Speaking

Unabashedly fierce with a splash of funny, Nancy's keynotes ignite the possibility that work can be better, and then show you how to make it happen.

Speaking Topic - Work Like A Boss

Work like a boss: Go from apathy to action at work

Workplaces want motivated employees who take initiative. People want to care about work and contribute to a bigger purpose. Rolling out engagement programs or adding new professional development tracks won’t help. The answer is developing work cultures and personal mindsets that embrace change, accountability, and risk. 

In this talk, I inspire people and teams to change their perspectives on work. With humor, humility, and a lot of energy, I reframe hierarchy and power, and focus our attention on the mindsets needed for future-forward workplaces.

Length: 45-75 minutes
Good for: Mixed audience (leadership and staff), keynote, inspiration
Customizable themes: I can focus the talk on particular chapter themes to fit your needs. Themes include kicking your fear in the face, talking like a human, and being kind at work.

“HealthPartners had the pleasure of welcoming Nancy Lyons as the keynote speaker for our annual Leadership Symposium. In what’s been a particularly challenging time for leaders, Nancy’s message was relevant, encouraging, and filled with hope. Her straightforward mix of poignant storytelling and humor shed light on important aspects of effective leadership, such as being kind to yourself as a leader, and the mindset shifts that can help us see and lead those around us. Our leaders gained new ideas and fresh inspiration to advance our mission of improving health and well-being.”

- Andrea Walsh, CEO

Speaking Topic - Cultivating a human-centered work culture

Cultivating a human-centered work culture 

We can’t expect people to leave their personal lives or feelings at the door when they come to work, so why we do expect them to? Instead, a work culture should welcome and connect life and work, personal and professional. A culture centered around people — and whole selves — has to be created deliberately and enacted across every level of an organization.

In this conversation, I explore how teams, companies, and employees can cultivate a workplace that is holistically supportive and that feels good.

Length: 45-60 minutes
Good for: Leadership, actionable advice, motivation

 

 “…Nancy stole the show. Participants raved about her, noting how she struck just the right balance of real, practical insight and making them all feel like success was within their reach. Nancy’s direct and humorous delivery not only re-energized the crowd it left them wanting more!”

— Tracy Burns, CEO, Northeast Human Resources Association

Speaking Topic - Being an employee, thinking like a CEO

Being an employee, thinking like a CEO

Intrapreneurs are invaluable to business today: they enable innovation, grow bottom lines, and introduce new perspectives to established companies. But more than anything, they bring an energy that benefits workplaces. They think independently, take initiative, exhibit ownership, accept their role as leaders, and make decisions.

In this session, I speak to the core attributes of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs and discuss how, and why, to bring these characteristics into your daily work.

Length: 45-60 minutes
Good for: Employees and staff, internal conferences, actionable advice

 

“Nancy’s keynote presentation was the highlight of our Women’s Summit.  Her great energy, empowering messages, and tell it like it is approach had us talking long after the event.” 

— Tammy Buchert, Chief Administrative Officer

Kick your fear in the face

None of us knows what we’re doing, not fully. Not your CEO, not that person who seems to know everything, not even the smartest person in the room. And yet, some people seem to move through work so confidently, like they aren’t held back by the typical fears many of us have. Like fear of failure or fear of looking dumb. But the thing is: some people let fear get in their way, and others have learned to keep on going in spite of it.

Fear is the four-letter f-word that we rarely dig into because it’s scary and vulnerable. But the only way to deal with it is to face it. In this talk, I walk through five types of fear I see every day in workplaces everywhere and actions you can start taking today to kick them in the face.

Length: 45-60 minutes
Good for: Employees and staff, internal conferences, actionable advice

What people have said about me and my talks:

“I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming hundreds of people to the stage over the years. A handful of them jump to mind as people who make a powerful difference in the lives of others. Nancy is right up there with the best of the best.”

— Bud Bernstein, Conference CuratorStrategic HR U.S

 
 

“Nancy Lyons is the best local speaker I know. The three times she has spoken to audiences at my request have been some of the best speeches I have heard locally. Ms. Lyons grips her audiences with her engaging style and her bold thinking.”

