Lisa Walden: Employee Engagement

Future of work keynote speaker Lisa Walden helps organizations build people-first cultures that drive engagement, cross-generational collaboration, and meaningful work without burnout or Sunday scaries.

Quick Facts:

  • Highlights:
    • Co-founder of Good Company Consulting
    • Expert in generational sociology and people-first workplace design
    • Advisor to Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups
    • Author of Managing Millennials For Dummies and The Future of Work Is Human
  • Formats: Future of work keynote speaker, workplace culture consultant
  • Audiences: Executives, HR leaders, managers, and organizations navigating culture change, generational dynamics, and modern leadership
  • Outcomes:
    1. Stronger cross-generational communication and collaboration
    2. Practical strategies for building authentic, engaging cultures
    3. Clear frameworks to improve retention, morale, and performance
Reading time: 2 min
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Salt Lake City, UT
  • **Fee range: $10,000 - $15,000

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

Work sucks has been the common refrain for far too long, with many companies moving forward on improving their culture at a snail’s pace. This is in contrast to the future-focused and cutting edge tools that have revolutionized how we communicate and collaborate. The result: organizational strategies in dire need of rethinking and revision, and it’s no wonder that so many employees report feeling those dread Sunday scaries.

This presentation asks tough questions around the concept of “work ethic,” the importance of building trust, clarifying communication methods, and investing in connections.

The idea is to challenge preconceived notions about how to foster a healthy company culture, no matter your level or role. This presentation gives you what you need in order to create change within your sphere of influence and help create a workplace that not only doesn’t suck: it’s awesome

ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS:

  • Mindset-shifting insights on the future of work and how to stay competitive in a continuously shifting landscape
  • Best-practices from organizations with proven awesome workplaces, and how you can adapt their strategies for your workplace
  • A fresh perspective on work culture that challenges the way things “should be done”

The tides have changed, and so have perceptions about what makes for a good job, a good organization, and a good leadership methodology. So why is it that so many leaders continue to operate with a workplace ethos that just isn’t resonating in the current work world?

Those that aren’t adapting to the new rules of engagement are facing an environment rife with frustrated employees, high attrition rates, and broken lines of communication… not to mention a pipeline of talent that will quickly dry up without much-needed change. This keynote makes the case for why a new leadership mindset is critical, and explores how the best in the biz are embracing transformation.

ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS:

  • How to lead in a way that values trust and transparency over strict rules and regulation
  • Listening to understand over listening to respond
  • Learn how to increase employee retention and decrease burnout

The pandemic years have changed our world forever. There is no part of our lives that has been left unchanged, and work is no exception. While some offices are bouncing back to office-only setups, remote and hybrid work are here to stay.

And we can’t just assume that practices that worked before the pandemic will produce similar results now. With virtual meeting fatigue, the lingering effects of pandemic burnout, and rising feelings of disconnection and isolation, it’s time to rethink how we approach hybrid work.

ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS:

  • Practical strategies to bring intentionality to how you communicate, connect, and collaborate in a combined virtual/office space
  • Tips for communication and how to build camaraderie
  • How to overcome pandemic burnout and stay energized in a hybrid work environment in a hybrid work environment

In today’s workplace culture, the loudest voice in the room is the one that gets heard. In meetings, the employee that can articulate their thoughts fastest is labeled a rock star.

In digital communication, one person groans at the sight of a text message while another cringes when listening to voicemail. Just like that, your message can be misinterpreted, and then you’re falling behind, getting passed over for promotions, and worst of all, becoming frustrated with your fellow colleagues, managers, or leaders.

We break down how company culture and the hybrid workplace affects communication strategies, and how people at all levels can work together so that everyone’s voice is heard and nothing gets lost in translation.

ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS:

  • How to use empathetic communication and active listening techniques that will fundamentally change the way you communicate
  • Awareness of the most prevalent communication mishaps in the workplace, and how to overcome them
  • Concrete strategies that will allow you to deliver messages clearly, and in a way that resonates

Welcome to hustle culture: the mindset that being on all the time is not only necessary, but boast-worthy. Can we let you in on a poorly kept secret? This MO of working is completely unsustainable.

Burnout rates have never been higher, employees are exhausted and disengaged, and leaders are wringing their hands and asking, “What can we do?”

This presentation outlines the root causes of professional burnout, and gives attendees the tools to bring some calm and chill to the world of workplace hustle for themselves and their teams.

