Sarah Elkins
Chief Storymaker at Elkins Consulting Inc.
Public Speaking/Storytelling
Education: Colorado State University, BS Business - Western Governor's University, MBA
Helena, Montana, USA
Biography
"The choice of Sarah Elkins (as our conference keynote) was inspired. Her emphasis that we need to think more carefully as advocates about how we are perceived, that we need to demonstrate our values authentically (and bravely) so as to build trust, was as important as all the specific storytelling tools discussed.” ~ Montana Watershed Conference Participant
Sarah's expertise in storytelling, training, and facilitating comes from a variety of experiences in everything service-related, from city government services (15+ years in public sector agencies) to serving cocktails (10+ years in the restaurant industry), from financial & project reporting to the Federal government to suggesting reading material for a patron at the library.
Her experience building buy-in and implementing technology in the public sector prepared her to guide executives to communicate more effectively. She knows that not everyone speaks the same language, even when they speak the same language, and that's especially true when it comes to translating among technical and non-technical people, and communication among leaders and employees.
Sarah's book and podcast, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will are usually what bring clients to her for coaching, keynote speaking, and workshop hosting. They keep coming back for the warmth, enthusiasm, and practical, relevant topics she presents in engaging and memorable ways.
Passion
Reconnecting: The Transformative Power of Music & Story
Our physiological response to experiencing music and story together is fascinating! The stories we share and how we share them have significant impact on our identity, that's why it's critical to be intentional about your stories. Combine your natural talents with story sharing and you have the perfect recipe for demonstrating your character, values, and vision with any audience.
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 found my voice at 40 years old when I started singing with a rock band for the first time in my life. And not just any rock band, I perform in a mini dress and gogo boots with a 60s style rock band called Rocket to Uranus. In terms of identity and authenticity, going from a classically trained musician singing chamber music, jazz and blues, to singing Bad Reputation by Joan Jett, makes me truly in tune (so to speak) with people who want to transform their own lives with confidence and a shift in mindset.
Origin Story
I've always had a side hustle, after nearly 20 years in the public sector, I realized that I wanted to guide more people toward satisfaction at work and at home. It takes healthy self-reflection to know where your magic is - and where it might get in your way. And that's the key to improved communication and better relationships. That's when I focused my attention on storytelling and the CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) assessment.
Your Strengths are Your Stories
My client wanted to be a more inspiring speaker, she knew she needed to share at a more vulnerable level but didn't want to talk about her diagnosis of MS. When I asked why, she said: "I don't want to be known as 'that speaker with MS'."
"Ashley, it's not your diagnosis that defines who you are, it's how you talk about it. What I see in you is resilience, persistence, grit. Tell your story in a way that demonstrates those qualities, and that's how you'll be known."
That's when my themes came together for my podcast and book: Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will.
Five years later I incorporated my passion for music. I read research that music and story create similar biological responses in us, connecting us on a physiological level. That's all I needed to know to create a transformative keynote presentation: Start with music, share the right stories, get the audience engaged with both so they are inspired in their self-reflection to shrink the gap between how they want to be perceived and how people actually experience them.