Keynotes, Workshops
Keynotes: My engaging talks uncover the problems most leaders face when leading change, reveal how to communicate more effectively through the change journey while saving time, money, and effort, and introduce behaviors to help leaders achieve the change outcomes they seek.
Workshops: Teams in the midst of planning change efforts often encounter challenges that hinder their success. I understand the frustrations of serving on large change management teams and what it feels like to be overwhelmed by the many opinions, ideas, and directives that leaders and communicators must navigate during the change process. In my workshops, we clarify the goals of the change effort, evaluate what is working and what isn’t, identify gaps, and apply my proprietary approach to the situation. The workshops are fun, interactive, educational, and practical, providing the team with new skills they will immediately apply to their current work.
Changing Your Approach to Change
I guide professionals through a change framework that creates and sustains career success. Drawing on 40 years of success in corporate America and in life, through storytelling, engaging listeners and humor, attendees learn how I applied Principles of Prosperity to change my life. Founded on those principles and using my proprietary 4Cs Change FrameworkTM, attendees come away with new paradigms to think about, principles to apply, and practical tips on how they can begin to unlock their full potential and prosper.
How to Communicate Better to Make Your Change Efforts Stick
With 30+ years of experience helping communications pros and companies grow and thrive in times of change, attendees gain insights into how to better handle communications using my proprietary 4Cs Change FrameworkTM in a variety of business scenarios. Talks can be tailored for students, junior, mid-career, and senior communicators, and leaders. Attendees learn how to better lead through complex change projects, create more effective communications that achieve their intended outcomes, and apply behaviors to help them advance in their careers and lives.
- Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestitures
- Site Closures/ Consolidations/Moves
- Leadership Communications
- Leadership Communications
- Employee and Community Engagement
- Communications Research
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access
- Crisis Communications
- Program Communications
Mary Lou’s Talks
With over 35 years of experience leading employee communications at global companies, Mary Lou brings unmatched expertise in successfully navigating and leading strategic change. Drawing on decades of experience and her proprietary 4Cs Change Framework (Clarity, Connection, Caring, Courage), Mary Lou shares what she’s learned, why it works, and offers three talks distinctly designed to emphasize different aspects necessary for leading effective change. Talks and formats can be adjusted to meet specific audience needs.
Talk One
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The Way You Think About Change is Dead Wrong: 21st C Leadership Essentials to Drive Effective Change
Workplace dynamics and environments are drastically different today than they were just a few years ago, and they continue to evolve rapidly. Cultural norms, expectations of employees and consumers, technology, and the political environment, along with how, when, and where employees work, have changed significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. How can leaders prepare to navigate the fast-moving and ever-changing workplace of the future? In this candid talk, Mary Lou discusses the shifting workplace trends leaders must acknowledge and the seven-ish leadership skills they must master to successfully lead their organizations through change in the 21st Century.
- Learn the six business, workplace, and societal trends leaders must recognize and acknowledge.
- Discover insights from leadership luminaries on the skills leaders will need to lead effectively in the workplace today and in the future.
- Walk away with specific, actionable behaviors and tips you can apply immediately.
Talk Two
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The Four Secret Ingredients for Effective Change Plus 12 Ways to Make it Stick
Like every good recipe, you need to know the ingredients and the instructions to make a delicious dish. The same applies when attempting to drive change in your organization. Years of failed change initiatives have shown us what doesn’t work. Yet, even as we recognize that change is constant, and it is something we can always rely on, why haven’t we found an effective recipe for change? In this humorous talk, using real case studies and research-backed data, Mary Lou uncovers why what you’re doing isn’t working and gives you the secret recipe for success—including the instructions!
- Discover the four main reasons most change efforts fail, including the ones you want for yourself.
- Learn the 4Cs Change Framework™ and how to apply it successfully at work and in life.
- Explore essential behaviors that enhance leadership skills, create a competitive advantage, and lead to a more prosperous business, career, and life.
Talk Three
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Confessions of a Communications Exec: Four Mistakes When Leading Change and How to Fix Them
You can’t fix a problem until you first identify what it is and why the current approach doesn’t work. In this dynamic session, Mary Lou admits her mistakes early in her career and the lessons she learned. She reveals the research behind what most leaders get wrong when driving change and introduces ways to fix those problems. This candid session, sprinkled with humor, will deliver real-world stories, actionable takeaways, and leadership insights you can apply immediately in your organization, career, and life.
