Shelley Brown

Rebel Leadership: Lead Like You Mean It
In a world that rewards performance over presence and perfection over truth, Rebel Leadership is a call back to what actually works: humanity. In this high-impact, all-audience keynote, Shelley Brown invites leaders at every level to break free from outdated norms, burnout culture, and leadership-by-approval. Through raw storytelling, humor, and truth-telling, Shelley shows how leading like you mean it, with clarity, emotional intelligence, and courage isn’t just rebellion. It’s strategy. And it builds legacies that last.

Key Takeaways:
-How traditional leadership norms are breaking people and what to do instead
-Why performance-based leadership exhausts trust, energy, and innovation
-The power of emotional presence and how it transforms culture
-What it really means to lead like you — not like the system taught you to

Walk Away Ready To:
-Identify and release outdated leadership patterns that no longer serve
-Lead with real-time clarity, emotional intelligence, and self-trust
-Set boundaries that protect your energy and expand your impact
-Build cultures of belonging without burning out

Perfect for:
All leaders, people managers, and organizations ready to ditch performance-based leadership and build human-centered cultures that last.

Breaking the Hard Rules
Are you ready to break some rules? Shelley Brown challenges the deeply ingrained belief that women leaders must be “hard” to succeed. Drawing from her own corporate journey and the experiences of countless women, she explores how the pressure to be “bada$$” has created a leadership culture that forces women to choose between authenticity and authority. Through compelling storytelling and actionable strategies, Shelley reveals how embracing our whole selves—both our hard and soft qualities—is not only acceptable, it’s essential for lasting influence and impact.

This isn’t just another women’s leadership talk. It’s a radical reframing of what true strength looks like in leadership today. Shelley leads the audience through a journey of unlearning outdated leadership models and embracing a new paradigm where vulnerability is a superpower, empathy drives innovation, and authenticity creates extraordinary impact. By addressing the high costs of perpetuating hard leadership, Shelley offers concrete tools to lead from wholeness, helping women shatter the mold that was never made by them or for them.

This session empowers women to stop proving they belong and start changing the legacy of leadership. It’s time to lead with authenticity, confidence, and humanity, redefining power on your terms. Powerful and human. Strong and soft. And most importantly, fully yourself.

Key Takeaways:
-Lead from Wholeness, Not Hardness: Understand how the “badass trap” limits your full potential, and discover strategies to break free from the pressure to be tough by leading from a place of authenticity, not force.
-Transform "Soft” Qualities into Leadership Strengths: Learn how to harness your natural empathy, vulnerability, and intuition as powerful leadership assets that drive influence and create a culture of authenticity.
-Shift from Perfectionism to Progress: Embrace “good enough” decision-making, break free from perfectionism, and lead with confidence before you’re 100% ready, because confidence follows action.
-Set Boundaries, Prioritize Rest, and Delegate: Recognize the warning signs of burnout and reclaim your energy by setting clear boundaries, prioritizing strategic rest, and delegating tasks to sustain long-term leadership.
-Redefine Power on Your Terms: Shift your perspective on power by embracing the permission to lead differently, acknowledge that you can be both strong and human, resilient and authentic, and thrive in your leadership role without sacrificing who you are.

Who This is For:
-This session is designed for women leaders at all levels, emerging professionals, experienced managers, and senior executives who are ready to break free from outdated leadership expectations and lead with authenticity, confidence, and impact.
-Join Shelley for a dynamic, insightful, and entertaining experience that will challenge the old rules, redefine strength, and transform the way you lead. Get ready to shift your perspective and your legacy!

The Belonging Equation: Unleash Your Authentic Self & Ignite Team Success
Do you crave a workplace where everyone feels truly seen, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves? The secret to unlocking peak performance and a thriving culture isn't conformity – it's embracing the power of "weird." Research shows that a strong sense of belonging directly impacts employee performance, and your team is craving your unique contributions.
Join Shelley Brown, author, speaker, and Chief Belongingologist, for a dynamic and interactive experience that goes beyond traditional keynotes. Blending art, science, captivating stories, and tons of audience engagement, Shelley will guide you on a journey to discover the W.E.I.R.D. equation for belonging and inclusion.

What is W.E.I.R.D.?
Shelley's powerful framework for fostering belonging centers on:
Welcoming: Creating spaces where everyone feels invited and included.
Engaging: Encouraging open dialogue and curiosity to strengthen connections.
Integrating: Building bridges that honor and incorporate diverse perspectives.
Risk-Taking: Creating safety for vulnerability and authenticity without fear of judgment.
Delivering: Translating belonging into actionable outcomes that drive success.

Walk away ready to:
-Supercharge Belonging: Create a culture where authenticity is celebrated, not stifled, and empower your team to bring their whole selves to work.
-Strengthen Your Team: Cultivate empathy, respect, and actionable strategies that align with your values and foster genuine connection.
-Unlock Authentic Engagement: Equip your team with practical tools to embrace their individuality and contribute their unique talents.
-Transform Your Culture: Leverage the W.E.I.R.D. process to create a workplace where everyone thrives.
-This session is perfect for: Leaders at all levels who are ready to embrace their own "inner weird," build a culture of true belonging, and drive exceptional results.
-Prepare for a high-energy, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud experience that will transform your perspective on belonging and leave you inspired to lead with authenticity and purpose. Let's get W.E.I.R.D.!

Step Into Exceptional Leadership: Finding Your Fit
Some leadership advice can feel stiff and out of touch. The truth is leaders need simple, effective, adaptable, real-world advice that works NOW! Join leadership expert Shelley Brown for an engaging and transformative session that will redefine your approach to leadership for maximum impact.

Using her insightful and powerful "Lasting Leadership Triangle" – Fit, Form, and Function – Shelley reveals how exceptional leadership is more like finding the perfect pair of shoes than following some complicated AI-enhanced program. Through real-world examples, humorous anecdotes, and insightful analogies, Shelley will guide you on:
Finding Your Leadership (Fit): Cultivate the right energy and presence to inspire trust and engagement with each individual and team. Just like ill-fitting shoes hinder performance, mismatched leadership styles can derail your team's success.

Building Authentic Connections (Form): Learn to balance structure and vulnerability to create the emotional connections that drive retention and build a strong foundation for growth. Discover how a well-designed shoe mirrors the support and flexibility needed in strong leadership.

Leading with Purpose and Impact (Function): Align organizational goals with individual needs to achieve lasting wins for both employees and the business. Great leadership, like a well-made shoe, is built for sustainability and long-term impact.

Walk away ready to:
-Adapt your leadership style to inspire trust and maximize team engagement.
-Forge authentic connections that boost retention and cultivate a thriving team culture.
-Align individual and organizational goals to achieve sustainable success.
-This session is perfect for: Leadership teams, managers, aspiring leaders, and organizations seeking to elevate their culture, boost retention, and lead with authenticity and purpose.
-Experience Shelley's unique blend of energy, humor, and insightful storytelling. Prepare to have your perspective on leadership transformed – one "step" at a time!