Dr. Kenae Black

Dr. Kenae Black Speaking Topics

• Leading Through Change: Building Resilient Leaders and Cultures That Last

  In today’s fast-moving, high-pressure environment, leaders are being asked to do more than manage change. They are being called to lead people through it with clarity, confidence, and care. In this powerful and motivating keynote, Dr. Kenae Black explores how effective leadership is rooted not only in strategy and skill, but in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience.

  Drawing from her experience as a federal government leader, professor, and international keynote speaker, Dr. Black challenges leaders to rethink how they show up for themselves and their teams during uncertainty. She illustrates how sustainable leadership requires the courage to address burnout, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and create cultures where people can perform without losing their humanity. This session equips leaders to navigate complexity, strengthen trust, and lead with intention in times of constant change.

  Participants will:

  • Understand how resilient leadership drives performance, engagement, and long-term impact.
  • Learn how emotional intelligence strengthens decision-making and team effectiveness during change.
  • Identify practical ways to lead through uncertainty without burnout or disengagement.
  • Gain tools to foster trust, accountability, and clarity within their organizations.
  • Leave with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence to lead people, not just processes.

• Leading Well Under Pressure: The Human Side of High-Performance Leadership

  Today’s leaders are navigating unprecedented levels of complexity, urgency, and expectation. Performance matters, but so does how leaders sustain themselves and their teams along the way. In this compelling keynote, Dr. Kenae Black explores what it means to lead well under pressure without sacrificing clarity, credibility, or well-being.

  Blending leadership strategy with emotional intelligence and real-world insight from her work in government, higher education, and organizational development, Dr. Black invites leaders to examine the unseen factors that shape decision-making, trust, and culture. She challenges the belief that burnout is the cost of success and offers a more sustainable approach to leadership—one that strengthens resilience, sharpens judgment, and preserves humanity in demanding environments.

  Participants will:

  • Learn how pressure impacts leadership effectiveness and team dynamics.
  • Identify practical strategies to lead decisively while managing stress and uncertainty.
  • Understand how emotional intelligence enhances trust, performance, and retention.
  • Gain tools to prevent burnout while maintaining high standards and accountability.
  • Leave equipped to lead with confidence, composure, and purpose in high-stakes settings.

• Leading Without Burning Out: Mental Health, Resilience, and the Future of Leadership

  The conversation around leadership is shifting. High performance is no longer enough if it comes at the cost of mental health, well-being, and sustainability. In this timely and impactful keynote, Dr. Kenae Black addresses the growing mental health challenges facing today’s leaders and workforces and offers a new framework for leading without burnout.

  Drawing on her experience as a federal government leader, professor, and international keynote speaker, Dr. Black explores how stress, overload, and unspoken expectations silently shape workplace culture and decision-making. She challenges leaders to move beyond crisis response toward proactive, people-centered leadership that normalizes mental health, builds resilience, and supports psychological safety. This session empowers leaders to care for their own well-being while creating environments where people can thrive, perform, and stay engaged.

  Participants will:

  • Understand the impact of mental health on leadership effectiveness and organizational performance.
  • Learn how to recognize early signs of burnout, overload, and disengagement in themselves and others.
  • Gain practical strategies to foster resilience, psychological safety, and sustainable performance.
  • Explore how emotionally intelligent leadership supports well-being without compromising results.
  • Leave equipped to lead with empathy, clarity, and confidence in demanding environments.

• Pouring From an Empty Cup: Why Sustainable Leadership Starts With Well-Being

  Many leaders are praised for how much they give, how long they endure, and how much they carry. Yet too often, that praise masks exhaustion, burnout, and declining well-being. In this powerful and reflective keynote, Dr. Kenae Black challenges the culture of overextension and reframes sustainable leadership as a responsibility, not a luxury.

  Drawing from her experience as a federal government leader, professor, and international keynote speaker, Dr. Black explores the personal and organizational cost of leading on empty. She invites leaders to examine the hidden beliefs that equate self-neglect with commitment and offers a healthier model rooted in emotional intelligence, boundaries, and renewal. This session creates space for honest reflection while equipping leaders with practical tools to protect their energy, sharpen decision-making, and lead with greater clarity and compassion.

  Participants will:

  • Understand the impact of chronic depletion on leadership effectiveness and culture.
  • Recognize early signs of burnout and emotional overload in themselves and their teams.
  • Learn strategies to establish boundaries that support performance and well-being.
  • Explore how self-awareness and renewal strengthen leadership presence and judgment.
  • Leave with a renewed sense of permission and responsibility to lead from a full cup.

• You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup: Thriving in College Without Burning Out

  College is often described as a season of opportunity, growth, and preparation for the future. Yet for many students, it is also a season marked by pressure, exhaustion, anxiety, and the constant feeling of needing to do more. In this honest and empowering keynote, Dr. Kenae Black invites students to confront the myth that success requires constant sacrifice of their well-being.

  Drawing from her experience as a college professor, leadership speaker, and mentor, Dr. Black helps students understand how burnout shows up academically, emotionally, and relationally. She challenges hustle culture and perfectionism, offering practical strategies for managing stress, setting boundaries, and staying grounded while pursuing big goals. This session creates space for reflection, self-awareness, and hope, reminding students that caring for their mental and emotional health is not a weakness, but a strength.

  Students will:

  • Recognize early signs of burnout, anxiety, and emotional overload.
  • Learn practical tools for managing academic pressure and expectations.
  • Understand the importance of boundaries, rest, and self-awareness in long-term success.
  • Gain confidence to pursue goals without sacrificing mental health.
  • Leave feeling empowered, encouraged, and better equipped to thrive in college and beyond.