Leading Smarter from the Middle | Leadership Keynote Speaker

Amazon Best-Selling Leadership Co-Author - People Fusion (11 categories)

Courageous Curiosity™: Leading Smarter From the Middle

Build Clarity, Confidence, Connection & Control -

Without Burning Out

COMING DECEMBER 2025 - my new book - 'Courageous Curiosity'.

Stay tuned for updates and sneak peeks!

Let's Talk

Don't Get Squeezed Out When Leading from the Middle!

Mid-level leaders sit in the squeeze: strategy rolls downhill, pressure rolls up, and

results are due —fast.

This keynote gives managers a practical system—Courageous Curiosity™ + the R³ framework (Reflect, Reframe, Respond)—to shift from reaction to response, gain clarity, create psychological safety, and sharpen critical thinking in the moments that matter.

Why now? Managers are the engagement multiplier. When they’re depleted, execution stalls. In one session, they’ll leave with repeatable, same-day tools to align teams, translate strategy into action, and keep momentum—without burnout.

Hiring a leadership keynote speaker to elevate the middle? Book the talk that turns friction into fuel.

Who benefits most:

Growth-stage or scaling teams
Service-heavy operations and customer leaders
Cross-functional managers and project leads
Orgs where influence beats authority

Audience Takeaways

Don't Get Squeezed Out When Leading from the Middle!

Mid-level leaders sit in the squeeze: strategy rolls downhill, pressure rolls up, and results are due —fast.

Hiring a leadership keynote speaker to elevate the middle? Book the talk that turns friction into fuel.

Who benefits most:

Growth-stage or scaling teams
Service-heavy operations and customer leaders
Cross-functional managers and project leads
Orgs where influence beats authority

✔️

A mindset shift - lead by design, not default: Courageous Curiosity builds psychological safety and sharpens critical thinking.

✔️

A practical leadership tool (R³: Reflect, Reframe, Respond) to turn pressure into clarity and translate strategy into action..

✔️

The confidence to move up and lead forward — build influence without authority, cultivate resilience and ownership, and keep momentum without burnout.

Trusted By Leading Organizations:

What Audiences Say:

"It was amazing. This event left me with a lot to think about. I had three powerful takeaways that really struck a chord with me:

Be curious – Approach others with a genuine desire to learn and understand.

Respond, don’t react – Thoughtful responses build bridges, while reactions can sometimes build walls.

How we lead and include matters more than ever – Leadership today requires us to create environments where everyone feels valued.”

— Daris Frencha, CEO and President, The Benefit Boutique

“Cheryle will leave you feeling more empowered, grounded, and equipped with tools you can use immediately.”

— Dr. Jaime Hope, Emergency Physician & Host, Navigating H.O.P.E Podcast

“Cheryle not only captured my attention, but that of everyone in the room.”

— Pat Alva-Kraker, Founder, majestic Coaching Group, ABWA

“I can’t stop telling everyone about what I learned from you. Your wealth of knowledge and wisdom is unmatched”.

- Tania Madah, CEO Lean-Architect

Audience Approval:

Audiences consistently praise Cheryle for delivering actionable insights, an engaging style, and highly relevant content

—100% of respondents said they would gladly hear her speak again.

I'M INTRIGUED AND WANT TO TALK

Why this talk is needed (proof & trends)

Management-related turnover hit a six-year high in 2024.⁵
Manager engagement fell from 30% to 27% in 2024—Worse! - Managers drive ~70% of team engagement¹, fueling disengagement, attrition, and lack of buy-in.
Over 62% of employees are disengaged or only somewhat engaged—your mid-level is trying to fix this while suffering the same fate.
Manager burnout is real - and higher than entry-level (54% vs. 40%),³ fueling overwhelm, indecision, and stress-related illness
Only 28% feel 'heard' at work—influence without authority stalls innovation and results.⁴

Sources: ¹²⁴ Gallup • ³ APA/Korn Ferry (burnout) • ⁵ Revelio/LinkedIn Insights (management turnover) • ⁶ WHO/APA (burnout → absenteeism) Last reviewed: August 2025

Bottom line: Equip the middle and you multiply results. Courageous Curiosity™ + R³ gives managers the everyday mechanics to turn pressure into clarity, alignment, and steady momentum.

FAQ's

How does R³ help managers without formal authority?
It gives a repeatable way to clarify expectations, reframe friction, and respond with aligned action—so influence rises without more oversight.

What problems does this solve?

Reframes how we lead, lead our selves, and our teams. Situationally, rework, messy handoffs, and “decision ping-pong” start vanishing. You’ll see cleaner decisions and steadier momentum.

How fast is it actionable?
Same day. Start with one 15-minute R³ on a high-friction handoff or personal situation.

Formats available?
Keynote, workshop, or blended programs with leader toolkits.

🔹 Transform Your Organization / Inspire Your Association Members

DISCOVER MORE

THE NOT-SO-HIDDEN COSTS OF LEADERSHIP

💡When leadership strategies - including DEI 1.0 - stay stuck in the past, businesses pay the price.

✔ $550 billion lost in disengagement annually—employees aren’t just quiet quitting; they’re checked out entirely. (Gallup)

✔ $50 billion spent on wellness programs that aren't impacting real change. ^(Gallup)

✔ $322 billion lost to burnout-related turnover - employees go where they feel valued. ^(Gallup)

✔ DEI efforts focused on compliance instead of inclusion fuel resistance, disengagement, and culture breakdowns.

🛑 What This Means To You

When DEI efforts fail to drive engagement, psychological safety is missing

and leadership is missing a MASSIVE opportunity -

The Cost? Your Team and Your Businesses are paying the price.

Beyond financial losses, ineffective DEI strategies weaken trust, lower engagement, and stifle innovation—hurting your competitive edge.

So - at the top of the list? the PEOPLE cost!