KEYNOTE SPEAKING
Helping Leaders Build Trust, Hope, and the Capacity-Building Relationships that Make Both Possible.
Kellie Cummings, MAPP
Keynote Speaker on Trust, Hope, Leadership Communication, and Relationships that Expand Your Capacity
Trusted By
IABC World Conference (2x) | Johns Hopkins University | Comcast Corporation | International Coaching Federation
25+ years in corporate leadership and strategic communication | 7 awards for leadership and strategic communications, including the Platinum Marcom Award | Published in The Washington Post, HuffPost, Reuters, American Banker, TriplePundit, etc.
KEYNOTE TOPICS
1. BUILDING HOPE AND TRUST IN TRYING TIMES
When your team needs to hear from leadership—not silence.
Gallup research shows that what employees want most from leaders is hope (56%) and trust (33%). Yet during disruption, these are precisely what leaders fail to communicate. This keynote gives leaders a research-backed framework for communicating in ways that anchor people rather than abandon them.
Your audience will learn:
The three components of hope (goals, pathways, agency) and how to communicate each during uncertainty
Why chronic stress inhibits trust—and how communication breaks the cycle
The "when, not what" principle: how consistency creates stability when circumstances can't
Ideal for: Leadership offsites, all-hands meetings during change, annual conferences, communication and HR leadership gatherings.
2. BETTER DECISIONS UNDER PRESSURE
Building relationships that tell you what you don't want to hear.
Only 49% of executives are confident in their organization's decision-making ability. The problem isn't intelligence or data—it's that leaders lack relationships with people who will challenge their thinking. This keynote shows how to cultivate "trusted voices" who expand your perspective precisely when pressure narrows it.
Your audience will learn:
Why the higher you rise, the harder it becomes to get the truth—and what to do about it
How to identify and develop relationships that challenge rather than just support
A four-part framework for moving from confirmation-seeking to truth-seeking
Ideal for: Executive retreats, leadership development programs, board meetings, risk management conferences.
3. THE SCIENCE OF ANCHOR RELATIONSHIPS®
Building leadership capacity through connection—not willpower.
Some capabilities only develop through relationship. Courage. Boundary-strength. The ability to act on values under pressure. These aren't traits you either have or don't—they're capacities forged through connection with people who invest in your growth. This keynote introduces research from the University of Pennsylvania on relationships that build what willpower alone cannot.
Your audience will learn:
The three qualities that distinguish capacity-building relationships from ordinary workplace bonds
Why "grit is forged through relationships" (Angela Duckworth)—and what that means for leadership development
How to identify, develop, and activate relationships that make leaders braver and more resilient
Ideal for: Leadership development programs, team offsites, HR and talent development conferences, organizations navigating significant change.
TESTIMONIALS
“Can someone please bring a glass and a spoon or a bell to Hyatt B. Kellie Cummings is generating LOTS of great discussion and Comms people are hard to interrupt.”
— Jonathan Champ, SCMP, IABC Global Conference
“I attended your excellent workshop. The interactive session was full of practical takeaways, yet the concepts continue to percolate as I'm back in the office. A valuable combination.”
— Heather M., SCMP, IABC Global Conference
“An impressive mix of clarity and depth. The content is easy to grasp yet deeply meaningful, with great real-world examples.”
— Participant, New Zealand Positive Psychology Association
“Really made me reflect personally and professionally. This will be useful for me in many capacities at work!”
— Participant, New Zealand Positive Psychology Association
“That was the best presentation I've ever attended. Great stuff to think about clearly presented. Thank you! I'm glad I attended.”
— Maria Salinas, Presentation Attendee
“I rewatched the video today, adding to my notes from the live event. I can't imagine a more timely talk given in such a clear and concise way. Thank you!”
— Shari Henry, Presentation Attendee
About Kellie
Kellie Cummings is an award-winning communication strategist, researcher, and lecturer at Johns Hopkins University who helps leaders build trust when it matters most.
Over 25 years spanning Madison Avenue and global corporate leadership, she has advised organizations including The U.S. White House, T. Rowe Price, and Comcast Corporation on strategic communication during periods of change—earning seven awards for leadership and strategic communications along the way.
Kellie is the creator of Anchor Relationships®, a research-backed framework developed at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Louisville's Center for Positive Leadership. Her work explores how intentional relationships build the leadership capacity that willpower alone cannot create.
Her writings on trust, leadership, and wellbeing have been published in The Washington Post, HuffPost, Reuters Sustainable Business, and the Association for Talent Development. She holds a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Trinity University, Washington.
Kellie is a storyteller who spent her career helping executives communicate effectively and now combines academic rigor with rich, real-world insights to expand and elevate how people think about their world and their choices.
BOOK KELLIE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT
Whether you're planning a leadership offsite, annual conference, or all-hands meeting during a period of change, let's discuss how Kellie can support your goals.
