Member since February 2026
Laura Varnell is a dynamic keynote speaker, trainer, and leadership coach with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and teams unlock their full potential. With a belief that building better teams doesn’t have to be complicated, Laura empowers professionals across industries to lead with authenticity, confidence, and clarity. She has built a reputation for inspiring high-performing teams and cultivating strong, ethical leadership. Her passion lies in helping others discover the leadership skills they already possess.
Laura’s speaking style is engaging, practical, and rooted in real-world experience. She is especially known for her work with Reality-Based Leadership, equipping leaders and teams with tools to navigate complexity, reduce drama, and focus on results. This approach has been embraced by organizations seeking to foster accountability and resilience in today’s fast-changing workplace.
Holding a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training, Laura is a sought-after speaker across education, hospitality, and franchising sectors. Whether she’s delivering a keynote address, leading a workshop, or coaching executives one-on-one, Laura brings energy, humor, and actionable insights to every stage and session. Today, she dedicates her time to helping leaders ditch the drama, embrace reality, and create workplaces where accountability and results thrive.
I help organizations ditch the drama and call their teams to greatness
You may have seen the announcement on LinkedIn that I am now a speaker and trainer at Reality Based Leadership. I’m still pinching myself because this book and more importantly the tools that accompany the book, significantly changed my life as a leader when I was introduced to them by Reality Based Leadership CEO, Alex Dorr in 2023. His message was so powerful, I hosted a book club with him later that same year. Then, we had the opportunity to partner again in 2025!
I would truly be honored if you would consider me as a speaker for any upcoming events your company has planned. This includes keynotes, Leadership or Director meetings or training, workshops, and market level cohorts. I’m available for both in-person and virtual events and will tailor the content to the needs of your audience. Below you will find a little bit of what is included in the training.
Today’s challenging business environment is calling for a new type of leader. We need those who are willing and able to recreate mindsets (their own and that of others) and change an organization’s culture to lead in a bold new way.
The Reality Revolution begins with a few good leaders who can quickly see and radically accept the reality of the situation, conserve precious team energy, and use that energy instead to impact reality. A great Reality-Based Leader anticipates the upcoming changes and capitalizes on the opportunity inherent in the situation without drama or defense.
The principles of Reality-Based Leadership include:
• Refusing to argue with reality
• Valuing action over opinion
• Leading first, managing second
• Bulletproofing employees so that they can succeed, regardless of the circumstances
• Working to be happy rather than to be right
If you have questions, please feel to reach out to me here or you can email me at laura@realitybasedleadership.com. If there are others in your organization that I should reach out to, I’d be grateful if you could connect me with them. I appreciate your support and I truly hope to see you soon!
You may have seen the announcement on LinkedIn that I am now a speaker and trainer at Reality Based Leadership. I’m still pinching myself because this book and more importantly the tools that accompany the book, significantly changed my life as a leader when I was introduced to them by Reality Based Leadership CEO, Alex Dorr in 2023. His message was so powerful, I hosted a book club with him later that same year. Then, we had the opportunity to partner again in 2025!
I would truly be honored if you would consider me as a speaker for any upcoming events your company has planned. This includes keynotes, Leadership or Director meetings or training, workshops, and market level cohorts. I’m available for both in-person and virtual events and will tailor the content to the needs of your audience. Below you will find a little bit of what is included in the training.
Today’s challenging business environment is calling for a new type of leader. We need those who are willing and able to recreate mindsets (their own and that of others) and change an organization’s culture to lead in a bold new way.
The Reality Revolution begins with a few good leaders who can quickly see and radically accept the reality of the situation, conserve precious team energy, and use that energy instead to impact reality. A great Reality-Based Leader anticipates the upcoming changes and capitalizes on the opportunity inherent in the situation without drama or defense.
The principles of Reality-Based Leadership include:
• Refusing to argue with reality
• Valuing action over opinion
• Leading first, managing second
• Bulletproofing employees so that they can succeed, regardless of the circumstances
• Working to be happy rather than to be right
If you have questions, please feel to reach out to me here or you can email me at laura@realitybasedleadership.com. If there are others in your organization that I should reach out to, I’d be grateful if you could connect me with them. I appreciate your support and I truly hope to see you soon!