LCLD
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For Clients and Event Organizers, you can think of us as an extension of your events team. With our vast network and knowledge of trusted and vetted speakers, we do all the heavy lifting to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey in your talent booking process. 

About the event

LCLD 15th Annual LCLD Alumni Leadership Symposium

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
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Own the room. Shape the conversation. Lead with presence. KEYNOTE SPEAKER | COMMUNICATION ADVISOR | EMCEE

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.

Fee: $10k* + travel expenses.

*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.

CONSIDERATION VIDEO FOR LCLD TEAM:

"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

Speaker Highlights

Why She’s the Right Fit for LCLD

  • Speaks directly to executive presence, communication, and inclusive leadership—core priorities for the plenary experience
  • Brings a powerful lens on identity, alignment, and influence, particularly relevant for senior legal professionals navigating visibility and leadership pressure
  • Highly effective with General Counsel, partners, and executive audiences, balancing depth with practical application
  • Offers a non-performative approach to leadership that resonates with audiences seeking substance over theatrics
  • Delivers engaging, reflective sessions that foster clarity, trust, and lasting behavioral shift

Proposed Sessions:

Beyond Confidence: The Keys to Owning Any Room

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

Mastering the Shameless Plug: Advocate. Influence. Lead.

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

Emcee Services (Optional Consideration)

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:

  • A calm, confident host who sets tone and pace
  • Seamless transitions that elevate the full experience
  • Audience connection without forced hype
  • A trusted partner who reduces stress for event teams

Ideal For:

Multi-day leadership conferences, summits, panels, and high-visibility gatherings.

Rashmi Airan
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Rashmi Airan is an ivy-league educated attorney, Wall Street investment banker, serial entrepreneur, college professor, professionally trained vocalist, convicted felon, and a globally recognized transformation expert.

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.

Speaker Fee: Typically $15,000* + plus a $2,000 flat travel fee for RT Airfare, RT Ground Transfers, plus Organizer to provide Hotel for up to 2 nights // * Will negotiate to meet budget.

Gravity Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/rashmi-airan

Website: https://rashmiairan.com/

Rashmi is based in Florida.

CONSIDERATION VIDEO FOR LCLD:

“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

Speaker Highlights

Why She’s the Right Fit for LCLD

  • Deeply credible with legal and compliance audiences, having lived the realities of billable pressure, ambition, and career risk
  • Brings an intersectional lens shaped by her experience as a first-generation immigrant woman navigating elite legal spaces
  • Addresses resiliency, ethical blind spots, and leadership under pressure through real-world, high-stakes experience
  • Connects communication and executive presence to accountability, self-awareness, and values-based leadership
  • Delivers highly engaging, reflective sessions that balance emotional impact with practical application

Suggested Keynote / Workshop:

Rise Through It® for Legal & Compliance

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.

  • The Real Challenges We Tackle Together: I help legal professionals navigate pressure, blind spots, and leadership breakdowns, transforming challenges into clarity, accountability, and purposeful action.
  • Internalized Judgment and Ego: Lawyers are trained to spot flaws, in others, and often in themselves. I challenge high achievers to drop the judgment, shed the mask, and lead from a place of self-awareness, not performance.
  • Lack of Authentic Connection: Too often, legal teams operate in silos, or worse, in silent competition. I help leaders foster cultures of trust and belonging, where people actually want to collaborate, contribute, and grow together.
  • Fear of Letting Go: Letting go of control feels risky in a world that rewards precision and perfection. But real leadership comes from learning to trust, delegate, and surrender when it matters most.
  • Disconnection from the Present: When you’re always focused on the next goal, it’s easy to miss what’s right in front of you — your health, your relationships, your accomplishments. I guide legal professionals to reconnect with the now so they can lead from grounded presence, not burnout.
  • Unrelenting Performance Pressure: In law, success is often measured in billable hours and client wins. But that pressure to always deliver faster, better, more can become a silent weight. I help lawyers create space to pause, recenter, and make decisions from clarity instead of chaos.

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

  1. Build Practical Tools for Resilience. Walk away with strategies to lead confidently through discomfort and uncertainty.
  2. Foster Cultures Rooted in Courage. Create environments where vulnerability, risk-taking, and honesty fuel deep connection.
  3. Release What Holds You Back. Let go of ego, fear, and limiting beliefs that block growth and clarity.
  4. Reframe from Victim to Visionary. Shift perspective to see adversity as a gateway to purposeful leadership.
  5. Master the RISE Framework®. Learn a proven framework to reframe challenges and rise stronger through change.

Highlights

  • Columbia Law School honors graduate; career spanning finance, business, and law.
  • Featured by ABC, PBS, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal; TEDx presenter.
  • Partner to Fortune 100 and professional services organizations, including CPAs and financial groups.
  • Board leadership with Overtown Youth Center/Alonzo Mourning Foundation; community advocate.
  • Delivers high-empathy, high-utility programs that move audiences from reflection to action.
Hilary Blair
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CSP®, a leading voice in Executive Presence and Interpersonal Connection, and co-owner of ARTiculate: Real&Clear

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.

