Are You a Meeting Planner?
If you are looking for an excellent, experienced speaker then you are in luck! I’ve not had much time to speak outside of my day job lately—the travel it requires monkeys up my schedule too much. As one of the few “upsides” of Covid-19, more speeches and such are being done with remote technologies. While that keeps me busy in new ways, it also makes it much more likely I can be “at” your conference. I’ll pepper this page with some feedback from meeting planners and audience members, but also go here for additional testimonials.
“I really appreciate how well you prepare for your talks—well-orchestrated and timed. Very professional, well-paced, clear, with great balance of reflection and listening.”
— Peggy O’Sullivan, Director, Advanced Public Executive Program
“I would like to say thank you for presenting an excellent program at our Annual Conference and for all your assistance in obtaining CEU certification for the course . . . the attendees gained a great deal of information from your presentation. Based on my own experience and the attendees’ evaluation forms, this year’s event went extraordinarily well. Your professionalism and expertise greatly contributed to this success. I appreciate your contribution to the education and knowledge or our membership. We hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the future!”
— Creative Marketing Alliance, Inc. CMA Solutions Association Services Group
Overview on Speaking Topics
I’ve been an effective public speaker for decades, both inside and outside academia. Even prior to my university experience, my career choices required I deliver seminars, training, and speeches. I’ve keynoted for groups as diverse as the National Association of State Treasurers and the International Fashion & Design Association.
I love my day-job and teaching at the university keeps me busy, Still, I love meeting people and working with different organizations outside my normal teaching for so many reasons—including that it helps me stay current and connected for my students in various ways. So, when feasible, I am occasionally able (especially during the summer months) to speak at corporate, association, or public events as a way to inspire, educate, and entertain people. I always offer carefully constructed, thoughtful content that is communicated in a way that touches hearts and minds—and hopefully inspires action, where appropriate!
An expert on the human condition, positively creating and coping with change, and finding hope in the face of uncertainty or adversity, I emphasize simple solutions to our most common concerns. I’m sometimes available for keynotes, emceeing, facilitation, break-out sessions, as well as consulting and follow—through coaching to improve sustainable short—and long-term outcomes.
Here is a selection of speech titles for you to consider (we can create something custom too):
Optimizing Organizations: A Four-Frame Approach
Life Lessons: Problems, Paradoxes, and Pleasures
Mind, Money, & Emotions: What We Do, Why, and What Might Work Better
Crossroads: 3 Keys to Making Better Decisions More Easily
Life Stages: Portrait or Performance
Success through Visualization: What Does Your Future Hold?
Personal Responsibility—Step Up Wherever You Stand
The Power of Choice: The Key Freedom
Surviving & Thriving in the Storms of Change: Challenges & Choices
I know that’s a range. Beyond the narrow silo of knowledge most experts have, I am an interdisciplinarian with a generalist’s perspective that allows me to both see the big picture as well as key leverage points where a individuals or organizations can drill down to optimize opportunities or improve troubled areas. I am equipped to address a number of different organizational and human concerns.
That said, as you might expect, I don’t claim to be able to be all things to everyone! I am, however, an expert at problem solving and at partnering with organizations in shifting focus and seeing the possibilities during times of unplanned or planned change/development. Seeing possibilities is only part of the solution as it is then important to assess practical concerns and take action steps to cope with change—whether that involves standing pat, moving forward incrementally, or taking an extreme step.
I’m still in the process of developing this website, but check back for more specific information over time that is of interest to meeting planner . . . like pre-program questionnaires, one-sheets, and the like. As a former member of the Arizona Chapter of the National Speaker’s Association, I know that Meeting Planners like that sort of thing. For now, you’ll find some information about introductions if you scroll to the bottom of this page.
In the meantime, contact me the good old-fashioned way by picking up the phone . . . or emailing. And we’ll talk about what your group, organization, or conference needs. If we are a good match, it’d be a pleasure doing business with you!
A Little More Information on a Few Speeches
Mind, Money & Emotions: What We Do, Why, & What Might Work Better
No matter whether your audience earns minimum wage or 6-figure incomes, we all stand to handle our lives better if we understand our hidden—and not so hidden—values, habits, and emotions around money.
Most of us don’t consciously reflect on the meaning and motivations behind the routine spending we do. Yet what we think, what we feel, and what we actually do can have a profound impact on how, where and why we spend money. Which, in turn, impacts our satisfaction with life now and our confidence about what our financial futures hold. Come learn and be inspired about money and decision-making.