ATTENDEE TAKEAWAYS:

  • Learn how to reclaim your time and use it effectively
  • Counter-intuitive strategies for teams on defining and envisioning what work ethic and “working hard” should look like
  • How to set boundaries that increase productivity, inspiration, and creativity

Talent Short Bio

Lisa Walden is a workplace transformation expert, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Good Company Consulting. With more than a decade of experience in generational sociology and organizational culture, Lisa is known for helping leaders create authentic, human-centered workplaces where people and performance thrive together.

Her work centers on the belief that the future of work is inherently human. Lisa partners with organizations ranging from global brands like BMW and Siemens to fast-growing startups, guiding them through cultural change, leadership evolution, and generational alignment. Her approach blends data-driven insight with practical tools that leaders can apply immediately.

Lisa is the author of Managing Millennials For Dummies, a widely used resource for understanding and engaging the modern workforce. Her more recent book, The Future of Work Is Human, explores how global disruption has reshaped expectations at work and offers strategies for building resilient, purpose-driven organizations.

A trusted thought leader, Lisa’s insights have been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune. On stage, she combines humor, empathy, and clarity to help leaders foster cultures of trust, connection, and sustainable success.

Lisa Walden is a trailblazer in workplace transformation, celebrated for her ability to create people-first cultures that inspire collaboration, innovation, and purpose. As a renowned speaker, consultant, and co-founder of Good Company Consulting, Lisa empowers organizations to rethink their strategies, prioritize authenticity, and eliminate the “Sunday scaries.” Her dynamic presentations blend actionable insights with humor and inspiration, making her a sought-after voice in the evolving conversation about the future of work.

With over a decade of experience in generational sociology and workplace culture, Lisa brings unmatched expertise in fostering cross-generational communication and compassionate leadership. Her message resonates with leaders who are eager to embrace modern work paradigms and create environments where employees thrive.

Her book, Managing Millennials for Dummies, serves as a foundational guide for leaders aiming to understand and engage the millennial workforce effectively. Lisa Walden’s most recent publication, The Future of Work is Human, delves into the profound shifts in work dynamics brought about by global disruptions, offering practical strategies to navigate this transformation.

Lisa Walden’s insights have been featured in esteemed outlets such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune, further establishing her as a thought leader. She is known for her ability to connect deeply with audiences, combining her sharp intellect with an approachable demeanor that makes even complex ideas relatable.

Whether addressing a room of C-suite executives or leading a workshop for emerging leaders, Lisa Walden’s focus remains the same: to inspire meaningful change that bridges the gap between organizational goals and employee well-being. Her speaking engagements leave audiences equipped with actionable tools to transform their workplaces into thriving, purpose-driven communities.

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Talent Videos

Lisa Walden Keynote Reel 2024 | The Future of Work Is Human

Workplace culture keynote speaker Lisa Walden shows leaders how compassion, clarity, and generational understanding create people-first workplaces where performance and humanity thrive together.

In this 2024 keynote reel, Lisa Walden outlines why the future of work is fundamentally human and how leaders must evolve to meet changing expectations across generations. She explains how technology, when used intentionally, can reduce workload and free leaders to focus on the most human aspects of leadership: empathy, connection, and clarity.

Lisa emphasizes the importance of unpacking the why behind the what, noting that deeper understanding is essential for bridging generational divides. She highlights how younger generations bring new attitudes toward work, prioritizing compassion, kindness, mental wellness, and what she calls work-life harmony, where work and life enhance each other rather than compete.

Drawing from her work at Good Company Consulting, Lisa addresses a common challenge she sees inside organizations: a disconnect between leadership beliefs and employee experiences. She explains how compassion, context-driven conversations, and improved communication can close that gap and create stronger cultures of trust and psychological safety.

Throughout the reel, Lisa introduces practical tools leaders can implement immediately, including setting clear expectations, sharing managerial preferences, and creating “working with me” documents to establish transparency and safety. She reframes leadership from a command-and-control model to a coach-style approach rooted in support and accountability.

The keynote concludes with a clear message: while the questions around recruiting, retaining, and motivating employees remain the same, the context has changed. Leaders who embrace humanity, adaptability, and compassion will be the ones who build truly great workplaces.

Key Moments

  • 00:46–01:45 – Generational shifts and the rise of work-life harmony
  • 01:46–02:55 – Compassionate leadership and closing belief gaps
  • 02:56–04:05 – Psychological safety and practical leadership tools
  • 04:06–05:20 – Moving from boss to coach-style leadership

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