Lisa Walden

Topics

• Navigating Today’s Workplace Trends: Decoding the Shift in Employee Expectations

  The workplace lexicon is evolving at breakneck speed. Terms like "quiet quitting," "career cushioning," and "bare minimum Monday" have gone from TikTok trends to boardroom discussions. But these aren't just catchy phrases—they're symptoms of a deeper shift in how employees think about work, boundaries, and career fulfillment. This keynote decrypts what's really happening in today's workplace landscape, helping you understand why these trends are emerging and how forward-thinking leaders can respond proactively to turn trending topics into opportunities for deeper engagement and connection.

  ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS

  - A deep dive into the most meaningful workplace trends and the underlying needs they represent
  - Gen Z’s impact on these trends and work culture, and strategies for leaders to respond with curiosity rather than criticism
  - How to use trending workplace conversations as a catalyst for positive organizational change, and to design a strong organizational culture

• Leading Through Uncertainty: How to Guide Your Team When You Don't Have All the Answers

  Today's workplace is….complex, to put it mildly! In the midst of constant change, economic volatility, and shifting priorities, leaders are being asked to navigate ambiguity while keeping their teams motivated and productive—all without a roadmap. The challenge isn't just managing your own stress; it's being the steady presence your team needs while honestly acknowledging that you don't have all the answers. This keynote explores how to build genuine resilience in uncertain times, focusing on practical strategies for leading with transparency, protecting your team's wellbeing, and creating stability even when everything feels unstable. You'll discover how to turn uncertainty into opportunity, support your people through difficult transitions, and model the kind of sustainable leadership that builds trust and loyalty.

  ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS

  - How to lead with authenticity and vulnerability during times of uncertainty
  - Practical strategies for protecting your team's mental health and preventing burnout
  - Tools for balancing accountability with compassion and grace

• Creating A Workplace That Doesn’t Suck

  We spend nearly a third of our lives at work, yet millions wake up on Monday mornings with dread rather than enthusiasm. The sobering truth? Most workplaces drain human potential instead of unleashing it. But a shift is underway—visionary organizations are recognizing a fundamental truth: their greatest competitive advantage isn't technology or strategy, but their people. These forward thinkers are crafting environments where leadership values vulnerability over perfection, employees have each others’ backs, and a shared sense of purpose drives engagement.

  Igniting a bold vision for the future of work, this keynote asks: What if we bravely and unwaveringly put people first? It challenges outdated notions of work ethic and corporate culture, exploring needed mindset shifts around everything from how to build trusting teams, tend to emotional culture, show up as an effective leader, and even prevent burnout. Through illuminating case studies and best-in-class examples gleaned from years of studying truly human-first companies, attendees will reimagine what work can (and maybe should) be, and gain action-driven insights into how to create a workplace that not only doesn't suck: it's awesome.

  ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS

  - An exploration of the key elements for a great organization: leadership that balances action with compassion, communication grounded in empathy, and a culture that prioritizes psychological safety
  - How to embrace today’s trending workplace topics to stay competitive in recruitment and retention efforts
  - Actionable strategies to change company culture for the better, no matter your role

• Work Reimagined: Critical Shifts for Today's Workplace

  We are boldly striding into a brave new world of work. As organizations, leaders, and employees try to reconcile what it means to “return to the office,” so many questions are being asked about what this next normal should look like. Do we start from scratch? Do we go back to the way things were? Do we tackle the challenges of hybrid work? With all these questions comes all the anxiety. And while it might be tempting to return to what was familiar and comfortable before, we need to take recent lessons to heart and courageously create a work environment that serves both the organization and the humans doing the work. A workplace reimagined is one that leads with a people-first approach, proactively creates a burnout-free but productive culture, and embraces flexible policies without sacrificing the connection and collaboration of in-person work. It might feel daunting, but it is doable—and this presentation shows you how.

  Takeaways:
  • Framework to shift your mindset and reimagine the future of work
  • The Do’s and Don’ts of returning to work
  • Fresh insights on how to prevent and manage stress during change
  • Techniques to spot hybrid work hazards before they happen
  • Practical strategies to redesign how you motivate, engage, and lead

• Staying Human in the Age of AI

  First there was the computer, then the search engine, the smartphone, social media, and now… there’s AI. All of these revolutionary technological innovations have upended the way we communicate, lead, and get work done. And while it’s tempting to consider AI as the one tool to rule them all, we have to approach this time with intention and a little bit of care. To successfully implement AI into any workforce, leaders need to strike a happy balance between embracing artificial intelligence and nurturing emotional intelligence; they need to prioritize the people who are using AI. Because while technology may improve how we do so much at work, one thing remains the same: when leaders center humans at work, everyone wins.

  Takeaways:
  • Understand how EI and AI work together to help organizations succeed
  • Best practices from teams that view AI as a tool that compliments a people-first mindset
  • Strategies to keep humans and EI front and center amidst change
  • The soft skills that are critical for success in this brave new world of work

• The Future is Human: Creating People-First Work Cultures

  We are entering a new era of work, one where businesses win when leaders are compassionate, communication is empathetic, and people are prioritized. But that transformation, much like any kind of change, requires a great degree of intention and care.

  By embracing the workplace lessons learned during the pandemic years there’s an opportunity to design the kind of organization we all want to work in, and a culture we can all be a part of.

  In this presentation, you’ll learn how to create a healthier, happier, and ultimately more successful company culture by putting people first. Steeped in years of research and listening (really listening) to employees at all levels, it will paint the picture of what the future of work can and should look like, and how you can get started with that redesign right away.

