Brenda Clark Hamilton is a dynamic keynote speaker who offers fresh perspectives in leadership, communication, change management, and offering one’s personal best to all facets of life.
A highly regarded conference speaker and audience favorite, Brenda speaks at approximately 100 events each year in every industry imaginable. Audiences are quick to note Brenda’s sense of humor, in-depth knowledge, high energy, and skill at keeping them engaged. She is praised for providing fresh content and user-friendly strategies in an interactive way, no matter the audience size.
Brenda has spoken throughout the vast majority of the United States, with one of her favorite clients being the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in Colorado Springs. Her first international speaking event—to attendees from London, Dublin, and New York City—was virtual and mid-pandemic in the spring of 2021.
Brenda’s career experience includes coordinating professional development for 1,200 Iowa teachers. She holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Iowa.
Motivation
Real-World Positivity!
Unlock the Benefits of Cultivating a Brighter Outlook on Life
Several well-respected research studies have demonstrated that being a positive person has significant benefits for our lives. “Real-World Positivity” is not about putting on rose-colored glasses and dismissing the very real heartaches in life. People with Real-World Positivity are highly compassionate, while also recognizing the importance of not dwelling on the small, daily annoyances that we all experience. In this practical, interactive program, we will explore compelling research into the why of being a more positive person, and the how-to of being a more positive person.
You Got This!
Strategies for Confidence and Excellence in Every Area of Your Life
The phrase “You Got This” is often used to express confident assurance in a friend or ally facing a challenge: “Just play the game as you know how. You’ve got this.” This fun, engaging session will share current research into how to foster genuine confidence in yourself and excellence in your life, on a daily basis. Brenda will start the session by sharing insights from a unique Harvard Business School Don’t Stop Believin’ study. She’ll then work into identifying what lens each of us wears that impacts our demeanor and relationships daily.
Bring Your A-Game…to Every Aspect of Your Life!
What does it mean to ‘Bring Your A-Game’? What percent of the time would you say that you bring the very best you have to offer to your work life, your home life, and your relationships? In this fun, interactive session, we will explore—in a very painless way—what the latest research has to say about ways to keep yourself feeling upbeat and energized on a day-to-day basis.
Leadership Development
Influential Leadership:
Set a Tone of Excellence in Your Organization
Leadership guru Brian Tracy states, “The leader always sets the tone for the department or organization…The more excited and committed you are to your work, the more excited and committed will be the people around you.” During this engaging, interactive session, Brenda will share practical strategies for setting a tone of excellence for your team, and in the process, being a leader who is well-respected, highly effective, and highly regarded by their team and fellow leaders.
Servant Leadership in 2026:
Leading with Purpose
Many current organizations are taking renewed interest in the traditional concept of ‘Servant Leadership.’ Servant Leadership involves the understanding that the most effective leaders serve their people, by supporting, listening, encouraging, and maximizing the unique potential of each individual.
Be a “Lovable Star” as a Leader:
Emotional Intelligence Strategies for Personal & Professional Success
Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy coined the term ‘Lovable Star’ to describe people whom we love to work with, have as our leaders, and do business with. She says these people possess two traits, both related to Emotional Intelligence. During this fascinating, interactive session, you will learn what those traits are, along with several user-friendly strategies for increasing your Emotional Intelligence.
Essential Skills for Leadership Excellence
Many times, ‘leadership’ seems like a lofty, philosophical concept. The reality, though, is that research and practical experience can help us identify specific traits and behaviors of leaders who consistently motivate their teams to excellence.
The Mentally Strong Leader:
Strategies for Resilience During Uncertain Times
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.”
Creative Tools for Coaching Team Members to Success
Many leaders are skilled and experienced at coaching team members to success. For these professionals, asking open-ended questions, actively listening, and getting team members to reflect on their experience are engrained, intuitive practices. This engaging, interactive session is designed to add new, creative tools to your coaching toolbox, whether you are one of those seasoned coaches, or just learning the practice.
