Event Website: https://www.lcld.com/event/15th-annual-lcld-alumni-leadership-symposium/
Event Brief: LCLD Alumni Leadership Symposium (Plenary Speaker)
The LCLD Alumni Leadership Symposium is an annual in-person convening designed to bring together alumni for reconnection, career development, and leadership enrichment. The audience includes approximately 300–350 legal professionals, primarily U.S.-based, spanning senior associates through General Counsel, Managing Partners, and heads of organizations. Attendees come from major law firms and corporations, as well as nonprofits, government, and academia.
LCLD is seeking a plenary speaker for June 12, 2026, who can deliver a high-energy, interactive session with practical, applicable tools. Historically, sessions that invite audience engagement and offer real-world takeaways have been the most highly rated.
The plenary content should explore a blend of intersectionality, resiliency, communication, and executive presence.
The speaker fee range is $5,000–$6,000, with LCLD covering hotel accommodations, meals, and ground transportation. Airfare is typically economy or economy plus.
This request is specifically for plenary programming, as the organization may already be finalizing a separate keynote speaker.
Sherhara Burrell is a keynote speaker, master facilitator, and communication advisor who helps leaders translate inner clarity into confident, credible presence. With over 17 years of experience, she works with executives, founders, and emerging leaders to navigate visibility, influence, and high-stakes communication with authenticity and conviction. Sherhara’s work sits at the intersection of identity, executive presence, and leadership influence—supporting leaders to move beyond performative confidence and lead from alignment. Known for her ability to both connect and challenge, she blends powerful storytelling with practical frameworks that build trust, strengthen communication, and create lasting impact. She has trained more than 10,000 leaders and partnered with organizations including Google, Under Armour, Toyota, Capital One, and Comcast.
*Will negotiate to meet budget but would also like to discuss on our call: In addition to the plenary session, we recommend also considering Sherhara Burrell as the event emcee. Given her ability to hold space, connect themes, and guide high-stakes conversations, this dual role could further elevate the overall flow and impact of the Symposium.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/sherhara-burrell
Website: https://www.sherhara.com/
Sherhara is based in Texas.
"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
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
Sherhara also serves as a strategic emcee and event host for conferences and summits where flow, connection, and credibility matter. She creates cohesion across sessions, supports speakers and panelists, and ensures the run of show feels intentional and grounded.
Planners Can Expect:
Ideal For:
Multi-day leadership conferences, summits, panels, and high-visibility gatherings.
Rashmi Airan is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, consultant, and former attorney whose work centers on ethical leadership, decision-making, and resilience under pressure. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Rashmi built a successful legal career before confronting profound accountability following a federal conviction for bank fraud. Her experience reshaped her understanding of leadership, integrity, and self-awareness. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in law, finance, and business, Rashmi now works with organizations to foster cultures rooted in authenticity and courageous leadership. She has partnered with Fortune 100 companies and global brands including Deloitte, Coca-Cola, Merck, and Comcast, and is a TEDx speaker featured in major national media outlets.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/rashmi-airan
Website: https://rashmiairan.com/
Rashmi is based in Florida.
“Rashmi’s story illustrates the power of humility and transformation. Rashmi is an energy giver - whether live or virtual. She reminds us that we are all humans and fallible. I would recommend Rashmi, she is one the best speakers I have ever worked with and I will work with her again!” - Damien Atkins, Former General Counsel, Hershey’s Inc.
“The most mind capturing talk ever! 100% focused and visually present. Personable and relatable” - Roshni Kadhiwala, CEO/Owner JLM Hotel Group, Asian American Hotel Owners Association
The pressure in law isn’t just about winning cases or bringing in business. It’s the nonstop drive to meet billables, stay available to clients around the clock, chase the next promotion — all while balancing the weight of impossible expectations. For many, that pressure quietly becomes disconnection: from presence, from purpose, from joy.
I know that world. I lived it.
And I also know what it takes to come back to yourself — with courage, accountability, and a different kind of clarity. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, I work with legal professionals who are ready to stop living in default mode and start leading with intention — in court, at the firm, and in their lives.