  Attendee Takeaways:
  — An exploration of the three cornerstones of compassionate leadership
  — Strategies to take organizational communication from autopilot to intentional and empathetic
  — Tactical tools to start transforming your work culture

• Gen Z Who?: Engaging And Motivating The Youngest General At Work

  For most of our clients, Gen Z feels like a riddle wrapped in a mystery folded inside an enigma. “Who even are they? And what do they want from work?”

  This presentation answers these questions, and sheds light on the latest generation to take their place in the American workplace. While Gen Z is often lumped in with Millennials, they’re a distinct cohort with their own set of values, communication preferences, and expectations around what they want work to look/feel like. Leaning on our decade of work on generational research, we decode the best ways to engage and motivate Gen Z.

  Attendee Takeaways:
  — Understanding cultural trends to help you better recruit Gen Z employees and retain the youngest generation at work
  — Learn how Gen Z and Millennials should be managed differently
  — A look at the “why” behind the “what” of Gen Z behavior and motivation

• Making #HYBRIDWORK Awesome: Best practices for a hybrid work world

  2020 and its aftermath have turned our world upside down. There is no part of our lives that has been left unchanged, and work is no exception. As we get to our “next normal” and explore what it means to create exceptional hybrid work environments, we can’t just assume that previous practices will produce similar results. With very real issues emerging—think virtual meeting fatigue, lingering pandemic burnout, lack of motivation, rising feelings of disconnection and isolation—it’s time to rethink how we approach company culture. From bringing intentionality to our communication to fostering a sense of belonging, to reimagining camaraderie and community when we’re not gathered in one physical space and place, this presentation examines what we need in order to create an awesome, energized work environment, no matter where people are working from.

  Takeaways Include:
  • A better understanding of the shifts needed for a truly dynamic hybrid workplace
  • Practical strategies to redesign how you communicate, connect, and collaborate
  • Best practices from organizations with proven awesome virtual and hybrid workplaces

• Why Connections at Work Matter: Strategies to build relationships authentically

  Technology has changed the way we work, in ways both good and bad. With much of our communication shifting from face-to-face to screen-to-screen, building authentic work relationships is harder now than ever before. With study after study citing strong professional relationships as a key factor for engagement, motivation, and work satisfaction, now is the time to acquire the skills to build and maintain connections at work. In this presentation, we identify what’s getting in the way of connecting authentically at work, explore strategies to shape stronger teams, and present best practices from organizations that have discovered the secret sauce to building communities of supportive and interconnected peers.

  Takeaways Include:
  • How to remove barriers that prevent meaningful relationships at work
  • Using a people-first approach to create a sense of belonging and appreciation
  • Overcoming the need to be “perfect,” and instead, learning how to show up as your authentic self

• Reclaiming Work: Finding your flow in the chaotic times

  The workforce is struggling. Struggling to stay motivated, to prioritize tasks and remain productive, and even struggling to find the energy to just show up. With terms like brain fog, languishing, burnout, and pandemic fatigue hovering over our day-to-day, it’s no surprise that engagement is faltering and people feel like they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. But the show must go on! And leaders are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to reinvigorate employees who are overworked and exhausted. The good news? It is actually possible to reclaim some control over how we show up at work, even in the midst of trying times. This presentation offers a path forward by presenting concrete strategies to reclaim control over focus, attention, motivation, and productivity. Through research that validates why you’re feeling the way you are and tools that can help you break through the fog, this presentation answers the question, “how can I feel motivated again?”

  Takeaways include:
  • Tactics to eliminate distractions and find your focus
  • Tools to prioritize your workload and maximize efficiency
  • Ideas to reignite your energy and help you stay motivated and on track
  • Mindset shifts around how to do your best at work while being mindful of well-being

• The Alchemy of Trust: Building teams that really work

  Establishing trust at work is no simple matter. People have devoted entire lives trying to pinpoint that special, almost magical alchemy behind cohesive, collaborative, and trusting teams. While every organization is different, and no two teams will be the same, there are some core concepts that can help leaders craft their own cultures of trust. In this presentation, we identify common (and sometimes surprising) barriers and break down the key ingredients required to build strong, truly trusting teams. From consistent messaging to embracing candor, to admitting vulnerabilities and extending grace, The Alchemy of Trust highlights the “why” and demystifies the “how,” all while providing actionable insights that can be implemented the very next day.

  Takeaways Include:
  • How to establish psychological safety so employees feel confident taking calculated, innovative risks
  • Critical, sometimes counterintuitive mindsets that will create buy-in and help bridge gaps across teams
  • Case studies from organizations that have figured out how to successfully build trust, be it in-person or in a virtual or hybrid setting

• Leadership Reimagined

  The tides have changed, and so have perceptions about what makes for a good job, a good organization, and a good leadership methodology. So why is it that so many leaders continue to operate with a workplace ethos that just isn’t resonating in the current work world?

  Those that aren’t adapting to the new rules of engagement are facing an environment rife with frustrated employees, high attrition rates, and broken lines of communication… not to mention a pipeline of talent that will quickly dry up without much-needed change. This keynote makes the case for why a new leadership mindset is critical, and explores how the best in the biz are embracing transformation.

  Attendee Takeaways:
  — How to lead in a way that values trust and transparency over strict rules and regulation
  — Listening to understand over listening to respond
  — Learn how to increase employee retention and decrease burnout

• Communicating Across Generations

  -Busting myths to understand all generations showing up at work
  -Insights into how selling is changing, and how to connect with the newest generation
  -Deep dive into how Gen Z is changing the workplace
  -Strategies to navigate the changing generational landscape