Paula Jenkins
Founder and CEO at LFS Consulting LLC
Leadership
Education: Tuskegee University, BS in Computer Information Systems - DePaul University, MBA in Leadership and Change Management
Chicago, IL, USA
Biography
Paula R. Jenkins is more than a speaker—she’s a transformational leader and the driving force behind LFS Consulting LLC, where she serves as CEO. With a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and an MBA in Leadership and Change Management, Paula is renowned for her expertise in Leadership and Financial Success. A certified coach, DISC consultant, and licensed DEI trainer, Paula brings a wealth of knowledge and tools to help organizations achieve meaningful change.
Known for her outgoing and dynamic personality, Paula has the ability to connect with any audience. She’s celebrated for her authentic leadership style, which balances compassion with the ability to challenge people’s thinking. Whether she’s speaking about emotional intelligence or diversity, Paula’s talks are highly engaging, tailored, and relevant to today’s leadership and organizational challenges.
Why Choose Paula:
Expertise: Certified coach, DISC consultant, and Licensed DEI Trainer.
Engaging: Delivers dynamic presentations that keep the audience captivated.
Customizable: Every talk is designed to fit the theme and challenges of your event.
Authentic Leadership: Paula is known for balancing empathy with strategic challenges that drive growth.
Popular Speaking Topics:
The Art of Effective Communication: Building Teams That Really Talk
Emotional Intelligence: Why IQ Isn’t Enough
The Future of Leadership: Navigating Change in a Fast-Paced World
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Moving Beyond the Buzzwords
Motivating the Unmotivated: Sparking Passion in Your Team
Paula Jenkins’ talks leave a lasting impact, sparking action and igniting transformation in organizations worldwide.
Passion
Communication. Everything begins and ends with how we communicate with each other. When we understand who we are we can identify how we show up to people. When we understand who we are talking to we can have a much better experience and relationship. This is so important when working with people - whether it is a client, a boss, your spouse, your partner, your child or a stranger - our communication styles matter. In everything I do I ensure that those who meet me understand who I am, and I want to get to know who they are as our relationship will be far better for it. This is why I am so passionate about the DISC personality assessment!
Financial literacy. We don't talk about money and there are many people living paycheck to paycheck and don't know where to start. Many people were not taught about personal finance as children, and it has shown up in detrimental way in their adulthood. When I work with people on the basics of budgeting I am overwhelmed with the power of what education and change can do for a person. It makes a difference.
Best Story
Directness is who I am. I am direct and sometimes we have to be directly told things to make changes in our lives. My blood pressure was 180 / 140 and my doctor stated I would die if I didn't change my work environment. This was pretty direct - and I listened! I went on an LOA 2 days later and quit my corporate job 3 months later. I started my business a month later.
Origin Story
I worked in corporate America for nearly 20 years. I saw some great managers and I saw some not so great managers. I was a leader in many ways during my tenure. I directly managed employees, I also trained new managers and helped identify potential managers. I have always believed that a true leader can create other great leaders - you just have to be one. After my health was impacted by a bad manager, I decided to leave corporate America and I haven't looked back. I took my two passions - leadership development and financial literacy and built a business to create great leaders and help people become better stewards with their money. These two topics intertwine with each other and I am helping people see this every day!
Example talks
Owning Your Success: Embracing Authentic Leadership to Accelerate Your Career
Women in energy often face unique challenges, including navigating biases, limited representation, and finding their authentic voice within a competitive field. Paula R Jenkins empowers women to own their success by embracing authentic leadership—recognizing and leveraging their unique strengths to build resilience, credibility, and influence. Through insightful storytelling, actionable frameworks, and practical communication strategies, participants will learn to boldly showcase their value, confidently handle difficult conversations, and intentionally accelerate their career growth in energy and beyond.
Learning Objectives:
Techniques for confidently owning and articulating your unique value.
Practical steps for handling difficult conversations with authenticity and impact.
Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building a resilient leadership mindset.
You Are Either Connecting or Repelling: Which One Are You?
