Member since March 2024
You don’t *have* a conversation with Helen Jonsen—you buckle in, because it’s about to go from newsrooms to nonprofits to Australia and back again before you’ve finished your coffee.
Helen’s had what she calls a *kaleidoscope career*—and not in a “reinvented-my-LinkedIn-title” kind of way. We're talking full-on, beautifully messy, ever-evolving twists and tumbles. She’s covered breaking news in New York, written scripts in moving cars, wrangled newsroom chaos during ferry crashes and pandemics, worked across multiple media platforms, and helped mission-driven organizations empower their people to be better storytellers and ambassadors.
Yes, she’s worked at places like Forbes, but also so many others—TV stations, startups, nonprofits, public agencies—and in each one, she’s leaned into curiosity, navigated disruption, and made things *better.* That’s her thing.
She’s written books, including her most recent, This Kaleidoscope Career: Empowering Women to Build Unconventional Careers and Redefine Success. Raised four humans while managing serious health storms at home. Launched a podcast (*This Kaleidoscope Career*) where she lifts up stories of women who’ve charted their own unpredictable paths. And somehow, she does it all with warmth, humor, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from saying “yes” a few too many times… and surviving.
She’s here because she *gets* what it means to wear ten hats, hold it together (or not), and still show up with purpose. And if you’re a woman who’s led, leapt, juggled, started over, or started something big—you’ll feel right at home in her story.
Learn more about Helen at helenjonsen.com.
Helen's passion is to normalize the nonlinear career and give others the tools they need to be confident and memorable speakers and ambassadors to amplify and impact their missions.
As layoffs and AI upend careers everywhere, this keynote hands women the framework they actually need to move forward. Instead of a straight-line ladder, Helen Jonsen, author of This Kaleidoscope Career: Empowering Women to Build Unconventional Careers and Redefine Success, helps women and leaders reframe success as a kaleidoscope: the same skills, experience, and relationships resettling into new patterns every time circumstances shift. It's both a framework and a step-by-step guide for early-, mid-, and late-career women — built on one truth: agility has never mattered more, and the people who have it are the people who lead.
With heart and humor, the talk moves fast and lands hard, sending audiences home with something concrete: a plan for naming their own throughline and owning their wins.
Former CNN anchor Poppy Harlow calls the book behind it "a compassionate and hopeful guide for those whose path has been anything but linear... the twists, pauses, and unexpected turns are not interruptions to our careers—they are often what give them deeper meaning."
Takeaway: A toolkit for anyone building a nonlinear career, and a wake-up call for coaches, corporate leaders, and HR teams still measuring talent by a straight line. The workshops follow the step-by-step "TKC Power Tools Kit" from the book.
Helen Jonsen is a veteran broadcast journalist, equally at home on any stage or screen, and a natural storyteller who captivates a room.
Everyone speaks for a living, and everyone you meet is a potential client, customer, funder, volunteer, or advocate. Don’t waste your shot!
There is fierce competition in business development and community engagement at every level. With humor and driven by deep experience as a broadcast journalist and public affairs strategist, Helen Jonsen engages the audience on the why and how they can develop their signature remarks toolkit > so they know what to say every time with confidence and impact.
Takeaways:
· How to confidently speak in any setting
· Craft your introduction & passion statement
· Craft your personal storytelling
· Polish you interview skills because every dialogue is a Q&A
Who should attend: anyone at any stage will benefit from the tips and to-dos shared in this workshop. We will empower leaders and teams at all levels—from every background—to find their voices and the right words to say.
NOTE: Individual and group activities to construct memorable passion statements, introductions, and personal stories. The number of activities will depend on the length of the workshop and the number of participants. Participants will receive a tip sheet at the end of the event with prompts and activities.
As a TV news pro and an adviser to leading public figures, Helen shares key strategies for women to command respect and authority: speaking up, eliminating unnecessary apologies, silencing their inner critic, commanding the room through strong introductions, and so much more. These simple yet powerful communication shifts can significantly impact how women are perceived and treated in the workplace.
With signature humor and real-world stories, Helen will give women the confidence they need to own the room and speak in any situation, overcome interruptions, and use personal storytelling to be more memorable. Valuable new tips, no matter how seasoned you are.
Takeaways:
· Learn to command the room
· How to prepare a strong introduction and passion statement
· Stop apologizing
· Drop self-deprecating statements
· Make your point heard
Who should attend: any woman at any stage will benefit from the tips and to-dos shared in this workshop. We will empower women at all levels—from every background—to find their voices by actively welcoming diverse communication styles.
EVERY stakeholder connected with your organization must be empowered to engage with one voice. Helen energizes the audience to work with all teams and stakeholders–whether the Board, staff, members, volunteers, donors or advocates–to become more powerful confident ambassadors for the mission.
Action Items:
How to tie personal storytelling to the mission and its impact
How presentation/media training for all stakeholders can grow your mission
WHY: Because everyone you meet is a potential donor, volunteer, member, client, advocate, or next board member!
KEYNOTE OR INTERACTIVE TALK RELEVANT TO THE AUDIENCE
FOR STAFF, FUNDERS, BOARD MEMBERS: Answer the question "why CULTIVATE ambassadors?"
FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS:
How to hone and use personal storytelling to drive the mission.
How to build better fundamental communication skills for introductions and networking.
How to create a personal passion statement to walk away with a win.
