Heather Whelpley giving a keynote while on a large stage

Interactive keynotes and workshops that equip you to live, work, and lead with grounded confidence

Speaking Topics

All topics can be presented virtually or in-person.

Keynotes, longer workshops, and professional development training series are all available.

Heather customizes all presentations through interviews, industry research, and meetings with key stakeholders at your organization.

Topics can be tailored to an all-gender audience or a women-specific event.

Have you ever felt like something had to be perfect before you could share it with anyone? Like you didn’t know enough or have enough experience to put your idea out there? Or maybe you’ve gotten feedback that you can be too direct – or need to be more confident. Or both!

You're not alone. Most of us have been handed messages that cause us to hold back our voice – and hold us back from the impact we want to create.

It’s time to flip those messages upside down.

Instead of diving into tactics on how you “should” present yourself, we're going to get clear on what is authentic to YOU so you can share your ideas, challenge the status quo, and lead positive change in your workplace – and beyond. In this interactive session we'll identify:

  • How imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and bias get in the way of sharing your authentic voice

  • The changes you want to influence with your voice

  • Concrete strategies to get your voice heard and create an impact

  • Actions you can take to build a culture where others are free to show up as their full selves and share their voice

Discover Your Authentic Voice

and how to use it to create impact

“There were so many ‘a-ha’ moments in her keynote on Discovering Your Authentic Voice. I was flooded with positive feedback from employees after her session, with people saying that it really made difference and left the session feeling better prepared to contribute, connect and deliver for their team and themselves.

— Revthi Lakhole Singh, Systems Integration Specialist, Motorola Solutions

Imposter Syndrome

and what to do about it

Do you ever hear a little voice in your head saying, “I’m not ready. It’s already been done. I just got lucky. Do I know enough to be here?” If any of these sound familiar, then you have been impacted by imposter syndrome. These fraudy thoughts influence how you show up in your career, from pursuing a new client or leadership role to speaking up in meetings and sharing new ideas.

The good news is you can do something about it! In this interactive event we will discuss how imposter syndrome impacts you, the structural and cultural reasons you experience it, and practical tools to manage imposter syndrome so you can take bold steps in your career, including how to:

  • Quiet your inner critic

  • Recover fast when doubt and imposter syndrome strike

  • Act even when you don’t feel confident

“Heather was our keynote speaker for National Women in Roofing Day. In short, she SLAYED it! Her keynote spoke to everyone on a deep level. Heather had us both laughing and crying. She just kept dropping nuggets of wisdom! I highly recommend Heather for your next event.”

— Renae Bales, former National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Executive Chair and KPost Vice President

How to communicate with confidence, clarity, and calm in conflict and beyond

Hard conversations. Tough feedback. Conflict.

They're not fun. They can be downright uncomfortable. Nerve-wracking. Sometimes so much so that you might avoid having the hard conversation at all! But they're also necessary for driving results, building strong relationships, and advocating for yourself and your career.

So how do you approach them with confidence? How do you feel GOOD about these tough talks? That's exactly what we're diving into. You'll walk away from this interactive session with practical tools and strategies to handle difficult conversations with greater ease and effectiveness, including:

  • Understanding the barriers to confident communication in tough talks

  • A powerful, simple tool that will give you the motivation to have hard conversations even when you are nervous

  • Practices to maintain calm confidence when tensions rise

  • Strategies to approach tough talks to get the best outcome for everyone involved

“Mastering Tough Talks was a blueprint for how to manage hard conversations. Heather provided actionable advice and real-life strategies in such an engaging and relatable way. This is the third event Heather has done for our organization and I hope to bring her back for more!”

— Angela Dodd, Founder and CEO of Females in Food

What rules were you handed in your career - and in your life? Do you feel like you can't disappoint anyone? Aren't allowed to fail - or even make a mistake? Need to be responsible for everything and keep everyone happy? Have to hold back your voice or change how you show up to match what a successful person is “supposed” to do?

Over time, these rules chip away at your confidence. They make you doubt yourself and suppress your authenticity. They hold you back from the career, life, and impact you want to create.

It's time to stop. It's time to break the rules.

This is more than your typical presentation.

It's an experience of reclaiming yourself. Get ready to dive deep and have big realizations. You'll see how to let go of the rules telling you to prove your worth through achievement, likability, and being “good” - and how to reconnect to your grounded confidence and become unshakeable.

Key takeaways include:

  • Recognizing the unspoken rules you’ve been following - and breaking free from the ones holding you back

  • Practical strategies to quiet the inner critic and tap into your grounded confidence

  • Redefining success on your own terms so you can take bold steps in your career - and in your life

The Power of Grounded Confidence

How to unleash your authenticity and become unshakeable

“Heather's keynote for our Women in Banking Conference was outstanding! Participants called the session inspiring, encouraging, and engaging. She went beyond the typical motivational keynote and provided actionable takeaways to deal with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Everyone left feeling energized and confident!”

— Sheena Frech, Tennessee Bankers Association

Surviving to Thriving

Real-world tools to heal from burnout, increase resiliency, and regain calm during uncertainty

There is a lot going on right now. It can feel like a rollercoaster - a rollercoaster on a one-way track to stress and burnout. If you’re white‑knuckling through each day, you’re not alone.

Let’s be clear - the solution isn’t about massages and bubble baths. Instead of scratching the surface with temporary fixes, we'll dive into the REAL steps to recover from burnout, restore your energy, and find peace, even when things are chaotic. You’ll walk away from this interactive presentation with:

  • Practical tools to release stress and regain calm

  • A step-by-step framework to set boundaries and create more space in your life

  • A personal toolkit to feel alive and engaged so you can truly thrive

Note: Leader, individual contributor, and team trainings are all available for Surviving to Thriving.

“Heather hit the exact mark we were looking for! Over 400 employees chose to attend the session and the feedback was fantastic. She provided concrete tools people could use immediately to address burnout both individually and as a team. What's more, Heather talked through tangible strategies as well as dealing with the emotional side of burnout. It was the perfect balance!”

— Sarah Remakel, Manager, Talent Management, nVent

Past Clients

Pepsico Logo
Motorola Logo
National Women in Roofing Logo
Signet Jewelers Logo
Women in Manufacturing Logo
Society of Women Engineers Logo
Cargill Logo
Ameriprise Logo
Boston Scientific Logo
Bristol Myers Squibb Logo
General Mills Logo
Comcast Logo
Deloitte Logo
Discover Logo
Mortenson Logo
Lindt Logo
McGough Construction Logo
Minnesota Bankers Association Logo

Videos

Speaker Reel

Discover Your Authentic Voice - Full Virtual Session

Clip of Imposter Syndrome - And What To Do About It

Quick tip to speak up with grounded confidence!