Samantha Karlin

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Map™ — a powerful framework that helps women derive confidence and authority from their authentic selves, not from outdated expectations or external validation.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.