Sarah G.
Title: Keynote speaker, business reporter, startup founder, college professor, community engagement expert
Communications
Education: University of North Carolina at Wilmington - North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC, USA
Biography
Hi! I’m Dr. Sarah Glova. Let’s unlock potential — together.
I specialize in transforming individuals and teams by unlocking their untapped potential. How? By sharing cutting-edge research about the crucial skills that we all need to succeed in today's rapidly changing work environment — like how to set and achieve goals, master workplace communication, foster continuous growth, and more.
Live, virtual, and hybrid formats available.
Passion
Sharing my research about goal setting and achievement, communication skills, and other professional development topics, inspiring audiences to feel confident in today’s fast-paced work environment and prepared for what's coming next in our rapidly-changing world.
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 applied to dozens — DOZENS — of TEDx events. When one finally said yes, I gave a talk that rocketed to 14,000+ views in just two weeks.
But before that event, I'd been applying to TEDx events for years — literally YEARS. I received rejection after rejection. Every event said no... until one event didn't.
I'm loud about the rejections — all the missed proposals, the "no"s. Because when we see people achieve, we often miss out on all the practice attempts and failures that got them there.
As part of my mission to help people thrive in today's rapidly changing world, I'm dedicated to sharing stories and research that are honest — sometimes funny, sometimes inspirational, but always authentic. In the end, it's all about helping an audience engage with the research, feel seen, and feel empowered to take on their biggest goals.
TEDx talk 📹
How to achieve your goals with a single page | TEDxShawUniversity
https://youtu.be/LeXSrEMXvQk
Origin Story
I'm on a bold mission to empower people to not only survive but thrive in today's rapidly changing work environment. The challenges we face are daunting: burnout is rampant, with a staggering 76% of employees feeling drained and exhausted. Engagement is at an all-time low, with a mere 34% of US employees feeling invested in their work. And resistance to change is holding us back, causing a shocking 70% of organizational change initiatives to fail.
These statistics resonate with me — because I've fought my own battles with burnout, decision paralysis, poor change management, and more.
But I refuse to let these statistics define us.
My life's work is helping people and organizations feel confident in today’s fast-paced work environment—whether that's cutting a clearer path to their goals, avoiding fast-paced burnout, or learning to master workplace communication.
My keynotes have inspired countless clients to show up resiliently in today's rapidly changing work environment—and I'd love to bring these talks to your organization.
Example talks
Fearlessly Clear: Creating your unique path to achieving your goals
Format: Keynote (45-minute or 90-minute options available)
Materials: Can include custom handouts designed to match your organization or event brandng.
This program is perfect for:
- Industry associations
- Entrepreneur groups
- Employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Leadership circles
- Business associations or Chamber events
The audience will leave with:
- A clear, personalized path for moving forward on their biggest goals
- Actionable steps that transform ideas into real, measurable progress
- A fresh perspective on goal setting that goes beyond typical approaches
- Practical tools that boost goal achievement in today’s workplace
Description: In this transformational talk, Dr. Sarah Glova helps audiences move from “Where do I start?” to “Here’s what I’ll do next.” Drawing from her research and interviews with thousands of goal-setters, Sarah reveals what it truly takes to achieve ambitious objectives—without being a visionary or an outlier.
Sarah breaks down the common myths of goal-setting and empowers attendees to get fearlessly clear on their path to success. This talk is packed with data-driven insights, practical exercises, and real-life examples, offering a refreshing alternative to typical goal-setting advice.
Attendees will leave with a crystal-clear, one-page plan for action and the confidence to move forward, no matter how big their goals are. Whether you're leading a team, running a business, or pushing forward on personal ambitions, this session will equip you to take meaningful steps forward on the path to your goals.
Mastering Workplace Communication: Speak Up and Lead with Impact
Your voice has the power to inspire change, motivate others, and drive success in the workplace. Are you ready to explore how you can tap into that power and show up as a confident leader?
In this talk, we’ll explore practical strategies for speaking up and leading with confidence in any situation. From giving presentations to facilitating meetings, you'll discover simple yet powerful tools that will help you communicate more effectively and confidently.
This high-energy presentation will empower your audience members with actionable insights that ignite their leadership and communication confidence. By the end of this keynote, your members will have a fresh perspective on communication in today’s workplace—and they’ll leave the session with practical takeaways that they can immediately implement.
Stop Giving Women Advice: The hidden danger of unsolicited advice and its effect on women
Description: The year my business started making six-figure revenue, a mentor told me I needed to be "more of a shark." And he wasn't the only one—I was constantly hearing from others that I needed to be more confident, or more assertive—that if I wanted to be a serious entrepreneur, I needed to dress differently, or speak differently, or even reconsider what I ordered for lunch.
The problem with all this advice? I didn't ask for it. And in the big world of startup culture, it made me feel about an inch tall.
See excerpts from this talk. 🎥 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/stop-giving-women-advice-sarah-glova/
After years of research, I've learned that I'm not alone—women are more likely to receive unsolicited advice than men are, and it can have an incredibly damaging effect on our confidence, our performance, and our relationships.
Thankfully, I've also learned how to address this problem—I've found some sunscreen to protect against the harsh glares of others' unsolicited advice. In this talk, we'll explore unsolicited advice from a neuroscience perspective, and talk about ways you can re-channel others' unnecessary feedback into fuel for your fire.
Presentation training for student groups or employee teams
Communication Workshops focused on Presentation Training
Focus areas: Feel more confident whenever you speak | Strategies for professional presentations | Audience awareness and presentation development | Presentation structure | Tips for delivering high-quality presentations
Formats offered: Training session, workshop
Billion-Dollar Opportunities: An Inside Look at Innovation in Today's Smart Cities
Topics covered: Today’s most ambitious smart city projects | Future thinking about smart cities and innovation | Quotes from city leaders and leading vendors in some of the world’s smartest cities | Most common smart city projects | Common issues and opportunities faced by today’s smart cities
Formats offered: Keynote; Short presentation; Facilitated panel discussion