Colleen DelVecchio
Chief Maximizer and Embrace the Squiggle Podcast Host at Maxady
Talent Development
Education: Boston University - Bay Path University
Northampton, MA, USA
Biography
Colleen DelVecchio is the founder and chief maximizer at Maxady where she helps individuals and businesses thrive through the squiggles and shows them how to prevent burnout, foster strengths-based leadership, increase belonging, and manage change. As an engaging keynote speaker and certified Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach, Colleen shows you how to increase your potential, elevate your impact and succeed when faced with change.
Colleen is the co-host of the top 10% Embrace the Squiggle podcast, championing the authentic career stories of professional women whose careers have not been a straight line. She holds a BA in Psychology from Boston University and an MS in Nonprofit Management from Bay Path University.
I have recently presented this at:
- Bay Path University Amplify Reunion Weekend (keynote)
- Cape Cod Community College Professional Development Day (keynote)
- Women in Transportation (chapter meeting)
- Northampton Chamber of Commerce (virtual link and learn session)
- American Camp Association of NE Conference (session presenter)
- NE Workforce Development Conference (breakout presenter)
- Bay Path Women's Leadership Conference (1 of only 4 breakout speakers)
Colleen is currently a Commissioner on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, has been the recipient of two Turkeyland Cove Foundation fellowships and was the president of the board of directors. She has taught at Holyoke Community College, Greenfield Community College, Bay Path University and UMass Amherst. Colleen is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach, has a BA in psychology from Boston University, and an MS in nonprofit management from Bay Path University.
Whether through a keynote, full-day workshop or one-on-one coaching, Colleen will motivate you to change your thinking and be ready to take action.
Passion
I am a certified Gallup Strengths Coach and Consultant, driven by a deep passion for helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. I believe that when people understand and embrace their strengths, they don’t just work better—they thrive. With over 20 years of experience in strengths-based leadership, organizational change, and staff development, I love guiding individuals and teams to maximize their unique talents, increase their impact, and find greater fulfillment in their work. Whether through executive coaching, team training, or strategic consulting, my mission is to create workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to do their best work.
Best Story
I remember being in my 20s, working in Boston. Life was fast, work was busy, and then—out of nowhere—my appendix decided to stage a rebellion.
One night, I was rushed to the hospital. This was pre-cell phone days, so once I got there—midnight, in pain, hooked up to an IV—I found a hospital phone, left a message for my boss, and figured, "Okay, at least they’ll know."
That was Thursday night.
Fast forward to the next Friday. A whole week later. I called HR to check on my timesheet since I’d been out on sick leave. The guy on the other end of the line sounded confused.
"Wait—you haven’t been here?"
"No. I was in the hospital! I haven't been in all week."
Silence. Then:
"Oh. Amy never mentioned anything. Let me check."
Turns out, my boss—who had so many voicemails that they overwhelmed her—just took a Post-it note and covered the blinking red light on her phone. Problem solved.
So there I was—gone for six days—and nobody noticed.
When I finally spoke up, devastated, they shrugged and said, “Oh, we just assumed you were working from home.”
Nobody checked.
Nobody asked.
I could have been dead.
And that moment stuck with me.
Because here’s the thing—workplaces should be places where people notice. Where people care. Where leadership isn’t just about deadlines and deliverables but about people.
Compassionate leadership isn’t complicated. It’s checking in. It’s noticing. It’s making sure the people who show up every day don’t feel invisible when they suddenly don’t.
Because at the end of the day, the best workplaces aren’t the ones where you can disappear for a week and no one notices. They’re the ones where, if you’re gone for even a day, someone reaches out and says—
"Hey, we missed you. Are you okay?"
Origin Story
In the spring of 2019, my job was eliminated. I was hit with a wave of emotions—devastation and relief, fear and possibility, all at once.
But once the shock wore off, I realized something: this wasn’t an ending. It was the push I needed to take my side gig as a speaker, consultant, and coach to the next level. And I’ve never looked back.
Of course, this was just one of the many squiggles in my career and life that shaped who I am today. I spent the first six months of my life in foster care. I’ve felt lost in my career. I’ve navigated the ups and downs of divorce and remarriage. I’ve walked the challenging but deeply rewarding path of parenting a child with complex medical needs.
