Katherine Robinette Speaker

These are our most requested presentations, workshops, and webinars. And they all are part of our Driving Intentional Change philosophy. With good goal-setting, research, analysis, processes, and communication, you can make positive change in the workplace, build community and trust, and create the kind of workplace where everyone thrives.

 Does it feel like you and your team have a completely different understanding of what you are trying to accomplish? Are they duplicating effort? Going in different directions? Taking action that seems counterproductive to your needs? Do you wish you could pay more attention to your goals with the limited resources you have? Target Your Goals. Learn how to frame your goals to keep the team on the same path. Clarify how the team can maximize their efforts and make progress. Get the most out of your time and resources with indicators of success - so you know you're making progress as you're working. When you Target Your Goals, you're doing more than saying the same thing - you're making every action have the desired impact. For leaders, managers, team leads, HR professionals - anyone tasked with implementing a strategic goal, operational change, or new program/initiative. 

Takeaways:

1. 10 questions to define goals in tangible terms.

2. Vocabulary to consistently communicate about the goals, so team members focus their activities appropriately and effectively. 

3. Performance indicators and measurements of success tailored to the goals to benchmark progress at any stage.

(1 hour, online masterclass)

Leaders at all levels are facing the same challenge: too much to do, not enough time, and a deep desire to lead better. They're committed to building a team that’s focused, capable, and energized and they want to lead them with intention and clarity.

They want to:

• Get the important schtuff done
• Motivate and engage the team
• Delegate in a way that energizes and empowers the team
• Juggle multiple priorities without losing focus on what matters most
• Reclaim time for strategic, growth-focused work
• Lead by example, with consistency, calm, and direction

This session is for thoughtful, people-first leaders who care deeply about their team — and want a practical way to lead with purpose, not pressure. This talk isn't theory. It's the same practical approach I've used for myself and others for more than a decade, tailored for people who care about doing good work and supporting their teams along the way.

Takeaways:

 ✔ A simple way to set daily priorities — even in the chaos
✔ Tools to protect time for focused work without guilt
✔ A framework for resetting expectations around meetings, messages, and interruptions
✔ A strengths-based approach to delegation your team will actually respond to
✔ Tactics to create clarity and momentum — starting this week 

(1 hour, online masterclass

Struggling to track your strategy for a big pursuit? Or looking for a way to scale your pursuit plan for smaller opportunities? Introducing the tactical pursuit plan – a simple framework to drive a successful pursuit process. With just one tool, your pursuit team can gather, track, respond to, adapt, and convey the information necessary to turn “I think this is what the client wants” into “I KNOW what the client wants”. 

Whether you have a large team, long lead-time, or just one client meeting, the Tactical Pursuit Plan will focus your efforts on the most critical items needed to win. Follow the client’s lead and give them what they’re asking for – no guessing, no wildcards. 

In this session, see the powerful Tactical Pursuit Plan tool in action:

• Turn your best guesses into vetted truths
• Honestly assess what you offer to meet your client’s expectations
• Create tactics to shift your client’s perspective of you, your team, and your approach long before the submittal date

(1 hour, best as a webinar)

Marketers know when a project isn’t a good fit — but saying “no” can feel like picking a fight. When internal teams push to pursue every opportunity, marketers are often left defending their judgment without the authority to make the final call.

This session gives attendees tools to respond to Go/No-Go discussions with professionalism, empathy, and clarity. Through a mix of insight, humor, and real-world examples, participants will learn how to address the most common objections to “no-go” decisions and how to guide the team toward a “No, and” — without damaging relationships or morale.

Takeaways:

• Reframe common internal objections with clarity and confidence
• Apply a simple approach to de-escalate high-pressure pursuit conversations
• Craft “No, and” responses that protect client relationships and reinforce the firm’s positioning

(1 hour, best as a webinar

You built your reputation by being the one who could get things done — and now you're leading others who look to you for direction, clarity, and confidence. But letting go is an artform — and it takes practice.

Whether you're new to leadership or simply want a clearer, more consistent approach to delegation, this session offers practical, respectful ways to delegate that empower your team and protect your time.

Introducing the PLATES Framework: a tool for deciding what to delegate, how to do it clearly, and how to create space for the work that matters most. This is delegation by design — and trust — and you'll leave with at least one real task ready to hand off with purpose.

Takeaways:

•  Use the PLATES Framework to evaluate what, how, and to whom they should delegate
• Match tasks to the appropriate level of responsibility and authority
• Clarify expectations to reduce rework and support independent execution
• Identify outdated work that can be paused, retired, or removed entirely
• Create a live Delegation Brief during the session they can implement immediately

(1 hour, best as a webinar)

You don’t need a calculator — you need a flashlight.

When the goals are big and the path isn’t clear, an internal audit can be the sharpest tool in your strategic toolkit. But most people don’t know what a non-financial audit actually is — or they assume it’s a massive, messy undertaking.

This session demystifies internal audits and shows how they can help you uncover what’s working, what’s missing, and where your team, systems, or proposals are getting stuck. Whether you’re merging, growing, spinning your wheels, or just have a hunch something’s off, you’ll learn how to use audits to make the invisible visible — and the next steps obvious.

You’ll walk away with real examples, practical tools, and a better understanding of how to move from “we should look at that…” to real insight and action.

Takeaways:

• What an internal audit is and why it’s not as scary as it sounds
• The most common triggers that signal it’s time for an audit
• Five types of reviews you can use 
• How to chose where to begin
• Why the best audits don’t give you answers — they give you options

(1 hour, best as a webinar)

So, you've taken a personal assessment and learned some really cool things about yourself. Now, how do you apply that to improve relationships, set and maintain boundaries, and communicate better up, down, and across the company? This workshop leads new staff and mid-level leaders and managers through exercises and self discovery to develop implementable action items that are tailored to their core strengths so they can thrive in the workplace. 

