Sarah Elkins

Biography

A professional musician and storyteller, Sarah will guide your audience on an inspiring journey of connection, demonstrating how sharing the right stories at the right time can help them be stronger advocates for their organizations and happier in their work.

Sarah is a classically trained vocalist who became the lead singer of a 60s style rock band at age 40. She has shared stories and music in a variety of fabulous venues, performing from the historic Wilma Theater in Missoula, Montana to southern France and many places in between.

After nearly 20 years in the public sector — implementing software at federal agencies, coordinating multi-million-dollar state projects, and managing local government events — her years in every possible customer service scenario sparked an epiphany: 90% of workplace dissatisfaction and stress is caused by miscommunication. Even when we speak the same language, we often don’t speak the same language.

Sarah founded Elkins Consulting to improve communication in the workplace, reduce tension, and help people begin to like their jobs again.

To fuel that goal, she became a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach. The StrengthFinder assessment has immediate practical application, improving communication through healthy self-reflection and acknowledging the value of diverse ways of thinking. The intensive training, certification, and coaching time with more than 1,000 clients has been a game-changer for her business and personal life.

Sarah’s podcast, Your Stories Don’t Define You – How You Tell Them Will is consistently ranked in the top 10% of global podcasts, and her book of the same name has been called “A masterclass in storytelling.”

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Testimonials

Sarah breathes new life into the art of storytelling from the stage. I recently attended her keynote presentation at the SGR Conference and was impressed by how she captured the audience’s attention from the first moment - and didn’t let go! You get the sense from watching her that she brings her whole self onto the stage with her and participants want to show up for her in turn. Her content is compelling, original and highly relevant to leaders looking to nurture organizational health through culture. I can’t wait to hear Sarah speak again!

– Wendy Ryan, CEO of Kadabra

Sarah provided a keynote speech at the Montana Watershed Symposium and we couldn’t have been happier. This is a biennial event hosted by the Montana Watershed Coordination Council that brings together local watershed organizations, conservation groups, and state and federal agencies to help solve some of the pressing conservation issues facing Montana. Our theme for 2018 was Advancing Conservation through Effective Communication, a bit of a hedge on basing the conference on storytelling, which seemed a bit too squishy for some of our more science-oriented partners. Any reservations on the need for better storytelling in the work we do was quickly put to bed after Sarah gave her keynote. We got immediate positive feedback and there was a buzz in the room from the lightbulbs going off in people’s heads. We can’t be effective in watershed conservation work if we can’t directly connect with people through shared stories and experiences.

– Eric Trumm, Board Member, Montana Watershed Coordination Council

Sarah has a special way of connecting with her audience and helping them to connect to one another. If you’re looking for an engaging and compelling speaker on the topic of storytelling, there is no better choice for you than Sarah. You will not regret it!

– Heather Younger, 2x TEDx Keynote Speaker | Author, The Art of Active Listening

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) had the pleasure of listening to Sarah Elkins’ presentation, “Workplace Family: It’s Complicated!” at our annual convention in 2022. For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, our entire staff was invited to gather in person, and for many this meant relearning workplace practices. The conundrum of workplace “families” can be a touchy subject and often a difficult lesson to learn, but Elkins educated staff on when to bring at-home practices to the workplace and where to draw the line, all while being engaging, personable and professional. Elkins also encouraged participation by providing a workbook that allowed staff to follow along and set their own goals during the presentation. Our staff felt comfortable openly sharing personal anecdotes and asking questions due to Elkins’ responsiveness. Her presentation was interactive and informative, and RCAC staff has given nothing but positive reviews. Thank you, Sarah Elkins, for a job well done!

– Michelle Ayers, Event Manager, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (Sacramento-based)

While the 2020 COVID pandemic forced us to move from a face-to-face conference to an online conference, adaptation and flexibility were so important. Sarah handled the changes with the utmost professionalism and did an exceptional job of keeping the audience engaged, while delivering a powerful session. The feedback from our conference attendees regarding Sarah’s presentation was overwhelmingly positive.