This isn’t your standard “financial planning” talk—it’s better! This is about our mind, money, and emotions and how to make better decisions to support you in doing what you already know you need—or want—to do wherever you are on the financial continuum. The principles your audience will learn here will give them more freedom and control than money can buy.
“Thank you for your participation, your lecture was a great addition to our program. Several in our audience commented that the content of your presentation was interesting and informative, and the delivery of your seminar was excellent. Your session drew a much larger audience than we expected and we were extremely pleased with the turnout. We were fortunate that you could participate. Thanks again for sharing your talents and knowledge with us. We certainly hope you will consider returning to speak at some point in the future.”
— Chris Kyselka, Meeting Planner, Downtown Public Lecture Series
Crossroads: 3 Keys to Making Better Decisions More Easily
Maybe you haven’t thought about it this way but we have a choice in how we approach each moment and each situation in every area of our life. Every decision is a crossroad of sorts and we each struggle to one degree or another with certain decisions at home or at work. Sometimes, they truly are big decisions while other times we make mountains out of molehills in the past.
Either way, you can reduce the confusion, the worry, and the fear as you step on to the road. In this presentation, your audience will reflect on the process and leave with some insights that will bring structure and focus to their decision-making that will improve the quality of life and productivity both personally and professionally. Can’t decide whether to book this? Then you definitely need to!
“I attended your lunchtime presentation . . . I enjoyed it immensely and took copious notes . . . your model is very concise and memorable.”
— ’03 National Conference Chair, International Furnishing & Design Association
“Very appropriate for my life today . . . good points in helping to avoid decision making delays. Very helpful in the area of family as well as business.”
— Resa Farmer President, Southeast Interiors
Surviving & Thriving in the Storms of Change: Challenges & Choices*
Every organization, relationship, and person faces change—a single change may be so radical or a series of changes may come so rapidly that you wonder how you’ll keep up or if you even want to. Some change we initiate or can negotiate; other changes (it may seem like most of them!) are handed to us in such a way that we simply have to step up to the plate and adapt or move on.
Come reflect on the cycle and challenges of change as well as learn tools and techniques to better cope positively with change and uncertainty. Change always offers both discomfort and opportunity so making better choices in how you navigate the waters of change will increase your sense of control and satisfaction with work and life.
*This particular presentation is aimed at the “recipients” of change as opposed to one aimed at the “initiators” of change . . . while this material will be useful to initiators as well (as we are all recipients in some way) there is other material that is better suited to helping initiators better plan and disseminate change to lay the foundation for increased receptivity and reduced resistance, etc. that won’t be covered here. If you are interested in that presentation, please contact Dr. Stephanie.
“I had the pleasure of hearing your presentation yesterday. It was well developed, well presented and addressed a complicated subject in a concise yet non-judgmental way. I really enjoyed it.”
— Karen Wirrig, President, Karen Cole Designs
Great presenter—credible, personable, sensible guides, appreciated the thought exercises, non-judgmental and humorous.
— Gary Huish
Life Stages: Portrait or Performance?*
Does your life represent a picture of the real you or are you going through the motions acting like you think you should or simply out of routine in one or more areas of your life? Are you living your life or someone else’s idea? Are you really living or just acting out a script? So, then, are you being accepted or rejected for the real you or who you are pretending to be?
Learn about the life stages we all go through and the related challenges. Take home important tips to improving your authenticity quotient . . . that is, increase how much of the time you are aware of your true self and living congruently with that.
*Warning: this speech includes references to real life obstacles Dr. Stephanie has overcome in regard to negative relationship and religious experiences. These are tastefully handled, of course, but the point-blank honesty may surprise your audience. When you book this presentation, she’ll do an audience analysis with you to determine if this is a good fit or if she should share the wisdom without some of the stories.
“Comedy, knowledge, experience. Great program . . . ”
— G.F, City of Phoenix, Mayor’s Office
“I appreciate your quick and smooth transitions . . . the detailed handout was great! Appreciate your using yourself as an example.”
Success Through Visualization: What Does Your Future Hold?
Any athlete or performer will tell you that performance can be improved through repeatedly visualizing success and any goal or outcome made more accessible. Just like any engineer or designer will tell you that visualizing the final product through models and plans is critical to a successful result. Yet have you or your audience practiced this inexpensive but effective tool?
Think about your life. Ever wonder where you will be in 2 years? 5 years? 10 years? Have you planned it out or are you just waiting to see what happens? Is there a good balance in between? Even in times of pandemic, one can travel into the future with your mind and picture yourself reaching your goals and find important clues to the right path as you do so.
