Speaking
Keynotes & Workshops
Looking to inspire leaders to be their best selves at work? Want to foster positive behaviors among colleagues? Need to boost morale and reduce stress and burnout? Hire Beth Ridley to give the keynote address at your event, speak at a lunch and learn, deliver an interactive workshop or facilitate a panel discussion.
Beth’s presentation style is energetic and interactive, heartfelt and humorous. Her content is rooted in positive psychology and diversity and inclusion principles and draws upon her diverse and broad leadership experience as well as advice from hundreds of professionals and leaders she has interviewed for her blogs and podcasts.
About Beth
Fortune 100 corporate executive turned entrepreneur, Beth Ridley, works as an organizational transformation expert, speaker, author, and CEO of Ridley Consulting Group. Beth combines 25 years of leadership and management consulting experience with expertise in diversity and inclusion and positive psychology to help companies achieve thriving workplace cultures.
Beth is passionate about simplifying what it takes to embed diversity, equity and inclusion practices into business operations to improve profitability, brand identity, and the ability to attract and retain top talent. Her work appears in national publications and as a regular contributor on TMJ4’s “The Morning Blend.” Her forthcoming book– Jumpstart DEI: Practical Steps to Get Everyone Engaged– is scheduled for release in Spring 2022.
Beth holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia, an MA in International Relations from Tufts University and an MBA from Columbia University. Beth has lived in London, Tokyo, Johannesburg and Bangkok and now resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband and three children.
Most Requested Keynote and Workshop Topics
Inclusion and Belonging Topics
Overview
According to new research in Harvard Business Review, 89% of knowledge workers have reported a decline in their workplace wellbeing since the start of COVID-19. Meanwhile, loneliness (one outcome of a lack of belonging) is on the rise, with staggering effects on business.
Given this landscape, leaders are focusing more than ever on workplace wellbeing. Increasingly, effective wellbeing strategies are including a focus on fostering employees’ sense of belonging – an accumulation of day-to-day experiences that enable a person to feel safe, foster genuine connections with others and bring their full, unique self to work so they can thrive.
Learning Objectives
- Learn what belonging at work is and what current research is telling us about why it matters to employee wellness and wellbeing.
- Understand how diversity, inclusion and equity contribute to belonging.
- Gain easy to implement best practices to build belonging in your meetings to support daily wellbeing among employees.
Organizations today consist of multiple generations, each bringing unique perspectives, needs, and expectations. These differences can sometimes lead to tensions among employees. Effective intergenerational collaboration is not just beneficial, but essential for reducing friction, enhancing innovation, boosting employee satisfaction, and improving retention—ultimately driving overall business success. To achieve this, understanding and addressing these generational dynamics is crucial for fostering a cohesive, inclusive, and productive work environment.
In this interactive learning session, we will explore (and debunk) common stereotypes of how each generation shows up at work. Through online polling and discussions, we’ll delve into preferences across generations regarding work values and styles. Participants will gain practical inclusive leadership skills, along with tips and tools to better understand, appreciate and bridge across these differences. This ability will foster a culture of collaboration and innovative thinking within teams.
Key Takeaways
Understand Generational Traits: Identify and describe the defining traits, communication styles, and work preferences of different generational cohorts, such as Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z.
Learn Inclusive Practices: Apply inclusive leadership practices to improve understanding and collaboration between members of different generational cohorts.
Develop Action Plan: Develop an action plan to apply inclusive practices and use an intergenerational engagement guide to create a work environment where all generations feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute effectively.
We often hear the phrase “bring your full self to work,” but what does it really mean—and how much should we truly bring? Many of us struggle to find the right balance between being authentic and fitting in with workplace norms. This interactive workshop is designed to help participants navigate that challenge, striking a balance that allows us to be true to ourselves while being flexible enough to foster a culture of belonging for others.
Objective: To explore how we can align personal authenticity with workplace cultural norms to contribute to a more inclusive and supportive work environment, using the concept of “Empowered Alignment.”
Key Takeaways:
Balancing Authenticity and Adaptation: Gain clarity on what it means to “bring your full self to work” and learn how to strike a healthy balance between authenticity and adapting to workplace norms.
