About Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a global professional women’s network focused on advancing women in the workplace through community, programming, and career-connected content. Their audience spans industries, career stages, and geographies, with strong participation from corporate professionals, leaders, and decision-makers.
About the Event: Mobilize Women Summit is Ellevate’s upcoming virtual summit taking place June 3–4, 2026, held in conjunction with their broader anniversary programming. The event will feature a mix of panels, fireside chats, and select keynote-style moments designed to spark conversation, share practical insight, and energize attendees.
Audience: A broad cross-section of professional women, including emerging and established leaders, corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, and members navigating career growth, workplace change, and leadership challenges. Ellevate also noted that their audience includes global participation.
Themes Under Consideration
Current programming themes include:
Speaker Opportunity: Ellevate is seeking compelling women speakers for panel and conversation-based roles, with openness to a short keynote or fireside-style format where there is a strong fit. While this is generally an unpaid opportunity, the organization positions it as a strong visibility opportunity with potential for follow-on exposure, audience growth, and future business development.
Madison Butler is a keynote speaker, workplace strategist, and unapologetic advocate for authenticity, vulnerability, and human-centered leadership. She is known for helping organizations rethink workplace culture by building environments where people feel safe to show up as their full selves and where trust, transparency, and psychological safety are treated as essential—not optional.
As the founder of Glass Ball Culture™ and through her broader work reimagining workplace systems, Madison partners with companies to move beyond outdated norms and design cultures that better support the people inside them. Her work focuses on helping leaders build more honest, sustainable, and connected workplaces by addressing broken leadership habits, burnout, and the human impact of organizational design.
Madison’s thought leadership has been featured in major outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Yahoo, and Rolling Stone, and she has been recognized by LinkedIn as a Top Black Voice to Follow. She is also the author of Let Them See You: Empowering Change Through Authenticity, a book centered on creating change and making space for people to show up fully.
Gravity Speakers Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/madison-butler
Speaker Website: https://www.bluehairedunicorn.com/
Madison is available during the event dates.

"Madi, thank you so much for speaking with the CPAWS-BC Team earlier this week. The feedback from the staff has been incredibly positive, and you talk definitely left us wanting to engage more. It was so inspirational, to-the-point, and beautifully authentic. You are gifted, indeed. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experiences" -- Meaghen McCord, Executive Director Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia Chapter
“Madison Butler is an incredible speaker; her presence, passion, knowledge, and storytelling ability are second to none. Our company learned so much from just a single one-hour session with Madison; not only how to better approach diversity, equity, and inclusion but also how to start taking specific steps actions in both our personal and professional lives to improve our relationships, workplaces, and communities. Thank you, Madison!”- Paige VanDemark, HR Generalist, MaryRuth Organics
“Madison is an incredibly talented individual and her honesty & candor in addressing authenticity in the workplace was refreshing and eye opening. This was a great opportunity and learning experience for many members of our organization.” - Alex Frederiksen, Account Executive, Colehour + Cohen (C+C)
Madison aligns especially well with Ellevate’s themes around belonging in the workplace, career growth and workplace skills, and positive, energizing content for women navigating today’s climate. Her core message centers on authenticity, vulnerability, psychological safety, and human connection at work, which maps naturally to conversations about belonging, confidence, and navigating modern workplace pressure.
She also connects well to the summit’s interest in career transitions / workplace skills through talks like Authentic Leadership: Vulnerability First and Build For You: Authentic Personal Branding, both of which focus on helping people lead with greater self-awareness, trust, and visibility.
And while she is not a direct fit for the money or women’s health tracks, she is a strong match for conversations related to burnout, future of work, and the human side of workplace change. Her keynote From Fumes to Fuel: Breaking up with Burnout addresses the systems and expectations that reward overwork, while her future-of-work talks explore how organizations can stay people-centered amid change, including in the age of AI.
