Speaker Bio
Carolyn Stern is the President and CEO of EI Experience—an executive leadership development and emotional intelligence training firm. She is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development Expert, Certified Speaking Professional®, corporate trainer, award-winning author, and university professor.
Since launching her book, The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership, Carolyn has quickly gained acclaim following her appearances on The Social, CTV Your Morning, Daytime Chicago, Global TV, Slice TV, OWN, Lifetime TV, MovieTime, Prime, and Tubi.
Her book was awarded the Axiom Book Award for the Best Business Book in 2023 in the leadership category and the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the career category. She has also been featured in various media outlets across the globe, including Forbes, Fast Company, The European Business Review, The Globe and Mail, and Inc.com.
Carolyn’s emotional intelligence courses and modules have been adopted by top universities, and she has trained over 50,000 business leaders across the continent in highly regarded corporations.
As a speaker, Carolyn takes time to dig deep and highly personalizes and customizes her presentations to meet your event’s objectives and unique requirements. She focuses on your attendees’ specific needs and leadership challenges, addressing the real issues they are experiencing in the workplace right now. Together, you will discuss which specific leadership topics to address and messages to impart, developing the perfect balance for your group. Each session can be delivered either virtually or in person and includes an optional workbook or handout.
Speaker Topics
Itʼs time to debunk the myth that sharing our emotions and being honest about how we are feeling is a sign of weakness. Itʼs time for our corporate world to stop encouraging people to stuff down their feelings while at work. Itʼs time to make friends with our feelings. Because if we stop being so scared of our emotions and look for the wisdom they provide us, we can change how we connect, communicate, and lead.
In this keynote, you will start to learn the emotional skills and mental strategies needed to be stronger and more intelligent than your feelings and to help others learn to explore their emotions. Emotions should not be feared but celebrated. A wealth of amazing possibilities are available if we learn to harness the superpower of our emotions.
In todayʼs fast-paced world, leaders must manage emotions with composure and respect. Emotional regulation and effective communication prevent misunderstandings, strengthen relationships, and foster collaboration. This keynote introduces a five-step model, The High EI Way, to help you take back the wheel and put you in the driverʼs seat of your emotions rather than them driving you off course. Understanding triggers, responding thoughtfully, and expressing confidence can turn conflicts into productive discussions while maintaining professionalism.
Discover tools to check your mirrors, steer clear of emotional potholes, and prevent interpersonal collisions. Learn to embrace emotions and navigate tough situations with strength and respect. Let this keynote guide you toward emotional mastery, equipping you with skills to always take the high road so you can lead with confidence and communicate with poise while staying in control of your emotions.
All organizations want actively engaged employees who are enthusiastic about their work, inspired and motivated by their leaders, empowered with autonomy to do their job their way, and confident they can achieve excellence. In this keynote, youʼll discover the key leadership traits and skills needed to create a culture of engagement where employees feel connected, appreciated, and fulfilled in their roles. When your team feels genuinely valued and confident in their contributions, their performance and commitment will soar. Youʼll leave with actionable strategies to foster a thriving, high-performance culture that drives both employee success and organizational growth.
In todayʼs workplaces, multiple generations work side by side, each bringing unique perspectives, motivations, values, and communication styles. To be an effective leader, itʼs crucial to understand these differences and leverage them for success. This keynote will show you how to use emotional intelligence to bridge generational gaps, foster inclusion, and unlock the full potential of your diverse team. Youʼll gain practical strategies to connect with each generation—from Baby Boomers to Gen Z—and adapt your leadership style to cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance. By mastering these skills, you’ll drive higher productivity and organizational success, empowering your team to thrive in todayʼs evolving workplace.
Sales is more than just persuasion—itʼs about connection. Understanding your customerʼs emotions and motivations allows you to build trust, uncover needs, and provide meaningful solutions. This keynote explores how emotional intelligence can elevate sales and customer service by fostering empathy, active listening, and authentic engagement. By putting yourself in your customerʼs shoes, you can tailor your approach, handle objections with confidence, and create a lasting rapport. Learn to recognize emotional cues, regulate your own reactions, and adapt your communication style for maximum impact. Whether closing a sale or providing exceptional service, emotional intelligence gives you the edge to foster loyalty, increase satisfaction, and drive long-term success.
As AI reshapes industries, emotional intelligence remains the ultimate human advantage. While AI can analyze and automate, it lacks empathy, trust-building, and emotional understanding. Yet, AI-driven change brings fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. This keynote highlights the irreplaceable role of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership and workplace dynamics, helping individuals and teams navigate the emotional impact of AI.
Learn how EI sets you apart from machines and why connection, inspiration, and influence matter more than ever. Discover strategies to integrate technology while preserving human insight, fostering adaptability, resilience, and connection. In an AI-driven world, leading with EI is the key to lasting success.
Testimonials
In my 30+ year career, I have never experienced such profound insight into how and why I act and feel the way I do in the workplace.
As the event manager for the annual GFOA Alberta conference, I had the pleasure of working with Carolyn Stern and her outstanding team. Carolyn’s expertise in emotional intelligence was not only evident in her powerful keynote address but also in every interaction she had with several of our delegates. From the initial planning stages to the day of the event, Carolyn’s team was exceptionally professional, responsive, and organized. Carolyn’s presentation was engaging, insightful, and highly relevant, leaving a lasting impact on our attendees. She has a unique ability to connect with the audience on a different level. The feedback from our participants was very positive, with some citing Carolyn’s keynote as one of the highlights of the event. I highly recommend Carolyn Stern for any organization looking to elevate their event with a speaker who not only delivers content but also brings a level of professionalism and warmth. Working with Carolyn and her team was an absolute pleasure, and we look forward to collaborating with them again in the future.
Carolyn Stern recently presented the opening keynote at our HR Conference and Expo. Ms. Stern delivered an impactful presentation on Emotionally Strong Leadership. Conference attendees shared positive feedback, referencing her authentic, heartfelt speaking style and ability to weave personal stories into practical lessons. Carolyn’s vulnerability in sharing her own emotional intelligence journey left an impact on many. It was clear she created a powerful connection with the audience; her “meet and greet” session after the keynote had attendees lined up to make a personal connection with her. The conceptual topic of emotional intelligence was made accessible and actionable through Carolyn’s storytelling, and it was a pleasure to have her kick off our annual flagship event for HR professionals.
As the Director of Learning and Development for the HRSouthwest Conference, I had the privilege of working with Carolyn Stern. Carolyn was a fabulous addition to our conference: she presented to a full room of attendees, sold out her books in the bookstore, and received raved reviews from those in attendance.
I loved her energy. Carolyn is the type of person that commands respect because of her knowledge, but I think she connects with people because of how open she is.
Carolyn’s vulnerability in sharing her own emotional intelligence journey left an impact on many. It was clear she created a powerful connection with the audience; her “meet and greet” session after the keynote had attendees lined up to make a personal connection with her.
For anyone who may be thinking about hiring Carolyn, I would say to engage in the conversation with her. She’s very flexible, she wants to hear what you want to achieve, she is more than willing to tailor her presentation to make sure that you get what you need for your specific organization.
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