Samantha Karlin

Leadership Development Expert and CEO of Empower Global

Travels From Travels From:
Washington, DC, USA
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Samantha Karlin Biography

Samantha Karlin is a visionary leadership development expert, speaker, and changemaker on a mission to transform how leadership is practiced to create environments where people can truly flourish. As the founder and CEO of Empower Global, she and her team specialize in designing and delivering customized leadership accelerators, cross-cultural training, and workshops that prepare leaders to thrive in a VUCA world—one that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. With a global track record of training and speaking for over 10,000 leaders from 48 countries, Karlin is described as engaging, energetic, charismatic, knowledgeable, and funny.

From corporate boardrooms to international NGOs, helping leaders navigate the challenges of today’s turbulent global landscape. Some places she’s delivered captivating keynotes: AWS, Monday.com, The US Department of Homeland Security, Coldwell Bankers, IronSource, Harvard University, The Wilson Center, Graham Packaging, RB, IE Business School, Verizon, Capital One and on!

Karlin also created and teaches the Women’s Leadership Challenge, a groundbreaking program for ambitious women who are ready to break through glass ceilings and lead authentically in male-dominated industries. The program equips women with the confidence, tools, and strategies they need to thrive in today’s world while embracing feminist leadership principles that drive gender equity and system change.

Known for her dynamic, high-energy approach, Karlin’s interactive style keeps her audiences engaged and motivated, whether she’s facilitating a workshop or giving a keynote address. Her unique blend of storytelling, humor, and personal anecdotes makes key concepts relatable and actionable. She has been featured on ABC13 Houston, SABC South Africa, KLTV, and quoted/featured in the Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Conscious Company Magazine, etc. She received the Bellagio fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation in recognition of her leadership book in progress. Karlin has been educated at the Fletcher School for Law and Diplomacy, Yale University, and Harvard Kennedy School. She is formerly an operatic soprano.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/14/2025.

Samantha Karlin Speaking Topics

  • Unshakable: Reclaiming Power, Redefining Leadership

    Samantha Karlin is a world-renowned leadership expert who has trained thousands of women leaders across the globe to own their voice, command the room, and lead transformative change. As the creator of the acclaimed Women’s Leadership Challenge, she brings a rare blend of energy, empathy, and unapologetic truth-telling to every stage.

    In this game-changing keynote, Samantha introduces her proprietary Intrinsic Power Map™ — a powerful framework that helps women derive confidence and authority from their authentic selves, not from outdated expectations or external validation. This talk doesn’t just inspire — it catalyzes. Women leave with practical tools to banish imposter syndrome, amplify their influence, and lead boldly in even the most high-stakes environments.

    Organizations seeking to elevate more women into leadership — and retain them — will find this keynote a strategic imperative. Samantha’s work doesn’t stop with women. Male allies will gain a deeper understanding of the vital leadership capacities women bring to the table — emotional intelligence, inclusive decision-making, and resilience — all essential for navigating the volatility of today’s business landscape.

    Outcomes include:

    • Increased confidence, clarity, and courage among participants
    • Enhanced self-awareness and authentic leadership presence
    • Practical strategies for advancing gender equity and inclusive leadership
    • A renewed sense of purpose and belonging within your organization

    Whether speaking to C-level executives, rising stars, or university students, Samantha electrifies the room and leaves lasting impact.

  • From Transactional to Transformational: Leading in a Globalized World

    As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, leaders must navigate the complexities of diverse cultural dynamics, shifting global power structures, and rapidly evolving expectations of leadership. The most successful leaders are those who move beyond transactional management to embrace transformational leadership that inspires and unites across boundaries.

    In this thought-provoking keynote, Samantha Karlin explores the critical leadership trends shaping the global landscape, from the rise of cultural intelligence as a core competency to the shift toward purpose-driven leadership rooted in connection and empathy. Using compelling case studies from global conflict zones such as Syria and Venezuela, Samantha draws striking parallels between what individuals in crisis demand from leaders—trust, clarity, compassion, and vision—and what employees in corporate settings are increasingly seeking from their leaders. She demonstrates how the transition from fear-based to love-based leadership can inspire loyalty, build resilience, and create environments where people can thrive.

    Through vivid storytelling and actionable insights, Samantha highlights how transformational leadership can bridge divides, inspire diverse teams, and create inclusive, purpose-driven cultures. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to lead authentically in a globalized world, equipped with the tools to shift mindsets, build cross-cultural bridges, and create meaningful impact on a global scale.