— Linda Brandt, Hennepin County Public Health Promotion

“You know to settle in and be ready to laugh and learn when Nancy takes the conference stage. Not only does she provide solid, useful information to her audience, she engages with energy and wit that make listening to a keynote fun and inspiring.”

– Brett Harned, Digital PM Consulting

 
 

“Nancy was fabulous! She was high-energy, fast-paced, funny, forthrightly honest, personal, and had excellent advice.”

- Audience survey feedback

“Nancy is such an engaging speaker. Her topic was so relevant and really resonated with me. Her direct approach and energy was very much welcomed.”

- Audience survey feedback

 

“The leaders and audience really appreciated the acknowledgment of our times and loved the inspirational way you put it on us to help shape our culture.”

- Jan Williams, Strategy and Supports Manager, Hennepin County

Upcoming speaking events:

Taking a break for the holidays! See you in 2023.

Past speaking events include:

  • Government IT Symposium
    12/7/2022

  • Marquette Economic Club
    11/7/2022

  • United Healthcare Marketing Leadership Summit
    10/27/2022

  • RISE! Gala
    10/27/2022

  • Keynote at CTE Works Summit
    11/1/2022

  • Strategic HR
    5/10/2022

  • RBC
    5/5/2022

  • Owner’s Summit
    2/21/2022

  • Waterton Associates
    2/10/2022

  • WPO Retreat
    2/1/2022

  • UnitedHealth Group Leadership Event
    8/18/21

  • Network of Executive Women
    Virtual - 9/21/21

  • Best Buy Technology Summit
    Bloomington, MN 7/12/21

  • Global Women in Tech series at the SelectUSA Summit
    Virtual - 6/9/21

  • Portfolio Leadership Summit
    Virtual - 5/20/21

  • ILEA-MSP
    Chanhassen, MN - 5/18/21

  • Performance Excellence Network
    Virtual - 5/13/21

  • 3M Extended Executive Legal Team
    Virtual - 5/4/21

  • WFS Tech Growth & Exit Strategies - Women In Tech
    Virtual - 2/25/21

  • Owner Summit
    Virtual - 2/24/21

  • Connect Marquette Summit - Keynote
    Virtual - 2/19/21

  • Best Buy (BBY) XD Summit Conference
    Virtual - 2/18/21

  • WIELC Grand Opening - North Hennepin Community College
    Virtual - 1/25/21

  • Burnsville Rotary
    Virtual - 12/21/20

  • Government IT Symposium
    Virtual - 12/9/20

  • MNCodes Summit
    Virtual - 11/14/20

  • AIGA Design Camp Keynote
    Virtual – 10/4/20

  • The Coven: Like a Boss
    Virtual – 10/9/20

  • Strategic HR Conference

    Virtual – 10/21/20

  • rise.org
    Virtual - 10/26/20

  • MIDCO Women’s Leadership Summit
    Virtual - 9/28/20

  • WorkWell Summit
    Virtual - 8/4/20

  • Business Women Circle Annual Forum
    Virtual - 7/20/20

  • Twin Cities Business - Diversity & Inclusion Panel
    Virtual – 6/24/20

  • Passion Collective Mini Buzz Event
    Virtual – 6/18/20

  • City of Maple Grove,
    Maple Grove, MN – 1/22/20

  • rise.org
    Minneapolis, MN – 10/21/19

  • Midwest Health Promotion
    St. Paul, MN – 9/18/19

  • North Central Electric Association Workshop
    Bloomington, MN – 9/17/19

  • Public Radio Program Directors Conference
    Minneapolis, MN – 8/27/19

  • Revel Health
    Minneapolis, MN – 8/15/19

  • Market Smarter 2019
    Worthington, MN – 6/19/19

  • Secure360
    Prior Lake, MN – 5/14/19

  • Forum on Workplace Inclusion
    Minneapolis, MN – 4/17/19

  • MPR Lunch & Learn – Conversation with the Community
    St. Paul, MN – 1/22/19

  • MCEA Fall Conference
    Rochester, MN – 10/4/18

  • Northwest Wisconsin Workforce
    Wisconsin – 9/27/18

  • The Boulder HR Association
    Boulder, CO – 9/13/18

  • DMA Non-Profit Conference
    Chicago, IL – 8/29/18

  • BWC Annual Forum
    Minneapolis, MN – 7/16/18

  • Knowledge Marketing
    Plymouth, MN – 6/5/18

  • Private conference
    Duluth, MN – 5/16/18

  • Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training
    Hibbing, MN – 5/16/18

