KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

" I have been working on this annual conference for eight years.
In all that time, with 3 or 4 keynote presenters at each event, there have only been three standing ovations...
they were all for you."

That kind comment was recently made to Denise by a conference organizer. That feedback is supported by participants - 96% or more who consistently rate Denise's Keynote presentations as "Excellent".

If you are planning a conference and you want participants to be not only empowered by the content of your program; but also inspired to go back to their lives and work with more purpose and enthusiasm, you need to seriously consider the unique contribution that Denise can make to your event.

Complementary to her keynote addresses, Denise can also follow up with one or more Concurrent Sessions (conference workshops) on these and related topics.

The following summaries are samples of popular Keynote presentations that Denise has delivered. They can all be tailored to the needs of your organization:

Being the Change: Unleashing the Potential for Everyday Leadership **NEW**

Beyond Barriers to Passion and Possibility

Beyond Traditional Job Development
 
Cultivating the Spirit to Work

Cultivating True Livelihood

Celebrating Our Gifts - Being True to the Dream of Diversity

Rekindle the Flame - Renewing Purpose and Passion in Work

Retention and Beyond
 

Also See

Concurrent Sessions
Customer Feedback/Comments

Being the Change: Unleashing the Potential for Everyday Leadership

What would it look like if every person in your workplace saw themselves, first and foremost, as leaders?  What if every person, regardless of position, invoked the qualities and characteristics that inspire, promote and engage those around them to bring the best of themselves to the tasks before them?  In her newest thought-provoking and inspiring presentation, Denise entreats us to recognize, appreciate, and invoke the powers and potential that lies within each of us to be the change we wish to see in our workplaces, our homes, in our larger communities, and in the lives of the individuals we serve.  Topics include:

• Re-imagining and re-defining leadership – what it means, what it looks like, and what it takes;
   

• Acknowledging the many roles and contexts throughout our lives in which we have played a leadership role;
   

• Recognizing the varied ways in which are called in everyday contexts and circumstances to play a leadership role;
   

• Appreciating key differences between being a “follower”, a “self-starter” and a “leader”; and
   

• Identifying and self- assessing one’s leadership abilities along the lines of 40 behaviors, attitudes and characteristics which exemplify quality leadership.

Beyond Barriers to Passion and Possibility

Imagine the difference in working with a person who is asking, “What does this program have to offer me given all of my problems and challenges?” to working with someone engaged in the question “What do I have to offer the world and how do I go about finding the best place to utilize my strengths and gifts?”  In this thought-provoking and inspiring keynote, Denise will inspire us to change our focus from “barrier removal” to “igniting the spirit” and assist individuals to move towards their potential rather than away from their problems and challenges.  In her characteristic manner, Denise will weave poetry, parables and real life stories in a way that brings home key learning points that will change the way we see the individuals we serve as well as the person in the mirror! 

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 Beyond Traditional Job Development

This dynamic keynote presentation presents a blueprint for employment professionals who desire poetic license to practice the Nicaraguan saying, “Do not go where the road leads.  Rather, follow your own path and leave a trail.”  In a one- three hour plenary session, Denise offers a practical, innovative and proactive approach to job development and challenges the job developer to look beyond traditional methods for achieving placement results.  Delivered with numerous real-life examples, this workshop is as inspiring and mind-opening as it is relevant and timely to the needs of today’s employment professional.

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Celebrating Our Gifts - Being True to the Dream of Diversity

This powerful and thought-provoking keynote presentation is designed to affirm and celebrate the values, gifts and purposes that each of us uniquely bring to the table, inspiring us to renew our commitment to bring out the best in the ourselves and in one another.  In her own distinctive style, Denise will blend poetry, parables, and practical applications to inspire new ways of viewing and appreciating the “individual genius” that lies at the core of every person in the workplace.  Bringing the discussion to the collective level, she will also present key skills, qualities and practices which can further invoke and sustain a truly “inclusive” work environment which invites, affirms and celebrates the gifts of a work team and every person on it!

