Speaking
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 leads people from all walks of life, both 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, about 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
It was an honor to have Dr. Rená Koesler serve as our college’s keynote speaker prior to my first address to our faculty and staff as president of Brightpoint Community College. Using her experiences hiking and climbing mountains as a focal point, she honed in on the importance of mentorship, civility, and leadership for people to find success in life. Her message was a great reminder on the good we can do as educators to help students take appropriate risks and achieve their personal and professional goals.
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!
We were blessed to have Rená as the opening keynote presenter at the International Conference on Outdoor Leadership 2024 in Black Mountain, NC. Her keynote, “Your inner compass: Living an Intentional Life,” was absolutely inspiring and practical. She was able to relate her message perfectly to the Wilderness Education Association’s community.
Rená’s discussion of leadership and purpose fit perfectly with the mission of Longwood University. Well-Being is the heart of the Campus and Longwood connects that principal by promoting mental health and a sense of belonging. Her presentation fostered the idea of being well by inspiring participants, a mix of students, faculty, staff, and community members, to pursue metaphorical summits but also literal summits too. She was a joy to work with in every step of the process.