Madison has several topics that could be especially compelling for this audience, depending on the direction Ellevate wants to take:
Kanika Chadda Gupta is a former CNN television journalist turned sought-after moderator, podcast host, and speaker focused on purpose-driven leadership, Kanika Chadda Gupta is a seasoned television journalist, moderator, emcee, and keynote speaker who brings a rare blend of media polish, warmth, and purpose-driven storytelling to every stage. A former CNN anchor, Kanika is now the host of the award-winning podcast That’s Total Mom Sense, where she interviews public figures and thought leaders about life lessons, parenting, leadership, wellness, and legacy. Her guests have included Chelsea Clinton, Kelly Rowland, America Ferrera, and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Kanika speaks on topics including women’s empowerment, modern motherhood, purpose, DEI, AAPI and South Asian heritage, and how organizations can better support employees who are parents and caregivers. She is also a highly experienced live interviewer and host, making her especially strong for moderated conversations, firesides, and conversation-forward event formats.
Her work and voice have been recognized broadly. She was named one of 100 Women to Know in America by J.P. Morgan Chase, Industrious, and KNOW Women, and she serves as the Official Podcast Partner of Mom 2.0. She has also partnered with organizations including Meta and The White House, and currently serves as Director for Women in Media for HeyMama.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/kanika-chadda-gupta
Website: https://kanikachaddagupta.com/
Madison is available during the event dates.
“Kanika is a prepared, thoughtful, and skillful interviewer. She drew out some things I don’t think I’ve ever talked about!” - Sarah Harden, CEO, Hello Sunshine
“Great conversation, relatable anecdotes, everything flowed nicely. Kanika has a strong interview style, asked all the right questions, and made me feel at ease as a guest.” - Divya Gugnani, Founder, Wander Beauty
Kanika connects especially well to Ellevate’s themes around women’s health / women’s lives, career growth and workplace culture, and positive, energizing content for women navigating today’s climate. Her work consistently centers women’s lived experiences, identity, purpose, caregiving, and the challenge of building ambitious careers while navigating real life.
She is also a strong fit for conversations around belonging in the workplace and how organizations can better support working parents and caregivers. Her speaking topics explicitly include helping corporations better serve employees who are parents through areas like leave, benefits, and workplace support.
Because Kanika is both a speaker and an accomplished moderator/emcee, she could also serve Ellevate well in a fireside chat, hosted conversation, or panel-moderator role, particularly if they want a format that feels polished, thoughtful, and audience-friendly.
Kanika is proposed for a warm, story-driven fireside chat that draws on her experience as a journalist, moderator, and host of That’s Total Mom Sense. The conversation is shaped by the real, unfiltered lessons she has gathered from interviewing hundreds of leaders, founders, and public figures—many of which are featured on her podcast’s widely viewed YouTube series—exploring themes such as parenting in the digital age, caring for both children and aging parents, mental wellbeing, and the invisible labor women carry. Through storytelling and thoughtful moderation, Kanika connects these lived experiences to leadership, culture, and retention, reframing caregiving not as a personal issue, but as a core workplace and leadership conversation. The session is highly relatable, deeply human, and designed to spark reflection and dialogue around how organizations can better support parents and caregivers while recognizing the leadership skills that life experience builds.
Sherhara Burrell is a dynamic keynote speaker, master facilitator, emcee, and trusted communication advisor who helps leaders turn inner clarity into outer confidence. Her work sits at the intersection of self-awareness and executive presence, equipping executives, founders, and emerging leaders to speak with intention, lead with authenticity, and influence at scale. She is known for blending soul and strategy in a way that is both energizing and practical.
Sherhara’s approach focuses on helping high-achieving professionals close the gap between who they are and how they show up, especially in moments that matter most. Through her keynotes, workshops, and advisory work, she helps leaders strengthen self-trust, communicate with credibility, and lead with greater conviction under pressure. Her style combines warmth, humor, and tactical takeaways that audiences can apply immediately.
She has worked with leaders and teams at global organizations including Google, Under Armour, Michelin, American Airlines, Comcast, Shell, and The Executive Leadership Council. Across her speaking and advisory work, Sherhara’s mission is clear: to develop courageous communicators who can trust their voice, command rooms with presence, and create lasting impact.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/sherhara-burrell
Website: https://www.sherhara.com/
Sherhara is available for the event dates.