Every conversation is a choice—you’re either drawing people in or pushing them away. This interactive session uncovers the secrets of powerful communication that builds trust, inspires action, and fosters collaboration. Through real-life examples, engaging activities, and actionable takeaways, you’ll learn how to connect with diverse audiences, adapt your style to different personalities, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re leading a team, negotiating with clients, or managing workplace conflict, this session will give you the tools to transform how you communicate and leave others feeling inspired. If you’re ready to stop repelling and start connecting, this session is for you!
Learning Objectives:
By attending this session, attendees will:
Identify the communication patterns that hinder or enhance their ability to connect with others.
Discover strategies to adapt communication styles to different personalities and situations for maximum impact.
Implement actionable techniques to build trust, motivate teams, and foster collaboration through effective communication.
Abstract:
This engaging session dives into the nuances of communication that can either build bridges or burn them. Attendees will learn to identify behaviors that repel others and uncover actionable strategies to become magnetic communicators who inspire trust and foster collaboration. Using practical examples, interactive elements, and real-world stories, this session highlights how adapting communication styles can lead to stronger relationships and more productive outcomes. Based on my signature workshop delivered to diverse audiences, this session will empower attendees to leave with tangible skills to connect more effectively, regardless of their audience or setting.
Inspiring Leadership: Unlocking the Power of Connection, Communication, and Clarity
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing workplace, leadership isn’t just about directing—it’s about inspiring. This session dives deep into the leadership and management styles that cultivate trust, empower teams, and drive performance.
Attendees will learn how to:
Leverage emotional intelligence to connect with team members on a meaningful level.
Communicate with clarity to align teams with organizational goals.
Foster a culture of collaboration and accountability that inspires employees to give their best.
Through real-world examples, practical strategies, and actionable takeaways, participants will leave equipped to elevate their leadership game and create a ripple effect of success across their organizations.
Leadership and Resilience – Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose: It's Time to Lead
Leadership isn’t just about celebrating wins—it’s about thriving through the losses and coming back stronger. In this empowering session, we’ll explore how resilience fuels great leadership. Attendees will learn practical strategies to lead confidently through uncertainty, inspire teams in challenging times, and turn setbacks into stepping stones. Packed with inspiring stories, actionable frameworks, and a touch of humor, this session is perfect for leaders at every level looking to build a resilient mindset and embrace their leadership potential. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to lead during tough times, this session will give you the confidence to rise above and lead with purpose.
Learning Objectives:
By attending this session, attendees will:
Understand how to cultivate resilience to navigate setbacks and failures in their leadership journey.
Learn techniques to inspire and lead teams through periods of change, uncertainty, and growth.
Develop strategies to build a resilient mindset that turns challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Abstract:
Leadership isn’t always about winning—it’s about learning, growing, and showing up, even in the face of adversity. In this dynamic session, we’ll explore the critical role resilience plays in effective leadership. Attendees will gain practical insights into leading with confidence through setbacks and uncertainty while inspiring their teams to do the same. Combining real-life leadership stories, actionable strategies, and powerful frameworks, this session equips attendees to embrace resilience as a tool for personal and organizational success. Whether you're navigating a career pivot, workplace challenges, or seeking growth, this session will leave you ready to lead with purpose and grit.
DEI IS Leadership
DEI is leadership—it’s about how leaders connect, communicate, and build bridges across differences to create equitable and empowered workplaces. This workshop redefines DEI as more than a focus on race or ethnicity; it’s a framework for leadership that integrates emotional intelligence, communication styles, and essential leadership skills. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, participants will learn how to navigate diverse perspectives, foster inclusive team dynamics, and lead with greater self-awareness and impact.
Key Learning Objectives:
Redefine DEI as a Core Leadership Competency
Understand how communication styles, emotional intelligence, and leadership fundamentals work together to make DEI integral to effective leadership—not just an initiative.
Master Inclusive Communication Practices
Learn to adapt communication styles to build trust and connection with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Enhance Emotional Intelligence for Inclusive Leadership
Develop self-awareness and empathy to recognize and address unconscious biases while fostering equity and belonging in team interactions.
Love, Hope, and Gratitude
“Today, I choose to live with Gratitude for the Love that fills my heart, and the voice of Hope that say all things are possible.” This presentation will leave you and those around you inspired. It is high energy, inspirational and timely.
Come to this presentation and learn:
How to live a life sharing love.
The areas where you are trying to find hope.
