‘Thank you for an engaging and useful session. I was actually able to put some of these frameworks into practice at our department’s meeting the following day and saw the positive reactions to my intervention.’
Keynote attendee, Salesforce
You need a speaker…
who will engage and inspire your audience, whether that’s thousands of people at a virtual event or a senior leadership team of ten.
Shola’s messages are relatable, actionable and evidence-based. She speaks on Communication, Empathy and Culture. The end result is more empathic, engaged, and productive workplaces with compassionate leadership and happier teams. Which tends to lead to lower turnover, higher performance and greater profitability!
Shola’s mission
Shola’s experience working for corporations in the USA and Europe led to an understanding of some of the challenges faced by organisations on multiple levels. Today she blends her background in the STEM, financial and creative industries to share clear, effective communication frameworks and insights that help people work better together. These are delivered in a high impact, engaging style.
Typical events include global company keynotes, leadership development sessions, diversity summits and industry conferences. Our team can also support Shola’s front-end keynote speeches with longer training programs, train the trainer offerings, facilitation and licensed content.
An author and communications and empathy specialist, award-winning international keynote speaker and author, Shola spent time in academic research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) followed by several years in IT consultancy and later returned to the U.K, working as an account director for global clients in aviation and finance.
Shola is trusted by:
KEYNOTE DESCRIPTIONS
From company-wide keynotes, to leadership training, to small-group strategic action sessions, Shola’s programmes are customised, relevant, and actionable. She’ll sit with you, taking the time to discover the nuances of your organisation, ensuring that your speech feels tailor-made for your audience.
Shola has a global client base. She’s culturally sensitive, understanding that different audiences respond better to different examples, analogies, and stories.
Her programmes are super-engaging and highly interactive, as Shola loves involving her audiences through polls, Q&As, and chats. She likes to call her speeches ‘conversations’ and, because of the high levels of customisation and interplay, no two sessions are identical.
Expect inspiration, interaction, and insight!
A selection of four speech descriptions and learning objectives is shown below but for the full list of speeches, email info@sholakaye.net
Please feel free to share this link with colleagues who are considering Shola for a speaking engagement.
Emotional Audacity™: Developing the Human Edge in an Age of Tech-Driven Transformation
How do we inspire people to say what others won’t and do what others fear — while staying open-hearted, respectful and deeply human?
Shola Kaye introduces Emotional Audacity™ — the essential leadership mindset for today’s fast-paced, high-stakes world. As organisations move more swiftly and rely increasingly on data and systems, it’s the human elements — empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, courageous communication, and motivation to act — that determine the success or failure of transformation efforts.
With insight, warmth, and a deeply practical approach, Shola shares frameworks for honest self-reflection and developing both resilience and dynamism through emotionally intelligent behaviour. Drawing on her corporate background, current research, and her work with global brands, Shola offers audiences the tools to listen without defensiveness and to act with an expansive sense of purpose.
The audience will leave with:
- The Caring & Daring Matrix™ and the Feel it, Frame it, Follow Through on it™ framework to support dynamic yet empathetic decision-making
- Clear strategies to listen deeply, share openly and act decisively
- Structured self-reflection opportunities to support ongoing growth and development
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A downloadable PDF companion guide for applying the frameworks in everyday leadership and communication scenarios
Keynote or workshop.
To increase the impact and emotional intensity, Shola can also add musical elements to this keynote.
‘Hear her out as she can make complex things simple and still hit the outcome.’ HSBC
Create a People-First, Speak-Up Culture: How to Feel Seen, Safe and Heard
What are the core behaviours and communication strategies that create a psychologically safe, high-performing workplace?
In a culture where people feel seen, safe and heard, innovation thrives, belonging deepens, and collaboration strengthens.
Through powerful storytelling, live exercises, and practical tools, Shola unpacks the role of compassion, deep inquiry, and psychological safety to create environments of cooperation and creativity. Participants learn to foster a workplace free of groupthink where individuals can make their best contributions and the business can thrive.
The audience will leave with:
- Practical communication scripts and conversation starters to support transparency and authentic dialogue
- Step-by-step frameworks to encourage open conversations across all levels of the organisation
- Insights into how fear and lack of safety hinder innovation — and how to change that dynamic
- Tools to embed positive reinforcement, resilience, and safety into team communication
- Structured self-reflection prompts and a downloadable PDF guide to help sustain learning and progress
60 min keynote or longer workshop.
‘Brilliant session, practical and realistic with great tips and techniques to inspire and help cultivate careers and teams.’ Allianz
Practical Empathy: Sustainable, Common-sense Strategies for Creating a Workplace of Care and Understanding
How can organisations embed empathy at every level — from the boardroom to the break room?
As the need for respectful, supportive workplaces grows, empathy is no longer a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a critical leadership and communication skill that directly impacts retention, innovation, and employee wellbeing.
Through storytelling, accessible research, and hands-on reflection, Shola introduces a practical approach to empathy that avoids burnout, fosters connection, and works across virtual, hybrid and in-person teams. With a focus on curiosity, courage and being a catalyst, this session equips every audience member with the awareness and confidence to make empathy a daily practice.
The audience will leave with:
- A simple, actionable three-step framework for demonstrating empathy in daily conversations
- Strategies for showing virtual empathy in hybrid and remote environments
- A variety of easy-to-use tools that support practical empathy
- Data and case studies to support the business case for empathy in the workplace
- Structured self-reflection activities and a downloadable PDF guide to build stronger listening skills and deeper human connection
Keynote or workshop.
‘An incredible keynote speech. The combination of D.E.I. and Empathy really spoke to our workforce.’ Reckitt
Creating a Positive Feedback Culture: Elevate Performance with Daring, Caring Communication
How will you build a thriving feedback culture where communication uplifts and energises, rather than undermines and demotivates?
When feedback is delivered with empathy, clarity and consistency, it drives performance, strengthens relationships and creates motivated, resilient teams. But when it’s avoided or mishandled, the damage to morale and collaboration can be lasting.
Through candid examples and interactive exercises, Shola explores the difference between feedback that inspires and feedback that alienates. She equips individuals at every level — not just managers — with the tools and confidence to offer feedback that fuels learning and growth.
The audience will leave with:
- Tools for delivering ongoing, tailored feedback that motivates and empowers
- Exercises to build resilience and openness when receiving constructive feedback
- Insights into common harmful feedback styles — including The Drive-by, The Comparison, and The Wrecking Ball — and how to avoid them
- A downloadable PDF guide and structured self-reflection prompts to support long-term skill development
Keynote or workshop.
‘Thought-provoking and educational. Our employees have given us great feedback about their experience.’ Nexthink
The Art of the Ask: Energise your Career with Audacious, Empowering Questions of Care and Understanding
What if the next step in your career was just one question away?
In this impactful and engaging keynote, Shola Kaye explores the transformative power of asking. Whether you’re seeking new opportunities, support, or personal development, the ability to make well-timed, strategic requests can change the course of your career — and the culture of your workplace.
With powerful real-life stories, a clear communication framework, and practical tools, Shola helps individuals overcome the psychological barriers that hold them back from asking. Participants will learn how to shift their mindset from hesitation to empowerment, using questions to build connection, create visibility, and inspire action in themselves and others.
The audience will leave with:
- A deeper understanding of how asking can catalyse career growth, leadership development, and self-inclusion
- The 5Rs Framework to reduce fear of rejection and increase confidence in making asks
- Scripts and conversation tools to support high-impact, career-related requests
- Strategies for using questions to motivate others, build trust, and unlock performance
- Structured self-reflection prompts and a downloadable PDF to practise and apply learnings beyond the session
Keynote or workshop.