Professional Development
Lead from Where You Are:
You Don’t Need a Title to Make a Positive Impact
Leadership expert Shanna Hocking writes, “Leadership isn’t about title or authority. It’s the energy and purpose by which you lead yourself each day and how you serve others.” John Maxwell adds, “The bottom line is this: Leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit…You can make a difference no matter where you are.” This engaging, interactive session will focus on how each of us—no matter our position within our organization—can be leaders who make a tremendous, positive impact on those we interact with each day.
Real-World Positivity!
Unlock the Benefits of Cultivating a Brighter Outlook on Life
Several well-respected research studies have demonstrated that being a positive person has significant benefits for our lives. ‘Real-World Positivity’ is not about putting on rose-colored glasses and dismissing the very real heartaches in life. People with Real-World Positivity are highly compassionate, while also recognizing the importance of not dwelling on the small, daily annoyances that we all experience. In this practical, interactive program, we will explore compelling research into the ‘why’ of being a more positive person, and the ‘how-to’ of being a more positive person.
Say This. Not That.
Go from “Not the Best Choice of Words” to “Tactful and Effective”
Sir Isaac Newton wisely stated, “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.” No doubt, a lack of tact can seriously undermine one’s image as a professional.
This Is Not My First Rodeo!
Strategies for Resilience During Stressful Times
One of the most valuable traits for success in life is resilience. Resilience is the ability to keep moving forward despite challenges, and the strength to recover quickly from setbacks. This engaging, interactive session will provide practical, research-based strategies for developing your personal resilience, that will benefit you at work and home.
Be a “Lovable Star”:
Emotional Intelligence Strategies for Success at Work & Home
Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy coined the term ‘Lovable Star’ to describe people whom we love to work with, have as our leaders, and do business with. She says these people possess two traits, both related to Emotional Intelligence. During this fascinating, interactive session, you will learn what those traits are, along with several user-friendly strategies for increasing your Emotional Intelligence.
Recognize, Respect & Appreciate Generational Differences in the Workplace
Radio Babies, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z…that’s five generations of colleagues, working side by side each day!
Skills for Handling Workplace Conflicts:
Being Thoughtful of Both People and Results
We’re all going to be faced with conflicts and disagreements with others throughout our lives. For most of us, it’s our least favorite part of living with, and working with, other people. The good news is that there are some simple techniques you can learn to increase your skills and confidence in dealing with conflicts—at work and at home—in more peaceful, effective ways.
Women’s Conferences/Events
Embrace the “Boss Lady” in You!
Lead Your Life with Guts, Grit, and Grace
What is a ‘Boss Lady’? According to Armoire, “(a) Boss Lady is a woman who gets life done, whether that be at work, at home, in an office, with their coworkers, family, dog, cat, friends, etc. Boss ladies are those who enthusiastically embrace new opportunities and lift each other up…No matter what you do, or who you are, you have the power to call yourself a Boss Lady.”
Your Best Self—Freshly Brewed!
Are you living a rich, passionate life? Do you feel fresh and invigorated, or bitter and stale?
Note from Brenda about Women’s Events…
Many times, groups ask me to design a presentation that is very specific to their particular women’s event. This might involve aligning my message with the event theme or speaking specifically to the work of their organization. I love being creative in tailoring messages, and if given enough lead time, I am happy to accommodate those requests.
Young Adults Conferences/Events
Create a “You” to Be Proud Of!
What do you see when you look in the mirror at the end of the day?
Maximize Your Potential!
What kind of success are you having—and will you have—in your life? Are there steps you can take right now to start maximizing the tremendous potential you have in your life?
Conflict Resolution Strategies for Teens: “ITS OVR…SRRY”
Tell the truth: Have you ever broken up with someone via text messaging? Has anyone broken up with you in the same way? This session is about how we handle conflicts and difficult conversations in our lives, and how we can do so in the most thoughtful, effective ways; texting is usually not one of them!