How to pause and show gratitude.
What is your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)?
This presentation is designed for managers, leaders of big and small teams, entrepreneurs, small business owners, independent contractors, and anyone who meets with people regularly and must build relationships in some capacity. Emotional Intelligence is defined as the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. The key word is “aware”! You must be aware of how you show up.
In this presentation, you will learn:
The full understanding of emotional intelligence (EQ) & how it shows up in your role as a leader.
How to understand the importance of using emotional intelligence (EQ) & how to use it in your role as a leader.
How to understand the power of leveraging peers in your role as a leader.
Communicating the Right Message in the Right Way
Communication, after all, is one of the most CRITICAL activities that ANY small business owner (or sales professional in ANY industry) needs to learn and GET REALLY GOOD AT DOING!
This talk is ideal for anyone who wants to improve your relationships in your personal life and your professional life. It is for those of you who want more from your boss, your career, your employees, your clients, or your kids even!
Come to this presentation and learn:
How to understand better about your own style and how it affects all the scenarios you will enter each day.
How to understand the impact you make when you do have these important conversations with people in your life or business.
How to learn an easy system for always keeping this communication style information on top of your mind so you can maximize every conversation and scenario possible.
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
Everything is negotiable
Topics
Best Story
Directness is who I am. I am direct and sometimes we have to be directly told things to make changes in our lives. My blood pressure was 180 / 140 and my doctor stated I would die if I didn't change my work environment. This was pretty direct - and I listened! I went on an LOA 2 days later and quit my corporate job 3 months later. I started my business a month later.
Origin Story
I worked in corporate America for nearly 20 years. I saw some great managers and I saw some not so great managers. I was a leader in many ways during my tenure. I directly managed employees, I also trained new managers and helped identify potential managers. I have always believed that a true leader can create other great leaders - you just have to be one. After my health was impacted by a bad manager, I decided to leave corporate America and I haven't looked back. I took my two passions - leadership development and financial literacy and built a business to create great leaders and help people become better stewards with their money. These two topics intertwine with each other and I am helping people see this every day!
Example talks
Owning Your Success: Embracing Authentic Leadership to Accelerate Your Career
Women in energy often face unique challenges, including navigating biases, limited representation, and finding their authentic voice within a competitive field. Paula R Jenkins empowers women to own their success by embracing authentic leadership—recognizing and leveraging their unique strengths to build resilience, credibility, and influence. Through insightful storytelling, actionable frameworks, and practical communication strategies, participants will learn to boldly showcase their value, confidently handle difficult conversations, and intentionally accelerate their career growth in energy and beyond.
Learning Objectives:
Techniques for confidently owning and articulating your unique value.
Practical steps for handling difficult conversations with authenticity and impact.
Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building a resilient leadership mindset.
You Are Either Connecting or Repelling: Which One Are You?
Every conversation is a choice—you’re either drawing people in or pushing them away. This interactive session uncovers the secrets of powerful communication that builds trust, inspires action, and fosters collaboration. Through real-life examples, engaging activities, and actionable takeaways, you’ll learn how to connect with diverse audiences, adapt your style to different personalities, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re leading a team, negotiating with clients, or managing workplace conflict, this session will give you the tools to transform how you communicate and leave others feeling inspired. If you’re ready to stop repelling and start connecting, this session is for you!
Learning Objectives:
By attending this session, attendees will:
Identify the communication patterns that hinder or enhance their ability to connect with others.
Discover strategies to adapt communication styles to different personalities and situations for maximum impact.
Implement actionable techniques to build trust, motivate teams, and foster collaboration through effective communication.
Abstract:
This engaging session dives into the nuances of communication that can either build bridges or burn them. Attendees will learn to identify behaviors that repel others and uncover actionable strategies to become magnetic communicators who inspire trust and foster collaboration. Using practical examples, interactive elements, and real-world stories, this session highlights how adapting communication styles can lead to stronger relationships and more productive outcomes. Based on my signature workshop delivered to diverse audiences, this session will empower attendees to leave with tangible skills to connect more effectively, regardless of their audience or setting.
Inspiring Leadership: Unlocking the Power of Connection, Communication, and Clarity
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing workplace, leadership isn’t just about directing—it’s about inspiring. This session dives deep into the leadership and management styles that cultivate trust, empower teams, and drive performance.
