“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 building authentic connection with increasingly diverse colleagues and clients. 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.
“Thank you for so much for delivering such a powerful message in a fun, relatable way.”
“Her energy is infectious, her presentation was empowering and her style is relatable. I would highly recommend Bernadette as a speaker!”
Bernadette Smith, CEO of Equality Institute, is a sought-after speaker and the award-winning author of four books, including her bestseller Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization. Instead of creating overwhelm or fear around diversity, her keynotes use humor and relatability to inspire meaningful action—winning over even the skeptics.
Praised as “relatable,” “authentic,” and “fun,” Bernadette’s approach has earned the trust of leading brands, including Fortune 500 companies and global leadership teams.
Her influence as a champion for inclusion and belonging has been spotlighted by the New York Times, National Public Radio, CNN, and the Today Show, and she’s been named one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business.
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.
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 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…
Inclusion and Pickleball
What does the quirky sport of pickleball have to do with diversity and inclusion? When Bernadette picked up a pickleball paddle in 2023, she quickly found out and was instantly hooked. Spoiler alert: she realized she was ageist after getting badly beaten by a bunch of 70 year olds!
Embracing her community’s diverse group of players opened the door to connections well beyond her usual circle. Now, she’s captured those heartfelt and often hilarious encounters and observations in a short pickleball-themed comedy bit on inclusion—an entertaining and uplifting add-on to any event booking.
Want to know how Bernadette can bring good vibes to your audience?
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