Sarah Ciavarri
As co-host of the weekly It All* podcast, Sarah brings real conversations about leadership, resilience, and workplace well-being to women navigating the complexities of career and life. With 20 years in healthcare, she understands firsthand the pressures leaders face—yet while national trends show record-breaking burnout, Sarah’s clients are rewriting the story. A sought-after executive coach, author, and Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, she equips professionals with practical tools to lead with confidence, clarity, and ease.
Trained in all of Dr. Brené Brown’s research, Sarah is an expert Dare to Lead™ facilitator who has helped thousands of leaders build cultures of trust, courage, and connection. She held a leadership role in Dr. Brown’s nonprofit, where she supervised and trained future facilitators, ensuring the next generation of leaders is prepared to navigate complexity with resilience. As a Certified Reinvention Associate, Sarah also brings proven strategies to help organizations adapt and thrive during disruption, turning uncertainty into opportunity. Her work doesn’t just inspire—it transforms. Organizations that implement her strategies see measurable increases in job satisfaction, retention, and team effectiveness.
Sarah’s keynotes are dynamic, research-backed, and refreshingly real. Audiences walk away with actionable insights they can implement immediately—whether it’s tackling tough conversations, preventing burnout, or fostering a workplace where people actually want to show up. With humor, candor, and a deep understanding of human behavior, Sarah delivers more than just motivation; she delivers results.
James Robilotta
James Robilotta, CSP, is a seasoned motivational speaker, author, emcee, and professionally-trained improv comedian sought after for his ability to bring both humor and genuine connection to the stage. After nearly two decades of engaging audiences through his stand-up comedy and speaking work, James has mastered the art of using humor as a tool to create an environment where walls come down and meaningful messages get through.
As a full-time speaker at conferences, retreats, trainings, and more, James leverages a unique blend of relatable storytelling, comedy, and profound insights to leave his audiences both laughing and deeply moved. His secret sauce? The ability to connect with audiences authentically, leading with humor and then diving deeper into principles that build stronger individuals, teams, and company cultures.
With a professional background in counseling, education, and successful entrepreneurship (one business incorporates freestyle rap into improv comedy—a story for another day!), James brings years of research and a few too many real-life case studies to his work on the stage. From top leadership to early career employees, James’ messages to become curious, lead imperfectly, and foster community resonate at all levels.
James has captivated both willing and unwilling audiences at over 700 events for a variety of organizations, including American Express, GE, Minnesota Twins, Canadian Olympians, and MIT. By bringing humanity and community back into the workplace, James is on a mission to ensure people are seen, heard, respected… and giggling a little, too.
Rene Rodriguez
Born amongst the palm trees and percussion of Miami, René began splitting his time in frosty Minnesota as a teen. This continuum of climates and cultures introduced him to the breadth of the human condition at a young age. He then attended the University of St. Thomas where he began to see the power of applying neuroscience to create personal and professional change.
For over two decades, René has been researching and applying behavioral neuroscience as a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership advisor, world-class sales expert, and renowned speaker coach. He has also trained more than 100,000 people in applying behavioral psychology and neurology methodologies to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales, and change.
As an entrepreneur and CEO of multiple companies, Rene integrates a practical business approach that inspires his audiences to take action. Through his keynote, boot camps, workshops, and proprietary AMPLIFII™ course, he helps us own our backstory to build the
frame for our unique and beautiful picture of life.
The result: greater influence, personal transformation, and immediate results in business and life by engaging with courage and grace.
He has authored dozens of articles and is currently in the process of writing his first book
– Amplify Your Influence.
Jerrid Sebesta
For nearly a decade, former TV meteorologist Jerrid Sebesta has keynoted in front of 200+ audiences ranging from CEOs to teachers to farmers – inspiring them to live with more urgency, lead with more dedication and grow with more authenticity. In this transformative keynote, Jerrid Sebesta unpacks the ‘Life Undeferred’ philosophy, demonstrating how living in the present is the most potent tool for personal and professional fulfillment. Drawing from his dynamic life shifts, including the pivotal January 1st, 2022 event, Jerrid illuminates how to live fully in the ‘now’ to create an enriched ‘tomorrow.’
Janel Anderson
Dr. Janel Anderson has always been passionate about the intersection of technology, communication, and workplace dynamics. Part futurist, part professor, part executive coach, Dr. Anderson brings fresh insights and practical strategies that can be implemented immediately, all while making you see the world differently.
From her early days where she was employee #23 at a tech start-up to university classrooms where she was an award winning professor to her intrepreneurial years leading a rogue tech team in a large corporation, she has not only studied, but also lived and breathed the evolution of the workplace. She blends research and action as she delivers keynotes that invigorate, empower, and transform participants.
Dr. Anderson has appeared in Fast Company, Inc, Entrepreneur, and The Atlantic, as well as on several television networks. In addition to being a popular business keynote speaker and corporate trainer, she is also the author of “Head On: How to Approach Difficult Conversations Directly.” In her spare time, she reverse engineers recipes for dishes from her favorite restaurants in her kitchen at home.
