Member since December 2025
Kelly is a leadership speaker and communication skills trainer who works with multigenerational teams, early-career talent and universities to equip people of all ages with the emotional intelligence and people skills needed to improve resilience and relationships, increase retention, and create thriving workplaces and campus communities through fun, story-driven, and highly interactive workshops.
Kelly’s workshops transform: Groups report fewer conflicts, better conversations, stronger relationships, higher resilience, and higher retention. People walk away knowing themselves, understanding others, and feeling confident communicating in any situation—whether that’s navigating a difficult person, leading a team meeting, or speaking in front of a group.”
Helping people get along better, perform better, speak better and lead better.
It’s often said your best client is your younger self, and that’s so very true for me. I struggled early on with confidence, anxiety, and self-doubt, which impacted both my relationships and my career. Learning simple, practical communication tools changed everything—making work more productive and relationships far healthier. Today, I’m passionate about helping people build these skills early, so they can lead with confidence, communicate effectively, and create stronger relationships that drive performance, retention, and well-being.
One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received came packaged in a 45 minute meeting where a team member of mine told me all of my weaknesses and failures.
I managed a team of 6 people and I had noticed that my relationship with one of my people was strained, something was off. We’ll call her Jen. From her behavior towards me, it seemed as though I had lost some trust and respect.
I made huge efforts to connect with her in a number of ways. But nothing changed. In retrospect, I was really just trying to get her to like me.
Eventually I asked my boss and Jen to meet with me so we could get to the bottom of this. I didn’t like the daily tension I felt and I knew that we weren’t an effective team with this tension.
The 3 of us met in a conference room, spread out around a table that could seat 10 people. The meeting began with some easy questions. How are things going? How can I better support you? What are your current obstacles?
She answered with the perfunctory answers. I like it, everything is fine, no obstacles.
But because I knew there was something wrong, I pressed.
It seems as though our relationship is strained. And then I asked the hard question - have I done something to lose your trust?
Eventually, after 10 more minutes of digging, she said - you really want to know? A switch had been flipped. No more niceties. I said, yes, I really want to know.
So began the worst 40 minutes of my professional life - she pointed out every mistake I’d made, every failure, all my sins. On display. In front of my boss.
And to boot - it was done with contempt in her voice, body language, and facial expressions. There was no empathy or kindness.
Normally, when someone approaches me in this way, (like any good human being with normal emotions) my MO is to JADE. Do you know this acronym JADE. Judge, Argue, Defend, Explain. I judge my accuser, argue why I’m right, defend myself, and explain my position. But I had pre-decided that I would only do 2 things during this meeting - listen and ask questions. And I did that - tell me more. What else? What do you most want me to know?
I just wanted to be solution-oriented. And I knew that JADE-ing wouldn’t get us there. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.
It was awful. I felt like I got beat up in that room. I kind of did. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I was raging mad. I wanted revenge - I wanted to tell her how awful she was. But I didn’t do any of that. I retreated for a few days, and reflected on all of it.
Not everything she said was accurate. Some of it was her perspective, her side of the story. But that didn’t matter. There was still some truth to all of it.
In the end, it was one of the greatest gifts I’d ever been given. Raw truth about how someone feels about my leadership. There were for sure nuggets of truth in her complaints about me. And I had a choice. Be angry, make her life miserable on my team.
Or get better. Improve. Don’t make those same mistakes again. Grow and learn how to better lead people. That’s what I chose. Of course, I didn’t do it perfectly and I’m still working on it, years later….but what a gift it turned out to be
As a young adult, I struggled with anxiety and depression that made me avoid conflict, stay quiet when I had something to say, and miss opportunities because I lacked confidence. Later, as a teacher, youth worker, and nonprofit manager, I started seeing the exact same patterns in the young people I worked with—brilliant, caring students and staff who fell apart when things got hard, took feedback personally, or didn’t know how to speak up for themselves. When I began mentoring them and teaching practical communication and conflict skills, I watched their confidence and resilience grow almost immediately, and it confirmed what I now build my whole career around: this is not a character flaw, it is a skills gap. That experience is why I launched my leadership and communication training work—to help students and emerging professionals build the emotional intelligence, communication, and conflict resolution skills they need to thrive in classrooms and workplaces. I want the next generation to know it doesn’t have to feel this hard, and that with the right tools and support, they can become confident, resilient leaders in any environment.
Your personality, behavior, and communication style influence everything—from connection with peers, relationship dynamics with colleagues, to resilience, leadership, and long-term success. That’s why one of the most valuable things young adults can learn is who they are, how they naturally interact with others, and how to use that insight to grow.
This breakout session introduces the Maxwell DISC Personality Profile Indicator—an accessible, research-based tool that helps people discover their unique strengths, blind spots, motivations, and communication style. When people understand themselves and others, they become more engaged, self-aware, and equipped to navigate the social, academic, and emotional challenges of early career or college life.
You don’t have to be a “people person” to get along with others—but you do need self-awareness. Everyone you meet is motivated differently, communicates differently, and sees relationships and responsibilities through a different lens. DISC gives language and tools to understand those differences, avoid unnecessary conflict, and collaborate more effectively. Humans are all different - but they are predictably different.
