The Story Behind the Keynotes

• The list of keynotes below is based on key themes that have surfaced while working with over 23,000 leaders.

• A hallmark of my speaking is to interactively engage the learner in order to facilitate their learning. Adults learn best by doing.

• The key underlying theme to all I do and the overarching philosophy which propels me out of bed and onto airplanes is inspiring leaders, women, and audiences across the world to Own the Power You DO Have™

Breakthru Branding™

No One is Going to Build Your Brand Except for YOU™ – At its core, personal branding is the intersection of credibility and influence. What happens when you have high influence but don’t have the credibility to back it up? Your brand will eventually run out of steam. What happens to the leaders with enormous credibility, but who lack the influencing skills to make sure what they say matters? This keynote maps out what happens at this intersection and, more importantly, outlines 7 steps you need to do to fine tune your Branding Compass©.

The Relevance Factor™ - A myriad of branding discussions in the world cover everything from presentation skills to professional appearance. The Relevance Factor™ is an introspective look into the mindset behind the elements of the ever-elusive concept of “executive presence.” When authenticity and awareness collide, what emerges is The Relevance Factor™. Once people understand the depth behind the individual components, they have a renewed passion for how the branding puzzle fits together and are inspired to up their game.

The Power of 3: Brevity is the Soul of Branding™ – Simplicity. Concise communication. The Power of 3. These are what senior leaders say is missing from communication. Too many people confuse information with messaging. We have so much to say, others can’t hear us! Emails, running a meeting, giving presentations, or a whole array of virtual communications can benefit from adopting brevity as a mindset and using the Power of 3™ as their communication compass. Using a Branding Prism©, this keynote provides a snapshot of 3 detractors and 3 enhancers which can improve personal branding exponentially.

Reality Redefined™ (R2)

Leaders are the Architects of Structure™ – Einstein once said, “We cannot solve problems at the same level of thinking that created them.” There are three different levels of thinking we can choose to use: Events, Patterns, & Structures. Many use the Events level (victimhood) and Patterns (finding order in chaos). However, the leverage is in the Structure. Structures are anything tangible or intangible that drive behavior. We are being influenced all of the time by the structures someone else put in place, either consciously or not. What many don’t realize is that ability to influence behavior IS within their reach – personally and professionally. When leaders truly embrace that Leaders are the Architects of Structure™, it can fundamentally redefine their world view. This keynote offers a step-by-step process for driving behavior and planning for unintended consequences.

Boiled Frogs & Sinking Fish: Assumptions Run Amuck™ – Why do we often look UP to corporate for the answer; DOWN to employees for the answer; to the RIGHT & LEFT for the answer? Where should we look instead? You got it . . . at the person in the mirror. There are assumptions and mental models at play which can make many feel powerless with their world . . . within their “system.” Learn how to identify common assumptions interfering with progress and learn how to create Mental Model Shifts to breakthrough what is holding us back.

Swim Lanes & Silos: Unraveling Corporate Myths™ – The complexity of the world leads us to embrace only what we can see. Looking down with our noses to the grindstone causes us to focus only on what we can influence close to us. We underestimate our ability to change the system. Our actions are more like throwing a pebble into a pond and seeing the ripples spread out for longer than expected. Leaders of the future must understand the true nature of complexity and grasp that no ONE person is in control of the system. Discover how to embrace the concept of INFLUENCE vs control. Corporate myths of “staying in your swim lane” and other variations of the “silo” mentality are causing a range of unintended consequences. Learn how to see the world you lead through a different lens.

Own the Power You DO Have™

Change the Station on Your Self Talk Radio™ – Sometimes what we don’t say speaks more loudly than what we do. Words have the power to create, to inspire, and to motivate. Words also have the power to tear down, to break, and to demean. We underestimate the power of our words everyday – with others and with ourselves. We like tuning into our favorite radio station or cool music streaming app to hear the music – the words - we like to hear. Yet when it comes to the words we use with ourselves, we tend to feel powerless. We DO have the power to change the station of our self-talk radio in a way that will build up, not tear down.

