Recent Speaking Engagements
Keynote 1
Make Work Less Work: From Compliance to Conviction
Stop chasing buy-in. Buy-in gets people to nod. Conviction gets them to move.
The Conviction Transformation™ creates progress and results with the resources you already have — your people. This is the revolution our workforce has been waiting for. This is how work becomes less work.
Make Work Less Work Abstract
We’re facing a trust crisis at work. Engagement numbers are at historic lows, “quiet quitting” has become shorthand for survival, and even high performers are quietly cracking under pressure.
People are showing up, but they’re protecting themselves instead of being their authentic selves at work. When fear replaces trust, work becomes WORK — leaving behind creativity, innovation, growth, and progress.
The antidote isn’t more policies or positivity — it’s rebuilding the environment for conviction.
Most leadership models focus on either mindset (how to think differently) or mechanics (how to do things better). Now we need both — and it takes six dynamics, in equal measure, to create the conditions where conviction thrives:
- Clarity — goals and expectations are tangible; everyone knows what “better” looks like.
- Trust — consistency and safety build a stable foundation for risk-taking.
- Connection — people feel part of something larger than themselves.
- Agency — individuals have both the authority and the responsibility to act.
- Alignment — work ties back to shared purpose and values.
- Traction — urgency and focus turn vision into movement.
The Conviction Transformation™ isn’t another leadership philosophy — it’s a whole, new organizational model. It’s about designing the environment — a self-sustaining ecosystem of growth, creativity, reflection, and adaptation — where conviction is earned, not expected, and participation is hard to resist.
Keynote 2
Shed the Armor: Make Epic Change Without the Battle
Change doesn’t have to be a battle. Katherine helps audiences lead intentional change in the workplace, overcoming resistance, managing expectations, and building the trust that drives bold goals.
Learn more about the TABLE Framework™, her original change-management model, here.
Shed the Armor Abstract
In today’s ever-changing work environment, leading through uncertainty can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Few want to armor up to tackle organizational change, resistance, fear, and apathy. But what if driving meaningful change didn’t have to be a battle?
In her engaging keynote, Katherine Robinette explains how to adopt a more thoughtful and collaborative approach to change management, rooted in building trust and community, rather than charging ahead in armor. (The TABLE Framework™)
Learned and developed from real-world examples — ranging from software adoption to theater management to corporate mergers — Katherine breaks down her process to help her audience successfully navigate workplace change in a way that builds intentional culture. Attendees will learn to target their goals, assess and address expectations, build simplicity into adoption, lean into action that builds trust, and evaluate and adjust for the unexpected.
Katherine’s refreshing approach reframes change from an intimidating battle into an opportunity for growth, connection, and innovation. She entertains, empowers, and educates her audience with ease, drawing on a long career in theater, training as a professional keynote speaker, and her own professional experience. With actionable insights and relatable stories, this keynote is designed to inspire her audience to implement lasting, positive change in their organizations, companies, departments, and teams — no armor required.
Workshops, Webinars, and Speaking Topics
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.
Change is Inevitable: How We Respond Is Not
The only thing constant is change. Every organization will undergo some major shift in the next 18 months — whether it’s a merger, leadership transition, restructuring, or system overhaul. Instead of focusing on resistance, what if we made the process about building trust?
In this interactive session, leaders and teams explore how people respond
to uncertainty and what’s really happening beneath resistance. Using the Trust A.C.T.s™ framework (Authority, Contribution, and Truth), participants learn how to build trust, engage their teams, and create stability when everything is in flux.
Through candid discussion, practical examples, and simple reflection tools, participants learn how to reframe change, empower teams, and make better choices — so progress continues, even during uncertainty.
Participants will:
- Identify the four typical responses to change and navigate each one
- Use Trust A.C.T.s™ to build stability, safety, and confidence
- Lead change without the battle
(1 hour, online masterclass or workshop)
Leader You Are: 5 Changes You Can Make Tomorrow to Get Schtuff Done
Leaders at all levels are facing the same challenge: too much schtuff 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 need support to lead with intention and clarity.
Reframe how 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 workshop covers the same practical approach Katherine uses for herself and her clients, tailored for people who care about doing good work and supporting their teams along the way.
Takeaways:
- Set daily priorities simply — even in the chaos
- Protect time for focused work without guilt
- Reset expectations around meetings, messages, and interruptions
- Delegate so the team wants to participate
- Create clarity and momentum starting this week
(1 hour, online masterclass)
Delegation for the Doer-Turned-Leader
Most managers built their reputation by being the one who could get things done — and now they are leading others who look to them for direction, clarity, and confidence. But letting go is an artform and it takes practice.
Whether new to leadership or simply wanting a clearer, more consistent approach to delegation, this session offers practical, respectful ways to delegate that empower the team and protect everyone’s 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. Participants will 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, webinar or workshop)
Get Your Strengths Off the Bookshelf
Personal assessments provide valuable insight into ourselves and how we perceive and interact with the world. But how can that be applied to improve relationships, set and maintain boundaries, and communicate better up, down, and across the company? This workshop leads participants 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:
- Use any assessment results to communicate needs, preferences, and boundaries effectively
- Increase success by advocating for more core, enjoyable work
(3.5 hours, in-person workshop; 1-hour webinar for high-level overview)
Target Your Goals
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)
Audit to BHAG
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)
Show Up With Courage, Not Perfection
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)
PODCAST APPEARANCES
Leading Change That Lasts: The TABLE Framework™
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.
Leading Through Change and Shedding the Armor
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.
Understanding Workplace Culture
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
First, Break All the Rules - Redefining Leadership
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
Getting "Schtuff" Done
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.
Managing is Theater
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.