"Sherhara was a speaker at an event for us recently on a tricky and oftentimes sensitive subject. She spoke with credibility and believability. She was entertaining while being sincere in getting the message across. I would not hesitate to recommend Sherhara to any organization looking for an authentic and engaging speaker." - Andrea Mann-Cooper, Change Manager
"Sherhara is incredible. Her ability to command and connect with audience is second to none." - Troy Pryor, Founder & Chairman, Creative Cypher
“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
Sherhara aligns especially well with Ellevate’s themes around career growth / workplace skills / job transitions, money and confidence, and positive, energizing content for women navigating today’s climate. Her work is centered on helping leaders build presence, speak with confidence, advocate for themselves, and communicate their value more clearly.
She is also a strong fit for conversations related to belonging in the workplace, particularly through the lens of visibility, self-trust, and helping professionals show up fully and authentically in rooms where they need to lead and influence. While she is not a direct fit for the AI or women’s health tracks, she is highly relevant for professional development content designed to help women navigate workplace pressure, leadership visibility, and self-advocacy. This is an inference based on her stated speaking focus and keynote outcomes.
Sherhara offers several strong options depending on how Ellevate wants to shape the conversation, especially around confidence, visibility, communication, and self-advocacy:
For leaders navigating high-stakes visibility & influence
Many high-performing leaders hesitate in moments that matter because they rely on performative confidence rather than grounded conviction. This keynote helps leaders shift from performing confidence to leading from alignment, so their presence holds under pressure.
Leaders Leave With:
• Clearer identity and leadership voice
• Stronger presence in meetings and presentations
• Tools to communicate with credibility and conviction
Organizations Gain:
• Leaders who show up decisively and authentically
• Stronger communication culture and engagement
• Talent prepared to lead change and influence outcomes
For organizations developing visible, confident talent
When self-advocacy feels uncomfortable or unclear, capable leaders stay invisible. This keynote reframes self-advocacy as a leadership skill, giving leaders language and frameworks to articulate their value clearly without shrinking or over-explaining.
Leaders Leave With:
• A clear, confident way to speak about their value
• Tools to overcome imposter syndrome
• Stronger influence through intentional communication
Organizations Gain:
• Increased visibility of high-potential talent
• A culture of confident communication and ownership
• Improved collaboration and retention
Sheena Allen is a visionary entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author, and creative architect working at the intersection of technology, innovation, financial inclusion, and media. From her start as a college student building apps, she has grown into a widely recognized founder known for turning bold ideas into real systems, products, and companies. She bootstrapped Sheena Allen Apps to millions of downloads, later founded CapWay, and is described as the youngest female in the U.S. to own and operate a digital bank. Today, she continues building across ventures focused on fintech, AI-powered tools, and entrepreneurial infrastructure.
Sheena is also the co-host of Rich Lessons, a podcast and media platform she describes as offering real conversations about business, finances, life, and “everything in between.” On her site, Rich Lessons is positioned as one of the top business and entrepreneurship podcasts hosted by a female founder duo, and her speaking materials note that it reflects her work in media, the creator economy, and digital storytelling.
Her work has earned recognition including Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. 30 Under 30, Business Insider Under 30, and Inc.’s Female Founders 100. Across her ventures and speaking, Sheena brings a builder’s perspective to conversations about innovation, entrepreneurship, access, and how people can create what does not yet exist.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/sheena-allen
Website: https://www.sheenaallen.com/speaking
Sheena is available for the event dates.

“Sheena Allen was the perfect speaker to kick-off our two-day conference! Her energy, speech, and engagement really set the tone for our conference attendees.” - Matilda Johnson, The Sadie Collective
“Sheena Allen was a dynamic keynote for inaugural Emerging Engineers Summit. As an organization focused on diversifying the nation's most competitive tech roles, Sheena Allen was the perfect example for our community to learn from and hear authentic advice that was relevant and timely. Sheena is authentic, inspiring and an excellent speaker." - Geneva Scott - Director of Career Center at Codepath
Sheena aligns especially well with Ellevate’s themes around AI / AI for Good, money and confidence, and career growth / workplace skills / entrepreneurship. Her speaking platform spans artificial intelligence, fintech, financial inclusion, women in business and leadership, entrepreneurship, the creator economy, and community building, giving Ellevate flexibility depending on which direction they want to emphasize.