Receive the Push Differently™ – When something in life pushes against us, our first reaction is to push back. Our boss, our spouse, our children, our peers. The natural law of science is that when two forces push on each other, the pressure can stay at an infinite equilibrium. How does that look in the real world? We often get locked into a cycle, much like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The power lies in Receiving the Push Differently. Learn to identify the 3 traps that people waste precious energy on trying to “fix” and instead choose to Own the Power You DO Have™ by learning 5 ways to Receive the Push Differently™.

Small Actions Have BIG Impact™ – “Give me a lever long enough and I can change world,” or so the saying goes. So many people look for the big fix, the ultimate solution, THE answer . . . and then wonder why the change they seek is elusive. Leverage is a concept that revolutionizes where people invest their energy in their personal and professional lives. Understanding the mental models that shape the way we see the world and shifting them to a new perspective opens doors to finding the leverage within your own life to make significant progress.

Shhhhhh - Just for the Girls – Creative expression is part of the joy of the human experience. I have developed a whole series of humorous keynotes because I am busting at the seams for some serious "girl talk"! These keynotes are designed with entertainment and fun in mind based on subjects only us ladies would understand (think Peacock Parables™, Get Your Sexy Back Baby™, and “Southern Women Don’t Stalk-We Respectfully Pursue” LOL).

Kim is well-versed in a variety of executive coaching methods. She is often hired through Black Sheep Unleashed for executive coaching focused on communications and executive presence. Other clients have engaged Kim to become an internal certified coach for programs like InsideOut Coaching or to be a 360 coach for an internal customized program. Kim has used DISC, Strengthfinders, and a variety of internal assessments to assist with the coaching engagement.

Kim has many examples of how she has significantly influenced leaders in a positive way. Her personal mantra of “building people up, not tearing them down” shines through her coaching, especially as some situations are particularly sensitive. She is able to balance the deep respect she has for the coachee with her responsibility to the client who hired her. Her southern softness bodes well in the coaching arena, as even the toughest of leaders open up to the insight she shares. Her credibility, bias for action, and direct approach is appreciated across the board.

Kim is also a master facilitator who facilitates retreats, workshops, conferences, and strategic planning events. If she is already booked during your event, she is well-versed in helping leaders outline an agenda for the event and can recommend other experienced facilitators.

Kim has a close relationship with Black Sheep Unleashed with whom she is proud to be associated.

Black Sheep is best known for communication and executive presence training. “Jeff Black and I first met in 1990’s when we met through Leadership South Carolina. We have long shared a passion for helping leaders communicate with greater influence. I have watched Jeff grow Black Sheep from a single person company (with only the Black Sheep of course) to a boutique consulting firm with a global brand harnessing the talents of numerous consultants. His work with companies like GE, Lockheed Martin, Notre Dame, NBC, and Capgemini has made Black Sheep a trusted resource in enhancing leader’s executive presence. He has assembled a terrific team. Their experience ranges from using humor/storytelling to influence all the way to an explosion of interest in improv as way to teach leaders how to think on their feet. I am proud to have co-authored by first book with Jeff Black and Carol Hamilton.View Book Exciting times are ahead!” Kim is a senior communications consultant with Black Sheep and sought after executive coach.

Kim invested much of her life in training leaders for Positive Management Leadership who is best known for their work in the positive employee relations arena. For the past five years she served as a senior consultant and a business development associate. From 1996 - 2003, Kim proudly grew the company with the original founders, Linda and Steve Dolny, where she eventually became a partner with them. “It was an honor to be a partner with Linda and Steve who I believe embodied the true spirit of positive leadership.” Kim said. The unique perspective Kim always brought to the company was her expertise in systems thinking.

Kim is also an internal certified trainer for additional clients seeking to broaden their network. On the occasion she is already booked with clients, Kim is able to connect clients with other consultants which best suit their needs. “I truly operate from a mentality of abundance. I take great pride in matching clients with the right resources, regardless of whether it is specifically me or not. My approach has always been to add value and serve as a resource. The relationships I build with clients last for decades. They see me as a trusted advisor and as a partner to enhance their ability to make an impact. Please reach out to me if you are looking for something specific and have not yet found it on this website. Chances are I can point you in the right direction.”