Anne Therese Gennari

What does it mean to lead from the future that wants to emerge, rather than remain anchored in the limitations of the present?

How do we cultivate the inner leadership required to navigate uncertainty and recognize that the future is built on courageous stewardship of the unknown – the trust, belief, and bold action upon realities we’ve yet to experience?

In this keynote, Anne Therese Gennari guides individuals and organizations through the shift from climate anxiety and paralysis to resilience and meaningful action. Centered on the “Inner Leadership” pillar of Climate Optimism and rooted in the Inner Development Goals, this talk reframes climate engagement as a human development challenge.

The audience will gain clarity on the psychological barriers that stall climate action (guilt, overwhelm, helplessness) and walk away with practical tools for cultivating optimism as a strategic leadership practice. They’ll learn how to access their inner capacity to imagine boldly, act intentionally, and lead with a mindset that recognizes that tomorrow is shaped by the choices we make today.

Climate Optimism is not about taking a step back and hoping for the best to happen. It’s about diving into awareness and choosing a path of resilience, action, and hope.

In this keynote, Gennari explores:

• How to activate inner leadership as the foundation for climate action and organizational resilience.
• The psychological barriers that keep people stuck in guilt, helplessness, and overwhelm.
• Why optimism is a strategic leadership skill, not a “nice to have”. As I say, one should choose to be radically optimistic, or not radical at all.
• How curiosity, courage, and imagination unlock new pathways forward – beyond what we believe to be possible today.
• Practical inner development tools for leading change from within teams, institutions, and communities, rooted in the Inner Development Goals framework for inner-to-outer transformation.

The narratives we hold—individually and collectively—guide how we meet this moment. Are they clouded by doom and fear, or alive with possibility and curiosity for what’s possible next?

In this keynote, Anne Therese Gennari breaks down three essential narrative shifts that move us away from fear-based urgency and into a mindset grounded in agency, creativity, and opportunity for our future. When we change the story, we change the culture — and when we change the culture, real transformation becomes possible. Drawing from the principles of Climate Optimism, the Inner Development Goals, and the emerging research on narrative psychology, Gennari shows how organizations, teams, and leaders can use storytelling to spark engagement, inspire action, and build momentum from within.

Audiences will leave with a clearer understanding of how language influences behavior, and with concrete tools for communicating climate in ways that motivate, unite, and unlock meaningful change.

In this keynote, Gennari explores:

• Why fear-driven narratives stall action and how to reframe them for impact.
• Three actionable narrative shifts that inspire connection, curiosity, and forward movement.
• How to communicate climate goals in ways that energize rather than overwhelm.
• Tools for reframing internal and external messaging to engage teams and stakeholders.
• How storytelling becomes a strategic lever for driving culture change and meaningful climate action.

How do we make space — in our minds and in our hearts — for what we cannot yet see?

How do we imagine a future that has no blueprint? And how can we act with intention today if we don’t first learn to hold a vision of the world we want to create?

We live in a world filled with information, and have gotten accustomed to the “quick fixes” that provide fast answers, but in doing so, risk losing our deeper human qualities and skills. Yes – we’re losing trust in ourselves and shortening our attention span, but even more concerning is that we’re also coming short of the ‘mind wandering’ that occurs when we give our fullest attention to a task.

It’s in mind wandering that our brains can piece together the ‘not yet seen’, meaning where creativity and innovation come into play.

In this keynote, Anne Therese Gennari invites audiences to step outside the noise of a busy world and create mental space (and intentional focus) where imagination, curiosity, and innovation can flourish. Participants will explore how envisioning positive futures, rather than only focusing on what we must avoid, fuels curiosity, courage, and purposeful leadership.

The challenges we face, and the opportunities awaiting us, require more than reimagination — they ask for intentional unfoldings. Together, we will recognize that the future is still unwritten and that creating space for new visions to unfold is a radical act of climate leadership.

In this keynote, Gennari explores:

• Why stepping outside a busy, reactive world is a radical act of climate leadership.
• The mental loops we get stuck in unless we pay attention, and how they harm our ability to radically change the future.
• Techniques to envision positive futures and translate them into actionable steps.
• How storytelling and imaginative exercises can inspire collaboration and collective impact.
• The role of curiosity, courage, and hope in shaping a better, possible future.
• Practical tools for embedding imagination and optimism into leadership, teams, and daily life.

Anne Therese Gennari knows what it feels like to carry climate anxiety. That heavy mix of fear, frustration, and urgency about the future. But what does it mean to live with climate awareness without losing oneself to hopelessness and despair?

Is it possible to understand the complexities of climate change and still feel inspired, optimistic, and motivated to take action?

The answer is yes, and it starts with shifting the narrative on climate change so that we can act from courage and excitement, not fear. This keynote will cover what it means to grow emotional resilience in the face of climate change, offer tips for nurturing optimism that sustains, and explore the mental blocks that prevent us from taking action.

Focusing on the youth and the challenging reality of growing up in these times, Gennari invites students to transform those emotions into curiosity, creativity, and action. By combining emotional resilience with the power of imagination, we’ll explore how envisioning positive futures can help us navigate uncertainty and take meaningful steps toward the world we want to create.

This keynote can be tailored to the youth directly or designed to equip teachers and other youth leaders with the tools to guide conversations about climate change with grounded optimism, agency, and curiosity for change. Grounded in both Climate Optimism and the Inner Development Goals, we’ll explore ways to cultivate inner leadership and become stewards of the future.

In this keynote, Gennari explores:

• How to acknowledge and work with climate anxiety instead of being paralyzed by it.
• Why emotional resilience is essential for leadership and meaningful action.
• How imagination and “what if…” thinking create possibilities and inspire creativity.
• Tools for turning ideas and visions into tangible action in school, community, and everyday life.
• Understanding that courage, curiosity, and collaboration are the foundation for leading change.
• The practice of (climate) optimism and the understanding that narratives shape attitudes, culture, and ultimately – action.