Fee: Typically $10k. Negotiating to meet budget.

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

Speaker Highlights

Why She’s the Right Fit for LCLD

  • Directly addresses communication, executive presence, and inclusive leadership—core priorities for the plenary session
  • Highly credible with senior legal and executive audiences, including General Counsel and firm leaders
  • Offers practical tools for navigating difficult conversations, tension, and interpersonal dynamics
  • Brings a unique, embodied approach to communication that goes beyond theory and resonates in real-world leadership settings
  • Delivers interactive, engaging sessions that help leaders improve how they show up in high-stakes moments

Keynote Offerings:

Fruitful Friction®: Navigating the messy middle with connection, courage, and presence

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:

  • Recognize the early signs of social and conversational tension
  • Stay present when the stakes rise
  • Shift unproductive communication patterns
  • Read the deeper layer of communication
  • Turn uncomfortable moments into opportunities

Presence That Connects: The leadership shift that builds trust and strengthens every conversation

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:

  • Understand presence as an embodied practice, not a presentation
  • Stay grounded under pressure
  • Communicate with more intention and credibility
  • Notice and shift unhelpful patterns in real time
  • Build connection through authentic human behavior

The Voice That Moves People: How vocal awareness transforms connection, confidence, and contribution

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:

  • Understand the connection between breath, presence, and vocal impact
  • Use tone, resonance, and pacing to strengthen how messages land
  • Build vocal awareness for high-stakes communication
  • Communicate with more intention and authenticity
  • Move people through what they hear, not just what they read or see
Michael Laidler
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Fueling Resilience: Michael equips leaders and organizations to use pressure to fuel resilience for growth and success.

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.

Fee: $10,000 plus travel expenses. Fee is negotiable.

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
More Testimonials: https://michaelalaidler.com/testimonials/

Speaker Highlights

Why He’s the Right Fit for LCLD

  • Brings deep credibility around resiliency and leadership under pressure, grounded in real-world, high-stakes experience
  • Offers practical tools for decision-making, clarity, and composure in demanding professional environments
  • Resonates with senior audiences navigating complexity, accountability, and organizational risk
  • Translates adversity into actionable leadership insight rather than abstract motivation
  • Delivers structured frameworks that leaders can immediately apply within their teams and organizations

Proposed Keynote:

Fueling Resilience: Leading Yourself First to Turn Pressure into Growth

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:

  • The Power of Perspective – How reframing adversity unlocks clarity, confidence, and leadership growth
  • Failure F.U.E.L.S. Growth – Why setbacks are invitations for progress and how to leverage them for resilience and momentum
  • Mental Toughness Techniques – Practical strategies to stay focused and effective under pressure
  • Purpose-Driven Leadership – Aligning personal and organizational purpose to elevate engagement and performance
  • Building a Resilient Culture – Tools for fostering trust, growth, and well-being in high-performance environments
Gabe Karp
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Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Expert in Productive Conflict Management

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.

Fee: $17,500* + $2k flat travel expenses + hotel // *Fee will need to be negotiated but this is a speaker that should be on your radar.

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

Speaker Highlights

Why He’s the Right Fit for LCLD

  • Deep legal credibility: Gabe’s background as a trial lawyer, General Counsel, and board-level advisor allows him to speak the language of legal professionals with authenticity and authority. He understands the stakes, risk calculus, and interpersonal dynamics unique to legal and executive environments.
  • Conflict expertise rooted in practice, not theory: With three decades of hands-on experience navigating courtroom battles, boardroom negotiations, and high-growth company dynamics, Gabe brings practical, tested frameworks for managing disagreement without sacrificing trust or performance.
  • Plenary relevance with keynote potential: Gabe’s work aligns strongly with plenary priorities around communication, executive presence, and resiliency. His content also positions him as a compelling future keynote consideration, particularly for audiences ready to explore conflict as a leadership competency at scale.
  • Applicable across sectors and roles: His insights resonate with General Counsel, firm leaders, and executives across corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector environments, making his message broadly relevant to LCLD’s diverse alumni audience.
  • Highly engaging and disarming delivery: Known for his humor and storytelling, Gabe creates a psychologically safe space for leaders to engage difficult topics, shift behavior, and leave with tools they can immediately apply.

Proposed Session:

Make the Hard Stuff Easy: Accelerate Collaboration to Transform Challenges Into Competitive Edge

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:

  • Ready to unlock innovation, profitability, and loyalty through better conflict management
  • Focused on creating a culture of psychological safety and resilience
  • Seeking to improve team collaboration and results
  • Struggling with conflict avoidance or toxic workplace interactions

Outcomes

Your audience will leave with:

  • Tools to turn uncomfortable situations into unstoppable growth
  • Practical methods to detox interactions for maximum impact and profitability
  • A new perspective on conflict as a productive driver of collaborative success
  • Collaboration strategies that work across all areas of life
  • An understanding of how conflict avoidance harms results—and how to fix it