David Harris
David Harris is a nationally touring, Midwest Emmy Award Winning comedian, magician, actor, and host. Starting at the ripe age of 15, Harris has entertained North American audiences for over 25 years with over thousands of live performances to date. Harris regularly appears at clubs, colleges, corporate events, theaters, alternative rooms, and other top venues across the U.S. and Canada. Most notably, Harris has performed at the New York Comedy Club in New York, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh, and at the Hollywood Improv Lab in Los Angeles.
Harris has been lucky to share the stage with some of the best in the business. He’s worked with the legendary Louie Anderson, Bobby Slayton, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Ben Bailey, to name a few. Based in his hometown of Minneapolis, Harris recently won Minnesota’s Funniest Person Contest. He was also asked by his peers to participate in Minnesota’s own highly competitive 10,000 Laughs Festival two years in a row. Harris received resounding praise from audiences and press alike. His personal and person-driven approach to the topics of work, family, relationships, and anxiety make his act relatable to virtually anyone. Harris is fun, relatable, creative, interactive, and most of all – hilarious. Audiences will benefit from David’s program because he creates a rejuvenating teambuilding experience tailored specifically to your group.
On screen, Harris has scored rave reviews from local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC TV affiliates. He’s even won two regional Emmys for his sketch television show, “Nate on Drums,” back in 2006, which aired on Minneapolis’ ABC sister station, KSTC. Harris has since starred in several online award-winning videos and TV commercials, including recent spots for Robert Half and Panchero’s Mexican Grill. He also recently produced and hosted a cutting-edge variety and talk show entitled, “Vaudeville Remix” for three seasons. That show featured some of the best acts in the region and its final season took place at the Brave New Workshop ETC Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. The Twin Cities alt newspaper, CityPages, called it “Consistently Entertaining.” In short, Harris is born entertainer who is sure to please.
Jean Sharon Abbott
Jean Sharon Abbott was misdiagnosed as a young child with Spastic Dipligia, a form of Cerebral Palsy. After 33 years of countless doctors visits, medical procedures, unnecessary medications and surgeries, she was correctly diagnosed with Dopa Responsive Dystonia (DRD). Jean enjoys all the adventures of her new life, but wouldn’t change the journey that brought her to where she is today. Her positive attitude is highly contagious as she encourages others to appreciate the little things in life.
Jean’s powerful story of perseverance no matter what life brings will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. Since she appeared on the Today Show, Good Housekeeping, Yahoo!, and the U.K.’s “Daily Mail”, an overwhelming number of people from around the world have contacted Jean to tell her how inspired they were by her journey from “wheels to heels”.
Diane Amundson
As a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) I deliver live and virtual presentations for organizations that want to communicate more effectively with their employees to improve productivity. My expertise is in leadership, team building, conflict resolution and strategic planning. I speak locally & internationally in these areas and am known for my ability to make complex subjects simple to understand and apply. I have worked for General Mills and Pepsi Cola in sales and have taught at Winona State University as an Adjunct Professor of Organizational Behavior. My background also includes working as a General Manager with Express Employment Professionals. I have additional expertise in human resources, sales and training. I work with teams, managers and executives that want to improve their communication skills. I have published a chapter titled “Humility Leads the Way” in a book titled “Success Strategies: A High Achievers Guide to Success”. I believe being humble is one of the key components of a successful leader.
Lea B. Olsen
Growing up in poverty in a racially-blended family created social dilemmas for Lea at a young age. She learned that when your family doesn’t fit the mold, you have to get comfortable breaking the mold. It was one of her first Wins in Life.
Lea began her basketball career in the junior year of high school and, after only two years, went on to play Division I basketball at the University of Minnesota. Surrounded by coaches and teammates while doing what she loved was transformational. She developed an appreciation for the critical role process plays in achieving your goals.
Lea’s unique perspective on Winning in sports, business, and life has given her a game plan on how to Win with purpose and passion. As a speaker and thought leader, she thrives on helping people and businesses find their Wins while staying true to their core values and beliefs.
Chad Ellsworth
Chad Ellsworth is an author; professional keynote speaker; career, leadership, and life coach who empowers people to cultivate courageous cultures in their workplaces and organizations. In 2018, he published, “Building up without tearing down: How to cultivate heroic leadership in you and your organization.” On December 29, 2018, he was featured in a story in the Star Tribune, “Coaching us to purposeful lives.” In 2007, Chad was named an Anti-Hazing Hero by HazingPrevention.Org, and in 2010, he received one of two national awards that year for outstanding professionals by the Fraternity Information & Programming Group (FIPG).
Chad served the University of Minnesota community for more than 15 years as a Career Coach for the Carlson School of Management, where he was recognized in 2018 as Staff of the Year; an Academic Advisor and interim Pre-Health Career Coach for the College of Biological Sciences; an Academic and Career Coach for the Center for Academic Planning & Exploration; Adjunct Faculty for the College of Biological Sciences, Leadership Minor, and Office of Undergraduate Education; Program Director for the Office for Fraternity & Sorority Life; and Student Activities Advisor.
Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Chad received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 2001, and his master’s degree from the University of Maryland in 2004. He currently serves Carleton College as the Program Director for Employer Relations. He lives in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with his wife, Kristin, and two sons, Joey and Paul.