Ginny Priem
With over two decades of leadership experience in the corporate world, Ginny Priem is not only a dynamic and captivating motivational speaker and a #1 bestselling author, but also hosts the popular Drinking With Gin podcast, and holds a master certification in life coaching. In her #1 best selling book, You’re My Favorite, she shares the true story of her own personal traumatic end of a romantic relationship with a shocking twist — the man she thought was living in her house turned out to not be the man she thought he was at all. This harrowing experience sent her on her own path of healing and growing.
In discovering her own path forward, she created GINpath, which is the path that she developed, tested and implemented to help others in growing through adversity. We all face tough times and have that one story, one that we may not think is big enough to share or manage through, but it’s what we do with these stories that really matters. Ginny’s keynotes leave audiences inspired to take the next step on their own path and overcome obstacles that come their way.
Tina VanSteenbergen
I learned too late in my life that women need women. To be successful in the workplace. To feel understood. To help us believe in ourselves. To feel less alone in the world. Women need women. Women deserve strong communities full of empathy, kindness, and empowerment at work, at home, and literally everywhere in their lives. That’s where I come in.
I help women tear down the walls built between us. My speaking style gives women permission to open up, have honest conversations, and connect. With a combination of authenticity, storytelling, and humor, I’ve been able to help hundreds of thousands of women build relationships with one another, believe in themselves, and take up space at companies, campuses, and organizations around North America.
My work sets my soul on fire. So does a good nap. An excellent pour of bourbon. A beautiful snow. A peaceful and reflective sunset flight. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A perfectly green avocado. The skyline of New York City. A warm and cheesy mac n’ cheese. A well-written West Wing quote. My husband, my son, and a Minnesotan accent, of course.
Desiree Petrich
Hi! I’m Desiree, I left my management position in Healthcare in 2021 after 10 years in the field, to follow my dream of growing myself, and helping others to develop into the person and leader they want to be. I now get to share the message of personal development, growth and leadership with those around me, to help set individuals up for success in their homes, at work and in their relationships.
I truly believe that both personal and professional success lies in our ability to create happy lives through confidence, kindness, strength, and collaboration. This helps us to overcome adversity, take risks, and lead a life we’re proud to call our own.
WHAT I DO: I help businesses and individuals prepare for opportunities, lead by example, and create self confidence in their ability to set goals and reach them. I do this through teambuilding, leadership development, group coaching and masterminds, keynote speaking, and personality assessments to help teams continue to grow as one.
WHY ME: I help individuals learn what they value about themselves, their team, and their company.
I have built myself up from the bottom in several areas of life. From losing 50 pounds in high school, and learning to maintain it, to starting as a CNA in a nursing home and working my way into a management position at a dementia facility.
I read an average of 70 books per year, and use that knowledge to help educate and add value to others who are looking for a happier life, but don’t know where to start.
I lost my mom in 2022, and found a way to maintain my healthy habits while grieving her loss, and raising a 2 year old and a 2 month old.
Quinn Conyers
With over 18 years of in-person and virtual public speaking, event hosting, and professional Emcee experience, you will quickly notice why Quinn is an Emcee Extraordinaire as soon as she opens her mouth. Her superpower is her E-Factor which includes a beautiful blend of Energy, Engagement, and Excitement resulting in the transformation of an average event into an epic experience.
Quinn’s proven (V.O.I.C.E.) Emcee methodology allows her to go beyond her event hosting role to support planners and bureaus as an Event Experience Partner which results in audience members, raving, returning, and building relevant relationships so current participants return to the event and refer others to do the same.
Quinn has served as a Corporate Event Emcee for organizations such as Walmart, Nike, UPS, PayPal and Visa, American Association of Endocrinologist (AACE), Meeting Planners International (MPI) and the Black Speakers Network (BSN) to name a few.
Rachel Evangelisto
Rachel is from the Húŋkpapȟa Standing Rock Sioux tribe and grew up in Rapid City, SD. Working under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) as an ICWA Guardian ad litem, Rachel advocates for native youth and cultural preservation in Minnesota. She is committed to keeping Native Youth out of the child protection system and is working on obtaining her Juris Doctorate in Native American law to support this mission further. She is passionate about Indigenous sovereignty rights, racial justice, advocating for the Indian Child Welfare Act, and Indigenous representation. Rachel has delivered speeches, keynote addresses, and presentations to many different organizations about diversity and inclusion. Additionally, Rachel earned the honor of becoming the first Indigenous Miss Minnesota and will be competing for the title of Miss America in December.
Jasmine Brett Stringer
Jasmine Brett Stringer is an uplifting keynote speaker, award-winning author of Seize Your Life: How to Carpe Diem Every Day, on-air TV personality, host of the podcast and lifestyle blog Carpe Diem with Jasmine and founder of Share the Mic Minnesota. In these times of transformational change, Jasmine is on a mission to help people live empowered and authentic lives. Through her Seize Your Life keynotes, workshops and customized coaching sessions, Jasmine guides clients and audiences through a simple process to identify their goals and achieve their personal definition of success. Jasmine’s common-sense approach to creating a life of one’s own has inspired thousands of people across the world to carpe diem! Jasmine has shared her positive message to corporate and nonprofit organizations such as Land O’ Lakes, Federal Reserve Bank, Airbnb, Cargill, Goodwill, Mondelēz International, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Radisson Hotel Group, NEW, the Network of Executive Women and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Jasmine inspires revelation and change by leveraging her experiences working with some of the world’s biggest brands. Additionally, Jasmine speaks on how to effectively network and how to build synergy and develop interpersonal skills- core tools for living a vision-driven life.