This program is perfect for:
Individuals or managers who want to create vision for themselves or their team
Individuals or managers who want to set achievable goals
Students or employees who need accountability and direction
Objectives:
To bring clarity to the desires for your life and to your career
To discover your strengths and use them for good
To discover how your challenges add value to your life
To help you experience a deep sense of meaning and purpose
To help you transform into the leader you want to be for yourself, your family, your career, and your community for the better
From Vision to Victory equips individuals and teams with the clarity, direction, and tools they need to thrive. Participants will uncover their core values, define a meaningful vision, and set achievable goals aligned with their strengths and life roles. Through practical strategies and built-in accountability, this session boosts motivation, focus, and follow-through—key drivers of personal resilience and professional productivity. Whether you’re guiding students, employees, or emerging leaders, this experience fosters a sense of purpose that supports long-term engagement and retention.
Take responsibility, learn from failure, build trust, connect and communicate, develop others
Format: Keynote, Workshop, Seminar, Breakout
This engaging and interactive workshop is designed to equip young professionals with the essential soft skills that drive personal growth, team effectiveness, and lasting impact. Participants will explore strategies for active listening, receiving feedback with confidence, clarifying their strengths and purpose, and managing time for maximum productivity. Through practical leadership insights—like the 80/20 principle, leading great meetings, and retaining top talent—attendees will walk away with tools to improve their communication, expand their influence, and contribute more effectively to their teams. Whether you’re leading a department, a fraternity, a team or just yourself, this session offers actionable takeaways for every level of leadership.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Communicate with clarity and empathy by practicing active listening and responding to feedback constructively.
Identify unique strengths and purpose to operate within their strength zone and increase personal effectiveness.
Apply time-tested leadership principles like the 80/20 rule and “Failing Forward” to prioritize wellness and grow from setbacks.
Enhance team engagement and influence by understanding team dynamics, leading better meetings, and fostering connection.
7 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Influence
Serving Others
Trust
Teamwork
You attraction who you are
Connection
Sacrifice
Everyone wants their life to mean something—but figuring that out can feel overwhelming. In this interactive keynote or workshop, Kelly helps participants get real about what’s holding them back and guides them in discovering their values, vision, and sense of purpose. Through honest reflection, practical tools, and goal-setting, participants will walk away with clarity, direction, and the confidence to live with purpose in school, work, and relationships. Click below to download a complimentary workbook that walks you through the process that would be covered in the workshop.
John Maxwell’s Leadership Game is a facilitated, interactive team experience designed to help organizations and teams engage in meaningful conversations around leadership values and practices.
Format: Facilitated Workshop/Game with Discussion and Interaction
This program is perfect for:
Teams of any size—corporate, educational, nonprofit, ministry
Leaders looking to grow their team’s capacity and strengthen trust and communication.
Objectives:
To raise leadership awareness in a fun and engaging way.
To identify strengths and gaps in a team’s leadership culture.
To spark honest conversations around values, behavior, and expectations.
To foster connection and collaboration among team members.
One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received came packaged in a 45 minute meeting where a team member of mine told me all of my weaknesses and failures.
I managed a team of 6 people and I had noticed that my relationship with one of my people was strained, something was off. We’ll call her Jen. From her behavior towards me, it seemed as though I had lost some trust and respect.
I made huge efforts to connect with her in a number of ways. But nothing changed. In retrospect, I was really just trying to get her to like me.
Eventually I asked my boss and Jen to meet with me so we could get to the bottom of this. I didn’t like the daily tension I felt and I knew that we weren’t an effective team with this tension.
The 3 of us met in a conference room, spread out around a table that could seat 10 people. The meeting began with some easy questions. How are things going? How can I better support you? What are your current obstacles?
She answered with the perfunctory answers. I like it, everything is fine, no obstacles.
But because I knew there was something wrong, I pressed.
It seems as though our relationship is strained. And then I asked the hard question - have I done something to lose your trust?
Eventually, after 10 more minutes of digging, she said - you really want to know? A switch had been flipped. No more niceties. I said, yes, I really want to know.
So began the worst 40 minutes of my professional life - she pointed out every mistake I’d made, every failure, all my sins. On display. In front of my boss.
And to boot - it was done with contempt in her voice, body language, and facial expressions. There was no empathy or kindness.
Normally, when someone approaches me in this way, (like any good human being with normal emotions) my MO is to JADE. Do you know this acronym JADE. Judge, Argue, Defend, Explain. I judge my accuser, argue why I’m right, defend myself, and explain my position. But I had pre-decided that I would only do 2 things during this meeting - listen and ask questions. And I did that - tell me more. What else? What do you most want me to know?
I just wanted to be solution-oriented. And I knew that JADE-ing wouldn’t get us there. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.
It was awful. I felt like I got beat up in that room. I kind of did. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I was raging mad. I wanted revenge - I wanted to tell her how awful she was. But I didn’t do any of that. I retreated for a few days, and reflected on all of it.
Not everything she said was accurate. Some of it was her perspective, her side of the story. But that didn’t matter. There was still some truth to all of it.
