Keynotes
Talks that leave leaders ready to act.
HR and leadership keynote speaker
Terri Stivarius brings 39 years of combined experience in employment-defense law, HR leadership and workplace consulting to the stage. As an executive, she led HR, legal and employee engagement at a global pharmaceutical company and a regional healthcare system, and she has conducted or overseen more than 1,000 workplace investigations. Her sessions are practical and story-driven, built so every audience leaves with tools they can use the next morning.
Where Terri has spoken
- SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM25, San Diego): The Power of PEAS, on Powerful Delegation
- Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association (OHLA) conference: keynote, “Unleashing the Genius of Your Team”
Each keynote is tailored to the audience’s industry and comes with a take-home tool people can use the next day.
What attendees said
From the SHRM25 Annual Conference & Expo to the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association general session, attendees rate Terri’s sessions highly for both her delivery and the practical value of her content. (SHRM25 and OHLA session surveys)
“My favorite session! Great presenter, great material!”
SHRM25 attendee
“Terri was fantastic. It was an empowering session to jumpstart the conference. Very relevant.”
OHLA conference attendee
“Very insightful. Two takeaways that I believe are game changers for my teams.”
SHRM25 attendee
“I appreciated her authenticity, beautiful language, and professional insights.”
SHRM25 attendee
Signature topics
1
Nobody Rises Alone: Powerful Delegation in the Age of AI
Burnout doesn’t come from delegating, including to AI. It comes from failing to Prioritize, Engage, hold each other Accountable and Systemize: the PEAS framework Terri presented at SHRM25. Leaders learn how to delegate to people, process and technology without losing connection, culture, quality or identity.
2
Unleashing the Genius of Your Team
A Working Genius keynote that gives teams a common language for what the work needs right now. It cuts guilt and misguided judgment, changes how projects get staffed, and lifts productivity and morale. Based on The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni.
3
Building the Team
How Working Genius and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team©, both by Patrick Lencioni, work together to build a cohesive, productive team. For leadership and HR audiences.
4
Workplace Investigations That Hold Up
For HR, employee-relations and legal audiences, drawn from Terri’s experience leading more than 1,000 workplace investigations.
Formats and audiences
Formats: keynote, breakout session, a hands-on workshop following a keynote, and sessions co-presented with Andi Farrant.
Audiences: HR and SHRM conferences, industry associations, leadership offsites, and private equity portfolio CEO summits.
Tailored for your industry: for hotel and hospitality leaders at the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association conference, Terri’s Working Genius keynote came with a custom frontline playbook: a quick guest scan, sample scripts for the front desk, sales, banquets, housekeeping and concierge, and short role-based practice routines.
For event planners
A speaker one-sheet, bio, headshots and stage photos are available on request.
Terri will work with you on a session description and learning objectives that fit your program.
Keep the momentum going
Many organizations pair a keynote with a follow-up workshop or leadership team coaching, so the ideas turn into habits.
Check Terri’s availability
Tell us about your event, audience and date, and we’ll get back to you quickly.
Let’s Connect Tell us what’s happening in your organization, and we’ll suggest a way forward.
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