Exploring Personal Adjustments: Understand the aspects of ourselves we commonly adjust at work, how these adjustments impact us, and how to align our personal and workplace values to foster belonging.
Navigating Competing Values: Learn practical strategies, including a case study, to balance competing values within a team, creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
- Understand what confirmation bias and group think are, examples, root causes, and how they impede innovation and decision-making.
- Understand the definitions of diversity and inclusion and how they positively impact decision-making.
- Learn inclusive behaviors to apply to decision-making and discuss reflection questions in small groups to appreciate how to apply behaviors at work.
- Provide take-away resource to support application of behaviors on ongoing basis.
This workshop introduces the concept of microaggressions and how they negatively impact employees’ sense of belonging. Participants will explore the importance of addressing microaggressions and learn effective strategies for doing so.
Take-Aways:
- Define and Recognize Microaggressions: Learn to identify different forms of microaggressions, including verbal and behavioral cues.
- Understand the Impact: Appreciate how microaggressions affect individuals across different identities and implications on the workplace culture.
- Prevent and Address Microaggressions: Learn to reduce the likelihood of committing microaggressions, techniques to address microaggressions in the workplace and tips for recovering if you commit a microaggression
As we continue on our DEI learning journey, we must appreciate the role we each play in building a sustainable workplace culture of belonging. Part of that role means holding ourselves and others accountable for speaking up in support of belonging for everyone. The truth is, speaking up when you experience or witness behavior that is non-inclusive or inappropriate isn’t easy. It’s human to not want to rock the boat or create conflict with someone. With some simple strategies, however, speaking up can be less awkward and effective. And when more of us speak up, we fuel collective courage, confidence and commitment to belonging that is needed to sustain the work.
Join this interactive learning session to gain practical tips for speaking up when you experience or witness behavior that is non-inclusive or inappropriate.
Take-Aways
- Understand Scenarios in Need of Speaking Up: Explore common forms of microaggressions and non-inclusive behaviors at work.
- Understand the Impact: Appreciate how microaggressions negatively affect individuals and the workplace culture and why speaking up against non-inclusive behaviors matters.
- Tips for Speaking Up: Learn and practice tips for speaking up when you experience or witness non-inclusive behaviors as well as tips for recovering if you commit a microaggression or diversity faux pas.
Creating a sense of belonging requires more than policy changes—it hinges on the daily actions of leaders and employees alike. In this session, participants will learn three essential inclusive behaviors that can be seamlessly incorporated into everyday interactions. With practical tips and real-world examples, this session will help leaders internalize these behaviors and confidently apply them to foster an inclusive and engaged workplace culture.
Key Takeaways:
- Inclusive Leadership Practices: Discover three critical behaviors every leader must adopt to drive belonging.
- Practical Application: Gain actionable insights and practical tools to apply inclusive behaviors in daily interactions and decision-making.
- Sustaining Belonging: Learn how to create environments where inclusive behaviors are internalized and sustained, leading to long-term cultural impact.
In the wake of budget cuts and growing backlash against DEI initiatives, it’s critical to revisit the core values that have shaped progress over the years. This session will explore the historical evolution of DEI efforts, identify current trends, and examine the rise of belonging as a key driver of workplace culture. By understanding the tangible benefits of belonging—backed by the latest research—participants will leave with a clear sense of why fostering belonging is more important now than ever.
Key Take-Aways:
- Historical Insight: Understand how DEI has evolved over time and what challenges and opportunities exist today.
- The Power of Belonging: Learn why belonging has emerged as a cornerstone of workplace culture and how it differs from traditional DEI concepts.
- Data-Driven Benefits: Explore recent research on the positive outcomes of belonging, including employee engagement, innovation, and retention.
In today’s diverse, complex, and often stressful workplace, embracing values rooted in inclusion and belonging are more crucial now than ever. These values support employee wellbeing, enhance decision-making, and improve recruitment, retention and outcomes. Yet, we face significant challenges, including backlash and budget cuts against DEI initiatives.
In this interactive workshop, we’ll address how to overcome indifference and resistance to inclusion efforts. I’ll share practical strategies that have helped my clients successfully integrate inclusivity as a core value in their organizations. You’ll also have the chance to share your own experiences and insights.
