Speaking & Media

Practical talent strategy that leaders can actually use

I work with individuals, organizations, professional associations, and leadership communities to help them move forward through their people, while building their credibility and expertise as current or aspiring HR or Talent Development leaders.

My speaking, workshops, and media appearances blend strategic insight with practical tools, grounded in 25+ years as a talent development practitioner and Chief People Officer. Whether I’m delivering a keynote, facilitating a workshop, or joining a podcast conversation, my goal is the same:

Helping HR and Talent leaders move from passion and good intentions to clear, consistent practices that drive real outcomes.

Signature Keynote Topics

It Was Never About the Training:

Opportunity, Influence, Possibility, and the Future of Talent Development.

Most Talent Development careers don't follow a straight line. Neither does the profession itself.

In this highly interactive keynote, Michelle uses three chapters of her own career journey - past, present, and future- to help attendees examine theirs.

It WAS never about the training.
Unexpected opportunities, relationships, and strengths often lead us into this work.

It IS never about the training.
Our greatest value comes from solving the right problems, asking better questions, creating connection, and influencing outcomes, not simply taking orders.

It WILL never be about the training.
As AI, technology, and workplace expectations evolve, our future depends on expanding how we think about our contribution.

Through storytelling, reflection, live polling, table conversations, and shared experiences, attendees won't simply listen to this keynote. They'll become part of it.

Attendees will:

Rediscover the strengths and experiences that brought them into Talent Development.
Explore how to move from training "order taker" to trusted problem-solving partner.
Identify how they will grow their capabilities, confidence, and influence for the future of work.

Best fit: Opening or closing keynote; mixed audiences from emerging practitioners through senior TD leaders.

Build Your People, Build Your Business:

Three Truths That Unlock the Strategic Power of Talent Development

Everyone in Talent Development knows development matters.

But does the rest of the organization see it the same way?

In this candid and practical keynote, Michelle tackles one of our profession's persistent challenges: the gap between the value Talent Development can create and the value organizational leaders believe it creates.

Drawing on her experience as both a Talent Development practitioner and Chief People Officer, Michelle explores three truths organizations must understand:

1. Talent Development is an investment, not simply a cost.

2. Meaningful development requires leadership ownership and alignment.

3. Building organizational capability is essential to staying ready for what's next.

But this isn't simply a keynote about what executives need to do differently.

It's about what Talent Development professionals can do differently to influence them.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for connecting development to organizational priorities, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and demonstrating their value…before they're asked to defend it.

Attendees will:

Connect Talent Development priorities more clearly to business outcomes.
Strengthen executive and stakeholder influence.
Position capability-building as an essential part of organizational readiness.

Best fit: Audiences focused on strategic Talent Development, business alignment, organizational impact, and executive influence.

Workshops, Webinars, & Retreats

Workshops, webinars, and retreats go deeper than keynotes and invite action, not just insights. Topics are built on the key Compendium Talent focus areas.

Formats available:

60–90 minute virtual workshops
Half‑day or full‑day in‑person sessions
Webinar series
Leadership team offsites
Conference breakouts
Strategic planning retreats and offsite meetings
Small group development retreats

Participants leave with templates, scripts, and playbooks they can use immediately.

Industry Articles, Podcasts & Collaborations

I frequently share on other platforms on a variety of HR/Talent Development topics:

(short-form video) CultureCon 2026 mini interview (WorkPossible)

(article) Cracking the Succession Code (Chief Talent Officer)

(podcast) Elevate Podcast: Better Together Than Apart (Braden Business Systems)

(podcast) Leading Through Growth: Your Footprint or Their Shoes? What Separates Great Leaders"

(podcast) Leadership Unscripted: Leading Through Change and Uncertainty

(podcast) JoyPowered Workspace: Investing in Employee Development: Your Competitive Advantage

(podcast) Endurance Learning: Does HR hold the secret for L&D success?
https://endurancelearning.com/blog/hr-ld-success/

(panel) Human-Centered Leadership in a Tech-Driven World (Chief Learning Officer)

(article) Revolutionizing Leadership Development for the Future (Chief Talent Officer)

(article) Thinking Inside the Box (TD Magazine)

(article) Career Dreams (TD Magazine)

(article) Blog Buzz - phase(two)learning (TD Magazine)

(article) Tech Tools for Training (TD Magazine)

(article) Training Turn-Offs (TD Magazine)

(article) 5 Onboarding Rules for Hiring Managers (CUInsight)

(recorded webinar) Ask the Professionals: Membership Webcast (ATD)

(recorded webinar) Human-Centered Leadership in a Tech-Driven World (Chief Learning Officer)

(press release) FORUM Credit Union Announces New Executives

Presentation Samples:

Webinar| America's Credit Unions: https://vimeo.com/1115942003?share=copy#t=0.12 [vimeo.com]

Panel | Chief Learning Officer Breakfast Club: https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2026/06/10/leadership-development-in-a-bani-world/

I'll Be Your Podcast Guest

I enjoy thoughtful conversations about leadership, talent, and the realities of people work.

Podcast topics I’m often invited to discuss:

Succession planning that actually works
Leadership development beyond workshops
What aspiring CPOs need to know (and aren’t taught)
The evolution of talent development
Lessons learned from 25+ years in HR and Talent
Building credibility and influence as an HR leader

Ideal podcast audiences:
HR leaders, talent professionals, people managers, leadership development practitioners, aspiring executives

At my day job, I also co-host the weekly career development podcast, Career Dreams. Career Dreams is a Top 5% globally-ranked podcast ( has been ranked a top-20 Career Development Podcast in the Midwest and a top-100 Career Development Podcast overall (Feedspot, 2026). Follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Who I Partner With

Professional associations (ATD, SHRM, industry groups)
HR, Talent, and L&D leaders, practitioners, and teams
Executive leadership teams
Industry conferences and leadership forums

What Clients & Participants Appreciate

Practical, experience‑based perspective
Clear frameworks that leaders can remember and apply
Respect for real‑world constraints
Conversations that balance strategy and humanity
Engaging, interactive, and conversational!

Let's Talk

Interested in a keynote, workshop, webinar, or podcast conversation? I’d love to learn more about your audience and goals.

📧Contact me to explore availability, formats, pricing, and customization options.