In the end, it was one of the greatest gifts I’d ever been given. Raw truth about how someone feels about my leadership. There were for sure nuggets of truth in her complaints about me. And I had a choice. Be angry, make her life miserable on my team.
Or get better. Improve. Don’t make those same mistakes again. Grow and learn how to better lead people. That’s what I chose. Of course, I didn’t do it perfectly and I’m still working on it, years later….but what a gift it turned out to be
As a young adult, I struggled with anxiety and depression that made me avoid conflict, stay quiet when I had something to say, and miss opportunities because I lacked confidence. Later, as a teacher, youth worker, and nonprofit manager, I started seeing the exact same patterns in the young people I worked with—brilliant, caring students and staff who fell apart when things got hard, took feedback personally, or didn’t know how to speak up for themselves. When I began mentoring them and teaching practical communication and conflict skills, I watched their confidence and resilience grow almost immediately, and it confirmed what I now build my whole career around: this is not a character flaw, it is a skills gap. That experience is why I launched my leadership and communication training work—to help students and emerging professionals build the emotional intelligence, communication, and conflict resolution skills they need to thrive in classrooms and workplaces. I want the next generation to know it doesn’t have to feel this hard, and that with the right tools and support, they can become confident, resilient leaders in any environment.
Your personality, behavior, and communication style influence everything—from connection with peers, relationship dynamics with colleagues, to resilience, leadership, and long-term success. That’s why one of the most valuable things young adults can learn is who they are, how they naturally interact with others, and how to use that insight to grow.
This breakout session introduces the Maxwell DISC Personality Profile Indicator—an accessible, research-based tool that helps people discover their unique strengths, blind spots, motivations, and communication style. When people understand themselves and others, they become more engaged, self-aware, and equipped to navigate the social, academic, and emotional challenges of early career or college life.
You don’t have to be a “people person” to get along with others—but you do need self-awareness. Everyone you meet is motivated differently, communicates differently, and sees relationships and responsibilities through a different lens. DISC gives language and tools to understand those differences, avoid unnecessary conflict, and collaborate more effectively. Humans are all different - but they are predictably different.
This program is perfect for:
Individuals or managers who want to create vision for themselves or their team
Individuals or managers who want to set achievable goals
Students or employees who need accountability and direction
Objectives:
To bring clarity to the desires for your life and to your career
To discover your strengths and use them for good
To discover how your challenges add value to your life
To help you experience a deep sense of meaning and purpose
To help you transform into the leader you want to be for yourself, your family, your career, and your community for the better
From Vision to Victory equips individuals and teams with the clarity, direction, and tools they need to thrive. Participants will uncover their core values, define a meaningful vision, and set achievable goals aligned with their strengths and life roles. Through practical strategies and built-in accountability, this session boosts motivation, focus, and follow-through—key drivers of personal resilience and professional productivity. Whether you’re guiding students, employees, or emerging leaders, this experience fosters a sense of purpose that supports long-term engagement and retention.
Take responsibility, learn from failure, build trust, connect and communicate, develop others
Format: Keynote, Workshop, Seminar, Breakout
This engaging and interactive workshop is designed to equip young professionals with the essential soft skills that drive personal growth, team effectiveness, and lasting impact. Participants will explore strategies for active listening, receiving feedback with confidence, clarifying their strengths and purpose, and managing time for maximum productivity. Through practical leadership insights—like the 80/20 principle, leading great meetings, and retaining top talent—attendees will walk away with tools to improve their communication, expand their influence, and contribute more effectively to their teams. Whether you’re leading a department, a fraternity, a team or just yourself, this session offers actionable takeaways for every level of leadership.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Communicate with clarity and empathy by practicing active listening and responding to feedback constructively.
Identify unique strengths and purpose to operate within their strength zone and increase personal effectiveness.
Apply time-tested leadership principles like the 80/20 rule and “Failing Forward” to prioritize wellness and grow from setbacks.
Enhance team engagement and influence by understanding team dynamics, leading better meetings, and fostering connection.
7 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Influence
Serving Others
Trust
Teamwork
You attraction who you are
Connection
Sacrifice
Everyone wants their life to mean something—but figuring that out can feel overwhelming. In this interactive keynote or workshop, Kelly helps participants get real about what’s holding them back and guides them in discovering their values, vision, and sense of purpose. Through honest reflection, practical tools, and goal-setting, participants will walk away with clarity, direction, and the confidence to live with purpose in school, work, and relationships. Click below to download a complimentary workbook that walks you through the process that would be covered in the workshop.
John Maxwell’s Leadership Game is a facilitated, interactive team experience designed to help organizations and teams engage in meaningful conversations around leadership values and practices.
Format: Facilitated Workshop/Game with Discussion and Interaction
This program is perfect for:
Teams of any size—corporate, educational, nonprofit, ministry
Leaders looking to grow their team’s capacity and strengthen trust and communication.
Objectives:
To raise leadership awareness in a fun and engaging way.
To identify strengths and gaps in a team’s leadership culture.
To spark honest conversations around values, behavior, and expectations.
To foster connection and collaboration among team members.