Speaking

Keynote Speaking

 

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Keynote Speaker: Rená Koesler, PhD

Rená is an expert teacher, trainer, and enthusiast of adventure education, including climbing mountains for 40+ years, from Mt. Rainier to Island Peak in Nepal. She has led people domestically and globally to step out of their comfort zone and explore the potential in their own lives. Her keynotes are energizing as she takes audiences on a captivating journey, sharing her stories of triumph and tragedy. Rená’s team development and leadership workshops engage participants to see an immediate transformation.

In her book, UNFLAPPABLE: Leadership Lessons from Climbing Mountains, Rená shares the dangers of making assumptions, the value of a team, and the importance of having good judgment in the leadership development process. These lessons and others become the center for shifting mindsets. They create behavioral change and inspiration in her keynotes for participants to reach the summits in their own life. Rená quotes, “influence without character is dead-end leadership,” signifying the importance of integrity and consistency in successful leadership.

The Allure of the Summit:
Conquering YOUR Mt. Everest

Thinking about your goals, aspirations, and summits in your life can be very enticing and alluring. But, without stepping forward, making moves, and taking action, your goals are just a vision without wings. Having climbed many world-class mountains, Rená learned what it takes to keep the dust off of her dreams and reach her own summits. Even in life’s interruptions, there are steps that will get you to the summit of YOUR Mt. Everest.

From her book, Achieving Your Potential: 15 Empowering Steps to Reach Each Summit, Rená will strategically unfold the practical and useful steps that will lead you to places you never thought you would be. You will soon realize that planning, asking for help, choosing your mindset, and many other steps are necessary as you progress and get closer to YOUR Mt. Everest.

IN THIS SESSION, YOU WILL:

1. Learn THE one revelation to keep your momentum alive in life and career.
2. Identify and apply the steps needed to move your visions to action.
3. Recognize the factors that are inhibitors to momentum and reaching your goals.
4. Ignite your enthusiasm as you activate the steps so you stand on the summit of YOUR Mt. Everest.

Unstoppable You:
Stretching Your Perceived Limits to Become a Rock-Solid Entrepreneur

​To be unstoppable means to take the brakes off, see a clear line of direction, and to use the skills you own to be a rock-solid entrepreneur. The surprises and unknowns along the way can create barriers to your unstoppable mindset, slow you down, and side-track your clarity. Keeping your unstoppable mindset requires tools and habits that take the squeaks out of the brakes and give you the ride of your life as an entrepreneur.

Becoming an entrepreneur is an attractive challenge, but maintaining and growing your entrepreneurial business is a life-long challenge. As a former professor turned entrepreneur, I will share the challenges and highlights of becoming a rock solid entrepreneur.

IN THIS SESSION, YOU WILL:

1. Identify unique barriers that side-track every entrepreneur.
2. Describe THE one habit that will contribute to a daily smooth ride in your business.
3. Learn the critical tools that are guaranteed to grow you and build your business.
4. Manage and enhance your mindset in order to develop the foundation for growth and success.

The Mirror and the Mountain:
What I know from Climbing Mountains That Will Make You an Exceptional Leader

There are 5 to 6 books published daily on leadership. It’s one of those fascinating topics that people in all walks of life can’t seem to get enough knowledge and understanding about. Everyone has an opinion or thought about leadership and my book has only added to that list.

In my book, UNFLAPPBLE: Leadership Lessons from Climbing Mountains, I share 9 mountaineering stories to help the reading or live audience recognize the, often times, overlooked factors that contribute to demonstrating exceptional leadership. I will share what I have learned about leadership from the bottom, during the climb, and standing on the summit. These examples will directly relate to you in your career or organization and be transferrable to your own life as you prepare for your next summit.

IN THIS SESSION, YOU WILL:

1. Enhance and expand your understanding of leadership from an outdoor leadership perspective.
2. Apply the leadership lessons gained from climbing mountains and utilize them to grow you and your leadership.
3. Learn 8 characteristics that foster exceptional leadership in any line of work or situation.
4. Recognize the value of reflection as you navigate your next decision or leadership role.

