.com/

‍

Why Diane Allen?

Elevate’s audience is made up of women navigating high expectations, constant performance demands, and increasing leadership visibility across every career stage. Diane’s work meets this audience where they are by reframing leadership away from overextension and toward sustainable excellence.

Her experience as a Concertmaster is especially relevant to women in accounting and finance—leading without positional authority, aligning diverse personalities, and influencing outcomes through presence rather than force. As an opening keynote, Diane creates a grounding, confidence-building experience that unifies the room early and establishes a shared leadership mindset for the two-day forum.

‍

Suggested Keynote

Lead from Within: How Women Access Flow, Influence, and Sustainable Performance

What if leadership influence wasn’t about doing more, proving more, or pushing harder, but about clearly defining who you are at your best and leading from that place?

Enter the Flow State, an optimal state of mind when people feel their best and perform their best. In Flow, leaders move from fatigue and self-doubt into clarity, confidence, and purposeful action. Learning how to define and activate the Flow State is what allows women to own their presence, their voice, and their next level of leadership.

Flow State Expert Diane Allen provides repeatable frameworks that make Flow practical, accessible, and deeply human. Backed by positive psychology and neuroscience, Diane’s systems help leaders move from constant doing into intentional being, unlocking sustainable performance, agency, and fulfillment.

As a 15-year Concertmaster, Diane led over 100 musicians through high-stakes performances, aligning diverse personalities, pressures, and expectations. That same ability to lead with precision, presence, and emotional intelligence came from learning how to activate her Flow State, on demand. In Flow, she performed at the top of her talent while staying deeply aligned with her authentic strengths, a skill she now translates for leaders and teams who must influence, perform, and sustain excellence without burning out.

In this immersive keynote, Diane blends live music, neuroscience, and experiential learning to create a safe, reflective, and energizing experience. Participants don’t just hear about Flow, they feel it. They define their unique energy of influence, reconnect with purpose, and leave recharged with clarity and resolve.

• Understand the neuroscience of Flow and why it is a powerful antidote to burnout and overextension
• Define your personal gateway into Flow and how to activate it on demand
• Shift from constant doing to intentional being without sacrificing excellence
• Own your energy of influence and lead with confidence and authenticity

‍

Highlights

Best-selling author of Flow: Unlock Your Genius, Love What You Do
TEDxNaperville speaker with national media features (TED, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX)
15-year Concertmaster leading high-pressure, high-visibility performances
Creator of the proprietary Flow Strategy™ framework
Delivers immersive keynotes combining live violin performance, neuroscience, and leadership development

‍

^{“Diane’s ability to talk about the philosophy behind her Flow State while simultaneously communicating it auditorily through her music was an incredible combination. It translates beautifully and it’s something you won’t want to miss!”}^{— Elizabeth Williams, Editor, Modern In San Antonio}

^{“Diane impressed us with a terrific presentation full of insight, as well as some beautiful music that truly set her session in a different league.”}^{— Robbie Heacock, Associate Director, Stringfellow Management Group}

About the event

Elevate: Women's Leadership Forum [Revised]

Presence That Holds Under Pressure

- Vanessa Wade, Executive Director, Color Comm

- Whitney Mittons, Director of Student Experience, Accessibility and Events at Erikson Institute‍

Speaker Highlights

Why Sherhara?

Suggested Keynotes

Beyond Confidence: The Keys to Owning Any Room

The Challenge:

Overview:

Ideal Audience:

What Participants Learn:

Why It Matters For Organizations:

Mastering the Shameless Plug: Advocate. Influence. Lead.

The Challenge:

Overview:

Ideal Audience:

What Participants Learn:

Why It Matters For Organizations:

Transformation:

Highlights

Mental Resilience for Uncertain Times

- Kenna Alemania, Sunshine Sachs

- Charlene Shih, Senior Analyst, Global Tax and Insurance, Salesforce

- Niki Dow, Senior Director, Technical Communications, Arm

- Monique Viscetto, Senior Executive of Learning and Development, Collabera Inc.

Speaker Highlights

Why Dr. Cook?

Suggested Topics

Riding the Wave: How to Mentally Surf Instead of Sink in Unpredictable Waters

Why it Matters:

Takeaways:

Find Your Why, Know Your Way: How to Practice Meaningful Decision-Making at Work

Why it Matters:

Takeaways:

Highlights

Black Belt Leadership for Modern Women

- DEANNA LEESS, TEK Systems

- CHRIS REESE, 2020 President Ohio Realtors

- CHRISTIE MONTAGUE, CREW Kansas City‍

Speaker Highlights

Why Jennifer?

Suggested Topics

The Art of Badassery: Becoming a Black Belt Leader

Takeaways include:

More information:

The belt levels include:

The Black Belt Mindset – Leading with Resilience, Boundaries & Bold Confidence

Highlights

Performing at Your Best When It Matters Most

- Sherri Stevens, Owner and CEO, Women’s Executive Network

- Michael Baldwin, Senior VP, Corporate Development, Trican Well Service Ltd.‍

Speaker Highlights

Why Karen?

Suggested Keynotes

Unlock Full Potential: How to Bring Your Best When It Matters Most

Presentation takeaways:

The Resilient Leader: How to Excel and Be Well in Turbulent Times

Presentation takeaways:

Highlights

Leading Change Through Clarity, Connection, and Conscious Leadership

- LaTanya Bogin-Jordan, Director of Program Development & Strategic Engagement, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

- Anne Novamo, R&D Manager, Hemostasis Werfen

Speaker Highlights

Why Carolina?

Suggested Keynote

The Next Level Leader: Why Unlearning Is the Key to Leading Change Together

Participants will learn to:

Highlights

Lead from Alignment, Not Exhaustion

Speaker Highlights

Why Diane Allen?

Suggested Keynote

Lead from Within: How Women Access Flow, Influence, and Sustainable Performance

‍

Highlights

^{- Vanessa Wade, Executive Director, Color Comm}

^{- Whitney Mittons, Director of Student Experience, Accessibility and Events at Erikson Institute}‍

^{- Kenna Alemania, Sunshine Sachs}

^{- Charlene Shih, Senior Analyst, Global Tax and Insurance, Salesforce}

^{- Niki Dow, Senior Director, Technical Communications, Arm}

^{- Monique Viscetto, Senior Executive of Learning and Development, Collabera Inc.}

^-^{DEANNA LEESS, TEK Systems}

^-^{CHRIS REESE, 2020 President Ohio Realtors}

^-^{CHRISTIE MONTAGUE, CREW Kansas City}‍

^-^{Sherri Stevens, Owner and CEO, Women’s Executive Network}

^-^{Michael Baldwin, Senior VP, Corporate Development, Trican Well Service Ltd.}‍

^{- LaTanya Bogin-Jordan, Director of Program Development & Strategic Engagement, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power}

^{- Anne Novamo, R&D Manager, Hemostasis Werfen}