Nothing about my journey has been linear—but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Because the twists and turns, the setbacks and pivots, the unexpected moments—they don’t derail us. They define us.
And now, I help others embrace their own squiggles—whether in leadership, career transitions, or personal growth—so they can turn uncertainty into opportunity and show up as their best, most authentic selves.
Example talks
Rock Your Strengths: Work Smarter, Live Happier
What if the key to success isn’t fixing your weaknesses but doubling down on what you already do best? Learn how to identify and channel your unique strengths toward what matters. This talk is filled with practical strategies for recognizing your superpowers, leveraging them in your career or personal life, and amplifying your impact. With real examples and actionable advice, you'll leave inspired to stop playing small and start aiming your strengths at the opportunities that can elevate you to the next level!
Embrace the Squiggle: Turning Life’s Twists into Your Greatest Advantage
Let’s face it—life is never the straight line we expect it to be. From the very start, Colleen’s life was a squiggle. From spending her first 6 months in foster care to launching her business 6 months before COVID, she’s embraced the unexpected twists and turns in her personal and professional life.
During this engaging keynote, hear why and how those squiggles might be the best thing for your growth. Forget rigid plans; this talk is all about staying flexible, being open to new opportunities, and turning the unknown into your secret weapon. With fun stories, practical tips, and a little humor, you'll walk away ready to embrace change like a pro and make every zig and zag work in your favor!
Compassionate Leadership During Change
Change is never easy—under normal circumstances, people resist it. But in times of crisis and uncertainty, resistance shifts. People become open to change, yet they still grapple with fear of the unknown. This is where leadership makes all the difference.
As a leader, you have the power to guide your team through transitions with clarity, confidence, and most importantly—compassion. In this keynote, you’ll discover four actionable ways to lead with empathy and resilience during today’s rapidly evolving workplace shifts. Because if there was ever a time to show your employees you care, it’s now.
Taking the Right Risks
Most of us go out of our way to avoid risk—or we waste time searching for the safest risk possible. But the truth is, life and success are built on a series of calculated risks. The question isn’t if you should take risks, but how to take the right ones.
In this engaging and insightful keynote, you’ll discover the five most important risks everyone should take in their life. Big or small, the right risks can open doors, fuel growth, and create opportunities you never imagined. With a blend of humor, real-life stories, and practical strategies, Colleen will leave you energized, inspired, and ready to embrace bold decisions—starting now.
Preventing the Ripple Effects of Burnout
Burnout isn’t just personal exhaustion—it’s a widespread workplace crisis. Recent studies reveal that 82% of employees are at risk of burnout this year, and half of workers globally are currently grappling with burnout. Its impact ripples through every aspect of work and life, leading to quiet quitting, disengagement, absenteeism, and high turnover.
In this powerful keynote, we’ll delve deep into the root causes of burnout and, more importantly, how to prevent it. Through eye-opening insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies, you’ll learn how to create a work environment where energy, motivation, and well-being thrive. Walk away with proven tactics to protect yourself and your team from burnout and build a culture that fuels performance without sacrificing well-being.
Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable. Let’s banish it—for good.
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
I generally get paid for speaking but make exceptions
Topics
Best Story
I remember being in my 20s, working in Boston. Life was fast, work was busy, and then—out of nowhere—my appendix decided to stage a rebellion.
One night, I was rushed to the hospital. This was pre-cell phone days, so once I got there—midnight, in pain, hooked up to an IV—I found a hospital phone, left a message for my boss, and figured, "Okay, at least they’ll know."
That was Thursday night.
Fast forward to the next Friday. A whole week later. I called HR to check on my timesheet since I’d been out on sick leave. The guy on the other end of the line sounded confused.
"Wait—you haven’t been here?"
"No. I was in the hospital! I haven't been in all week."
Silence. Then:
"Oh. Amy never mentioned anything. Let me check."
Turns out, my boss—who had so many voicemails that they overwhelmed her—just took a Post-it note and covered the blinking red light on her phone. Problem solved.
So there I was—gone for six days—and nobody noticed.
When I finally spoke up, devastated, they shrugged and said, “Oh, we just assumed you were working from home.”
Nobody checked.
Nobody asked.
I could have been dead.