She is a particularly strong fit for the summit’s more thoughtful AI conversation. Her speaking materials explicitly position her in Tech & AI and in broader conversations about “technology, innovation & the next digital wave,” with a focus on how emerging tech, AI, creator tools, and digital transformation shape communities, culture, and economic opportunity.
She also maps naturally to Ellevate’s money-related themes through her expertise in fintech, financial inclusion, and the future of money. Her content addresses how financial systems work, who they leave behind, and what it takes to create real access and opportunity — a strong fit for conversations around financial confidence, literacy, and power.
In addition, Sheena brings a compelling media and storytelling angle through her podcast and creator work. On her site, Rich Lessons is described as a podcast and media platform featuring real conversations about business, finances, life, and entrepreneurship, and her speaking page includes a topic area on media, the creator economy, and digital storytelling — covering how entrepreneurs and creators build brands, monetize effectively, and use storytelling to influence culture and scale opportunities. That makes her especially relevant if Ellevate wants a speaker who can connect business-building with visibility, voice, and modern audience growth.
Sheena offers several strong directions depending on how Ellevate wants to shape the conversation. Particularly relevant options include:
Dona Sarkar is the Chief Troublemaker of Microsoft’s AI Extensibility Program, a BIPOC woman in tech leader, multi-published author, and founder known for making complex technology feel more practical, creative, and human. In addition to her work in AI, she is the owner of the ethical luxury fashion brand Prima Dona Studios. She has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Productive People and Cosmopolitan’s Businessperson of the Year.
Dona is especially compelling on stage because she brings both deep credibility in emerging technology and a distinctly energetic, audience-friendly style. Her recent speaking and thought leadership have focused heavily on helping people understand how to build a meaningful role in the “AI-verse,” use AI more effectively, and remain distinctly human while adapting to rapid technological change.
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/dona-sarkar
Dona is available for the event dates.
“If you’re looking for a speaker who’s 100% authentic, not afraid to engage in uncomfortable but highly necessary #RealTalk to get your audience thinking, Dona Sarkar is your answer. A powerhouse of a speaker, Dona always comes prepared with fresh ideas and actionable plans (read: homework!) to continue investing in themselves long after the event is over. Get ready to be volunTOLD, get out of your comfort zone, and discover how you can become a better human.” - Shona Bang, Global Head of Microsoft's Human of IT Program
"When Dona Sarkar speaks, something exceptional happens. She is a passionate presenter and changemaker who is making a remarkable impression globally. Single-handed, Dona is lifting up Everyone in the room and instilling in them the belief that they can and will do more. Her brave, no-nonsense approach is infectious and making a world of difference." - Tracy O'Connell, Director of European Sharepoint Conference ESPC
Dona aligns especially well with Ellevate’s themes around AI / AI for Good, career growth / workplace skills, and positive, energizing content for women navigating today’s climate. Her work sits at the center of AI innovation, and her public speaking content shows a strong focus on helping professionals understand how to navigate AI thoughtfully, practically, and with confidence.
She is also a strong fit for conversations about women in tech, career positioning, and how to stay relevant and visible in a rapidly changing workplace. Her recent public posts and speaking themes specifically address crafting a career niche in the AI era and rebranding yourself for the “AI-verse,” which makes her especially relevant for an audience of ambitious professional women thinking about what comes next.
Dona would be especially compelling for a conversation or panel related to AI for Good, women shaping the future of AI, or how professionals can build relevance and confidence in the AI era. She also appears well suited for a more energizing keynote-style moment focused on staying “extra human” while navigating rapid technological change. This recommendation is based on her current role and recent public speaking themes.
Norliza Pavlakos is an internationally renowned keynote speaker, entrepreneur, author, and psychotherapist whose message on resilience, leadership, and transformation is rooted in lived experience — not theory. In her memoir, Conviction: How One Woman Overcame Her Traumatic Past and Found Her Purpose, Norliza shares a deeply personal journey marked by childhood abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, abduction, depression, and despair, and the courage it took to not only survive, but rebuild her life with purpose, faith, and conviction.