Rashmi’s Rise Through It® keynote can seamlessly expand into a full workshop format that deepens participant engagement and accelerates practical application. The workshop version builds on the keynote’s core themes — navigating pressure, confronting internal barriers, and leading with clarity and courage — while adding structured reflection, interactive exercises, and tools that help legal professionals move from insight to action. This format empowers teams to translate resilience and self-awareness into tangible cultural shifts, fostering environments rooted in trust, authenticity, and purposeful leadership.
Outcomes
Hilary Blair is a keynote speaker and executive communication expert specializing in presence, voice, and high-stakes conversations. A Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®) and co-owner of ARTiculate: Real&Clear, Hilary brings a rare blend of performance training and leadership development to her work. She holds a BA in Psychology from Yale University and an MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory, and is trained in Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) as well as Conversational Intelligence™ (CIQ). Hilary has worked with senior leaders across industries—from Fortune 500 organizations to executive teams—helping them strengthen credibility, deepen connection, and communicate more effectively in the moments that matter most.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/hilary-blair
Website: https://hilaryblairspeaks.com/
Hilary is based in Denver, CO.

“Hilary is incredible – I highly recommend her if you want to gain your voice and be more effective in any interaction whether it is a one-on-one or a large audience presentation. I believe she could help even the most polished, professional be more effective. She really knows her stuff! In my sessions with her, I was able to identify a few key things about my voice that were holding me back and making me less powerful and “heard.” She is great to work with and I treasured my time with her. Thank you, Hilary!” - Carrie Clausen, Organization Development Manager, Staples
“Hilary was so entertaining in her presentation. She communicated very clearly with her great sense of humor, non verbal communication, and her wonderful speaking abilities. We have had many speakers over the years at our Cherry Creek Chamber Business Success Series, Hilary would definitely be at the top of the list!” - Christine Des Enfants, Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce
In today’s workplace, avoiding tricky conversations is often seen as the safer choice. But dodging friction comes at a cost: missed opportunities for growth, collaboration, and innovation.
When we don’t have the tools to stay in the moment, we slip into polite avoidance or defensive postures, and that’s where progress stalls and relationships weaken.
Fruitful Friction® gives leaders and teams a new way to navigate those moments.
Drawing on decades of voice, presence, and communication work, Hilary teaches audiences how to stay grounded when conversations get uncomfortable, read what’s actually happening beneath the surface, and use tension as a catalyst for insight and forward movement.
Key Audience Takeaways:
Leaders are judged long before they speak. How they enter a room, how they breathe, how they listen, and how they respond— their presence communicates more than their words ever will.
Presence That Connects gives audiences a practical approach to leadership presence rooted in voice, embodiment, and real-time awareness. Hilary draws on decades of performance training, communication coaching, and systems work to show leaders how to stay steady, responsive, and connected, especially when tension rises.
This keynote shifts presence from something leaders try to project into something they actively practice.
Key Audience Takeaways:
Our voice reveals everything: confidence, hesitation, urgency, connection. It can steady a room or tighten it. It can create trust or shut it down.
The Voice That Moves People gives audiences a practical, embodied approach to vocal presence. Hilary teaches leaders how to use breath, resonance, pacing, and vocal awareness to communicate with credibility, warmth, and intention—especially when the stakes are high.
This keynote shows audiences what happens when your voice stops working against you… and starts working for you.
Key Audience Takeaways:
Michael Laidler is a leadership speaker and resilience strategist with more than 20 years of experience navigating high‑pressure roles in law enforcement and federal leadership. His signature philosophy, Fueling Resilience, reflects his belief that resilience starts within—and it’s the fuel for innovation, growth, and sustained performance. Throughout his career as a police officer, U.S. Border Patrol agent, and federal prison executive, Michael led teams through some of the toughest environments imaginable. These experiences shaped a leadership approach centered on composure, clarity, and accountability when the stakes are highest.
An MBA graduate and best‑selling author, Michael blends research, practical leadership tools, and lived experience to help leaders thrive under pressure. His Failure F.U.E.L.S. Growth™ framework—Face the Moment, Understand the Impact, Equip Yourself, Lead with Intention, Sustain the Shift—equips individuals and organizations to improve decision‑making, navigate uncertainty, boost productivity, and stay resilient. As a keynote speaker, he has empowered tens of thousands of professionals across Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and first responder organizations to turn pressure into performance and challenges into growth.