- Learn the four main reasons why most change efforts fail
- Discover a proven framework to achieve sustainable, people-centered transformation
- Walk away with practical leadership behaviors that spark lasting change and real results
Chief People and Equity Officer
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
“Anticipating and responding to change will remain a critical skill for leaders moving forward. I had the honor of seeing Mary Lou’s methodology in practice at Bayer; it is highly effective and provides leaders with practical ways in which they can manage and respond to challenges or barriers while bringing staff along. I would highly recommend her approach to any leader.”
Testimonials
Mayo Performing Arts Center Business Circle, October 2025. “Confessions of a Communications Exec: Four Mistakes When Leading Change and How to Fix Them.” “Mary Lou’s presentation was not only full of valuable insights, but it was also delivered with a genuine warmth and clarity that resonated with our donors and members of the business community.”
Seton Hall University Public Speaking Class, November 2024. “Making the Case for Change and How to Prosper While You’re At It.” Testimonial: “Mary Lou did a great job engaging the students. They were attentive and relating the information to their own interests, hopes, and dreams, even at this early stage of college. Mary Lou brought them hopeful and practical information.” – Colette Liddy, Communications Specialist, Educator, Professor.
Executive Decision Making for Pharma & Biotech Conference, October 2024. “Unlock the Power of Change. Transform Your Leadership Journey.” Testimonial: “Mary Lou shared a simple, intriguing and practical approach to leading change and presented in an innovative, creative and engaging way.” – Bridget K.
Somerset County Business Partnership Professionals Group, July 2024. “Making Change Work for You.” Testimonial: “Mary Lou’s talk was very engaging and insightful!” – Adam O.
Ragan Communications Certificate Course, July 2024. Week 3: Talking Measurement and Managers. “The Measure of Success: Using Data to Manage Up, Down and Through Change.” Testimonial: “I really enjoyed Mary Lou’s presentation. So helpful and useful.” – Diana H.
IABC NY Tri-State Region Webinar, June 2024. “Changing How to Manage Up.” Link to presentation. Testimonial: “From handling the technical hiccup with grace and humor to delivering concisely and answering questions, Mary Lou was fabulous!” – Pinaki Kathiari, VP Professional Development, IABC New York Tristate; CEO & Owner, Local Wisdom.
Ragan Training Member Roundtables, March 2024. “The 4Cs of Change Comms: Convey Clarity and Confidence in Uncertain Times.” Testimonial: “Mary Lou is a wonderful presenter, and her style makes her very approachable.” – Jacqui D.
September 17, 2023 – Stay on Course Podcast Guest. “Ingredients for Success. Making Change Work for You.” Link to podcast. Testimonial: “Mary Lou breaks down her Change Comms Framework, offering practical advice on how to approach change by understanding what you want, what you think, and what you do. Her wisdom is a compass to guide you through the turbulent waters of change.” – Julie Riga, Executive Success Coach and Leadership Consultant, Stay on Course, LLC.
TCB Internal Communications Councils Meeting, February 2024. “Creating Change. Communications Programs that Work.” Testimonial: “Mary Lou gave a really terrific presentation. On target and so relevant for our audience.” – Danielle Badler, Program Director, The Conference Board
Calwell University Communications Studies Class, November 2023 Testimonial: “Mary Lou did a really great job engaging the students. She brought them hopeful and practical information.” – Colette Liddy, Adjunct Professor and Director, News and Media Relations, Caldwell University
Sabre Corporation, Product Development Virtual Lunch/Learn, July 2023 Testimonial: “Wonderful job sharing how the 4Cs can be applied at work and to real world situations. It was motivating and practical.” – Lucia Huonker, Principal Scrum Master, Sabre Corporation
“You are guaranteed to learn, laugh and make an impact using her approach.” – Alex Borchard, Director of Internal Communications, Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
rf.engage Company Meeting, May 2023. Testimonial: “For sure a highlight from the day! I was engaged, and Mary Lou brought about a paradigm shift in how we’ll communicate. SHE ROCKS!” – Amanda Feliu, Group VP, Communications, rf.engage, A Ruder Finn Company
Ready to supercharge your results and rewrite your story? Dive into this dynamic chapter, where uncertainty at the airport becomes a powerful metaphor for navigating change in life and business.
In today’s relentless world of shifting priorities and constant disruption, most organizations stumble when faced with change. Failed transformation efforts cost millions, erode trust, and leave teams overwhelmed, burnt out, and searching for answers. Why do so many change initiatives unravel, even as the stakes climb ever higher? What hidden forces sabotage progress in the shadows of the workplace?