  • From Chaos to Clarity: Leading with Confidence in a "VUCA" World

    In today’s rapidly changing landscape, leaders are facing unprecedented challenges: technological disruption, globalization, economic uncertainty, and societal shifts. To thrive in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, leaders must embrace adaptability, innovate boldly, and inspire others to navigate through change.

    In this engaging and actionable keynote, Samantha draws from her expertise in leadership development, cultural intelligence, and the latest advancements in AI to equip leaders with the tools they need to succeed.

    Leveraging the latest in neuroscience, she provides insights on navigating uncertainty with grace, harnessing emerging technologies to drive innovation and shares actionable tools for the audience on cultivating an adaptive leadership mindset – which transforms challenges into opportunities.

    Through real-world examples and powerful storytelling, this keynote leaves leaders inspired and empowered to rise to the challenges of a VUCA world and create lasting impact within their organizations.

  • The Neuroscience of Happiness: A Strategic Framework for Human Flourishing at Work

    In today’s volatile, high-pressure world, thriving isn’t a luxury—it’s a strategic advantage.

    In this compelling keynote, Samantha Karlin—leadership expert and member of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Network—unpacks the science behind what it truly means to flourish. Drawing on global wellbeing data, cutting-edge neuroscience, and her proprietary six-part framework inspired by the PERMA model, Samantha offers a powerful roadmap to help leaders and teams unlock sustainable happiness, resilience, and peak performance.

    More than just inspiration, this keynote integrates an interactive flourishing self-assessment, a practical workbook, and tangible strategies that can be implemented immediately across organizations. Backed by research from Harvard and the latest findings in neuroscience and positive psychology, participants will learn how to rewire their brains, reimagine their purpose, and create cultures where people do more than survive—they thrive.

    Key Takeaways:

    • The neuroscience behind happiness, and how flourishing drives engagement, creativity, and retention
    • A six-part framework to build purpose, emotional resilience, meaningful relationships, and accomplishment
    • Insights from global wellbeing data that reveal what enables human flourishing across cultures and contexts
    • An interactive self-assessment and workbook to personalize the experience and drive behavior change
    • Practical strategies for leaders to foster high-trust, high-wellbeing organizational cultures

    Ideal for: Executive teams, leadership retreats, employee wellbeing initiatives, DEI and culture-building programs.

  • The Voice Within: An Operatic Journey to Authentic Leadership

    Featuring Live Operatic Performance

    A keynote experience like no other—designed to unlock the full emotional intelligence, authenticity, and impact required of modern leaders.

    In a volatile, high-pressure world, the most effective leaders don’t just perform—they connect. They inspire. They lead with radical authenticity.

    International leadership strategist and opera singer Samantha Karlin brings a breathtaking fusion of voice and vision to the stage, opening and closing with live operatic arias that awaken something deeper in every audience member.

    Through her groundbreaking Intrinsic Power Map framework, Samantha has empowered hundreds of senior leaders—from Fortune 500 companies to fast-scaling startups—to reclaim their authentic voice and unlock powerful, purpose-driven leadership styles that drive results.

    This keynote equips leaders to:

    • Navigate uncertainty with emotional agility and presence
    • Build high-trust environments that produce remarkable results
    • Lead with values—and turn them into measurable business impact
    • Access their full range of voice, power, and leadership potential

    Samantha’s keynotes are regularly described as unforgettable, transformational, and catalytic. She starts and ends with a stunning operatic aria, captivating the audience and bringing a welcome change from

    Perfect for organizations navigating turbulence or undergoing transformation.

Samantha Karlin Videos

  • Samantha Karlin Speaker Reel
    Samantha Karlin, Top Leadership Development, Political Pundit and Women's Rights Expert Speaker
  • Samantha Karlin - Tech Live London
    An Ethical Revolution in Tech: How Women Can Lead the Way
  • Samantha Karlin | TEDxTufts
    The Power of the Powerless

FAQs on booking Samantha Karlin

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  • What topics does Samantha Karlin speak about?

  • Where does Samantha Karlin travel from?

    Samantha Karlin generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Samantha Karlin for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Samantha Karlin for your next private or corporate function.
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Samantha Karlin is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Unshakable: Reclaiming Power, Redefining Leadership, From Transactional to Transformational: Leading in a Globalized World, From Chaos to Clarity: Leading with Confidence in a "VUCA" World, The Neuroscience of Happiness: A Strategic Framework for Human Flourishing at Work and The Voice Within: An Operatic Journey to Authentic Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Samantha Karlin for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Samantha Karlin generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Angelica Malin, Nicole Yeary, Kristie Kennedy, Erika Obando and Jasmine Crowe-Houston. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Samantha Karlin for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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