Courtney Caldwell is the Cofounder & CEO of recently acquired beauty-tech startup, ShearShare, the largest provider of on-demand salon and barbershop space rentals and the most affordable leases in the market. She is also an award-winning entrepreneur and tech founder and has spent two decades building winning teams in tech marketing.
Virtual Fee: Typically $5,000 but I can negotiate her down to $2,500
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/courtney-caldwell
Success in tech isn’t just about skills—it’s about early confidence, measured strategy, and intentional impact. In this empowering keynote, Courtney Caldwell, a post-exit tech founder and startup entrepreneur, shares actionable insights on navigating new workplace dynamics, building a strong personal brand, and using resilience as a competitive advantage. From overcoming self-assigned syndromes to leveraging unique perspectives as women—especially women of color—Courtney provides a roadmap for early-career professionals to thrive. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies to advocate for themselves and to shape the future of tech on their own terms.
*Courtney can adjust this topic to make it applicable to your audience
Fear is universal—whether you’re scaling a business, raising a family, or climbing a literal mountain. In this powerful keynote, Courtney and Dr. Tye Caldwell share how fear has been a constant companion on their journey—from navigating the build, scale, and successful exit of an award-winning startup to parenting with purpose an NFL athlete to pushing past physical and mental limits on the world’s toughest climbs as they summited Mount Kilimanjaro. Through real-life stories and hard-earned insights, they challenge the idea that fear is something to avoid. Instead, they show how embracing fear can be the key to achieving audacious goals. Whether you’re launching a startup, stepping into leadership, making a career pivot or life-changing decision, raising the next generation, or tackling a personal challenge that seems insurmountable, the lesson is clear: the greatest breakthroughs happen when you do it scared.
Audiences will rethink fear, reframe risk, and take bold steps toward their biggest goals.
Intended Audience: Executives, entrepreneurs, founders, tech professionals, parents, and ambitious leaders looking to break through fear-driven limitations and take bold steps toward their next level of success.
"Honestly, she was one of the best speakers I have seen in my career. -- Her story was inspiring, engaging, relevant, and just brought so much joy to me. After hearing her talk, I took to heart some of the things she does and even took a few of them and implemented them in my daily routine. -- I had a banana for breakfast too! Anyhow, this was a fantastic speaker -- Incredible." - Code42
CEO and Founder of Oya Femtech Apparel, Visionary Startup Founder, Innovator, Motivational Speaker
Mitchella Gilbert is a visionary startup founder, innovator, and the CEO and Founder of Oya Femtech Apparel, a groundbreaking brand that addresses feminine health issues. She is one of the first 200 black women to secure over $1,000,000 in venture capital, and has received prestigious accolades such as the John Wooden International Leadership Award. She also served as a 2024 diplomatic delegate to Japan on behalf of the City of Los Angeles.
Virtual Fee: $2,500
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/mitchella-gilbert
Embarking on the journey of building Oya Femtech Apparel has been an enlightening and transformative experience. As the founder and CEO, I've not only developed a groundbreaking technical apparel brand addressing feminine health issues but have also witnessed the profound impact it has had on women's lives. Reflecting on this journey, I've gleaned three crucial lessons about advocating for women's health and fostering positive change.
Lesson 1: Advocating for the Unaware
Lesson 2: Men as Allies, Not Enemies
Lesson 3: Taking Breaks to Recharge
In conclusion, empowering women's health goes beyond providing technical solutions; it involves challenging societal norms, fostering alliances, and nurturing a culture of self-worth. Oya Femtech Apparel is not just a brand—it's a movement to redefine beauty, celebrate health, and create a more inclusive and empowering future for women.
As the founder and CEO of Oya Femtech Apparel, I've embarked on a journey fueled by innovation, and driven by a passion to create meaningful change in women's health. Through this experience, I've gleaned invaluable lessons that have shaped my understanding of innovation and its transformative power. Here are three key messages I've learned along the way:
Innovation is not merely about creating something new; it's about creating value, driving progress, and improving lives. By embracing these key lessons—focusing on community, daring to dream, and championing inclusivity—we can harness the power of innovation to shape a brighter, more equitable future for all.
"It was great. Mitchella was exactly the right person for us to work with and their personalization of the content to our team was top tier. Everyone left the presentation feeling motivated and inspired." - Kathleen Sikora, Director Talent Effectiveness & Development, Code42
Organizational Leadership, Learning and Development, GTM Enablement, Equity Leader, Author of "Fix Your Face & Watch Your Tone: Women Know What's Needed"
Dr. V Boykin is a keynote speaker, published researcher, and leader in the organizational leadership and equity space. Dr. V’s expertise is creating equitable work experiences for women and people of color. Dr. V established clear evidence to illustrate the importance of social support systems in tackling workplace equity through shifts in the social environment.
Virtual Fee: Will negotiate to $2,500
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/dr-v-boykin
The Workplace Experiences of Women: A Full Course Meal of Understanding
Understanding the experiences of women in the workplace is like savoring a full-course meal—it requires time, attention, and an appreciation for each unique flavor. In this session, we'll unravel the complexities, challenges, and triumphs that women navigate in professional settings.
Anchoring in Empathy: The Key to Increased Productivity
Empathy is the secret sauce that enhances productivity. As leaders, anchoring ourselves in empathy allows us to truly understand our team members, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration. It's not just about leading; it's about creating a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. With a 38% drop in work-life balance for women since COVID-19 it is imperative that leaders have empathy to drive the best results from individuals and the team they manage (Hupfer et al., 2022).
Leading with Understanding: A Recipe for Success
Leading people you don't understand is like navigating uncharted waters. In this session, I'll share insights on unlocking the full potential of women on your team. By embracing their unique strengths, skills, and perspectives, you can tap into a wellspring of creativity and innovation. In fact, there is a 21% gap in profits due to a lack of gender-diverse teams (Boykin, 2023; Hunt, 2018). I can’t think of a company that wouldn’t want to recoup a portion of that 21% of profits!
Retention Strategies: Nurturing Top-Talented Women
Retention is the cornerstone of a thriving organization. We'll explore strategies to retain top talented women, recognizing that a diverse and inclusive workplace isn't just a moral obligation—it's a pathway to increased profitability and sustainable success. Remember, inclusive workplace cultures are 2x more likely to meet or exceed financial targets (Bourke, 2018).
Intersectionality: Navigating Complexity without Conflict
Layers of intersectionality don't have to be minefields of conflict. Instead, they can be bridges that connect us. We'll discuss how understanding and appreciating diverse identities contribute to a harmonious workplace where everyone can thrive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our journey in this session will be a deep dive into empathy, understanding, and the path forward for women in the workplace to drive productivity and profits. Reach out to schedule a session that guides you through using authentic empathy to drive solid business results.
“Dr. V Boykin’s superpower as a speaker is making her audiences feel seen, heard, and valued. I’ve hosted many events in my career, and very rarely have I seen someone so quickly create a safe space for attendees to ask candid questions, be vulnerable about their experiences, and connect on a human level. By addressing tough topics in an accessible way, followed by specific calls to action, she leaves you feeling inspired and fully equipped to tackle your personal challenges.” - Erica Finley, Principal Marketing Manager, HubSpot