The international “new awakening” to racial inequalities and social justice issues during the summer of 2020 inspired Jasmine to launch a new project, #SHARETHEMICMN. #SHARETHEMICMN was established to give Black and Brown women in Minnesota additional exposure through connection and engagement with new audiences. The goal is that the new conversations and relationships develop into a deeper understanding that will be impactful in tackling and overcoming unconscious biases, racial injustices and racial inequities. Through storytelling, relationship development, programming and collaborations #SHARETHEMICMN strives to help make Minnesota a more inclusive and equitable state. Jasmine is using the #SHARETHEMICMN platform to elevate the voices of women of color, inspire action and allyship, and show the world that a Carpe Diem spirit can drive change.
Jasmine is a graduate of American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C. She was named one of “100 People to Know in 2021” by Twin Cities Business Magazine, a Twin Cities Fearless Woman in 2017, and a Woman of Promise by the Girl Scouts in 2012. She received the 2020 Team Women Community Impact WaveMaker Award. Additionally, she was awarded Distinguished Alumna of American University and is an active member of the National Speakers Association. Ebony Magazine featured her as one of its “30 Future Leaders Under the Age of 30 in America.” Jasmine is based in Minneapolis but can often be found two hours south of the city working with her husband at the family farm. On a personal note, Jasmine is a Minnesota State Fair ribbon winner for her delicious canned sweet pickles grown with love in Blue Earth, MN.
Anne Bonney
Anne Bonney is a fun, energetic international motivational keynote speaker and trainer. She is also an authority on Change Management, author of 2 books on embracing the discomforts of change, podcast host of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone Podcast, and an experienced in-person, virtual and hybrid workshop facilitator. After 20 years of highly successful corporate and non-profit leadership, Anne, now uses her experience, education, and expertise to ignite YOUR Courage, Confidence and Resilience in the face of the discomfort of change, courageous communication and emotional intelligence.You’d better turn on the AC because this “ball of fire” will light you up with fun and relevant stories, time-tested knowledge and immediately applicable strategies to make a difference for you, your team, and your organization. This spunky little redhead shares business lessons from her crazy life experiences, which arms her with relatable and hilariously memorable stories from growing up overseas, running international marathons, animal training, morale building tours to the military in Iraq, volunteering at an elephant sanctuary and singing opera at a performing arts school and yes- there’s more. You won’t want to miss Anne’s session as Anne is a mindset shifting motivator who fires people up to catalyze powerful change in their lives, their teams and their organizations.
Shelley Brown
Shelley Brown — is an award-winning, international speaker, author, pop artist, mindfulness educator and a 25-year-plus hospitality industry veteran, well-versed in the art of mergers, economic downturns, layoffs and toxic cultures; Academy Award winner for her role in “I Can’t Take This Anymore!” author of Weird Girl Adventures; and a favorite speaker for Benchmark Electronics, BCD Travel, Women Leading Travel & Hospitality, Marriott Hotels, and many others. Get ready for Shelley to pop into your world, splash the bright colors of her weirdness into your lives through funny, relatable, impactful, and oh-so- human stories, wisdom from the corporate trenches, and actionable takeaways to walk your weird and create your greatest organizational culture.
Shelley knows there’s been a big shift in the world of work. People are looking for more alignment with who they are and what they value. They are looking for more meaningful and purposeful work cultures, where they can grow their interests, utilize their gifts and talents, and be recognized for their contribution beyond the numbers. In other words, they want to be WEIRD!
Get ready to Weird Out with Downtown Shelley Brown!
Wendie Pett
Wendie Pett, is passionate about motivating people to make fitness and good nutrition part of their daily routine. She teaches the balance of mind, body and spirit through her Visibly Fit™ wellness program. Wendie has a nationally syndicated television program that airs every Tuesday on the NRB Network. Her show also airs on Upliftv, WLCN, and IBN Television. She contributes weekly on KTIS radio in the Twin Cities as ‘Coach Wendie’ and is a featured columnist in VEGWORLD Magazine, The Christian View, Best Ever You, Refreshed, Vegan Lifestyle, and Diet.com. Wendie is a full-time business owner, a naturopathic doctor, wife, mother, author, speaker, TV host, advisory board member for Christian Women in Media and part-time volunteer. Her business consists of whole-food/plant-based wellness coaching, emotional healing, personal online training, fitness planning, educational and motivational speaking, and creating new products/tools to assist clients along their wellness journey. After a major injury to her shoulder, she resorted to body weight resistance exercises for strength and healing and hasn’t turned back to any other form of training since. She has helped countless others reach their fitness and health goals without ever compromising their joints, tendons, or ligaments – teaching that Your Body Is Your Gym™ and instilling new diet habits that have shown to reverse multiple diseases and allow people to get off medications.
Aimee Cohen
If you want to know about Aimee Cohen, then you need to know what she believes…”There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women” (Madeleine Albright). Let’s begin with a few questions…Do you wish you knew the secrets and strategies to advancing your career? Do you want to know how to stop sabotaging yourself and your success? Are you ready to Woman UP! with some practical tips, tools, and action steps so you can pull on your “big-girl panties” and manage your career like a boss? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need Aimee Cohen to speak at your next event!
Aimee is a sought-after national keynote speaker, best-selling author of Woman UP! Overcome the 7 Deadly Sins that Sabotage Your Success, and has been an executive career coach for more than 20 years with a nearly 100% success rate. In addition to many national TV and radio shows, Aimee’s career advice has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, Fortune and Glamour magazines, and more. When Aimee is not speaking or coaching, she is a very proud military mom of an Army officer posting in Italy and a die-hard Survivor fan…she has auditioned for the show 5 times. Aimee Cohen is a bad-ass “Career Dream-Maker” and Woman UP! is more than professional development…it’s professional empowerment!