Key Take-Aways:
- Understand Resistance: Explore common reasons for resistance and indifference to inclusion efforts.
- Learn Change Best Practices:Discover a proven framework that helps individuals overcome resistance and step outside their comfort zones.
- Acquire Practical Tips: Discover actionable tips to help others personalize and commit to inclusion efforts.
Positive Psychology Topics
In today’s workplaces, the pressure to meet tight deadlines, innovate constantly, and manage complex projects is taking a toll on employee well-being. Recent studies show that 52% of employees report feeling burned out, while anxiety and stress levels are up 25% over the past year. Additionally, 61% of workers report feeling isolated or lonely at work. As mental health conversations become more common, managers in these fast-paced industries are now expected to support their teams’ well-being—yet they are not therapists. How can leaders foster resilience, positivity, and productivity among their teams while protecting their own mental health?
This workshop will explore how leaders can use positive psychology, the science of what makes humans thrive, to create a more resilient and positive team culture. You’ll learn simple, research-backed practices that can be applied in everyday interactions to prevent burnout, boost team morale, and foster a culture of well-being without the need for sweeping transformation initiatives.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize Burnout: Spot the early signs of burnout in yourself and your engineering or design team and take proactive steps to address it.
- Positive Psychology Practices: Learn simple, science-based best practices to reduce stress and build resilience within your team.
- Daily Leadership Habits: Learn how to embed positive psychology best practices into your daily leadership style to improve your own mental health and positively impact your team’s well-being.
Burnout is a widespread issue, affecting 79% of employees, with women facing unique root causes that demand focused solutions. Women leaders often encounter distinct stresses that can impede their ability to thrive at work. Infusing a sense of purpose and meaning into daily tasks, spreading gratitude and appreciation, and fostering connections with colleagues can significantly enhance positivity and reduce stress.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll discover how to build resilience and cultivate a positive mindset using best practices grounded in positive psychology. These strategies are designed to be seamlessly integrated into your busy day. Learn how to make small changes that yield significant results, helping you minimize stress, curb negative thinking, and be your best while empowering those around you.
Key Take-Aways:
- Appreciate Resilience as a Leadership Competency. Understand learnings from empirical research on resilience as a leadership competency and common themes among women leaders that hinder resilience.
- Understand How Your Mind Works: Learn what positive psychology research tells us about negative and positive emotions and what drives resilience and happiness.
- Learn the 3 Happy Habits: Learn best practices to boost positivity and why they work. Gain tips to easily integrate best practices into your busy day.
- Call to Action: Provide ideas to implement happy habits at work. Invite participants to share one new idea they intend to take action on right away.
In today’s fast-paced work environment, stress, anxiety, burnout, and loneliness are pervasive, hampering engagement, productivity and overall organizational success. As leaders, cultivating a culture that supports positive mental health and employee wellbeing is imperative. But how can leaders effectively support their team members without being therapists?
This interactive workshop equips leaders with evidence-based insights and actionable strategies grounded in inclusive leadership principles. Through discussions and interactive exercises, leaders learn to apply these principles to cultivate a workplace culture of belonging and psychological safety—essential for nurturing resilient, thriving teams.
By workshop’s end, leaders will possess practical, immediately applicable strategies to foster a workplace where wellbeing is valued, nurtured and supported without being therapists.
Key Take-Aways:
- Embrace the Power of Belonging: Gain an understanding of belonging and its profound impact on employee wellbeing. Explore often overlooked dimensions of diversity that commonly contribute to workplace stress. Learn inclusive behaviors to enhance belonging to minimize stressors.
- Foster a Safe Environment: Discover techniques to destigmatize discussions around mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. Learn strategies for promoting transparent communication and empowering individuals to articulate mental health concerns and advocate for support without reservation.
- Elevate Genuine Connections: Explore strategies for building trust and discerning employees’ unique “set point,” enabling leaders to better gauge their wellbeing and identify potential areas for intervention. Learn effective approaches to utilize 1×1 check-ins to create a supportive environment while respecting personal boundaries.
Beth’s workshop was hands-down the best learning session we’ve ever had with our team. Not only did her approachable and engaging style make everyone comfortable participating, but the discussions we had have resonated for months and continue to inform our everyday work with each other.