That lived experience is what gives Norliza’s work its depth and power. With no safety net, resources, or easy path forward, she went on to build and rebuild across industries and challenges — founding Australia’s first Miss India International Beauty Pageant, scaling a failing café into a profitable business, growing Finest Alterations into five locations serving elite clients, and later launching My Mind Hub, a national mental health directory connecting medical professionals with patients across Australia.
Today, Norliza speaks globally on resilience, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and performance under pressure, helping leaders and teams turn adversity, uncertainty, and underestimation into sustained momentum. Her story and frameworks offer both emotional resonance and practical insight for audiences navigating challenge, change, and growth.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/norliza-pavlakos
Website: https://www.norliza.com/
Norliza is available for the event dates.


"This was my favorite talk of the year! I was so captivated I could not even multi-task. I didn’t want to miss a word!" - Microsoft
"Norliza’s learning session for mental health awareness month was informative and highly inspirational." - Lenovo
"Liza is a phenomenal speaker. Her keynote is actionable and life-changing. She inspires transformation." - Oberoi Hotels and Resorts
Norliza aligns especially well with Ellevate’s themes around positive, energizing content for women navigating today’s climate, career growth / workplace skills, and belonging in the workplace. Her story and message speak directly to resilience, self-belief, and rising beyond limitation — themes that would strongly resonate with women navigating challenge, transition, and reinvention.
She is also a compelling fit for conversations around confidence, overcoming adversity, and turning setbacks into momentum, particularly for audiences who may be navigating self-doubt, underestimation, or difficult personal and professional seasons. Her perspective brings both emotional depth and practical inspiration.
When you come from a place where nothing is guaranteed, no support, no advantages, no safety net, you develop strengths the world does not expect.
In The Power of Nothing, Norliza shows underestimated professionals how to transform doubt, bias, and adversity into the instincts, resilience, and clarity that drive breakthrough success.
Through storytelling and actionable frameworks, she reveals how having nothing became her greatest catalyst, enabling her to build five businesses from zero capital, lead teams under pressure, rise to global recognition, and become a Golden Gavel honoree and top-ranked international keynote speaker.
This keynote reframes what it means to be underestimated and equips participants with the mindset, tools, and everyday practices to rise, lead, and excel even when the world doubts them.
Ideal For:
This keynote is designed specifically for audiences who have been historically overlooked, underestimated, or under-supported in their personal or professional journeys, including:
Attendees Will Gain
1. The Activation Effect
How being underestimated becomes your strategic advantage. Participants learn to reframe doubt and bias as fuel, turning external underestimation into internal power, clarity, and drive. This works especially well for women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, disabled professionals, and first-generation leaders who often experience underestimation.
2. The Reality Questions
A simple two-minute clarity tool that turns self-doubt into confident action. Attendees learn a quick, repeatable set of questions to evaluate what they have, what is still possible, and what action they can take immediately. This interrupts imposter syndrome, overthinking, and second-guessing with clear, grounded decision-making.
3. The Wind and Water Principle
A flexible mindset shift for moving through obstacles instead of getting stuck behind them. Participants learn how to stay adaptive, fluid, and forward-moving when facing barriers unique to underestimated groups. This teaches them to move through obstacles rather than seeing them as endpoints.
4. The Smallest Viable Action
The one-step method that stops perfectionism and ignites momentum. Attendees walk away knowing the smallest possible step they can take today, regardless of confidence, resources, or external validation. This is effective for those who tend to overprepare, seek permission, or wait until they feel ready.
5. The Promise Test
A personal commitment tool to stay aligned with purpose when the world doubts you. Participants learn how to anchor themselves to a personal mission or promise so they remain focused despite external doubt or adversity. This provides the identity anchor that underestimated groups often lack due to limited external validation.
Why This Keynote Resonates
Underestimated professionals do not need more motivation. They need frameworks that work in the real world.
This keynote resonates because Norliza:
Audiences leave not only inspired but equipped with practical tools that shift identity, activate confidence, and unlock performance when it matters most.