Yemi Penn Speaking Topics

• Igniting Your Rebellious Curiosity

  We are born into an inherited narrative of what works and what doesn’t. We learn to go through life without question until something goes wrong, but even then, at times, we still stay quiet for fear of retribution, eradicating creativity, and collaboration. We learn to accept things because they are simply the way they are and have always been. This leads to people feeling unfulfilled, frustrated, and uninspired. Impacting their well-being and how they show up in life and at work.

  Dr. Yemi Penn will not only inspire attendees but also move them to action by sharing tools and challenging attendees to start with themselves by being curious about their belief systems and challenging the status quo in the process.

  KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMMERSIONS:

  • Remembering the curiosity of the inner child
  • Understanding that rebelling without kindness is counterproductive.
  • Finding creativity in collaboration
  • An understanding and practical application of how to challenge the status quo to move things forward.
  • A handful of tools and anchors to bring about the desired results from being curious

  WHO THIS IS FOR:

  All levels in business, Senior Managers, Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Executives, Small & Medium-sized business owners.

• Liminal Thinking

  Liminal means threshold. To solve problems, we will need to shift our perspectives and change the mindset in which these problems were created. This will require deconstruction of existing systems, requiring a bit of unreasonableness and the alchemy of bending reality. Dr. Yemi Penn will share her formula for bending reality, sharing how the boundaries that usually cage us can be used as props to bring about superior outcomes.

  KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMMERSIONS:

  • Understand the key principles of Liminal thinking
  • That thinking outside the box is redundant because there is no box inc. practical examples
  • Acknowledging the elephant in the room and Emotional Intelligence resolves conflict, implementing ‘how’ this is done
  • How you can, as a leader, create better relationships within organizations and teams
  • A higher sense of compassion and understanding of those around you

  WHO THIS IS FOR:

  Executives, Partners, Senior Leaders, Middle Management, Aspiring Leaders

• Building A Thriving Culture

  We are living in fragmented times, where the very mention of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion often feels divisive. Yet beneath the tension lies a universal truth: every individual desires and has the right to belong. Through her research and lived experience, Dr. Yemi Penn reveals how our bodies carry the scars of exclusion and oppression, shaping unconscious biases in both the marginalized and the privileged.

  In her keynotes and workshops, Dr. Yemi creates space for the uncomfortable yet necessary conversations we often avoid because they feel “too hard.” As Dr. Yemi says, “Nobody is coming to save us, so we must be bold enough to save ourselves and build thriving cultures.”

  These conversations are the catalyst for transformation, allowing organizations to shift from a culture of disconnection and survival to one of collaboration and thriving. At the heart of this transformation is something new, bold, and deeply needed: what Dr. Yemi calls “Cultural Peace Brokering.”

  Organizations Can’t Afford Toxicity: Toxic cultures impact employee retention, creativity, and bottom-line performance. Ignoring these issues is no longer an option. This keynote addresses the root causes of cultural dysfunction and provides a roadmap for transformation.

  Beyond Surface Solutions: Many organizations focus on diversity metrics or one-off inclusion efforts, but real change requires deeper work, transforming systems, behaviors, and mindsets that perpetuate exclusion and inequity.

  Belonging Is Good for Business: Research shows that psychologically safe and inclusive workplaces lead to higher engagement, innovation, and resilience. Thriving cultures aren’t just about “feeling good,” they drive measurable results.

  KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMMERSIONS:

  • The Pillars of a Thriving Culture: Learn how to build cultures that prioritize emotional safety, equity, learning, and inclusion.
  • Cultural Peace Brokering: Discover the art of bridging cultural divides and healing disconnection through empathy and shared accountability.
  • From Surviving to Thriving: Move from survival mode to spaces where people feel empowered to grow and contribute fully.
  • Power With, Not Power Over: Transform hierarchies into systems of shared power and co-creation.
  • Challenge the Status Quo: Embrace “rebellious curiosity” to spark meaningful, systemic change.
  • Practical Transformation Strategies: Gain actionable tools to conduct culture audits and implement changes that last.

  WHO THIS IS FOR:

  All levels in business, Senior Managers, Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Executives, Small & Medium-sized business owners

• Shame and Trauma Resilience

  Our resilience blueprint is individual to us, meaning our specific distressing events are what create resiliency in us, and the approach we take to get through them is what builds our blueprint. Dr. Yemi Penn is a leading thought leader on Trauma in Australia, currently undertaking a PhD researching the transformative nature of trauma. She leads individuals and organizations through their pain points using her bespoke ‘pain to power’ mapping tool to empower people through their transformation. Paving the way for greater connection within teams and kinder organizations.

  KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMMERSIONS:

  • Shame is linked to trauma and is one of the most useless emotions when left dormant.
  • Resilient Blueprint

    • ‘Pain to Power’ mapping so that individuals can understand how to move to their position of power

  • An understanding and application of ‘Event + Response = Outcome’

  WHO THIS IS FOR:

  All levels within an organization, managers, and leaders, particularly people working under intense pressure.

• Building Courage & Resilience

  Our resilience blueprint is individual to us, meaning our specific distressing events are what create resiliency in us. This can be hard to see or understand because life can be demanding, making it difficult to understand what our primary needs are and the driving force(s) that limit our ability to be fully courageous.

  Dr. Yemi Penn shares her bespoke pain-to-power mapping tool to uncover our resilience blueprint. Sharing research, tools, and approaches to building our resilience, especially during times of uncertainty.

  KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMMERSIONS:

  • Understanding the concept of fear
  • Getting curious about our personal beliefs attached to fear
  • Pain to Power mapping
  • Understanding the power of acknowledgement and radical honesty
  • Designing who we need to be to be courageous.

  WHO THIS IS FOR:

  All levels in business, Senior Managers, Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Executives, Small & Medium-sized business owners.

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