Most leadership talks worship strategy decks.

This conversation is about what your people actually FEEL when they work for you.

I'm sitting down with bestselling author and leadership + culture expert Adrian Gostick to talk about what really drives performance in 2026: culture and empathy, not just strategy decks and town halls.

From recognition rituals to meeting design, we unpack how leaders can build teams that are engaged, energized, and clear on the purpose of their work.

🎙️ Why this delivers impact for event pros:

✅ Start with culture, not slides – Your leadership plan only works if people feel enabled, energized, and clear on where you're going—not just "aligned" in a deck.

✅ Empathy as a power skill – Empathy and compassion are now top of the leadership stack; simple check-ins and clearer vision-setting calm anxious teams.

✅ Recognition that drives behavior – Weekly, specific praise tied to values (not "nice job") makes people feel seen—and repeat the right actions.

✅ Lead like a sculptor – Strip away fear, confusion, and red tape so people can take smart risks, fail fast, and fix fast.

✅ Purpose as an anxiety filter – Clear purpose at team and personal levels helps people make better career calls and stay grounded when everything else moves.

✅ Meeting design as micro-culture – Use themes, stories, and real prep to turn your conference into a living example of your values—not just a slogan on a banner.

Listen to the full conversation with Adrian Gostick today.

🚀 Hire leadership keynote speaker Adrian Gostick to speak at your next event

🎤 Programming a leadership, culture, or empathy block on your next agenda? Explore more impactful keynote speakers

📞 Schedule a 15-minute conversation so we can discuss the best speaker fit for your next event

📩 Contact us: info@thekeynotecurators.com

#leadership #empathy #culture #workculture #purpose #meetingdesign #keynotespeaker #eventprofs #meetingplanners #deliveringimpact

If your leadership thinks events "just happen," this episode is your receipt.

Because the most dangerous thing in this business… Is invisible work.

Rachel Andrews is Global Head of Meetings & Events at Cvent and co-host of the Great Events Podcast—leading a 40-person team supporting ~800 events a year. She's refreshingly honest about what works, what breaks, and what planners are carrying behind the scenes.

🎙️Here's what you'll use immediately:

✅ Events as a trust channel (not a cost center) — why live still wins in a digital world.

✅ ROI without the "perfect dashboard" — connect touchpoints, stories, and sales outcomes.

✅ Inspiration belongs on the agenda — keynotes + emcees aren't fluff; they're the human glue.

✅ Burnout isn't personal — it's invisible work. Track hours to justify real resourcing.

✅ Radical hospitality — event pros aren't party planners; they're operators, guides, and leaders.

🎧 Listen to Rachel's podcast here

🖥️ Explore more impactful keynote speakers in our website

📞 Schedule a 15-minute conversation so we can discuss the best speaker fit for your next event

📩 Contact us: info@thekeynotecurators.com

#events #eventroi #eventstrategy #eventleadership #eventprofs #deliveringimpact

🔥 If your 2026 agenda needs pioneers (not placeholders), meet Gaby Natale.

Because "innovation" isn't a department. It's a decision—to see what everyone else missed and build what doesn't exist yet.

Gaby Natale is a triple Emmy-winning journalist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker who's made a career out of awakening the Pioneer Spirit in people and organizations. She's also a breast cancer survivor and a Susan G. Komen Ambassador, using her story to advocate for awareness and early detection. 🎗️

Here's what you'll steal and use immediately:

✅ The Virtuous Circle — 7 archetypes pioneers cycle through (Dreamer → Architect → Maker → Apprentice → Warrior → Champion → Leader).

✅ The 3 things all pioneers share: permission to dream, enthusiasm as fuel, and purpose that makes others better.

✅ Stop modeling. Start seeing. Your edge is your point of view—before you have "proof."

✅ The Santana mindset: You already are what you're becoming. The world just hasn't caught up yet.

WHY EVENT PROS SHOULD CARE: This isn't a "follow your dreams" keynote. It's a repeatable framework for teams that need courage, momentum, and a way to execute when the path isn't obvious.

BONUS: After treatment-induced menopause, Gaby Natale built menopausia.com, a bilingual menopause platform to help women across the globe. Because pioneers don't wait for resources… they create them.

🎤 Bring top latina motivational keynote speaker Gaby Natale to your stage (Pioneers, Purpose, Resilience)

📞 Schedule a pressure-free 15-min strategy chat here

📩 Send the goal. I'll send the right stage-fit: info@thekeynotecurators.com

#pioneers #communication #leadership #resilience #purpose #eventprofs #deliveringimpact #breastcancerawareness