Speaking
Practical wisdom after disruption
Rebuild innovation, culture, and confidence by addressing career grief as the real byproduct of change.
My approach to speaking
I work with C-suite leaders, founders, and executive teams navigating high-stakes change and uncertainty. Much of that work lives in the stretch after a major outcome—after a pivot, a miss, a project that failed, a restructure, or a leadership change—when people are expected to perform as if nothing happened.
When the human cost of change goes unnamed, it doesn’t disappear. It shows up as caution, second-guessing, blame loops, and a stall in innovation. In my talks, I give leaders language for what’s happening, along with a practical way through it using my RISE framework. My approach blends emotional intelligence with practical leadership strategy.
My goal is simple: help teams create compassionate closure, rebuild confidence, and get back to clearer decisions and bolder execution.
Signature talks
Each talk offers leaders practical language, grounded frameworks, and clear next steps for moving teams forward after disruption.
Organizational Loss and Renewal
The Invisible Force Behind Burnout, Disengagement, and Stalled Innovation
Burnout and disengagement are often treated as performance problems when they’re frequently rooted in unacknowledged loss. This keynote introduces the concept of workplace loss as a critical, often invisible force shaping how people show up after layoffs, restructures, failed initiatives, leadership changes, or sudden shifts in direction.
This talk helps audiences understand how loss impacts confidence, trust, motivation, and decision-making. Participants leave with language for what’s been happening beneath the surface, a clear framework for addressing it, and practical ways to re-engage people without bypassing the human experience or forcing optimism.
Who it’s for: Company-wide audiences, including executives, people managers, and frontline teams, when you want shared language and a reset after a hard season.
Leading Through Endings
How Leaders Rebuild Trust and Prevent Risk Aversion from Taking Hold
Every organization experiences endings: a strategy that didn’t work, a team restructure, a leadership exit, or a major pivot. What leaders do next determines whether teams stay engaged or quietly pull back.
This talk focuses on the leadership behaviors that help teams integrate endings rather than rush past them. Leaders learn how unprocessed loss erodes trust, narrows thinking, and lowers risk tolerance, and how to create compassionate closure that keeps people speaking up, experimenting, and taking ownership. Participants walk away with tools to rebuild trust, reduce defensiveness, and align teams around what comes next without blame or avoidance.
Who it’s for: A senior leadership session with executives and leaders responsible for culture, trust, and performance.
Speaker reel
A short look at my speaking style, presence, and approach with leadership audiences.
TEDx Talk
In this TEDx talk, I name career grief as the hidden cost of disruption and explain why “moving on” isn’t a strategy. I share the turning point that changed how I lead and coach, along with a practical way to create closure, rebuild confidence, and make clearer decisions after a loss that can be used for leaders and their teams.
Selected speaking
TEDxForbes Park (2025)
Greenlight Women (2025)
CAPE (2024)
WGA (2024)
Hollywood & Mind (2024)
Humanitas (2024)
BRIC Foundation (2024)
University of Texas at Austin (2023)
Northwestern University
Leadership Symposium (2022)
If you’re planning an event and believe this work may be a fit, I’d love to connect.
When reaching out, please include your event date, location or virtual format, audience size and makeup, and the themes you’re hoping to explore.
BOOK ME TO SPEAK
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ABOUT
AIM Method™
Meet Laverne
FAQ
WAYS I HELP
1:1 Coaching
Group Work
Retreats
Speaking
TOPICS
Career Grief
Career Wellness & Fulfillment
Confidence in Leadership
Transitions & Pivots
RESOURCES
Newsletter
TBD
© Laverne McKinnon 2026 • Branding & Design by Good Brand Partners