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Cultivating the Spirit to Work

In this dynamic presentation, Denise Bissonnette will present a unique and inspiring framework around the critical and often elusive issues of motivation, self-esteem, and the challenges of transition as they relate to preparing people for the work of the world.  This compelling keynote enlightens and equips the employment professional to strengthen an individual’s spirit to work.

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Cultivating True Livelihood
Work in the 21st Century

This timely session informs and enlightens the employment professional on the new work world realities facing job seekers today as they work to cultivate opportunities for their livelihood.  Ms. Bissonnette presents ideas and strategies to meet the realities of the 21^st century workplace with optimism, hope and fresh possibilities for developing new relationships with the business community. 

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Rekindle the Flame
Renewing Purpose and Passion in Work

Inspired by her newest publication, The Wholehearted Journey: Bringing Qualities of Soul to Everyday Life and Work, Denise Bissonnette offers yet another dynamic, inspiring and life altering experience!  Designed to re-ignite the power, passion and purpose which originally drew people to their work, this keynote presentation intertwines poetry, parables, and practical applications to put soul back into the everyday realities of life on the job.  With warmth, humility and humor, Denise delivers ideas and insights from the world’s great wisdom traditions in a way that is easy to understand, process and apply to the 21^st century workplace. It is said that the coal that has been an ember is easily kindled.  This keynote provides the gentle but deliberate breath that can set the fire within the heart and spirit of the working person aglow.

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Retention and Beyond
Helping the New Employee to Shine

Drawing on her inspiring book, “30 Ways to Shine as a New Employee”, Denise shares the essentials of fostering and inviting the best of the new employee in a diverse and changing workplace.  Denise brings passion and purpose to the practical applications offered in this unique and compelling keynote presentation.  

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Concurrent Sessions/Workshops

Consider how one or more of the following topics might also add value to your Conference program:
 

Being the Change: Unleashing the Potential for Everyday Leadership

What would it look like if every person in your workplace saw themselves, first and foremost, as leaders?  What if every person, regardless of position, invoked the qualities and characteristics that inspire, promote and engage those around them to bring the best of themselves to the tasks before them?  In her newest thought-provoking and inspiring presentation, Denise entreats us to recognize, appreciate, and invoke the powers and potential that lies within each of us to be the change we wish to see in our workplaces, our homes, in our larger communities, and in the lives of the individuals we serve. See additional description above
 

Diversity as an Asset
Capitalizing on Individual Strengths

This powerful keynote presentation serves to redefine “diversity” as an opportunity to be celebrated rather than as a challenge to be managed.  Based on solid leadership principles and practical strategies drawn from experience working with people from diverse populations, Denise enlightens and equips managers and supervisors to re-direct their thinking and their efforts towards developing an inclusive workplace which invites and benefits from the potential and capabilities of their already diverse workforce!

Client Empowerment
Through Activity-Based Placement

This lively session introduces the concept of activity-based placement as a means for improving placement results and increasing the job seekers’ self-esteem, motivation and participation in their own employment process.  The ideas presented in this workshop will increase staff effectiveness in their role as managers of the client’s placement process.

Creating an Inclusive Workplace:
Being True to the Dream of Diversity

This powerful and thought-provoking workshop redefines “diversity” as an opportunity to be celebrated rather than as a challenge to be managed.  Based on solid leadership principles and practical strategies drawn from experience working with people from diverse populations, Denise enlightens and equips managers, supervisors and employees to re-direct their thinking and their efforts towards developing an inclusive workplace which invites and benefits from the potential and capabilities of their already diverse workforce! Utilizing interactive exercises, compelling self-assessments, and innovative workplace tools, Denise provides a lively and dynamic in-service training which promotes the valuing of diversity and creating inclusiveness, renews community spirit within teams and across departments within an organization, and inspires individual excellence.  Topics include:

• Viewing diversity as an asset;

• Minding one’s mind with regard to perceptions and assumptions about others 

• Refusing the masquerade – recognizing the roles we play and cast others into;

• Continually revisiting ‘the authenticity factor’;

• Using respectful, valuing language;

• Being attentive to differences in work style and motivation within teams and across departments;

• Celebrating each person’s unique gifts and ‘individual genius’;

• Cultivating the gift of deep listening; 

• Becoming aware of the dangers of empathy; and, 

• Committing to open communication (even when it’s difficult).

