Monica S.
Culture Specialist, Keynote Speaker & Trainer at Hawks Agency
Leadership
Education: Southwestern Christian University
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Biography
Monica works with individuals and organizations to make progress and find fulfillment. She speaks, trains, writes, and leads with a commitment to help people move forward with resilience and purpose. As a result of her work people often say they feel understood, are equipped with a plan for progress, and are inspired to conquer what lies ahead of them!
Passion
Helping people make real connections between lasting leadership truths and their everyday realities is my passion.
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
The first time my daughter got to play in the ocean beyond a sandy shore she was 10 years old. After a long day of travel, her and her brother convinced me to skip the hotel check-in so they could get their feet in the ocean before the sun set. As you might imagine, they didn’t stop at their feet, but waded in past their ankles, then their knees, until they were shoulder deep frolicking around in every wave they could catch. It was an awesome moment in time! The next morning we were sitting on the balcony talking about the day ahead, when after a long pause gazing out at the ocean my daughter said, “The ocean is so crazy!” I agreed and inquired curiously, “Yeah, why do you say that?”. She replied… “Well when you’re in it, it’s so loud, chaotic, and a little scary. I couldn’t even hear you yelling at us! But from up here it’s so pretty and peaceful.” I shared in her perspective and hid her words in my heart. It was a perfect metaphor for life and work. When we’re in the middle of it all, it can feel like chaos at times, loud, and overwhelming. We may struggle to hear the voices that matter most. But if we take a step back, pause and gain a true yet elevated perspective; then, we’re able to see the rhythm, understand the work, and maybe even appreciate the “beauty” of it all a little more.
Origin Story
My speaking and leadership portfolio spans two decades, with layers of experience mentoring leaders, building teams, and inspiring individuals at every age and stage of life and business. I lead and spoke in the non-profit leadership sector for 17 years, then became an entrepreneur eventually joining the Hawks Agency team of speakers, trainers, and consultants in 2021. My keynotes are crafted to be informational, energetic, and relatable. I aim to have leaders smiling, laughing, and thoughtfully challenged to seize their opportunities and to take their next step of progress. On a personal note I am a mother of two ‘tweens’, a Latina, and a “Xennial” (that micro-generation between Gen X and Millennials). This work I do, it is more than a job, it’s my purpose, my passion, and one I would love to share with you.
Example talks
THE SOUND OF CULTURE
Shaping Value-Based Cultures:
The sound of a culture, is the sum of all the working parts within a team or organization. It’s what people will ultimately hear, feel, and encounter when they come into contact with your people, products, and even marketing. This topic will equip and motivate your people to intentionally make progress, by acknowledging issues, aligning with values, and pressing into the areas where a cultural breakthrough is needed.
The Breakdown:
Every culture has a sound, and every one is unique in their own right within that culture. In this talk everyone is invited to consider these two questions: What is the sound of your culture? And, what would you like it to be? Cultures are often shaped by “default” of personality, but progress within an organization must be made by “intention” in two main areas: perspective and practice.
Intentional perspective includes: The values, thinking, and vibe of a culture; they go by many names, but these intangible factors are the force behind every team and organization. As well, the language, vision, and story we tell. Your organization and team is telling a story and setting a tone others hear, what is the sound of yours?
Intentional practice includes: The instrumentation, tools, and team that carry out the vision and convey a message. As well as, the rhythm, pace, and beat a team moves to. Pacing is everything in work and in life. Whether you see the journey as a marathon, a succession of sprints, or a stroll; in order to have a unified culture there must be an understanding of season and pace.
Every culture has the potential to be better. This message will equip and motivate leaders to take the necessary steps for progress and cultural breakthrough.
ART OF THE RESTART
Equipping Leaders for Progress:
The art of the restart is about resilience. Making progress, and staying on the right path in spite of difficulties and setbacks is one the toughest and repeated lessons leaders must learn. This talk equips leaders to identify and craft a plan for problem solving that will lead to less time wasted, less burnout, and better decision-making under pressure.
The Breakdown:
Problems are our greatest opportunities for creativity, growth, and connection. How we approach, handle, and persevere determines our outcome. This talk unpacks the vital steps to achieve progress, regardless of the problems or circumstance.
Pause. Pausing to BALL (breathe, ask, listen, and listen more) is crucial to taking your next right step.
Plan. Thoughtfully planning protects us from mindless racing, wasted time or effort, and future breakdowns of communication or purpose.
Persist. Most people quit when they feel a limit has been reached; resilient leaders stay the course of their vision and values by simply continuing to take their next right step.
No matter where a team, or leader finds themself today, progress is always just one step away! There is more in you, there is more in your team, and this talk will help them tap into that potential for growth.