Jen Fry

Jen Fry Speaking Topics

• Innovation at Odds: How Conflict Fuels Great Ideas

  True innovation requires the grappling of ideas—where differing viewpoints, experiences, and expertise collide to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Conflict catalyzes this process by breaking through groupthink, challenging outdated practices, and pushing teams to find better solutions. Without conflict, organizations risk settling for mediocrity, as unchallenged ideas rarely lead to transformative breakthroughs. This session will explore how leaders can harness conflict to create a culture of innovation, where team members feel empowered to challenge each other respectfully and collaboratively.

  Conflict is not just an obstacle to overcome—it is the lifeblood of innovation. Without conflict, ideas remain unchallenged, teams become complacent, and organizations stagnate. This session is designed to help current and aspiring leaders reframe their understanding of conflict as a critical driver of progress and creativity. Leadership is not about avoiding friction but embracing it as an opportunity to push ideas from good to great. In every industry, innovation thrives in environments where people are encouraged to grapple with diverse perspectives, question assumptions, and engage in constructive debates.

  Participants will:

  1. Reframing Conflict as a Catalyst
  2. Fostering a Culture of Healthy Disagreement
  3. Transforming Tension into Action

• The Culture Catalyst: Leveraging Conflict for Growth

  Organizational culture isn’t just built in boardrooms or outlined in mission statements—it’s forged in the everyday interactions, challenges, and yes, conflicts that arise among teams. How we navigate those moments of tension can either fracture relationships or bring out the best in our teams. In this session, leaders will explore the often-overlooked power of conflict as a cultural catalyst, learning how the way disputes are handled can set the tone for innovation, collaboration, and trust. By shifting the focus from avoiding conflict to embracing it as a tool for growth, leaders can cultivate a workplace culture that thrives under pressure.

  Attendees will also delve into practical strategies for uncovering the root causes of organizational friction and reframing those challenges as opportunities to realign values, goals, and relationships. From small disagreements to larger cultural shifts, participants will learn how to foster environments where open communication and mutual respect take center stage. This isn’t just about resolving disagreements—it’s about building a resilient, adaptable organization that doesn’t just survive conflict but uses it to evolve and grow stronger together. Come ready to see conflict not as a roadblock but as a springboard for cultural transformation and success.

  Attendees will:

  1. Identify conflict’s role in shaping organizational culture
  2. Learn to implement conflict resolution strategies that not only resolve issues but also positively contribute to the organizational culture.
  3. Leverage conflict for organizational improvement and innovation

Weaponized Words: Mastering the Art of Language in Conflict

During this session, we’ll delve into the fascinating and challenging world of workplace conflict, focusing on the power of language and how it shapes our professional dynamics. Together, we’ll uncover how words can be weaponized—whether intentionally or unintentionally—to erode trust, intensify disputes, or subtly undermine credibility. By breaking down these dynamics, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how specific phrases and language choices can escalate tensions or, alternatively, pave the way for resolution and collaboration.

We’ll also explore the often-overlooked concept of triangulation in conflicts, examining how language plays a central role in creating divides and perpetuating misunderstandings. From dissecting terms used in performance reviews that hinder promotions and salary increases to identifying communication patterns that sabotage collaboration, this session offers a practical roadmap for navigating the language of conflict with confidence and clarity.

Through engaging discussions and hands-on exercises, you’ll learn to spot aggressive language patterns, decode the emotions and intentions behind them, and adopt strategies to counteract their impact. This isn’t just about resolving conflict—it’s about transforming it into an opportunity for deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and organizational growth. Get ready to leave equipped with tools to master the art of communication and turn conflict into a catalyst for progress.

Participant Results:

1. Recognize and Understand the use of weaponized language
2. Identify specific phrases and expressions that are commonly used to escalate conflicts
3. Develop Strategies for De-escalation and Effective Response

Empowering Women to Fiercely Self-Advocate with Confidence

In a world that often pressures women to accommodate others at the expense of their own needs, self-advocacy can feel like an uphill battle. This session is designed to help women reclaim their voices, assert their worth, and advocate for their needs with confidence and clarity. Through reflective exercises, interactive discussions, and actionable strategies, participants will learn to challenge societal expectations, set empowering boundaries, and communicate their needs effectively.

By addressing the internal and external barriers that hinder self-advocacy, this workshop creates a supportive environment where women can redefine what it means to lead authentically. Participants will gain insight into how societal norms and personal experiences shape their approach to conflict and decision-making. They’ll also learn to reframe boundary-setting as a powerful act of self-respect and empowerment, rather than a source of guilt or selfishness. Whether navigating workplace dynamics or personal relationships, attendees will leave with a renewed sense of agency and practical tools to take charge of their own narratives.

This workshop is not just about building confidence; it’s about equipping women to lead, thrive, and empower themselves in every aspect of their lives.

Attendees will:

1. Understand how societal expectations and pressures shape women’s responses to conflict and self-advocacy.
2. Reframe self-advocacy as tools for empowerment and self-respect rather than limitations or selfishness.
3. Identify and address the societal, cultural, and internal challenges that inhibit self-advocacy, empowering participants to navigate these obstacles effectively

No, I Am Not a B*tch: How to Set Boundaries Like a Badass

Setting boundaries is not a weakness; it’s a strength. We are here to help women understand that the more boundaries they put around themselves, the healthier and stronger they will feel about themselves. This empowering session is designed for women ready to stand up for themselves, establish clear limits, and confidently say no when needed. Setting boundaries doesn’t make you a bitch, it makes you less likely to be pushed to the side and stepped over. It makes you less likely to be resentful and angry at yourself and others, and lastly, to be taken advantage of because they know you won’t say no whether you have problems setting boundaries with family members who expect you to drop everything from them at the drop of a hat, to a co-worker who always needs you to do their work.

Attendees will explore how to identify when their boundaries are being tested, develop practical strategies for self-advocacy, and navigate interpersonal dynamics with assertiveness. The workshop creates a supportive environment to learn how to confidently express needs, pursue goals, and build relationships grounded in respect and mutual understanding.

Attendees will:

1. Learn how to define their own personal boundaries.
2. Develop effective self-advocacy skills.
3. Build Confidence in Interpersonal Interactions