Cultivating the Spirit to Work
Through Whole-Person Assessment

This highly participative workshop presents hands-on tools and techniques for pulling up a chair for the person inside applicant at the job placement table.  Ms. Bissonnette will share tools from her newest publication, “Cultivating True Livelihood” for your use with applicants.

Developing Partnerships with Employers:
Escaping the "Sales" Paradigm

This thought-provoking workshop challenges us to redefine and expand the nature of our relationships with employers.  In this workshop, Denise will introduce us to the “partnership paradigm” and the simple, yet compelling, principles distinguishing it from the more typical “sales paradigm.”  This one and one-half hour presentation promises to leave you with new strategies, an altered attitude, and great cold-calling tips!

Resolving Employer Concerns
About Hiring People with Barriers (Disabilities)

This compelling session offers practical strategies for uncovering and resolving the concerns that employers have about hiring people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.  This workshop is an absolute must for those working with high-risk populations or people for whom employers hold negative stereotypes.

Essential Guidelines in Marketing
Making Effective Presentations to Employers

This fast-paced session presents sure-fire guidelines for making effective and compelling marketing presentations to employers.  Denise will offer numerous tips on how to use “language as an art, with as much respect and precision as we would any other tool.”  The ideas presented can be applied to marketing strategies used in person, in writing or on the telephone.

Employer Assessment
The Critical Piece in the Relationship Puzzle

It is said that you know a person by their questions, not by their answers. What would happen if we applied what we know about applicant assessment to employers?  For starters, they could teach us what we need to know to serve them best and we could earn their respect and credibility in the process. Attend this workshop for a list of key employer assessment questions and tips on using the answers to your best advantage in the placement process.

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Customer Feedback/Comments

"Denise has presented several times at The National Consultation on Career Development (NATCON), an annual conference which draws over 1400 delegates, and is consistently rated as 'excellent' on the conference evaluations. Delegate comments include ('Most amazing motivational speaker I have ever seen!' ' Exceptional, excellent, enthusiastic, exciting, vibrant, energetic!'). I can always be confident that she will know her audience, understand their issues and deliver a session that has that rare combination of substance and inspiration. She is truly gifted and committed to her work."

Lou Hawkes
Coordinator, NATCON

"Having seen Denise speak before, my expectations were high. She exceeded my wildest expectations in her keynote address in San Diego. I have been putting on counseling and human service conferences and workshops for almost 30 years and and can say that Denise ranks in the top 1 % of presenters. She is both smooth and spontaneous; entertaining and connecting; motivating and calming - all at the same time."

Dick Knowdell
Executive Director
Career Planning & Adult Development Network
(Email Dick for additional feedback)

"It was a great honor and pleasure to have you as the keynote speaker at Women’s Conference 2003 at Saddleback College. You were refreshing, inspirational, uplifting, charming, and honest. Your outstanding presentation delivered a clear message in a very unique way. You captivated the audience and everybody benefited from your message. I have received a lot of credit for choosing you to speak, and so many people thanked me for having you on our program and your excellent presentation. I will highly recommend you to any organization as the keynote speaker. Denise, you are special. I truly look forward to seeing you again."

Sholeh Alizadeh, Ph.D.
Re-Entry & Women’s Center, Director
Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA

"Denise, your generosity and wisdom were key to the conference. Dozens of participants said that your presentation was the best they have ever seen at this conference. These same sentiments were also written over and over again in the conference evaluations. Your keynote set the tone for a very successful conference."

Anonymous Conference Organizer

“Denise's presentations were a huge success and were what made our conference such a success!  The ongoing evaluations from delegates have been raving about the power and insight of Denise and how wonderful and empowered they now feel after having been in her presence!”

Denise Lloyd
Director of Membership Services
ASPECT, BC

"I was absolutely bowled over by Denise Bissonnette's energy and presentation savvy!"

Lee Weisser
Program Manager
Ontario Society for Training & Development

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