“Bernadette smith is the leader to
listen to when you’re intimidated by diversity.”

-Rubén Ramírez, Head Diversity and Inclusion, Syngenta Group

Inclusion transcends identity.
Bring some good vibes in DEI to your next event.

Bernadette Smith’s entertaining, playful, and non-judgmental keynotes will leave your audience feeling energized, self-aware, and committed to a positive workplace culture with engaged employees. Whether it’s a national sales meeting, Inclusion Day, association conference, or something else, she’ll be easy to work with and make you look great.

“Bernadette is a spark plug of energy and ideas. I wish I could hear her every week!”
— Graysen B. Constellation Brands
a white woman with short blonde hair and glasses speaks to a group with her arms outstretched
“Her energy is infectious, her presentation was empowering and her style is relatable. I would highly recommend Bernadette as a speaker!”
— Jason. B

Bernadette Smith, Founder of Equality Institute, is a DEI speaker and an award-winning author of four books, including her latest, the bestseller Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization. In her keynotes, she takes away overwhelm and fear of judgement about diversity and instead uses relatability and humor to inspire action — even among the skeptics.

Consistently described as “relatable”, “authentic”, and “fun”, Bernadette’s keynotes have been trusted by major brands, including Fortune 500 companies and global leadership teams.

Because of her impact as a change agent for inclusion and belonging, she has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, CNN, and the Today Show. Bernadette has also been named one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Bernadette Smith virtual keynote speaker with short, medium blonde hair and glasses, in front of a wall shelf with a graphic to her right that says Follow the ARC to gain clarity in any situation. There's a pie graphic reading ask respect connect.

Bernadette’s full screen virtual keynotes consistently engage and impress audiences. Whether in person or virtual, participants can expect to laugh and reflect while they set aside any apprehension about a dull "diversity" talk. They will learn simple tools and conversation starters, while experiencing “Aha" moments that resonate and leave no one feeling judged. Bernadette’s keynotes can be tailored for your audience. 

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Bernadette’s Keynote Topics

Voices Carry: The ARC of Inclusive Leadership

In an increasingly polarized society, it can be hard to remember that true diversity encompasses every individual, regardless of their background or beliefs. However, the challenge arises when we unintentionally allow assumptions to dictate our interactions. These unchecked assumptions can create barriers to authentic connections, and negatively impact team cohesion, customer relationships, and even retention rates.

The essence of inclusive leadership lies in the ability to foster understanding and bridge gaps, transforming assumptions into insightful dialogues. Bernadette’s ARC Method® will help you do just that to create a culture of belonging within your organization.

In this keynote, leaders will learn to follow the ARC and acquire tangible tools for fostering dialogues that are not just meaningful, but transformative, laying the foundation for a workplace culture where everyone feels they belong.

Come As You Are: Build Authentic Connection with Increasingly Diverse Clients

In sales, first impressions count, but unchecked assumptions can derail client relationships. With an increasingly diverse client base, it's critical to learn how to sidestep unconscious biases and leverage kind curiosity to forge genuine connections.

Don't let assumptions jeopardize your sales goals—discover actionable strategies to enhance sales effectiveness and build rapport with increasingly diverse clients. Bernadette will equip your customer-facing employees with strategies to swiftly recover from unintentional offenses in sales interactions, and empower them to build genuine trust using the ARC Method®.

Elevate your sales game by embracing tools for authentic engagement that drive lasting client loyalty, ensuring your company stands out for its genuine commitment to client care.

More Than Words: Strategies for Inclusive Growth

In the rapidly evolving world of business, embracing diversity isn't just a buzzword – it's an essential strategy for success and innovation. But do your leaders tap into the expansive potential of diversity?

The common approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI) often zeros in on talent acquisition and training. Yet, as pivotal as these strategies are, they only scratch the surface. Organizations that are built for the future do more than hold occasional training sessions. Success demands the seamless integration of equity and inclusion into the very fabric of the organization.

In this high-energy and entertaining 45 minute keynote, Bernadette introduces you to her PSA Model – a proven formula for expanding the reach of your DEI initiatives, to help your organization become Inclusive 360. Organizations that are Inclusive 360 live their values not only with their employees but also with their customers and suppliers. Those are the organizations that reap the untapped rewards of diversity and inclusion. Bernadette will show you how.

TRUSTED BY…

  • “Bernadette was awesome! Loved her speaking style, examples, and ability to keep everyone's attention. A heartfelt, engaging, and powerful conversation that I continue to think about as I work with others.”

    —Steve Smith, Association Management Center

  • “Bernadette, the feedback I’ve received on today’s session has been remarkable. Every response I’ve had has said that is the best DE&I presentation they’ve ever seen.”

    —Rochelle J., Apptio

  • “Thank you Bernadette for coming and sharing your truths with us! So many great points. - not jumping to conclusions, its okay to say, "ouch", to have inclusion we need to include everyone. The best part is that it’s continued to spark meaningful conversations with my co-workers”

    -Justin N, Valent

  • "We were fortunate enough to have Bernadette as a guest speaker as part of Diversity & Inclusion month. Our employees around the globe found her very relatable and engaging. Her talk inspired action and offered simple, practical tools such as the ARC Method."

    —Chris Sampson, SERB Pharmaceuticals

  • “This was one of the best presentations I have ever seen. Bernadette is a tremendous leader and amazing speaker.”

    — Michael G., Northern Trust

  • “You were a ROCKSTAR ....as always but I’m extremely grateful to you for being such a consistent and impactful contributor to the ILDC.”

    -Cherie Coleman, President, Illinois Diversity Council

  • “I’ve never had a presentation feel like a hug before.”

    — Attendee, Ferrara Candy event

  • “I am a white, cisgender, heterosexual male who wants to lift up those around me. I'm not always sure how. In 20 minutes, I got some very practical ways to start conversations and start being a better, more intentional ally. Thank you!”

    —Attendee, ASAE Annual Meeting

  • “Bernadette Smith is an outstanding speaker on building constructive culture. Her engaging keynote was definitely not the standard diversity and inclusivity training. She connected to our specific mission and values and was authentic, approachable, and practical.”

    — Dr. Sandra Dunbar, Emory University

  • “Bernadette was a great external speaker who intentionally connected her messages to our firm’s values and culture. Even though Bernadette was the last presenter on a long day of trainings, she kept the audience engaged and active throughout the presentation.”

    — Jonathan Philipp, Grant Thornton

  • “Bernadette, Thanks for showing us all how to bring the positivity to hard topics. You're always a flashlight in the dark!”

    -Jonathan Brill, bestselling author, Rogue Waves

Want to know how Bernadette can bring good vibes to your audience?

  • “You speak on a sensitive topic in an approachable and humorous way. You can see the light bulbs going off in our attendees’ heads while you speak. There were clear takeaways and the feedback was terrific!”

    — Corrine Z. Dudine, Idea Factory

  • “Thank you very much for providing such a comprehensive seminar. Your insight and knowledge will go a long way in how we service our guests. I hope to work together again in the future.”

    — Mark Garcia, MGM Resorts

  • “What an awesome day… filled with great information, interactive activities, a ‘no boundaries’ safe zone for questions and answers, and lots of LOVE! You gave us so much to think about and a clear direction of where we want to be in the near future.”

    — Anna Schmid, Sands Hotels

  • “I will definitely recommend you to other EEOC Program Analysts nationally. I think there is a lot of value in doing so - and you are a shining example of that!”

    — Elaine McArthur

Are you a meeting planner looking for resources to support the appearance of DEI speaker Bernadette Smith at your upcoming event?

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