Speaking

Close-up of a microphone on a stand in front of an audience at a conference or event, with a blurred background of people and a large presentation screen.

The Story You Live By
Shapes the Life You Live.

Most of us inherit stories about who we are long before we're old enough to question them. Those stories become beliefs. Those beliefs become the decisions we make. And those decisions become the lives we live.

My keynotes explore the stories we've accepted as fact, and what becomes possible when we ask whether those stories were ever true. Drawing from film, psychology, mythology, literature, and lived experience, I challenge audiences to rethink the stories shaping their work, their relationships, and the lives they're creating.

Keynotes & Breakout Sessions

Worth Saving

Getting lost, being found, and deciding you're worth rescuing.

For years, I thought I loved stories about heroes. Clarice Starling rescuing Catherine Martin. Ellen Ripley refusing to leave Newt behind. Hawkeye finding Cora. Marlin crossing an ocean for Nemo.

Eventually I realized they were all the same story: someone who believed another person's life was worth risking everything to save.

And I wasn’t the hero — I was the person waiting to be rescued. But deep down, I believed I wasn’t someone worth saving.

In this deeply personal keynote, I explore the stories we inherit about our own worth, the quiet ways those stories shape our decisions, and what becomes possible when we finally decide they no longer get to define us. Through film, memoir, and humor, Worth Saving is an invitation to question the narratives we've accepted, reclaim authorship of our lives, and decide which stories deserve to shape them.

Hopeful. Thought-provoking. Unexpected.

A good fit for: leadership events, women's conferences, healthcare organizations, creative audiences, mental health programs, and anyone navigating reinvention or major life transitions.

“It Could Always Be Worse”
Is Not a Plan

On caregiving, competence, and the hidden cost of surviving instead of living.

When my husband was hospitalized for severe depression and treated with electroconvulsive therapy, people praised me for staying calm, staying organized, and somehow keeping everything afloat. The truth was less inspiring: I was simply the less depressed person in the marriage, and I happen to be very good at paperwork.

For years, I believed that if I could solve enough problems, absorb enough stress, and take care of everyone else, eventually it would be my turn. To say I was mistaken is an understatement.

This talk explores the roles we inherit, the identities we build around survival, and the moment we realize that getting through the day is no longer enough. It's an invitation to stop confusing endurance with purpose and start choosing a different story. Through humor, honesty, and hard-won perspective, it's an invitation to stop confusing endurance with purpose and imagine what life looks like after survival.

Unflinching. Funny. Ultimately hopeful.

A good fit for: mental health awareness events, healthcare conferences, workplace wellbeing programs, and audiences navigating change, burnout, and reinvention.

Book Me To Speak At Your Next Event

Appearances

The Fully Managed Podcast

I talked about my path from theater to creative leadership and what it actually takes to make great creative work.

New York Festivals

My team at McKinney Health was given completely fake health terms and asked to define them.

Title slide for a presentation titled 'Health Terms Twisted,' with NYU Health logo and subtitle about defining health terms invented by ChatGPT.

The New York Times

In this episode of the Modern Love podcast, Anna Martin and I talk about what it’s like to love someone through the worst of it, and what I learned about my own needs after years of ignoring them.

Published on The New York Times and Apple Podcasts.

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Kudos & Accolades

  • "Stef is magnetic, a natural leader, a visionary creative, an enthralling storyteller, and the person you want in the room with you when the work feels impossible. With Stef by your side, you know you'll be able to crack the problem together."

    ~ Janeen Ritson

  • "Her wit, wisdom, acumen, and compassion make any creative endeavor better for her presence. She commands a room, weaves an amazing story, builds a strong relationship with her clients, and fearlessly champions truly good creative ideas."

    ~ Heather Linnell

  • “From her impeccable work ethic to her wicked sense of humor, Stefanie has a lot to offer. She is a decisive leader, a fair judge of work and character, and a skilled magician to the clients. Stefanie is also a lovely human being who understands, listens, and knows how to make everything better, smoother, and kinder for her team.”

    ~ Yana Hunt

  • "Stef doesn't need much to make something beautiful—she listens with a honed ear and picks up on the subtlest prompts to make work that's sharp and smart."

    ~ Sarah Dick

  • "It's rare to find someone as motivated, thoughtful, and kind."

    ~ Ben Waldman

  • “Stefanie is the kind of leader I aspire to be: collaborative, yet powerful. Loyal, yet flexible. Empathetic, yet direct. A keen love of craft, with incredible insight and intuition. She has the uncanny ability to find the most salient kernel of truth in an idea to make it great and also give her team the room to play. She creates a safe space for everyone who is lucky enough to work with her and can navigate the trickiest situations with grace and humor.”

    ~ Erica Boynton

Have questions? Answers below.

  • I'm building my speaking portfolio selectively. In the meantime, you can hear me on the Modern Love Podcast, the Fully Managed Podcast and see me in action at New York Festivals.

    Contact me directly to talk about your event and audience — I'm happy to jump on a call.

  • Yes, within reason. The core narrative of each talk is fixed because it's built from real experience. But the framing, examples, and emphasis can be shaped to fit your audience.

  • Limited and by inquiry. Reach out early.