Biography

Colette Carlson, founder of Speak Your Truth, Inc., is a human behavior expert, author and keynote speaker who delivers laugh-out-loud programs with solid takeaways and inspires leaders and teams worldwide to strengthen behaviors that impact their relationships, resilience, and results. How to create effective connections, and leverage them for greater success, is the thread that is woven into every one of her presentations.

With a master’s degree in human behavior and 20 years of experience in the personal development field, Colette understands the psychology, mindset, and skills required to thrive during times of uncertainty, ambiguity, and stress. She excels at developing leaders’ social-emotional intelligence, creating empathetic, inclusive environments where teams flourish.

She is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), and in 2017, Colette was inducted into the CPAE Speaker Hall Fame®, a lifetime award that honors professional speakers who have reached the top echelon of platform excellence.

Her articles on mindful communication, stress management, leadership, and the power of connection have been featured in Success, Business Management Daily, and Working Mother magazines. Trusted clients include Microsoft, McKesson, Costco, Domino’s Pizza, Great Clips, Procter & Gamble, and Federal Express.

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The Connected Leader

Successful, effective leaders recognize the need to authentically connect on a human level, whether virtually or in-person, to create influence and impact. Connected leaders model courageous behaviors that create a culture of clarity,
transparency, inclusion, and accountability, even in the most challenging times. In this engaging, uplifting, and research-
based program, attendees will master their ability to communicate and connect on deeper levels, creating an
environment where people thrive.

In a digitally-distracted, constantly-changing world, become a Connected Leader to:
• Drive positive change through intentional and impactful communication, thoughtful questions, and empathetic
listening
• Earn trust, respect, and loyalty from your teams and colleagues
• Learn specific communication techniques that will inspire action and cooperation, address conflict, and extract
more value and productivity from your teams
• Seek and encourage healthy feedback
• Create a culture of open communication where people connect, grow, and flourish

Many Communicate, Few Connect

The common denominators of the most successful individuals are their ability to effectively communicate and connect,
regardless of situation, location, or audience. In a competitive world filled with a global workforce, numerous communication channels, and daily digital distractions, getting your message heard has never been more challenging.

Clear, concise communication is no longer enough to get results: connection must be part of the equation.

Amplify your impact and form crucial relationships that drive productivity, engagement, and collaboration by learning
how to:
• Up your emotional quotient to increase your credibility and gain support
• Foster healthy communication through focused, dedicated behaviors
• Align your thoughts, words, and actions to build trust and increase influence
• Communicate with candor and clarity while maintaining a respectful, human connection
• Be a human highlighter who champions the accomplishments and strengths of every individual on your team

You Management: Strategies to Avoid Burnout, Boost Resilience, and Accelerate Success

Regardless of your title and role, people experience everyday stressors while they are expected to stay agile through constant change. In today’s world, people are required to exceed expectations and produce more in less time with fewer resources, all while staying positive and engaged with colleagues and customers.

New challenges have collapsed the boundaries between work and home, leaving people juggling opposing demands for time, energy, and attention. It’s no surprise, even with the best of intentions, leaders and teams feel stressed out, disconnected, and emotionally exhausted.

Enough! It’s time for You Management!

Join Colette in this laugh-out-loud program as she shares practical, yet powerful, science-based strategies to remain
resilient and accelerate your success during the most challenging of circumstances by learning how to:
• Minimize worry, stress and angst by knowing when to let go or take control
• Manage devices, distractions, and demands to stay focused, present, and productive
• Lean in to change by mastering your mindset to increase mental toughness
• Build in daily self-care strategies to avoid burnout and create more joy
• Maximize health and wellness through the power of connection

Sincere Selling: Stop Transacting, Start Connecting

In order to make a sale and earn a customer, you must first make a connection. In today’s virtual selling environment with shorter meetings and distracted customers, the ability to quickly connect and captivate is paramount. In this engaging, research-based program, learn how to adopt a sincere selling mindset to cultivate authentic relationships that lead to increased sales, repeat customers, and powerful referrals.

As a former national sales trainer who cut her teeth in straight commission sales, Colette will show you how to up
your personal connection quotient to maximize relationships, revenue, and results by learning how to:
• Awaken your awareness to maximize your emotional connection
• Ask deeper, richer questions to identify customer pain points
• Listen empathetically to create a collaborative environment conducive to problem solving
• Align your thoughts, words, and actions to build trust
• Demonstrate value and gain emotional buy-in through effective storytelling

Women Leading with Impact: Accelerate Your Position with Confidence

When women show up, stand up, and speak out, positive change happens. In this engaging, uplifting, and research-based program, specific to women in leadership, participants gain the strategies and skills necessary to become authentic, credible, and confident leaders.