Your audience may have heard the word “visualization,” before but how many really understand the art and science behind this simple but powerful technique? Imagine how they’d benefit from a balance of information and experience in this presentation where they’ll be motivated to start the process and be inspired to practice it to enhance their lives at home, at work, and in the community.
“Great content and delivery—very enjoyable! Made me think about a lot of things I haven’t wanted to think about.”
— Steve Lee
“Very helpful and informative, a lot of great information that is applicable with strategies; great, energetic presentation; opened a lot of thoughts and ideas, areas to work on and toward, thank you so much!”
— Tamar Spart, Concepts in Care
Life Lessons: Problems, Paradoxes, & Pleasures
This is one of my favorites—in fact, I might write a book based on it! It is so special because it is a result of my having won ASU’s “Last Lecture” award years ago. You might think this talk would only be good for an educational association, or the like, but it really cuts across audience-types as the lessons are universal.
Quality teaching and learning are so important to individuals, organizations, and the community. That my students taught well enough of my teaching methods to believe larger audiences would benefit from hearing my “Last Lecture” is itself an honor. Thinking through what I’d say in such a lecture was a sort of reflection we rarely engage in and I welcomed the challenge of that AND to make it interesting and of lasting value to the members of the audience.
To honor the setting of the event, I wrote it using my teaching and learning experiences with students as a mirror for many of the insights I’ve gained about myself and others in life outside the classroom. The educational setting is as much the “real world” as any other setting and how we handle our choices there relate to how we approach life in other arenas. Everyone in your organization will relate to the unusual story that unfolds during this talk!
I am grateful that often my students are as much my teachers as I am theirs. The questions we ask ourselves and each other, the answers we seek, deny, or accept, and the varieties of truth that generate from the multiple perspectives we encounter are of inestimable value in shaping who we ultimately become. Thus, while I’ve personally distilled some life lessons to share, the lecture weaves in questions for the audience to consider, on their own terms, to personalize the lessons for themselves so they can find their own answers.
I’m putting a couple extra testimonials here, but any testimonial on this page could apply to any other talk as I always aim to do a great job!
“We met after your excellent talk Thursday night. Very stimulating, & triggered lots of thoughts & interdisciplinary Venn Diagram type relationships. Still thinking about your provocative talk, kind of a Harvard-like 'case-based learning tool'. My compliments on a job well-done; the audience was rapt. By the way, for one who also has given lots of talks myself, here's a perspective—I went to hear a speaker tonight—you—who putatively has presented more than 20,000 (yup, correct # of zeroes) talks!”
— E.V., M.D.
“I just wanted to send you a note to tell you how much I enjoyed your “last” lecture last week. You did such a great job of tying everything together and you have become such a good speaker! No wonder your students appreciate you. You obviously put a lot of yourself into your teaching and your work and your sincerity is apparent. I am so glad I was able to attend.”
— C.L., Ph.D.
“Your Last Lecture was so impressive & thought-provoking—I am certain you've been hearing that a lot. I really appreciate the credence you put on the emotional side of our experience; our culture certainly does suppress that, doesn't it? Makes it hard to be a person with emotions sometimes!“
— C.L.K.
I learned much from listening to you, but most of all it was such FUN! More fun than I have had in a long time. I wrote down all of your ten life lessons because at one point in your lecture a light bulb went off in my head. Oh, I thought, these are precisely the issues that my (or any writer's) characters will address in the course of their story. I must save them and keep them with me."
— V.B.
For Meeting Planners—Introductions
It matters.
Setting the stage with a smooth introduction helps the speech off to a good start. So . . .
As we get closer to your meeting date, it’s best if we identify someone in your organization who is respected and well-liked to introduce me to your audience. I’ll meet with that person when I arrive at your event and/or sooner over the phone, if possible.
I’ll also provide you—the meeting planner—and the introducer a copy of what to say in advance so they have time to read it over and practice it once or twice out loud so they can deliver it comfortably. That makes a better impression for them and for me—it helps “set the stage.” :-)
I usually tweak the introduction a bit depending on the audience, the topic, and whatever else might be newly relevant and helpful. But, I’ll give you an example or two here to show a sample of the style I often use, though I certainly can get more formal. (See my bio for information that you or I might consider worthwhile to add if you’d like a different or longer introduction.)
Here are a couple of samples:
Click on the Intro links, below, to take a peek at these to see how straightforward they are and how they help prepare the listener/participant to move into a creative mindset or to feel more open about what might be (depending on the talk!) a typically taboo subject. A little bit of humor can help . . .