Keynote speaking and corporate training

What is the biggest operational challenge that you will face in the upcoming year?Building the systems and capacity to grow a business currently led and delivered by me. This means balancing client delivery with sales, proposals, administration and program development. My priority is creating efficient processes and securing the right support so I can serve more organizations, develop longer-term training programs and maintain the quality and personal attention clients expect.

How is technology changing the classroom experience?Technology is expanding access to information and creating more ways for students to participate. It also makes the human side of teaching especially important. Access to an answer does not automatically create understanding, confidence or curiosity. Educators help students question information, make connections and feel comfortable asking for help. My focus is on the communication and trust that support that process.

What challenges are educators currently facing post-pandemic?Educators are navigating academic expectations alongside concerns about student engagement, emotional well-being and their own workload. They are often expected to manage difficult conversations and complex behavior with limited time and support. From a behavioral science perspective, we need to support educators’ ability to respond effectively under pressure while also addressing the conditions that place so much pressure on them.

How do you support student engagement and well-being?My contribution centers on supporting the adults who shape students’ experiences. I teach practical skills in nonverbal communication, building trust and responding under pressure. These skills can help educators notice changes in engagement, approach difficult conversations with curiosity and avoid jumping to conclusions about behavior. The aim is to create interactions in which students feel heard, respected and able to participate.

What role does equity play in your educational approach?Equity means recognizing that the same behavior can have different explanations, and the same approach will not work equally well for everyone. Communication is shaped by culture, individual experience and differences in how people process and express information. My approach encourages educators to examine assumptions, consider context and avoid treating eye contact, quietness or confidence as straightforward measures of attention, ability or honesty.

How are you preparing students for a rapidly changing world?My work supports educators in developing the human skills students need alongside academic knowledge: communicating clearly, evaluating assumptions, navigating disagreement and responding thoughtfully under pressure. As tools and workplaces change, students will continue to need the ability to build trust, collaborate and adapt. Educators can model these skills through everyday interactions as well as teach them explicitly.

Can you share an initiative that has made a real impact?One example is The Upper Hand, my workshop on trust, influence and communication. It translates behavioral science into practical approaches participants can use in difficult conversations and professional relationships. That connection between understanding behavior and deciding how to respond is central to my work. For educators, it offers a way to examine how their own communication can encourage participation, reduce friction and support trust.

What’s your vision for the future of education?My vision is an education system that gives the human side of learning the same attention as curriculum and technology. That means equipping educators with practical communication skills, supporting their well-being and giving them the time and resources to build relationships. I want students to leave education with knowledge, curiosity and the confidence to ask questions, work with others and navigate uncertainty.