Helen speaks about the why on this video podcast. https://rb.gy/r460m4
We are in front of digital video cameras, live or recorded, for business and pleasure all day long. We take it for granted. And don't forget podcasts! It seems every professional is asked to be a guest on someone's show! Everyone speaks for a living!
But sometimes, the end product, especially in a professional setting, is not what we hoped it would be.
INTERACTIVE TALK OR WORKSHOP TAKEAWAY: From a career in front of the camera and behind it, Helen can guide a roomful of all levels of speakers through best practices in a fun and engaging way. By the end of the talk or workshop, pros will be ready for the next zoom call, stage or TV or. podcast interview.
See Helen interview Michael J. Fox on Forbes Video Network https://vimeo.com/105670764
Or listen to This Kaleidoscope Career podcast hosted by Helen Jonsen. https://www.helenjonsen.com/#this-kaleidoscope-career
As layoffs and AI upend careers everywhere, this keynote hands women the framework they actually need to move forward. Instead of a straight-line ladder, Helen Jonsen, author of This Kaleidoscope Career: Empowering Women to Build Unconventional Careers and Redefine Success, helps women and leaders reframe success as a kaleidoscope: the same skills, experience, and relationships resettling into new patterns every time circumstances shift. It's both a framework and a step-by-step guide for early-, mid-, and late-career women — built on one truth: agility has never mattered more, and the people who have it are the people who lead.
With heart and humor, the talk moves fast and lands hard, sending audiences home with something concrete: a plan for naming their own throughline and owning their wins.
Former CNN anchor Poppy Harlow calls the book behind it "a compassionate and hopeful guide for those whose path has been anything but linear... the twists, pauses, and unexpected turns are not interruptions to our careers—they are often what give them deeper meaning."
Takeaway: A toolkit for anyone building a nonlinear career, and a wake-up call for coaches, corporate leaders, and HR teams still measuring talent by a straight line. The workshops follow the step-by-step "TKC Power Tools Kit" from the book.
Helen Jonsen is a veteran broadcast journalist, equally at home on any stage or screen, and a natural storyteller who captivates a room.
Everyone speaks for a living, and everyone you meet is a potential client, customer, funder, volunteer, or advocate. Don’t waste your shot!
There is fierce competition in business development and community engagement at every level. With humor and driven by deep experience as a broadcast journalist and public affairs strategist, Helen Jonsen engages the audience on the why and how they can develop their signature remarks toolkit > so they know what to say every time with confidence and impact.
Takeaways:
· How to confidently speak in any setting
· Craft your introduction & passion statement
· Craft your personal storytelling
· Polish you interview skills because every dialogue is a Q&A
Who should attend: anyone at any stage will benefit from the tips and to-dos shared in this workshop. We will empower leaders and teams at all levels—from every background—to find their voices and the right words to say.
NOTE: Individual and group activities to construct memorable passion statements, introductions, and personal stories. The number of activities will depend on the length of the workshop and the number of participants. Participants will receive a tip sheet at the end of the event with prompts and activities.
As a TV news pro and an adviser to leading public figures, Helen shares key strategies for women to command respect and authority: speaking up, eliminating unnecessary apologies, silencing their inner critic, commanding the room through strong introductions, and so much more. These simple yet powerful communication shifts can significantly impact how women are perceived and treated in the workplace.
With signature humor and real-world stories, Helen will give women the confidence they need to own the room and speak in any situation, overcome interruptions, and use personal storytelling to be more memorable. Valuable new tips, no matter how seasoned you are.
Takeaways:
· Learn to command the room
· How to prepare a strong introduction and passion statement
· Stop apologizing
· Drop self-deprecating statements
· Make your point heard
Who should attend: any woman at any stage will benefit from the tips and to-dos shared in this workshop. We will empower women at all levels—from every background—to find their voices by actively welcoming diverse communication styles.
EVERY stakeholder connected with your organization must be empowered to engage with one voice. Helen energizes the audience to work with all teams and stakeholders–whether the Board, staff, members, volunteers, donors or advocates–to become more powerful confident ambassadors for the mission.
Action Items:
How to tie personal storytelling to the mission and its impact
How presentation/media training for all stakeholders can grow your mission
WHY: Because everyone you meet is a potential donor, volunteer, member, client, advocate, or next board member!
KEYNOTE OR INTERACTIVE TALK RELEVANT TO THE AUDIENCE
FOR STAFF, FUNDERS, BOARD MEMBERS: Answer the question "why CULTIVATE ambassadors?"
FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS:
How to hone and use personal storytelling to drive the mission.
How to build better fundamental communication skills for introductions and networking.
How to create a personal passion statement to walk away with a win.
Helen speaks about the why on this video podcast. https://rb.gy/r460m4
We are in front of digital video cameras, live or recorded, for business and pleasure all day long. We take it for granted. And don't forget podcasts! It seems every professional is asked to be a guest on someone's show! Everyone speaks for a living!
But sometimes, the end product, especially in a professional setting, is not what we hoped it would be.
INTERACTIVE TALK OR WORKSHOP TAKEAWAY: From a career in front of the camera and behind it, Helen can guide a roomful of all levels of speakers through best practices in a fun and engaging way. By the end of the talk or workshop, pros will be ready for the next zoom call, stage or TV or. podcast interview.
See Helen interview Michael J. Fox on Forbes Video Network https://vimeo.com/105670764
Or listen to This Kaleidoscope Career podcast hosted by Helen Jonsen. https://www.helenjonsen.com/#this-kaleidoscope-career
