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Renée Smith

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Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to work that achieves results AND uplifts people instead of abusing and discarding them? You’re not alone. Many others are looking for something better, too. Witness the “Great Resignation.” We know that we humans do our best work when we feel safe and valued. We inherently seek belonging and meaning, but modern workplaces often neglect these core needs, thinking they are in conflict with achieving performance outcomes. Nothing could be further from the truth! 


Renée Smith, MSOD, champions a new way of working that makes better business sense than fear. It’s love. Love? Yes, love. And it makes all the difference for people and performance. That’s why she's spoken hundreds of times, to thousands of people, in nine countries, telling them: “It’s time to put love at the center of work!” 

 

An award-winning executive, researcher, writer, and sought-after speaker, Renée is the founder and CEO of A Human Workplace, a movement of aligned change-makers and leaders and a global consultancy committed to making work more loving and human. Her message is igniting a new way to work that leaves 19th-century industrial-era thinking in the dust and shows a vibrant, meaningful, and effective way of working that unleashes human potential. As a behavioral scientist with 20+ years of leadership experience, Renée makes the compelling business case that love is good for team members and organizations, and its value ripples to families and communities, too. She shares stories and insights from her primary research, from her work in the Governor's Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for Washington State, a position created for her, and from her practice as a coach, educator, and trusted advisor to leaders. She has been described as gutsy, bold, revolutionary, and radically kind. After hearing her speak, audiences know the concrete actions they can take right now to bring love to their work and are inspired to make their teams more human, too!

Speaking Topics

MAKE WORK MORE HUMAN

It’s time for workplaces to be a source of health, connection, and meaning for all team members which is the way to performance too. But what does it take to create a workplace where employees can thrive and teams achieve results? It takes love. Love? Yes, love.


With candor and warmth, Renée Smith shares her research and applied insights to make the business case for a distinctly human, psychologically safe way of working. Explore the neuroscience behind the shift away from fear and indifference and toward love which is characterized by respect, dignity, and compassion. Discover the challenge. This is a workplace where everyone is whole and can give and do and be their very best. Discover the human-centered practices for belonging you can start using today.


Duration: 60, 75, or 90 minutes. Also available in extended 4-hour and 8-hour workshops.


Ideal for:

  • C-suite executives who know success comes through team members and the culture that shapes their experiences
  • Early career managers and leaders who want a better model of leadership than they’ve inherited
  • Middle managers and leaders ready to embrace their span of care and influence
  • Human Resources teams who fully embrace their human calling and want to make an impact on the experiences of workers and organizational outcomes
  • All staff groups who are ready to be empowered to make a difference for themselves and each other


Key takeaways:

  • Understand the neurophysiology behind fear and love
  • Get clear on the harm done by fear-based ways of working
  • Distinguish the types of love that belong at work
  • Discover how compassionate workplaces outperform others
  • Learn actionable strategies to build trust, belonging, and performance in teams
  • Explore accountability’s role in humanizing work
  • Get inspired to make your workplace more loving, day by day

THE COURAGE TO LOVE

At 27, Renée’s life as she knew it shattered, forcing her to reexamine and reframe what love means and how to practice love. Years later, drawing inspiration from her personal experiences, Renée launched a bold journey to champion love in government and businesses worldwide.


This is Renée’s story of overcoming hardships, growing, changing, and finding new meaning and an enduring purpose.


Duration: 30 to 45 minutes


Ideal for:

  • Any audience seeking personal and professional inspiration
  • Individuals ready to see a path forward to a brighter future
  • Leaders who’ve faced difficult challenges and are ready for hope


Key takeaways:

  • This talk offers five essential lessons for finding a meaningful way forward in the midst of hardship, confusion, and loss
  • Life is a mess sometimes but that doesn’t have to be the end of your story
  • Learn what it takes to transform challenges into profound contributions
  • Be encouraged that you are not alone
  • Hope!

AN INVITATION TO THRIVE

Everyone appreciates a heartfelt invitation, particularly to something meaningful and transformative. In this session, you'll embark on a journey that offers more than just escape from workplace challenges—you’ll discover a roadmap to genuine flourishing.


But this well-being doesn’t come from meditation or resilience; it’s based on practical, human-centered operations and culture. The session describes the 6 factors that enhance individual satisfaction, boost team engagement, and foster an environment where everyone can thrive together.


Duration: 60 or 90 minutes, with extended 4-hour and 8-hour workshops that include Thrive Assessment, report, debrief and planning.


Ideal for:

  • Teams who are ready for a better way of working.
  • Individual influencers who want to impact a culture of belonging back at work.
  • Leaders who embrace the possibilities of a workplace that works for people and for business.


Key takeaways:

  • Identify current detrimental ways of being and the more desired alternative where all flourish.
  • Reflect on your experience, dialogue with others, and identify leverage points for thriving.
  • Explore a case study of an organization embracing the Invitation to Thrive, understanding the challenges and benefits of their commitment.
  • Understand the link between thriving and equity in a human-centered workplace and the significance of the six invitations.
  • Leave with a map describing where you are, where you want to go, and steps to take toward a wholehearted “Yes!” to the Invitation to Thrive.

Renée Smith's Experiences

EXPERIENCE DETAILS

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Virtual In-Person

Experience Details

Virtual In-Person

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Testimonials

I want to thank you for your presentation during [our agency] Leadership Conference, I was motivated to look at my leadership style and make necessary changes to improve myself as a leader....

Her professionalism is matched by her knowledge and experience, and this creates a sense of reassurance with her audience. Renée's impact on a particularly skeptical cohort of medical professionals wa...

I am so glad you visited us to remind us of how working in a more human way is a win all around. Thank you. My team members still talk about you and the workshop, which I sense made quite an impact on...

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