Michael’s mission is simple: to help leaders and organizations lead with clarity, grow through adversity, and thrive when it matters most—making him a strong fit for healthcare leaders tasked with elevating team accountability amid relentless demands.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/michael-laidler
Website: https://michaelalaidler.com/
Michael is based in Texas.

“I Experienced My First Mastermind Group Led By Michael And Hopefully Not My Last! Great Communication Skills And He Did A Great Job Leading The Group. His Perspective And Experience Is Highly Valued!”- ROSA MADRID, Loan Officer/Partner at Marketplace Home Mortgage
“Awesome Guy, Even Better Coach. He Definitely Reminded Me That It Starts With You. Anyone Looking For Guidance And Direction Would Benefit From His Services. Thank You For Your Time!!! - DWIGHT ALEXANDER, Founder of Develop-U
Before leaders can effectively lead others, they must first lead themselves. In an era defined by uncertainty and constant pressure, Michael Laidler equips audiences with the mindset and tools required for exceptional self-leadership. Drawing on more than two decades in law enforcement and his Failure F.U.E.L.S. Growth framework, Michael shows how internal pressure can be transformed into clarity, focus, and sustained performance.
Through real-life stories and actionable strategies, this keynote helps leaders strengthen resilience, improve decision-making, and remain grounded when the stakes are high.
Attendees Will Gain Insight Into:
Gabe Karp is a leadership keynote speaker, bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on productive conflict. With more than 30 years of experience spanning courtroom litigation, executive leadership, and venture investing, Gabe helps organizations transform tension into collaboration and competitive advantage. He began his career as a trial lawyer before serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of ePrize (now Merkle), where he helped scale the company into a global market leader working with 75 of the world’s top 100 brands. Today, Gabe is an Operating Partner at Detroit Venture Partners and a Venture Partner at Lightbank, advising leadership teams and boards through growth, complexity, and change. He is the author of Don’t Get Mad at Penguins and has been recognized by Crain’s Business as Michigan’s General Counsel of the Year.
Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/gabe-karp
Website: https://www.gabekarp.com/
Gabe is based in Detroit.

“Healthy conflict and extreme candor are crucial elements of high-trust teams. Businesses who embrace Gabe’s teachings will grow faster and go further.” - JAY FARNER | VICE CHAIRMAN & CEO | ROCKET COMPANIES (formerly Quicken Loans)
“Capturing the attention and imagination of an audience is never easy, but Gabe does both. He brings a unique perspective to the companies he speaks to.” - ERIC LEFKOFSKY | FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN | GROUPON
“When it comes to driving results amidst conflict, Gabe is your guy. Through unprecedented techniques, Gabe shares a fun and notable path to conflict Resolution.” - ROBERT WOLFE | FOUNDER & CEO | MOOSEJAW & CROWDRISE
The Big Idea
The hard stuff is unavoidable, but when handled well, it becomes a catalyst for accelerated collaboration, stronger partnerships, and competitive advantage. Gabe Karp’s transformative approach shows audiences how to embrace healthy conflict to drive innovation, resilience, and meaningful results.
Keynote Description
Conflict is coded into our DNA through millions of years of fight-or-flight instincts, but if left unchecked, it can erode collaboration, weaken partnerships, kill profitability, and torpedo careers.
In his uniquely entertaining and insightful style, Gabe Karp reframes “the hard stuff” as a tool for collaborative growth rather than something to fear. By mastering conflict, organizations can accelerate collaboration, foster innovation, and unlock breakthrough potential—leading to improved performance and sustainable competitive edge. Gabe equips audiences with practical strategies to detox unhealthy interactions and transform uncomfortable situations into collaborative opportunities. His simple yet effective tools leave audiences inspired and ready to implement immediate changes in their work and lives.
Audience
This keynote serves leaders, teams, and organizations who are:
Outcomes
Your audience will leave with: