Lisa Walden

Lisa Walden Speaking Topics

• From A to Z: Evolving Your Workplace for Gen Z

  We're standing at the precipice of a workplace revolution, with Generation Z at its forefront. Born digital natives, these young professionals are reshaping what it means to work, communicate, and lead. But here's the thing: many organizations are still stuck in outdated paradigms, struggling to connect with this dynamic generation. It's time for a wake-up call.

  In "From A to Z: Evolving Your Workplace for Gen Z," you’ll dive deep into the art of workplace transformation. It's a blueprint for creating the kind of organization that not only attracts top Gen Z talent (while not alienating other generations) but nurtures their potential and harnesses their unique strengths.

  Drawing from extensive research and real conversations with Gen Z professionals, you’ll see a vivid picture of what the future of work can and should look like. More importantly, you’ll walk away with the tools to start that redesign today.

  Takeaways include:

  • A look at the “why” behind the “what” of Gen Z behavior and motivation
  • Insights into how to become the compassionate, authentic leaders who inspire Gen Z
  • Identifying how Gen Z is transforming the way work works
  • Strategies to craft a culture for Gen Z while staying true to who you are now

• Beyond the Paycheck: Cultivating Engagement in Your Workforce

  The rulebook for motivating and engaging employees has been completely rewritten. Annual bonuses and employee-of-the-month plaques may have driven engagement in the past, but today it’s just not enough to keep people motivated in the long term.

  Make no mistake, salary and pay still matter for every working individual, and there’s opportunity to motivate in addition to those foundational financial components. This presentation will challenge you to think beyond extrinsic rewards and dig into how to have authentic conversations about what drives your team, how to design a work culture that ignites passion, and how to create an environment where people are energized by challenges rather than drained by them.

  In this deep dive, you’ll learn the latest research on what really drives people in the modern workplace and actionable strategies to transform your approach to motivation and engagement.

  Get ready to explore:

  • The Motivation Revolution: Why traditional carrots and sticks are failing, and what's replacing them
  • Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic: Harnessing the power of internal drive over external rewards
  • Belonging in the Digital Age: Fostering true connection in remote and hybrid environments
  • Real-time Recognition: Moving beyond annual reviews to constant, meaningful feedback

Work is Where the Wi-Fi Is: Mastering the Art of Hybrid Work

The hybrid work revolution promised flexibility and freedom, but for many, it's delivered complexity and confusion. We're navigating uncharted waters, where the boundaries between work and life are blurrier than ever, and our notion of why we need to go to the office is constantly shifting.

While it can feel like an unending quest to discover the best hybrid work rules, the trick is actually proactive strategies instead of reactive policies. In this presentation you will learn the guiding principles to create a hybrid workplace that works for everyone. You’ll discover how to create rituals that bridge the digital-physical divide, how to redesign workflows for asynchronous excellence, and how to lead with empathy in a world where face-to-face interactions are no longer a given.

Takeaways Include:

• Leaning into intentionality to make meetings purposeful, productive engagements
• Practical strategies to redesign how you communicate, connect, and collaborate
• Best practices from organizations with proven awesome virtual and hybrid workplaces
• How to craft strong culture and community in a distributed workplace

Memos to Memes: Cracking the Generational Communication Code at Work

In today's constantly changing workplace, communication can be our greatest asset… and our biggest frustration. The days of one-size-fits-all memos are long gone, replaced by a dizzying array of channels, styles, and yes, even memes. With five generations now working side by side, it's like we're all speaking different dialects of the same language.

"Memos to Memes: Cracking the Generational Communication Code at Work" is your Rosetta Stone for navigating this complex landscape. We're diving deep into the communication preferences and pitfalls of each generation, from the Baby Boomers who still appreciate a well-crafted email, to the Gen Zers who can convey an entire strategy meeting in shorthand and a few emojis.

Whether you're a Boomer trying to connect with new hires or a Millennial manager bridging the gap between your Gen X leaders and Gen Z interns, this presentation will equip you with the practical tools to improve collaboration, reduce misunderstandings, and leverage the unique communication strengths of each generation.

Takeaways include:

• How to convey your message effectively across generational lines
• A look at generational communication styles, including strengths and blind spots for each cohort
• Strategies for fostering inter-generational understanding
• Digital natives vs. digital adapters, and how to navigate tensions around technology’s role in workplace communication

The Future is Human: Creating People-First Work Cultures

Based on their upcoming book, "The Future of Work is Human: Transforming Company Culture for a Post-Pandemic World."

We are entering a new era of work, one where businesses win when leaders are compassionate, communication is empathetic, and people are prioritized. But that transformation, much like any kind of change, requires a great degree of intention and care. By embracing the workplace lessons learned during the pandemic years there’s an opportunity to design the kind of organization we all want to work in, and a culture we can all be a part of. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to create a healthier, happier, and ultimately more successful workplace culture by putting people first. Steeped in years of research and listening (really listening) to employees at all levels, it will paint the picture of what the future of work can and should look like, and how you can get started with that redesign right away.

Takeaways include:

• An exploration of the three cornerstones of compassionate leadership
• Strategies to take organizational communication from autopilot to intentional and empathetic
• Tactical tools to start transforming your work culture
• Sneak peek into Gen Z and what they want most from employers

Staying Human in the Age of AI

First, there was the computer, then the search engine, the smartphone, social media, and now… there’s AI. All of these revolutionary technological innovations have upended the way we communicate, lead, and get work done. And while it’s tempting to consider AI as the one tool to rule them all, we have to approach this time with intention and a little bit of care. To successfully implement AI into any workforce, leaders need to strike a happy balance between embracing artificial intelligence and nurturing emotional intelligence; they need to prioritize the people who are using AI. Because while technology may improve how we do so much at work, one thing remains the same: when leaders center humans at work, everyone wins.

Takeaways:

• Understand how EI and AI work together to help organizations succeed
• Best practices from teams that view AI as a tool that complements a people-first mindset
• Strategies to keep humans and EI front and center amidst change
• The soft skills that are critical for success in this brave new world of work