Note from Brenda about Young Adult Events…
Many times, groups ask me to design a presentation that is very specific to their particular school, college, or university event. This often involves aligning my message with the specific theme or purpose of the event. I love being creative in tailoring messages, and if given enough lead time, I am happy to accommodate those requests.
Luncheons, Banquets & Other Special Events
Who Are You Impacting Today? And How?
Have you ever thought about how you affect others? The reality is that each one of us has the ability to impact each person we encounter in a day…for better or for worse.
Give What Is Uniquely Yours…and Watch Amazing Things Happen
The theme of this moving, inspirational presentation is quite simple: Give what is uniquely yours to your community, and amazing things will happen in your community and within yourself. Brenda says, “Some of the most inspirational moments I’ve witnessed in my life have started with a simple thought in an ordinary person’s mind, the thought being, ‘You know, there’s something I could do to make this situation a whole lot better.’”
Recharge Your Battery! Energize Yourself and Share Your Spark with Others
Each of us who serves as a caregiver in some aspect of our lives has times when our personal battery is running on a dangerously low charge. We might feel physically drained, emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, or even spiritually empty.
Note from Brenda about Special Events…
Many times, groups ask me to design a presentation that is very specific to their event, theme, or celebration. I love being creative in tailoring messages, and if given enough lead time, I am happy to accommodate those requests.
“Thank you for your keynote presentation on Monday morning. Our attendees absolutely raved about it! It was funny, relatable and transferrable and simply the perfect way to kick off our event. We appreciate your time with us. Many of our attendees asked for your contact information so they might have you speak to their organizations. Again, thank you for your presentation and the time you spent with your group.”
Leslie Scott, Executive Director, National Association of State Personnel Executive
“Our organization has used Brenda on several occasions for leadership team meetings. The audience was actively engaged and gave high marks for her presentation style. The content was very relevant, her anecdotal stories were relatable, her sense of humor refreshing, and activities thought-provoking.
I have planned meetings for fourteen years, and of all the speakers I’ve worked with, Brenda has been one of the best. She is proactive in understanding the audience and our goals, well-organized and prepared, and has a great personality. I highly recommend Brenda to other groups.”
Dawn Dovre, Director of Workforce Planning, Policy, and Public Affairs, State of South Dakota
“If you’re looking for practical, fresh, and engaging content, look no further than Brenda Clark Hamilton. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Brenda on several occasions, and our members always walk away energized and armed with new ideas to take back to their office. Brenda has a wealth of knowledge to share and presents the information in such a way that is fun, useful, and memorable. Brenda is down to earth, genuine, and a blast to work with; we’ll continue to invite you back again and again!”
Sarah Ruzek, Co-Director, VP of Finance & Education, Associations North
“Brenda has worked with our association many times. We’ve asked her to appear at small group meetings, continuing educational seminars, and our annual convention. The evaluation comments that we’ve received from members (click here) speak for themselves. Time and again we’ve asked her back when we are in need of a dynamic, well-researched presentation—sprinkled with just the right amount of humor. Brenda has also worked with us to create unique, custom presentations geared directly towards our membership. If you’re looking for a professional speaker that delivers every time—I highly recommend Brenda Clark Hamilton.”
Hank Hanson, Membership Services Director, Iowa Association of Community Providers
“When Meridian Manufacturing was looking for someone who could talk about time management to our diverse staff, we were extremely fortunate to find Brenda Clark Hamilton. Her high energy level kept everyone’s attention and her delivery style was really down to earth. Brenda made the presentation very interactive and she customized a lot of the information to fit our audience. The tips on time management will be used, and everyone left with practical ways to use the information on a day-to-day basis. We would love to hire her again for future training sessions on a variety of subjects. She delivered exactly what we needed!”
Anne Denholm, Marketing Executive, Meridian Manufacturing, Inc.
“We have been working with Brenda for several years. The type of audience we’ve asked her to present to has come in many forms: all-employee growth and development, leadership training, sales meetings. Regardless of the audience, Brenda always does an excellent job understanding our needs and adjusting her message and delivery accordingly. We love Brenda’s sense of humor, the way she engages the crowd, and the easy way she can introduce and discuss topics that can often times be difficult in the workplace or life in general. We are lucky to have Brenda in our region and we look forward to continued growth with her in the years to come.”