The UNFLAPPABLE Leader:
The Power of Your Voice to Influence

​The word UNFLAPPABLE was introduced to me at the age of 24. I had no idea what the word meant until someone pointed it out to me, abou me! I’ve observed leaders in various situations demonstrate their unflappable demeanor and the outcome of their leadership. I’ve also seen the destruction created when leaders lack the ability to be unflappable under stress and duress.

In times of uncertainty and stepping into the unknown, being unflappable can create calm for yourself and those around you and illuminate your voice in the process of leading. This keynote will enable you to immediately apply the steps necessary for building and growing your leadership.

IN THIS SESSION, YOU WILL:

1. Define and understand the connection between influence, leadership and one’s voice.
2. Learn how to be build an unflappable demeanor as you lead in uncertain Situations.
3. Recognize the value of being unflappable in the decision-making.
4. Learn to identify and operationalize your voice in order to foster the character influence for others.

Some of the organizations Rená has spoken for:

Additional Speaking Topics Include:

CREATING TEAM: HOW TO GET ALONG

WHERE DO I GROW FROM HERE?

WHY ADVENTURING SOLO IS APPEALING FOR WOMEN

GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES: THE IMPACT ON THE WORKPLACE

WOMAN IN THE WILD ALONG THE JOHN MUIR TRAIL

DEVELOP YOURSELF, DEVELOP YOUR COMMUNITY

HOW NATURE IS THE KEY TO A HEALTHIER YOU

YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ME: DISC AND YOU

UNFLAPPABLE: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM CLIMBING MOUNTAINS

FROM SMALL TO BIG: BIG THINGS HAVE SMALL BEGINNINGS

PURSUING YOUR SUMMITS: LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE

THE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF LEADERSHIP

THRIVING OR SURVIVING

DEVELOP YOURSELF, DEVELOP YOUR COMMUNITY

Rená’s talk at the 2022 WEA ICOL was, for me, the most inspiring presentation of the whole conference. Her personal achievements told through a lens of vulnerability and truth renewed a passion for outdoor leadership that I had buried and lost under layers of an external shell “professionalism”. By dismantling what it means to be leader and looking at its parts and then using those parts to rebuild, refine and redefine what it means to truly be a human leader in the outdoors. A thought provoking, heartwarming, subtle kick in the pants to do better work. 10/10!
Melissa Adamo

I’ve seen Rená present at a number of conferences. Her style of presentation is perfect for engaging the audience, sharing passions, and encouraging attendees in self reflection and individual development!

Rob Jones

The Covid-19 pandemic had an enormous effect on our residential campus, especially with Student Affairs staff who handled an oversized share of the burden and were dealing with anxiety, burnout, and other issues. Rená Koesler’s workshop in spring of 2022 at Longwood University was one of the most regenerative activities I can recall in more than thirty years leading Student Affairs. Our team left the workshop presentation with a renewed sense of themselves, and with greater clarity on how to maintain a positive work-life balance. Rená has always been a vibrant, warm, and authentic person and colleague, and has found a way to translate that energy into her workshop. It gave us the boost of energy we needed to find our center and finish the year strong!

Dr. Tim J. Pierson

VPSA Longwood University

Rená’s insight and information were valuable inputs to our event. Her experiences and thought-provoking questions engaged the audience and helped to bring awareness of their untapped potential. I was thrilled to have her as a speaker. Our attendees gained great inspiration from Rená!
Shelly Vincent

Employing Broker and Market Leader for Homesmart Real Estate

Rená is a dynamic speaker and presenter. She is able to combine her insights from a career in higher education to current leadership dynamics. She is passionate about the natural world and brings her heart for the wilderness into her everyday teaching. Her multimedia skills are fantastic. Our group thoroughly enjoyed her creativity in her presentation. When Rená was speaking to the group, it felt as though she was speaking to us as individuals. I highly recommend her for your group or team.
Steve Poos-Benson

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