Takeaways:

1. How to use your assessment to communicate your needs, preferences, and boundaries effectively.

2. How to increase your success by advocating for more of what you do well and enjoy. 

(3.5 hours, in-person workshop)

Everyone has their own filters - their own way of seeing, hearing, and interacting with the world. Figuring out one boss is difficult enough, but what if you work with multiple people in a supervisor/employee dynamic? This workshop engages new staff and mid-level leaders and managers in exercises for finding common ground, getting clarity, and communicating effectively with diverse personalities.  

Takeaways:

1. Identify your own communication style and preferences.

2. Assess someone else's communication style and preferences.

3. Find common ground and bridge communication gaps.

(2.5 hours, in-person workshop)

Through a marketing and business development audit, Coffman Engineers, Inc. found a path to bring marketing representation to the C-Suite. Katherine Robinette and Skip Bourgeois, VP of Marketing at Coffman Engineers, Inc., co-present this story of intentional inquiry that led to a wondrous big, hairy, audacious goal (BHAG). For mid-level leaders and managers who want to learn a way to introduce a big change to their organization.

Takeaways:

1. Four questions to ask to get a more objective picture of your current program/department.

2. Three steps to make space for big-picture thinking. 

3. Two ways to elevate your department and influence change. 

(90 minutes, in-person or virtual)

Specifically for high school, college, and young professional audiences.

Confidence doesn’t show up first, courage does.

In a world that pressures young adults to have it all figured out, be picture-perfect, and never make a mistake, this keynote offers a powerful alternative: show up as you are, take action anyway, and lead from a place of authenticity.

With humor, honesty, and straight talk, Katherine dismantles the myth of perfection and gives a refreshing new framework for that empowers brave choices. Audiences will learn that showing up messy, uncertain, or scared isn’t a failure, it’s how strong leaders are made. Drawing from her years in theater, Katherine highlights the parallels between acting and showing up courageously.

This talk is especially effective for student leaders, youth conferences, schools, and young professionals focused on resilience, leadership, and mental well-being.

Takeaways:

1. Giving yourself permission to start before you're "ready"

2. Applying courage as the first step to confidence

3. Making brave choices aligned with your values

4. Strategies to ask for help

5. Making mistakes IS the job

(60-minute keynote; in-person or virtual)

What if your next big change didn’t have to feel like a battle—but like a seat at the table?

With decades of experience guiding organizations through transformation, Katherine shares her signature 5-step TABLE Framework for intentional, people-first change implementation. From navigating resistance to change to empowering middle managers as true change agents, this episode unpacks the strategies leaders need to approach change with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

We dive into why most change efforts fail, how to rebuild trust, and the critical role of middle management in shaping company culture. Whether you’re undergoing digital transformation, facing organizational restructuring, or rolling out a new strategic initiative—this conversation will shift how you view change at work.

Whether you’re managing change at work, implementing a new process, or preparing your team for the future—this episode is your blueprint for leading with empathy, strategy, and confidence. 

The People Success Circle with Mindy East

Often, we face change not of our choice, prompting us to armor up for battle. Katherine Robinette helps individuals and teams reframe change as an opportunity for growth, connection, and innovation. With more than 20 years of experience in administration, employee engagement, marketing, and business development, Katherine specializes in building systems that help organizations thrive. Carmen and Katherine talk about building trust, clarity, and lasting success during change. Meaningful change isn’t about armor, it’s about bringing everyone to the table.

Leading Intentionally with Carmen Paredes

In this episode of Life Unscripted with Rosabel, Katherine shares how workplace culture shapes everything from engagement to performance—and why fitting in isn't the same as belonging. She introduces her TABLE framework for leading change without burnout or resistance, even in challenging environments. The conversation explores how anyone, regardless of title, can influence culture and reclaim their voice. It’s a powerful listen for leaders and changemakers navigating today’s complex workplace dynamics. 

Understanding Workplace Culture - Life Unscripted with Rosabel

 Are you ready to challenge conventional leadership wisdom and empower your team like never before? In this video, we explore the groundbreaking principles from First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. Learn how the best managers unlock individual potential and transform workplace culture.  Joining me is Katherine Robinette, a speaker, consultant, and change catalyst with over 20 years of experience in marketing, business development, and employee engagement. Together, we discuss actionable strategies for building stronger, more innovative teams by breaking the old rules of management.  What You'll Learn in This Video:

✅ How to hire for talent over experience

✅ Why focusing on strengths leads to greater success 

✅ The power of defining outcomes and empowering team autonomy

✅ Practical tips for boosting employee engagement with Gallup’s Q12 

First, Break All the Rules: The Coaching Network

In this episode, Katherine Robinette joins host Keelin Cox to discuss the challenges of initiating change within organizations, emphasizing the importance of clearly defining goals before embarking on any project. They talk about the process to follow for change management and common scenarios where individuals may feel hesitant to start due to uncertainty or anticipated resistance. They discuss the importance of clear communication throughout the process to mitigate resistance and foster engagement. If you want to know how to really get SCHTUFF done right, listen to uncover strategies for building trust and bringing everyone along in the journey of change. 

Episode 112 AEC Marketeer

Why is being a manager almost as scary as speaking in public? And why are we struggling to do this well? We’ve seen the research – people don’t leave their jobs, they leave their managers. But what if managing others was a team effort? What if it worked like a theater production and you are part of an ensemble cast? Join Mary Abbajay, leadership speaker and author of “Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss” as she and guest host, Katherine (Kate) Robinette, talk about where to start, the roles we play, and how to make work relationships work.

Episode 237 The PSM Show