Molly Varangkounh, President, Hy-Capacity, Inc.
“During the last three years we have used Brenda twice for system wide leadership training for our organization. The feedback is very positive about her high energy, passionate and engaging style. Even better, the content is current and relevant. She has many years of experience working across different professions so she can share relevant stories we might not normally be exposed to. The best part is Brenda will customize her material and training to exactly what we want. I believe we need to have some kind of homework or action items for leaders after we do training. Brenda worked with us to build our own material into hers so that we could seamlessly share the facilitation of the training. We will be working with Brenda Clark Hamilton again soon.”
Matt Garcia, Chief System Operations and People Officer, Western Home Services, Inc.
“Brenda Clark Hamilton does a great job getting to know your business and how to relate her programs with your needs. She easily engages everyone with her smile and great personality.”
Rodney Davis, Employment Specialist, Exceptional Opportunities, Inc.
“I first saw your presentation on dealing with difficult people at an Iowa HFMA meeting. I remember thinking, in my travels to all my hospital and clinic clients I kept hearing that staffing issues keep them from focusing on the real job at hand – taking care of the patient! At that time, I was programming chair for the Hawkeye AAHAM Chapter. I didn’t waste any time booking you for our next meeting. The feedback at the AAHAM meeting was immediate. Patient Accounts Managers and Billing Managers were grateful to have some real solutions to their more difficult staffing problems. Brenda, on behalf of Iowa AAHAM—thank you!”
Pamela A. Brindley, Regional Account Manager, H & R Accounts/MedPay Management Systems
“Working with Brenda has been a very positive experience. Her level of expertise and enthusiasm captivated the participants, along with her ability to get the audience involved during the presentation. I really appreciated being able to provide areas of emphasis that I wanted her to include in her presentation. Kossuth/Palo Alto Economic Development Corporation looks forward to many other training and development sessions. This is a great service our office can provide to our area leaders and government officials.”
Maureen Elbert, Executive Director, Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation
“Exceptional Opportunities, Inc., has had the good fortune of working with Brenda Clark Hamilton in meeting the training needs of our 180 employees since the spring of 2006. I am impressed with the amount of time Brenda invested in getting to know our business in an effort to tailor her presentations to address our specific needs. Brenda has led large and small group training sessions, in addition to small group conflict resolution intervention sessions. Each training Brenda has completed for Exceptional Opportunities has been well prepared and delivered. Brenda’s icebreakers encourage audience participation, while her real-life stories contribute to making her training sessions enjoyable, humorous, and memorable. I would describe Brenda’s presentations as full of ‘down to earth’, common sense, practical information a person can walk out of the training room with and put to use. I highly recommend Brenda for any training or speaking need a company has, as her knowledge and presentation will exceed your expectations. Each time Brenda is in-house for a training presentation, our employees pack the training room to listen and learn from what she shares. We feel most fortunate to have such a talented presenter in our community.”
Jean Menning, Executive Director, Exceptional Opportunities, Inc.
“I truly enjoy working with Brenda. She has an instant connection, with immediate trust and expertise, that is obvious to all who attend our leadership classes at Iowa Lakes Community College. With interactive training techniques and the obvious genuine, caring attitude she delivers concepts with, it helps push the topic forward to a greater level of understanding. Brenda’s common-sense approach, along with a great sense of humor, always connects with people, and because of that, the experience is enhanced to a level not many trainers can achieve. Brenda’s self-disclosure of her personal experiences in life bring home the fact that we all are human, and that everyone needs help in understanding how to become a better leader and person. Brenda stands above the rest as a top-notch trainer, keynote, or contract trainer, and it is a real privilege to work with her on many different topics and types of training.”
Gary Schmidt, Industry Training Programmer, Iowa Lakes Community College
Algona, Iowa