– Kay Pace, Senior Human Resource Generalist, State of Montana

Booksby Sarah Elkins

Your Stories Don't Define You

For Meeting Planners

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Blog Posts

Stop Stressing! Find Your Perfect Stress Management Style

✨ Eliz Greene addresses the complexities of stress management, highlighting the importance of recognizing and...

Why Do People Get Harley-Davidson Tattoos? Building Unwavering Brand Loyalty

🏍️ In a world where brand loyalty can seem fleeting, Ken Schmidt, former Director of...

Achieving 3 Daily Wins: Leadership Lessons with Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman

🎧 Tune in my conversation with Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman to become the person that...

Train Like You Fight: How To Take Pride in Your Preparation

How to handle unexpected challenges during high-stakes situations? Mistakes can be costly, but meticulous preparation...

Honoring Memorial Day and Inspirational Veteran Speakers

🎖️ In this week's newsletter, we honor those who sacrificed and those who continue to...

MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) in Louisville, KY

🤩 The Keynote Curators was thrilled to participate in Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress...

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Reviews & Ratings

     Excellent  
     Based on 56 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Waldo Waldman 
 May 19, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been Speaking professionally for 21 years and work with the largest agencies in the world. I’m a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and a New York Times best selling Author. I have can honestly say in full confidence that Seth Dechtman and his team at Keynote Curator is the best agency I have been honored to work with.
I’ve witnessed Seth’s client focused relationship skills On multiple occasions. His clients love him and he’s detail oriented and has great communication skillls.
But most importantly, I’ve been on the receiving side of his servant, focused leadership style. He treats me like a valued partner and emulates everything a wingman is.
  
 
       
   David Allison 
 May 17, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and the Keynote Curators team are tenacious and determined to do right by their clients and their speakers. I appreciate our relationship so much, and highly reccomend this group to anyone looking to book a speaker for an event.
  
 
       
   Meir Statman 
 May 10, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It is wonderful to join Seth in helping people reflect on their financial and life well-being and enhance them.
  
 
       
   Trevor Wilde 
 April 24, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was an amazing experience. the Keynote Speaker we had was perfect for our event and will definitely be having another for our next one!
  
 
       
   Sandro Forte 
 March 22, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brilliantly hosted, with great content. An absolute ‘must add’ to any podcast list!
  
 
       
   Jon VanDeventer 
 November 18, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've been working with Seth at The Keynote Curators for over 3 years. I always look forward to our meetings because of both his professional expertise and his enjoyable, engaging personality. We have fun during our virtual meetings while developing innovative strategies and accomplishing goals. It's obvious from working with Seth over a number of years that he is always making event planning and booking services an easy process and providing responsiveness that sets him apart. He's an excellent partner who gets invested in your business and collaborates through every step of a process that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
  
 
       
   Jason Galaska 
 November 7, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and his team were fantastic to work with in 2023 and we look forward to working with Keynote Curators to find potential speaker matches for our events in the future.  Thank you, Seth, for your professionalism!
  
 
       
   Hailey Wilson 
 October 23, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A Treasure Trove for Anyone Involved in Speaker Selection!

As someone deeply involved in the intersection of marketing and technology at AImpact, I find the process of selecting the right keynote speaker to be a critical part of any successful event. Seth Dechtman's "The Keynote Curators" podcast is nothing short of a godsend for anyone facing the challenges and opportunities that come with this task.

Seth brings an almost poetic understanding to the power of words, acknowledging that a speech isn't just a scheduled event but a transformative experience that can change the dynamics of an entire room. His enthusiasm for the craft is contagious, making each episode a joy to listen to.
  
 
       
   Nicole 
 September 14, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth is super knowledgeable about the needs of meeting planners to have a successful event and partners with you to find just that right fit!
  
 
       
   Duncan Sigurdsson 
 August 28, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Working with Seth Dechtman and The Keynote Curators is always true partnership.  In the three plus years that we have been involved in various projects, I can tell you that they always deliver.  We have done some really cool stuff together.  Any meeting professional, conference planner or event producer will greatly benefit from partnering with The Keynote Curators.  High praise to Seth and his team.