Katie Hilborn

Katie Hilborn Speaking Topics

• Purpose Architect: New Currency for a Human-Centric Workplace (LEADERS & TEAMS)

  The Big Idea:

  Purpose isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s the foundation for building happiness, fulfillment, and growth. In a rapidly evolving workplace, where AI advancements are expected to save employees up to 12 hours per week within five years—and four hours as early as next year (Thomson Reuters) —organizations can harness this shift to place purpose at the heart of their culture and use this time to align individual purpose with organizational goals through heart-centric leadership enhances engagement, boosts productivity, and builds a resilient, future-ready workforce.

  Keynote Description:

  In a world reshaped by The Great Resignation and quiet quitting, the workplace is in need of a blueprint for meaning and connection. Nearly 40% of employees are considering leaving their jobs because they no longer find fulfillment in their work (Gallup).

  Katie Hilborn’s Purpose Architect™ keynote provides a transformative approach to building workplaces where the purpose is at the cornerstone. This framework aligns individual and organizational purpose, creating a foundation for well-being, productivity, retention, and ultimately company success.

• The Change Compass: Heart-centric leading to inspire teams (LEADERS & TEAMS)

  The Big Idea:

  Resilience is the beginning, not the end. In an ever-changing world, leaders must navigate uncertainty with adaptability, courage, and intuition. This keynote empowers leaders and teams to transform challenges into opportunities through purposeful action and heart-centered leadership.

  Keynote Description:

  Change is inevitable, yet 70% of change management initiatives fail, primarily due to resistance from employees and lack of support from management (McKinsey & Company). Thriving in today’s rapidly evolving environment requires leaders to engage teams through emotional intelligence, adaptability, and alignment with core values. Leaders who cultivate these qualities achieve a 25% increase in employee performance and retention (Center for Creative Leadership).

  Katie Hilborn’s extraordinary journey is a testament to the power of heart-centric leadership and the belief that change is inevitable and growth is intentional. Abandoned at birth and driven by an unwavering sense of purpose, Katie has lived with the Maasai Tribe, delivered disaster relief during the Nepal earthquakes, and founded children’s charities that reduced child trafficking cases to zero. Through these experiences, she learned firsthand what it takes to adapt during change—navigating uncertainty with courage, intuition, and adaptability. As an Anthem Awards Humanitarian Leader of the Year, she has inspired over 70,000 volunteer hours and raised more than $1M for her causes.

  In this keynote, Katie shares actionable strategies for:

  • Balancing Vision and Empathy: Leading with both clarity and emotional connection to inspire teams.
  • Harnessing Feminine and Masculine Archetypes: Knowing when to nurture, strategize, or take bold action.
  • Turning Resilience into Purposeful Action: Transforming setbacks into opportunities to grow and create lasting impact.

  Katie’s approach reminds us that true leadership begins where resilience meets purpose. With a deep understanding of how to adapt during change, she demonstrates that leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up with heart, aligning actions with values, and thriving through uncertainty.

  Outcomes:

  The audience will leave with...

  • A roadmap for transforming setbacks into stepping stones for growth.
  • Tools to navigate uncertainty with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
  • Strategies to enhance team performance through emotional intelligence.
  • Insights for aligning leadership actions with values to achieve lasting results.

Purpose Architect (STUDENTS)

The Big Idea:

Purpose isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s the foundation for building happiness, fulfillment, and growth. In a rapidly evolving world, where AI advancements are expected to save students up to 12 hours per week within five years—and four hours as early as next year (Thomson Reuters)—students can harness this shift to place purpose at the heart of their learning. By using this extra time to align their personal values and aspirations with their academic and life goals, students can increase happiness, enhance their focus, boost their performance, and build a resilient, future-ready mindset.

Keynote Description:

Today’s students are navigating an increasingly complex world where stress and uncertainty are at an all-time high. Research shows that 74% of young people are actively searching for purpose and meaning in their lives, yet 40% report feeling disconnected from a clear sense of direction or fulfillment (Pew Research Center). The pressures of academic performance, social media, and future planning leave many students feeling overwhelmed and lost, craving deeper connections between their daily actions and a greater purpose.

Katie Hilborn’s Purpose Architect™ keynote provides a transformative approach to building a life where purpose is at the cornerstone. This framework aligns students' values, passions, and goals, creating a foundation for well-being, academic success, resilience, and ultimately fulfillment.

Grounded in data—such as a 30% boost in academic performance (Stanford) and a 40% increase in happiness for purpose-driven individuals (Greater Good Science Center)—and enriched by Katie’s extraordinary experiences, this keynote inspires and equips students to embrace purpose as their guiding force. Katie also introduces the concept of following the breadcrumbs of intuition, demonstrating how small, seemingly insignificant moments can guide heart-led decisions that reshape not only their education but their entire lives.

As a 7x award-winning humanitarian recognized alongside the Dalai Lama, Katie shares profound lessons from walking pumas in Bolivian jungles, to leading earthquake disaster relief in Nepal, and founding children’s charities. Through these vivid stories, she illustrates how embracing purpose and intuition can transform challenges into opportunities, cultivate meaningful connections, and ignite a ripple effect of positive change.

Outcomes:

The audience will leave with...

• A clear framework for discovering their inner compass and aligning their values, passions, and goals.
• Practical strategies to build resilience and navigate challenges with confidence.
• Insights on how to turn small, intuitive decisions into meaningful actions that shape their future.
• Inspiration from real-life stories to embrace purpose as a driving force for fulfillment and success.

The Change Compass (STUDENTS)

The Big Idea:

In a world of constant change, resilience is just the starting point. Success as a student—and in life—requires adaptability, courage, and the ability to trust your instincts. But beyond personal success, true impact comes from leading with heart. This keynote explores how to turn challenges into opportunities by combining creativity, empathy, and heart-centric leadership to inspire yourself and others. Students will learn how to align their actions with their values, embrace uncertainty, and navigate life’s twists and turns with confidence and authenticity.

Keynote Description:

Change is a constant, whether you're deciding what to study, pursuing your goals, or figuring out what comes next. The most successful people don’t wait for perfect conditions—they embrace uncertainty, trust their instincts, and find opportunities in every challenge.

Katie Hilborn’s journey is a powerful example of navigating change. From living with the Maasai Tribe to delivering disaster relief during the Nepal earthquakes to founding children’s charities, Katie’s story shows that courage often comes before confidence. Her work has inspired over 70,000 volunteer hours and taught her that success comes from taking action, even when the path isn’t fully clear.

Effective self-leadership is about knowing when to adapt and take on different roles—whether as a planner, a motivator, or a problem-solver. Katie emphasizes the importance of heart-centric leadership: leading yourself and others with authenticity, empathy, and a willingness to take risks that create meaningful connections and outcomes.

In this keynote, Katie shares practical strategies to help students build resilience, trust their instincts, and overcome self-doubt. With engaging stories and actionable insights, she will empower students to navigate challenges, reframe setbacks, and confidently take the next steps in their journey.

Outcomes:

The Audience Will Leave With...

• Strategies to turn uncertainty into growth.
• Tools to trust instincts and take bold, decisive steps.
• A framework to reframe setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.
• Inspiration to embrace change with confidence, empathy, and adaptability.