About Colette
Colette Carlson, CPAE Hall of Fame keynote speaker and Human Behavior Expert, helps leaders, teams, and organizations activate The Human Edge™—the skills that build trust, foster connection, and elevate performance in today’s fast-paced world.
With a signature blend of humor, heart, and high-impact storytelling, Colette delivers deeply customized keynote experiences rooted in psychology, audience interviews, and current research. Her engaging, interactive delivery consistently earns top ratings and repeat invitations from audiences worldwide.
Founder of Speak Your Truth, Inc., Colette has delivered hundreds of programs across five continents for industry leaders including Microsoft, PepsiCo, FedEx, Fidelity, and Costco. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Behavior, the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation—earned by fewer than 10% of speakers worldwide—and is a proud inductee into the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame.
Attendees leave her sessions energized and equipped with actionable tools to communicate, connect, and lead with intention.
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THE HUMAN EDGE™ OF LEADERSHIP
The future isn’t just digital—it’s deeply human. In this research-based keynote, Colette Carlson shares powerful strategies to help leaders create trust, foster belonging, and elevate team performance in an ever-changing workplace.
Audiences will leave with:
- Elevated emotional intelligence to navigate change and reduce friction
- Actionable techniques to spark meaningful dialogue and drive accountability
- Strategies to create psychological safety where people speak up and share ideas
- Tools to authentically recognize strengths and boost team morale
- Approaches to cultivate growth and resilience within their organization
This program equips leaders with the human-centered skills needed to inspire, connect, and lead with purpose in today’s complex world.
THE HUMAN EDGE™ SALES SUCCESS
Sales success today isn’t just about closing deals—it’s about opening relationships. In this engaging keynote, Colette helps sales professionals break through the noise, build trust faster, and foster long-term loyalty through emotionally intelligent, human-first communication.
Audiences will leave with:
- Methods to shift from transactional to transformational selling
- Mindsets and habits to protect priorities and focus on high-value activities
- Strategic questioning techniques to uncover true customer needs
- Ways to strengthen emotional engagement and reduce buyer resistance
- Storytelling strategies that resonate and inspire action
Participants gain modern, practical tools to sell with authenticity, empathy, and lasting impact.
Awards & Publications
CPAE Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker – National Speakers Association
eSpeakers Certified Virtual Presenter
Author of “Conversations on Success”
Author of “Stress Less – Connect More”
Awards & Certifications
Books published
More About Colette
With her signature blend of humor, heart, and high-impact storytelling, Colette delivers deeply customized keynote experiences rooted in communication psychology, audience interviews, and current research. Her energetic, engaging, and interactive delivery style consistently earns top ratings and repeat invitations across industries.
Since founding her company, Speak Your Truth, Inc., Colette has delivered hundreds of keynote programs across five continents. Her content is shaped by decades of conversations—with executives, emerging leaders, sales professionals, and frontline teams—giving her a rare, real-world understanding of the human dynamics at play in today’s workplaces. Combined with her Master’s Degree in Human Behavior, this lived research enables Colette to provide both strategic insight and practical, actionable solutions.
Her trusted clientele includes industry giants like Microsoft, PepsiCo, FedEx, ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, Fidelity, Costco, and Domino’s.
Colette holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation—an earned honor held by fewer than 10% of professional speakers worldwide, recognizing a consistent track record of excellence and impact. She has also been inducted into the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, a recognition that honors professional speakers who have reached the top echelon of career excellence.
Attendees consistently leave Colette’s sessions energized and equipped with both the mindset and skillset to improve communication, deepen engagement, and lead with intention—key components of The Human Edge™ that drive both personal growth and organizational results.
Reviews
Truly Understanding
- Event Attendee
Colette is dynamic, engaging, and truly understands how to connect with her audience.
Favorite Keynote Speaker!
- Andrea Szigethy
Colette Carlson is one of my all-time favorite keynote speakers! This is the second time we brought Colette back to the stage to educate a very senior audience of investment professionals and she once again received top ratings! She engages the audience like no other and has you on your feet making organic connections with other attendees! She delivered such thoughtful and genuine content and will customize her presentation to the industry that you are in. I have been recruiting speakers for over 28 years and people like Colette Carlson do not come around often!
AMAZING!
- Ed Grocholski
Colette Carlson is undoubtedly an exception to that. She researched our organization, spoke to some of our associates, and tailored her remarks to speak to the mission, goals, concerns, and hopes of Junior Achievement and its associates. Feedback from attendees place her as one of the best speakers we have ever had. She was a delight to work with, and I highly recommend her.
INCREDIBLE!
- Event Planner
Her ability to customize her message made a lasting impact on our team.
ALl Time Favorite
- Andrea Szigethy
Colette Carlson is one of my all-time favorite keynote speakers! This is the second time we brought Colette back to the stage to educate a very senior audience of investment professionals and she once again received top ratings! She engages the audience like no other and has you on your feet making organic connections with other attendees! She delivered such thoughtful and genuine content and will customize her presentation to the industry that you are in. I have been recruiting speakers for over 28 years and people like Colette Carlson do not come around often!
Most Authentic
- Conference Organizer
One of the most authentic and relatable speakers we’ve ever worked with.
Engaging
- Alysha Christensen
Colette was everything we hoped for, and more! Due to the time she invested prior to our session, it felt like she knew our audience—understood their stressors and challenges, what they're striving for, etc. She presented her content in a way that was relatable, entertaining, and meaningful. She had the room laughing and engaged, and was just what we needed to end our Summit on a fantastic note. As attendees said, she ‘knocked it out of the park.’ One hundred percent recommend—you will be SO glad you did.
More than a speaker...
- Leadership Retreat
She blends humor and heart perfectly to deliver a powerful message.
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