And that moment stuck with me.
Because here’s the thing—workplaces should be places where people notice. Where people care. Where leadership isn’t just about deadlines and deliverables but about people.
Compassionate leadership isn’t complicated. It’s checking in. It’s noticing. It’s making sure the people who show up every day don’t feel invisible when they suddenly don’t.
Because at the end of the day, the best workplaces aren’t the ones where you can disappear for a week and no one notices. They’re the ones where, if you’re gone for even a day, someone reaches out and says—
"Hey, we missed you. Are you okay?"
Origin Story
In the spring of 2019, my job was eliminated. I was hit with a wave of emotions—devastation and relief, fear and possibility, all at once.
But once the shock wore off, I realized something: this wasn’t an ending. It was the push I needed to take my side gig as a speaker, consultant, and coach to the next level. And I’ve never looked back.
Of course, this was just one of the many squiggles in my career and life that shaped who I am today. I spent the first six months of my life in foster care. I’ve felt lost in my career. I’ve navigated the ups and downs of divorce and remarriage. I’ve walked the challenging but deeply rewarding path of parenting a child with complex medical needs.
Nothing about my journey has been linear—but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Because the twists and turns, the setbacks and pivots, the unexpected moments—they don’t derail us. They define us.
And now, I help others embrace their own squiggles—whether in leadership, career transitions, or personal growth—so they can turn uncertainty into opportunity and show up as their best, most authentic selves.
Example talks
Rock Your Strengths: Work Smarter, Live Happier
What if the key to success isn’t fixing your weaknesses but doubling down on what you already do best? Learn how to identify and channel your unique strengths toward what matters. This talk is filled with practical strategies for recognizing your superpowers, leveraging them in your career or personal life, and amplifying your impact. With real examples and actionable advice, you'll leave inspired to stop playing small and start aiming your strengths at the opportunities that can elevate you to the next level!
Embrace the Squiggle: Turning Life’s Twists into Your Greatest Advantage
Let’s face it—life is never the straight line we expect it to be. From the very start, Colleen’s life was a squiggle. From spending her first 6 months in foster care to launching her business 6 months before COVID, she’s embraced the unexpected twists and turns in her personal and professional life.
During this engaging keynote, hear why and how those squiggles might be the best thing for your growth. Forget rigid plans; this talk is all about staying flexible, being open to new opportunities, and turning the unknown into your secret weapon. With fun stories, practical tips, and a little humor, you'll walk away ready to embrace change like a pro and make every zig and zag work in your favor!
Compassionate Leadership During Change
Change is never easy—under normal circumstances, people resist it. But in times of crisis and uncertainty, resistance shifts. People become open to change, yet they still grapple with fear of the unknown. This is where leadership makes all the difference.
As a leader, you have the power to guide your team through transitions with clarity, confidence, and most importantly—compassion. In this keynote, you’ll discover four actionable ways to lead with empathy and resilience during today’s rapidly evolving workplace shifts. Because if there was ever a time to show your employees you care, it’s now.
Taking the Right Risks
Most of us go out of our way to avoid risk—or we waste time searching for the safest risk possible. But the truth is, life and success are built on a series of calculated risks. The question isn’t if you should take risks, but how to take the right ones.
In this engaging and insightful keynote, you’ll discover the five most important risks everyone should take in their life. Big or small, the right risks can open doors, fuel growth, and create opportunities you never imagined. With a blend of humor, real-life stories, and practical strategies, Colleen will leave you energized, inspired, and ready to embrace bold decisions—starting now.
Preventing the Ripple Effects of Burnout
Burnout isn’t just personal exhaustion—it’s a widespread workplace crisis. Recent studies reveal that 82% of employees are at risk of burnout this year, and half of workers globally are currently grappling with burnout. Its impact ripples through every aspect of work and life, leading to quiet quitting, disengagement, absenteeism, and high turnover.
In this powerful keynote, we’ll delve deep into the root causes of burnout and, more importantly, how to prevent it. Through eye-opening insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies, you’ll learn how to create a work environment where energy, motivation, and well-being thrive. Walk away with proven tactics to protect yourself and your team from burnout and build a culture that fuels performance without sacrificing well-being.
Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable. Let’s banish it—for good.