Watch Shola’s 2.5 mins virtual speaking reel
Watch Shola’s 12 minute TEDx talk
Watch Shola’s 4.5 minute reel
Speak up under pressure – 4 minute clip
‘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.
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.
Elevate Empathy!
– To increase inclusion, productivity and engagement (Suitable for all employees and delegates)
Creating a workplace where everyone feels that they belong is more important than ever before, but how can you build supportive, cohesive environments within your organisation?
This is a high-impact, inspiring keynote. You’ll walk away with the tools and the inspiration to become a more compassionate and effective leader, manager, or individual contributor. It can be modified for senior leaders, management, and whole-company keynotes. We’ll look at the important themes of curiosity, courage and being a catalyst and you’ll understand the vital components of empathy, how to be compassionate while avoiding burnout, and why skills like emotional intelligence are in high demand.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the different types of empathy and their impact on your well-being
- Find out how empathy can impact inclusion, engagement, retention, innovation, and happiness
- Working remotely? How to demonstrate virtual empathy
- Walk away with a simple three-step framework for displaying more empathy
This keynote may be adapted with additional content to suit any of the following themes:
- empathy + inclusion
- empathy skills for leaders
Virtual session? We’ll use chat and other forms of interactivity to encourage engagement.
What people say: ‘An incredible keynote speech. The combination of D.E.I. and Empathy really spoke to our workforce.’ Reckitt
Create a Speak-Up Culture – Empower, encourage, evolve
– Building the foundations of your people-first culture with courageous, open communication
During this high-energy, interactive keynote we explore the power of transparency, safety, resilience and positive reinforcement to create a culture where everyone feels equipped, encouraged and able to share their views and ideas. The result of a speak up culture? A high performing, innovative, respectful workplace in which people can be who they are and express themselves without fear of retribution, rejection or ridicule.
Learning objectives:
- Review what happens when it’s not safe to express ourselves authentically and the impact on innovation and performance
- Explore the concept of ’emotional audacity’ and the opportunities presented by respectful self-expression
- Learn scripts and conversation starters that encourage colleagues and managers to be more transparent
- Discover practical tools and step-by-step communication frameworks that drive your speak-up-culture
- Look at the role of encouragement, resilience and safety when inviting people to open up
60 min keynote or longer workshop
What people say: ‘Brilliant session, practical and realistic with great tips and techniques to inspire and help cultivate careers and teams.’ Allianz
Embrace Psychological Safety and Inclusive Communication
– Are you wondering why there has been so much interest in the topic of psychological safety?
During this interactive keynote, we explore the vital role of psychological safety in fostering an inclusive environment that values open, authentic communication. We’ll discuss the importance of embracing vulnerability, trust, and empathy in your daily interactions, enabling your team to unlock its full potential through collaborative ways of working. We’ll explore two different frameworks for psychological safety and explore ways to take them back to your teams.
Learning objectives:
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Understand the key elements of psychological safety and their impact on team performance
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Explore the relationship between psychological safety and emotional intelligence
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Discover strategies to create a culture of inclusive communication that values and supports diverse perspectives
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Recognise the role of empathetic leadership in fostering psychological safety
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Learn practical techniques for building trust and promoting vulnerability within teams
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Understand that cultural factors also play a role in the creation of psychologically safe environments
Keynote or workshop
What people say: ‘Excellent feedback on your session, especially from our executive leadership team.’ Liftoff
The Art of the Ask
– Unlock valuable career opportunities through confident communication
What if the next big step in your career was just one question away?
In this impactful session, “The Art of the Ask,” Shola will guide you through the powerful skill of asking for what you need. Whether you’re seeking support, new opportunities, or professional growth, this talk offers practical insights to help you take charge of your career.
Explore how asking the right questions can open doors, include others, and foster personal and professional development. You’ll also discover how well-placed inquiries can inspire others to perform at their best and embrace greater challenges.
Listen to real-life stories, and gain practical tools, including scripts to help you prepare for career-related asks, and strategies to overcome the psychological barriers that often hold people back. Shola will introduce a framework to help you move past the fear of rejection and approach requests with confidence.
Learning objectives:
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Learn how asking can be a catalyst for career development and personal growth.
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Identify valuable opportunities you may not have considered pursuing.
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Explore how strategic questions can include and motivate others to achieve their best work.
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Access practical scripts to support you in making impactful asks.
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Apply Shola’s 5Rs framework to build confidence and reduce fear when asking.
Keynote or workshop
What people say: ‘Thought-provoking and educational. Our employees have given us great feedback about their experience.’ Nexthink
