Keynotes & Speaking
Story-driven, interactive keynotes that use humor, facilitation, and honest conversation to help audiences move forward together.
How these sessions feel
These aren’t lectures with a few questions at the end. Every keynote is built to involve the audience through storytelling, moments of reflection, and structured interaction that makes the message land differently than passive listening ever could.
Lauren’s tone is warm, honest, and human. And she incorporates humor as a tool for connection and perspective not a distraction from the message. Audiences leave feeling seen, encouraged, and ready to act, not just inspired for a few hours.
Participants often describe Lauren’s sessions as:
Introvert-friendly and inclusive
Interactive without feeling forced
High-energy while still professional
Thoughtful, engaging, and human
Practical and immediately applicable
Because when people participate, ideas stick.
Keynote Topics
PERSEVERANCE KEYNOTE
The Funny Thing About Perseverance
A keynote about resilience, adaptability, and continuing forward when things don’t go according to plan.
Plans fall apart. Timelines shift. Sometimes the path forward looks nothing like you expected. This keynote explores how we actually respond to challenges - not the polished version, but the messy, human, real version. And what it looks like to keep moving anyway.
Through storytelling, humor and audience interaction, participants explore how resilience shows up in everyday moments, how perspective shifts what’s possible, and why perseverance often looks nothing like we imagined it would.
Audiences leave feeling encouraged, grounded, and reminded that moving forward doesn’t have to look graceful to count.
Works especially well for
Women’s leadership conferences
Association annual conferences
Company kickoffs
Professional development events
Times of organizational change
PROCESSING CHANGE KEYNOTE
FINDING THE FUNNY IN TIMES OF CRISIS
A keynote about navigating uncertainty, change, and difficult moments, with perspective, humor, and humanity.
This isn’t a session about laughing things off. It’s about using humor as a genuine tool for processing difficulty - one that helps people reconnect with what they can control, find perspective when things feel heavy, and move through uncertainty without losing themselves in it.
Using real-world stories and shared experience, this session meets audiences where they are (not where we wish they were) and offers something more useful than inspiration a different way of seeing.
Thoughtful, supportive, and human, this session uses humor as a tool for perspective and connection, not distraction.
Works especially well for:
Healthcare and frontline industries
Teams navigating change or transition
Leadership summits
Wellness-focused events
Association conferences
CONNET03
The Un-keynote Experience
A structured networking experience as a powerful alternative to or complement to a traditional keynote.
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give a conference audience isn’t another presentation. It’s each other.
The Un-Keynote replaces passive listening with active connection. Instead of sitting quietly in their seats, attendees participate in a facilitated networking experience designed to help people connect quickly and comfortably with guided prompts and intentional flow that moves participants well beyond small talk.
Designed to feel:
Introvert-friendly
Inclusive
Energizing
Professional
Pressure-free
Works especially well as:
Conference opening session
Kickoff experience
Member engagement event
Leadership retreat opener
Session Details
Formats: In-person or Virtual
Length: 30 - 75 min
Audience size: 50 - 2,500 people+
All keynotes are tailored to your audience, theme, and event goals. Topics can be adapted or combined. Reach out to discuss what would work best for your program.
Speaker Coaching & Support
In addition to keynote speaking, Lauren works with leaders, presenters, and conference speakers who want their delivery to feel as strong as their expertise. This is practical, hands-on support focused on helping speakers connect naturally with their audience rather than sounding scripted, stiff, or overly polished.
Complimentary introductory conversations available.Reach out to discuss your goals and what kind of support would be most useful.
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It was an absolute pleasure for AENC to work with Lauren Ansley as a keynote speaker at our 2025 AENC Spring Conference. Her session, Bloom and Grow, quickly became a member favorite, offering fresh and engaging ways to interact and network with peers, all while fostering a fun and safe environment for personal growth. Lauren's unique blend of humor, deep intellect, and thoughtful approach had attendees both laughing and learning, a perfect combination! From pre-conference planning to day-of execution, Lauren was a joy to work with, taking the time to understand the unique needs of our members and delivering an exceptional session. We can’t wait to welcome Lauren back to our stage!
-Rich Phaneuf, CEO & Executive Director, Association Executives of North Carolina
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Lauren Ansley really knocked it out of the ballpark at our Charlotte Area SHRM meeting! Not knowing what to expect when placing a comedian in the middle of a group of HR professionals, I was thrilled at their reaction. Lots of laughter! The group was totally involved in the mini-breakout sessions and very active in sharing their thoughts about the topic of perseverance.
-Cathy Graham, VP, Education and Certification, Charlotte Area Society for Human Resources Management
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Lauren's infectious humor, profound insights, and inspiring presence made a lasting impression on me during her speech, 'The Funny Thing About Perseverance.'
Her natural talent as a corporate entertainer was evident from the moment she began, effortlessly connecting with the audience on a personal level. Beyond the laughs, her message about navigating challenges with resilience struck a chord with everyone in attendance.
Lauren's genuine warmth and remarkable skill set make her an invaluable asset to any event.
-Anya Kozhemyakov, Event Attendee
Planning an event and looking for the right speaker? Let’s talk.