Be recognized, respected, and rewarded in your career by learning how to:
• Cultivate connections that count
• Identify, access, and develop strategic relationships
• Express your success to advocate for yourself and others
• Conquer self-imposed limits to take risks and accelerate growth
• Breakthrough barriers by mastering the power of the ASK
• Stay resilient through constant change and challenges

Testimonials

Colette’s infectious spirit, passion for her subject, and humorous delivery engaged the audience which is why we would highly recommend her as a speaker for your next event!
– Ginnie Roeglin, Senior Vice President, Costco Wholesale
Our local and international teams left with inspiration, excitement and new skills!
– Brenda Nakano, BSEC Chair, Microsoft
Colette is an amazing speaker! She did a keynote for 2300 franchise owners, general managers, and managers and a breakout session for 1500 general managers and managers. She did a great job researching our business and sharing stories and examples that the participants could relate to. The participants found her funny and insightful. The vast majority of the participants rated her as Excellent! She was also a delight to work with in planning the conference as well as on-site. I highly recommend Colette as a speaker!
– Lora Peterson, Director, Great Clips University
Colette was a huge hit at our Leadership Series, and people are still talking about it! We were all so impressed by the way she researched and got to know us. As a result, she nailed it, gained immediate credibility and connected with everyone! Colette was knowledgeable, relatable and down to earth… what more could you ask for.
– Donna Sanders, People Development Mgr, Texas Roadhouse
Your presentations were very well received and a perfect alignment with the objectives of the meetings. I was also impressed with how well you prepared for the two presentations!
– Jane Conti, Executive Vice President, New York Life
After two days of education focused on improving patient safety and health care quality, Colette’s closing keynote brought an element of positive inspiration and humor to a crowd of 500 health care executives! The post event evaluation identified her as the most highly rated speaker, and it was no surprise given her ability to tailor the content to meet the needs of our audience.
– S.B., Program Manager – Texas Hospital Association Foundation
You were a perfect fit for our global audience!
– Karen Bohanan, HR Manager, Cisco
Colette’s presentation was the perfect capstone to our annual customer event. Colette is brilliant, funny, warm and inspiring, and her insights were well-received by everyone there. At the end of a long day, there could not have been a better way to re-energize our audience.”
– Doug Deane, President & CEO, DSD Business Systems

Blog Posts

Celebrating Thanksgiving: Grateful Hearts, Bold Milestones

This Thanksgiving, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the journey—an adventure full of creativity, teamwork, and connection.

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“Find a Way” Philosophy to Overcome Life’s Challenges

Motivational keynote speaker Merril Hoge shares his "Find a Way" philosophy to overcome life's challenges with accountability, resilience, and personal growth.

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Transforming Events with Music to Create Unique Experiences

🎶 Listen and learn how SongDivision uses music to transform events, creating unforgettable moments of connection and creativity for businesses worldwide.

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Five Life-Changing Lessons from Recording 100 Podcast Episodes

🎧 In this special podcast, we reflect on five life-changing lessons from recording 100 episodes, with insights from keynote speakers and event professionals.

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Celebrating International Men’s Day: Fostering Positive Change and Health

On International Men's Day, we celebrate men’s contributions and tackle the challenges they face through the lens of six defining health pillars.

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Navigating Romantic Relationship Dynamics (Hidden Secrets!)

Explore insights from relationship keynote speaker Dr. John Gray on navigating romantic relationships, evolving roles, and fostering intimacy.

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Blog Posts

 

Celebrating Thanksgiving: Grateful Hearts, Bold Milestones

🦃 This Thanksgiving, we at The Keynote Curators are reflecting on what truly matters—our community,...

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“Find a Way” Philosophy to Overcome Life’s Challenges

Overcoming Challenges with Merril Hoge’s Find a Way Philosophy Challenges are a universal experience. Whether...

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Transforming Events with Music to Create Unique Experiences

The Power of Music in Events Few things unite people as effortlessly as music. Whether...

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Five Life-Changing Lessons from Recording 100 Podcast Episodes

How Creating a Podcast Can Transform Your Perspective in Life What if the simplest conversations...

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Celebrating International Men’s Day: Fostering Positive Change and Health

On International Men's Day, we celebrate their contributions and tackle the challenges they face through...

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Navigating Romantic Relationship Dynamics (Hidden Secrets!)

Navigating the Balance of Independence and Intimacy in Relationships https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6UMV6IqJXY&list=PLXTlGHk63lLgbS8LN-PENXDzwMdqWAnOm Why does it sometimes feel...

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