Biography

Book Tamsen Webster through The Keynote Curators.

Part message designer, part English-to-English translator, and now part doctoral student, Tamsen Webster helps leaders craft their case for large-scale change. A sought-after speaker and consultant, she’s spent more than 25 years developing the field and practice of persuasive message design, with a particular focus on the principles and processes that build buy-in that lasts.

In addition to her work in and for major organizations such as Harvard Medical School, Fidelity Investments, and Klaviyo, she built and delivers the message design curriculum for Elemental Impact, a leading investor in impact startups. She’s a judge and mentor for the Harvard Innovation Labs and a professional advisor at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. She’s also spent over 10 years as the Idea Strategist for one of only nine legacy-level TEDx events and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar in 2022. She’s the author of two best-selling books, Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible, and Say What They Can’t Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change which was named one of the top 10 management books of the year by Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper.

Tamsen Webster was a reluctant marathoner… twice; is a champion ballroom dancer (in her mind); and learned everything she knows about messages, people, and change as a Weight Watchers leader. True story.

She lives in Boston with her husband, two sons, and her two brindle Greyhounds, Hazel and Walnut.

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Say What They Can't Unhear: How To Inspire Change That Lasts

In a world of constant change, how can leaders inspire transformations that truly endure? Tamsen Webster, acclaimed speaker and author of "Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change," presents a groundbreaking approach to creating lasting shifts in organizations, markets, and individual lives.

Drawing from over 30 years of experience in message design and change communications, Webster challenges conventional wisdom about change management. She reveals why traditional methods often fall short and introduces a powerful new framework for inspiring change that stands the test of time.

Whether you're navigating a corporate pivot, launching a disruptive product, or seeking personal growth, this keynote will equip you with the tools to not just initiate change, but to make it last. Learn how to turn a momentary "yes" into an enduring commitment with ideas that resonate so strongly, they become impossible to "unhear."

Key Takeaways:

- Understand why change is a reaction, not just an action, and how to align your approach accordingly

- Learn to craft a case for change that resonates with your audience's existing beliefs and identity

- Discover strategies to overcome resistance without relying on pain or pressure

- Master the art of turning short-term agreement into long-term commitment

Built for Buy-In: The Fundamentals of Message Design

Getting your ideal audience to see your message as right for them—quickly—is critical, especially when there’s so much competition for time, attention, and resources. But what do you do when all the reasons your message is “right” aren’t right for those you’re talking to? In this practical and energizing presentation, 25-year message strategist and speaker Tamsen Webster will show you how to get people invested (literally and figuratively!) in all you have to offer, starting with the easiest storytelling elements for your audience to identify with: the principles that provide common ground for even the most uncommon messages.

After this presentation, you'll be able to:

- Understand why challenging people's beliefs is the enemy of action, and what to do instead

- Clearly and quickly identify who is, and isn’t, an ideal fit for your message—and why—so you can focus your efforts where they’ll have the greatest effect

- Follow a framework for simplifying them to their most important, and irresistible, elements and building in buy-in from the beginning

The Logic of Emotion: How to Make Inaction Impossible

You may have noticed a problem with the age-old “problem/solution” formula for driving action from your messages and marketing: it doesn’t always work! That’s a big issue when your job, and maybe even your business, depends on your content converting customers and clients.

Unfortunately, presenting only the audience’s problem and your solution misses an important fact about them: your audiences aren’t rational decision-makers, they’re rataionalIZING decision-makers. They tell themselves stories to justify what they do. That means your content needs more than just a problem and a solution, it needs to create a moment of truth in your audience’s mind—a realization that makes inaction impossible.

In this keynote, learn to use a simple structure that creates both the logical and emotional change you need for content that creates long-term change.

Getting the Green Light: How to build messages people say YES to

No matter your role, you're often in the business of changing behavior. Often that means you need to change beliefs first. Or do you? What if some of the age-old wisdom around driving action actually works against creating real change?

By the end of this keynote, you'll be able to:

- Analyze your messages for the "red lights" that lead to "NO"
- Identify the three key concepts every message needs to get a “YES" (and know how to find them in your own)
- Tie those concepts to the "green lights" your brand is built on (and connect your audiences more tightly to them, too)

The Red Thread®: How to find and tell the story of your ideas

At the heart of business lies one seemingly elusive goal: how can we tell a story people actually want to hear? Thankfully, there’s a surprisingly simple answer, and it lies in how we come up with our ideas in the first place.

After this keynote you’ll be able to:

- Tailor your story to the audience and impact you want
- Identify the five building blocks of the “minimum viable message” (and how to find them in your own)
- Organize those building blocks so you can tell your story in any format, and at any length

Testimonials

Tamsen is engaging. People pay attention as she both presents and facilitates powerful questions. One of the highlights of the session included a breakout where participants worked on their messages. When the breakout concluded, Tamsen proceeded to offer tips to a speaker who provided her key message "on the spot" analysis. I highly recommend Tamsen!
– Marti Konstant, Author, Keynote Speaker, Researcher, Trainer - Konstant Change
Tamsen was funny, professional, and kept the audience engaged and excited. Her stories were on point and her delivery was excellent. I continue to hear compliments from our attendees about her presentation.
– Rich Brooks, Founder, Agents of Change
From our initial conversation to her delivery, Tamsen was very professional and a pleasure to collaborate with. Her session was a hit! It was engaging, digestible and value packed. Tamsen has a gift for bringing clarity and succinct messaging to a world that tends to overcomplicate communication.
– Allison Tabor, President, NSA NoCA
Tamsen's work gave me a framework for what I had felt and thought before but wasn't able to always replicate.
– Will Behrmann, AVP, Atrium Health
Tamsen has contagious energy! Her session on Buy-In was captivating and kept the energy high (all while being virtual). Tamsen was thought-provoking, relatable, and kept the attendees engaged throughout the session.
– Samantha Roy, Marketing and Operations Manager, RXInsider
Tamsen Webster will key into your environment and help you find the path to success. She is funny,thoughtful, an amazing listener, and has a gift for making people feel valued and empowered to succeed.
– Chris Boivin, Chief Marketing Officer, Library Marketing Solutions
Tamsen was a huge hit with our attendees! Her talk was right in line with what marketers needed to hear. We heard such great feedback including from one CEO who said that he's purchased Tamsen's book and her talk has caused him to rethink their entire value proposition.
– Jennifer Watson Laws, Senior Vice President of Sales, HW Media LLC

Booksby Tamsen Webster

Find Your Red Thread

Say What They Can't Unhear

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