Breaking The Hard Rules:

Redefining Strength in Women’s Leadership

In this powerful and transformative keynote, Shelley Brown challenges the deeply ingrained notion that women leaders must be "hard" to succeed. Drawing from personal experience and collective wisdom, she explores how the pressure to be "bada$$" has created a leadership culture that forces women to choose between authenticity and authority. Through compelling storytelling and interactive moments, Shelley reveals how embracing our whole selves - including our "soft" qualities - isn't just acceptable, it's essential for creating lasting influence and impact.

This isn't just another women's leadership talk - it's a radical reframing of what true strength looks like in leadership today. Shelley guides audiences through the journey of unlearning outdated leadership models and embracing a new paradigm where vulnerability becomes a superpower, empathy drives innovation, and authenticity creates extraordinary impact. By examining the costs of perpetuating "hard" leadership and offering practical strategies for leading whole, this session empowers women to stop proving they belong and start changing the legacy of leadership itself.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how the "bada$$ trap" keeps women from accessing their full leadership potential and learn strategies to lead from wholeness instead of hardness 

• Discover how to transform traditional "soft" qualities into powerful leadership assets that drive authentic influence and lasting impact 

• Learn practical tools for navigating the double standards of leadership while leveraging your strengths to create workplaces where authenticity thrives.

• Redefine power on your terms. Embrace the permission to lead differently knowing you can be powerful and human, strong and soft, and, most importantly, fully yourself

The Belonging Equation

Unleash Your Authentic Self and Drive Team Success

Do you crave a workplace where everyone feels truly seen, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves? The secret to unlocking peak performance and a thriving culture isn't conformity – it's embracing the power of "weird." Research shows that a strong sense of belonging directly impacts employee performance, and your team is craving your unique contributions.

Join Shelley Brown, author, speaker, and Chief Belongingologist, for a dynamic and interactive experience that goes beyond traditional keynotes. Blending art, science, captivating stories, and tons of audience engagement, Shelley will guide you on a journey to discover the W.E.I.R.D. equation for belonging and inclusion.

Walk away ready to:

• Supercharge Belonging: Create a culture where authenticity is celebrated, not stifled, and empower your team to bring their whole selves to work.

• Strengthen Your Team: Cultivate empathy, respect, and actionable strategies that align with your values and foster genuine connection.

• Unlock Authentic Engagement: Equip your team with practical tools to embrace their individuality and contribute their unique talents.

• Transform Your Culture: Leverage the W.E.I.R.D. process – Welcoming, Engaging, Integrating, Risk-Taking, and Delivering – to create a workplace where everyone thrives.

This session is perfect for: leaders at all levels who are ready to embrace their own "inner weird," build a culture of true belonging, and drive exceptional results.

Prepare for a high-energy, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud experience that will transform your perspective on belonging and leave you inspired to lead with authenticity and purpose. Let's get W.E.I.R.D.!

Step Into Exceptional Leadership

Finding Your Fit

Some leadership advice can feel stiff and out of touch. The truth is leaders need simple, effective, adaptable, real-world advice that works NOW! Join leadership expert Shelley Brown for an engaging and transformative session that will redefine your approach to leadership for maximum impact.

Using her insightful and powerful "Lasting Leadership Triangle" – Fit, Form, and Function – Shelley reveals how exceptional leadership is more like finding the perfect pair of shoes than following some complicated AI-enhanced program. Through real-world examples, humorous anecdotes, and insightful analogies, Shelley will guide you on:

Finding Your Leadership Fit: Cultivate the right energy and presence to inspire trust and engagement with each individual and team. Just like ill-fitting shoes hinder performance, mismatched leadership styles can derail your team's success.

Building Authentic Connections (Form): Learn to balance structure and vulnerability to create the emotional connections that drive retention and build a strong foundation for growth. Discover how a well-designed shoe mirrors the support and flexibility needed in strong leadership.

Leading with Purpose and Impact (Function): Align organizational goals with individual needs to achieve lasting wins for both employees and the business. Great leadership, like a well-made shoe, is built for sustainability and long-term impact.

Walk away ready to:

Adapt your leadership style to inspire trust and maximize team engagement.

Forge authentic connections that boost retention and cultivate a thriving team culture.

Align individual and organizational goals to achieve sustainable success.

This session is perfect for: Leadership teams, managers, aspiring leaders, and organizations seeking to elevate their culture, boost retention, and lead with authenticity and purpose.

Experience Shelley's unique blend of energy, humor, and insightful storytelling. Prepare to have your perspective on leadership transformed – one "step" at a time!