  • Ameriprise
    Minneapolis, MN – 5/15/18

  • Genie Cast Panel – 5/15/18

  • Beauty Counter
    Minneapolis, MN – 5/3/18

  • NM SHRM
    Albuquerque, NM, 4/22-4/23/18

  • CenterPoint Energy
    Houston, TX – 3/9/18

  • Owner Summit
    Charleston, SC – 2/10/18

  • Ryan Companies
    Minneapolis, MN –  11/29/17

  • 2017 BMI Annual Conference
    Miami, FL – 11/6/17

  • Optum
    Eden Prairie, MN – 10/3/17

  • SHRM Colorado State Council
    Keystone, CO – 9/28/17

  • HRM-GT
    Tucson, AZ – 9/12/17

  • Centerpoint Energy
    Wayzata, MN – 8/10/17

  • MN Workforce Council Association
    Duluth, MN – 8/9/17

  • AMIN Integrated Conference
    Minneapolis, MN – 5/1/17

  • Maine HR Convention
    Rockport, ME – 5/12/17

  • Women’s Empowerment Forum
    Minneapolis, MN – 5/18/17

  • Tallahassee Tech Expo
    Tallahassee, FL, 5/19/17

  • Dunn Brothers
    Minneapolis, MN – 6/14/17

  • CHRO Leadership Summit
    Minneapolis, MN – 6/14/17

  • Forum on Workplace Inclusion
    Minneapolis, MN – 3/29/17

  • Women’s Committee
    Minneapolis, MN – 2/2/17

  • SCORE Event at Surly Brewing
    Minneapolis, MN – 1/26/17

  • Phoenix Group Town Hall
    New Providence, NJ – 12/16/16

  • Government IT Symposium
    St Paul, MN – 12/8/16

  • Blue Stem Brands
    Minneapolis, MN – 12/5/16

  • Gather North
    Ontario, Canada – 11/12/16

  • Revolve Conference
    Charleston, SC – 10/26/16-10/29/16

  • St. Cloud Innovation Summit
    St. Cloud, MN – 10/13/16

  • Giant Steps
    Minneapolis, MN – 10/7/16

  • NEHRA
    Cape Cod, MA – 9/29/16

  • Uponor
    Apple Valley, MN – 9/9/16

  • AZ SHRM Masters Series
    Chandler, AZ – 8/30/16

  • Turing School
    Denver, CO – 8/26/16

  • Brooklyn Park Police Department
    Brooklyn Park, MN – 8/10/16

  • Twin Cities Communications Council
    Minneapolis, MN – 7/14/16

  • Corvus North
    Minneapolis, MN – 7/13/16

  • MSP IDEO Launch Party
    Minneapolis, MN – 6/24/16

  • Communicator’s Forum, University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, MN – 6/8/16

  • Women in IT – University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, MN – 6/1/16

  • Business Strategies Roundtable
    Minneapolis, MN – 5/25/16

  • HOW Design Live
    Atlanta, GA – 5/20/16

  • American Advertising Federation
    Lafayette, IN – 4/28/16

  • Tech Cities 2016
    Minneapolis, MN – 2/26/16

  • Hopkins Business and Civic Association
    Hopkins, MN – 2/23/16

  • Mobile Twin Cities: Women in Technology
    Minneapolis, MN – 2/2/16

  • BankCherokee Women Business Professionals Event,
    Mendota Heights, MN – 11/5/15

  • TWMN Professional Development Clinic
    Golden Valley, MN – 11/3/15

  • Strategic HR Conference
    Bretton Woods, NH – 10/25/15

  • Digital PM Summit
    Philadelphia, PA – 10/12/15

  • Camp COCO
    Finland, MN, 10/10/15