Attendees will learn how to:
Leverage emotional intelligence to connect with team members on a meaningful level.
Communicate with clarity to align teams with organizational goals.
Foster a culture of collaboration and accountability that inspires employees to give their best.
Through real-world examples, practical strategies, and actionable takeaways, participants will leave equipped to elevate their leadership game and create a ripple effect of success across their organizations.
Leadership and Resilience – Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose: It's Time to Lead
Leadership isn’t just about celebrating wins—it’s about thriving through the losses and coming back stronger. In this empowering session, we’ll explore how resilience fuels great leadership. Attendees will learn practical strategies to lead confidently through uncertainty, inspire teams in challenging times, and turn setbacks into stepping stones. Packed with inspiring stories, actionable frameworks, and a touch of humor, this session is perfect for leaders at every level looking to build a resilient mindset and embrace their leadership potential. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to lead during tough times, this session will give you the confidence to rise above and lead with purpose.
Learning Objectives:
By attending this session, attendees will:
Understand how to cultivate resilience to navigate setbacks and failures in their leadership journey.
Learn techniques to inspire and lead teams through periods of change, uncertainty, and growth.
Develop strategies to build a resilient mindset that turns challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Abstract:
Leadership isn’t always about winning—it’s about learning, growing, and showing up, even in the face of adversity. In this dynamic session, we’ll explore the critical role resilience plays in effective leadership. Attendees will gain practical insights into leading with confidence through setbacks and uncertainty while inspiring their teams to do the same. Combining real-life leadership stories, actionable strategies, and powerful frameworks, this session equips attendees to embrace resilience as a tool for personal and organizational success. Whether you're navigating a career pivot, workplace challenges, or seeking growth, this session will leave you ready to lead with purpose and grit.
DEI IS Leadership
DEI is leadership—it’s about how leaders connect, communicate, and build bridges across differences to create equitable and empowered workplaces. This workshop redefines DEI as more than a focus on race or ethnicity; it’s a framework for leadership that integrates emotional intelligence, communication styles, and essential leadership skills. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, participants will learn how to navigate diverse perspectives, foster inclusive team dynamics, and lead with greater self-awareness and impact.
Key Learning Objectives:
Redefine DEI as a Core Leadership Competency
Understand how communication styles, emotional intelligence, and leadership fundamentals work together to make DEI integral to effective leadership—not just an initiative.
Master Inclusive Communication Practices
Learn to adapt communication styles to build trust and connection with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Enhance Emotional Intelligence for Inclusive Leadership
Develop self-awareness and empathy to recognize and address unconscious biases while fostering equity and belonging in team interactions.
Love, Hope, and Gratitude
“Today, I choose to live with Gratitude for the Love that fills my heart, and the voice of Hope that say all things are possible.” This presentation will leave you and those around you inspired. It is high energy, inspirational and timely.
Come to this presentation and learn:
How to live a life sharing love.
The areas where you are trying to find hope.
How to pause and show gratitude.
What is your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)?
This presentation is designed for managers, leaders of big and small teams, entrepreneurs, small business owners, independent contractors, and anyone who meets with people regularly and must build relationships in some capacity. Emotional Intelligence is defined as the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. The key word is “aware”! You must be aware of how you show up.
In this presentation, you will learn:
The full understanding of emotional intelligence (EQ) & how it shows up in your role as a leader.
How to understand the importance of using emotional intelligence (EQ) & how to use it in your role as a leader.
How to understand the power of leveraging peers in your role as a leader.
Communicating the Right Message in the Right Way
Communication, after all, is one of the most CRITICAL activities that ANY small business owner (or sales professional in ANY industry) needs to learn and GET REALLY GOOD AT DOING!
This talk is ideal for anyone who wants to improve your relationships in your personal life and your professional life. It is for those of you who want more from your boss, your career, your employees, your clients, or your kids even!
Come to this presentation and learn:
How to understand better about your own style and how it affects all the scenarios you will enter each day.
How to understand the impact you make when you do have these important conversations with people in your life or business.
How to learn an easy system for always keeping this communication style information on top of your mind so you can maximize every conversation and scenario possible.