Kerri Kerr
COO, Avalon Consulting
We were delighted to have Beth Ridley on our company-wide huddles to guide our team through transformative Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) sessions. Beth's expertise shone through as she provided invaluable insights and strategies for fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Beth played a pivotal role in shaping our DEIB initiatives, leaving a lasting impact on the Titus team and our journey towards a more diverse and inclusive future. And she’s honestly so much fun to be around. Our teams love her!
Jonathan Reynolds
CEO, Titus Talent Solutions
Our association members value high quality training for their workforce and Beth Ridley’s engaging and insightful presentation fully delivered on every mark of excellence. Through candid sharing and carefully crafted exercises, Ms. Ridley created space for individuals to engage in challenging conversations from a place of curiosity and humility. She offered concrete examples and practical tools to empower leaders in their mission to move beyond cultures of inclusion to create cultures of belonging.
Kathy Markeland
WAFCA
Beth was extremely welcoming and has a great ability to take complex challenges into bite size pieces of information. This was one of the most engaging trainings we have hosted and our teams are continuing to have discussions surrounding implementing the tools, resources, and ideals Beth shared.
Jackie Schommer
Children's Hospital
Beth delivered a keynote and a breakout session at our Nonprofit Leadership Conference. Her energy is infectious and she was quickly able to fully engage the audience as our conference keynote speaker. Her knowledge and insights into creating belonging in the workplace gave our audience so many tangible take-aways they were eager to use at their nonprofits. Beth was easy to work with and well-prepared. She assisted with conference promotion and was really invested in our success. We highly recommend engaging Beth as she was a real highlight of our event!
Mallory Evans
Non-Profit Leadership Conference, University of Wisconsin Parkside
It was a pleasure working with Beth on a recent workshop for a group of emerging women leaders. Beth met with our team to talk through content most relevant to our attendees – women in various stages of their leadership journeys – and created a workshop specifically for them! Beth customized her presentation to relate to the various experiences and stages represented in our audience. Beth led the audience in an engaging presentation that fostered collaboration and connection through table conversations, question prompts, technology and reflection questions. We tasked Beth with leading a session that was relevant to many different women and she delivered in a way that was approachable, fun, engaging, and left attendees with tangible takeaways they could leave the event with and implement immediately.
Kelsiee Arreguin
Director of Member Engagement & Experience, Tempo Milwaukee
Beth helped us start our EDI journey by giving us a common starting point, proven communication tactics, and hands-on practice aligning inclusion strategies with our organizational mission. I loved her framework of teaching these principles as a leadership competency, and her thoughtfulness, good humor, and great facilitation skills. Creating culture change is hard work, but I have seen my staff actively choose to re-examine old assumptions with a new lens.
Layla Zaidane
Executive Director & COO Millennial Action Project
It was a pleasure to work with Beth Ridley as a speaker for our employee event. She listened to our needs and about our culture so she could make a strong connection. Our attendees loved Beth’s down-to-earth presentation style and content. Her suggestions were practical and easy to implement during a busy workday. It was a great experience!
Patti Ulwelling
MGIC Senior Talent Development Specialist
Beth delivered a keynote at the Management Summit that we host each year for our business partners. Beth’s frameworks and presentation style makes the idea of creating a culture of belonging one that’s easy to adopt by providing actionable suggestions that can be implemented immediately. We provided all attendees with a copy of the 50 Everyday Acts of Inclusion flipbook, and everyone loved it! Such a handy resource for simple ways to be more inclusive in our everyday lives. Beth is awesome and we’ll definitely hire her again!
Tosha Clay
Director, Physicians Realty Trust
Beth Ridley was absolutely incredible in delivering the best DEI session I have encountered. Her openness, honesty, and intentionality around the topic made it easy to engage and learn. Even though the session was on DEI, Beth made sure the focus was on her audience, as she took time to interact and respond to any questions or thoughts brought forward. I am excited that we get to listen to her again soon!
John Radke
Northwestern Mutual
I will definitely remember Beth’s session for a long time to come. One of the best sessions we've done - virtually or in-person.
Employee
Avalon Consulting
