MEET THERESA BAILY
Keynote Speaker on Engagement, Connection, and Culture Under Pressure
Helping leaders and teams engage, rebuild trust, and strengthen culture in systems under pressure.
Theresa Bailey is a keynote speaker, facilitator, and community-builder who helps leaders and teams navigate change by engaging people and strengthening connection, culture, and shared purpose.
Known for her grounded, practical, and deeply human approach, Theresa blends psychology, lived experience, and imaginative, hands-on methods to create talks that do more than inspire. Audiences experience connection in real time and leave with clarity, renewed energy, and practical ways to work better together.
Her work focuses on what happens to people and cultures under sustained pressure, whether in organizations, healthcare systems, government, or sport, and how leaders can intentionally rebuild trust, resilience, and community through meaningful engagement.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
WHY THERESA BAILEY?
Theresa brings a rare combination of depth, warmth, and credibility. She connects deeply with her audience while thoughtfully challenging assumptions and opening the door to new ways of thinking.
She is:
- The Founder and CEO of Starfish Synergies Inc.
- The exclusive North American license holder with Hasbro for Play-Doh Power Solutions Corporate Training
- Co-author of the best-selling book Hockey Moms: The Heart of the Game
- Known for experiential, play-based approaches to learning and engagement
- An experienced keynote speaker, MC, and event host, creating flow, connection, and meaningful participation across full-day and multi-session events
- Experienced across corporate, nonprofit, healthcare, government, and community settings
SIGNATURE KEYNOTES
Wired to Connect
Why Connection Is the Foundation of Resilience
We are wired for connection. When connection breaks down, resilience breaks down with it.
This keynote explores:
Why resilience is not an individual train, but a collective one.
How stress and burnout disrupt connection first
What helps teams recover from sustained pressure
Why rebuilding connection is the most practical resilience strategy
Grounded in psychology, neuroscience, and real-world experience, this talk helps organizations move beyond individual coping strategies and toward cultures where people can recover, adapt, and stay engaged together.
Engaging People When It Matters Most
How Strong Leaders Create Participation, Trust, and Shared Ownership
Engagement is not a communication tactic. It is the foundation of trust, ownership, and effective action, especially in complex systems and moments of change.
This keynote explores:
Why traditional engagement efforts often feel performative or tokenistic
What conditions allow people to contribute meaningfully
How power, process, and timing shape participation
The difference between informing, consulting, and truly engaging
Grounded in real-world strategic planning and community engagement work, this talk helps leaders and organizations create the conditions for participation, trust, and shared ownership, even when the issues are complex and the stakes are high.
Imagination as a Tool for Growth
How Curiosity and Creativity Help People and Systems Adapt
Imagination is not about ideas for their own sake. It is a practical tool for growth, learning, and adaptation, especially when people feel stuck, fatigued, or constrained by change.
This keynote explores:
How imagination helps people make sense of uncertainty
Why curiosity supports learning, engagement, and problem-solving
How imaginative thinking reduces defensiveness and rigid thinking
The role of play and experimentation in growth and adaptation
Grounded in psychology and real-world facilitation, this talk helps teams use imagination to reconnect, reframe challenges, and move forward together.
BEYOND THE BENCH
How Strong Leaders Create Participation, Trust, and Shared Ownership
Theresa Bailey is also the co-author of the best-selling book
Hockey Moms: The Heart of the Game, which examines the emotional, cultural, and systemic realities of youth sport in Canada.
Drawing from research, lived experience, and conversations with families across the country, Theresa speaks to the deeper culture of sport, including:
The pressure placed on young athletes and families
Identity, performance, and belonging in competitive environments
The impact of adult behaviour on youth development
Culture, conflict, and communication in sport systems
What healthy, values-based sport actually looks like
These talks resonate with audiences working in sport, education, leadership, and community systems, where performance, identity, and pressure intersect.
Safe Enough to Be Honest
Trust, Psychological Safety, and the Conversations That Matter
Psychological safety is not about comfort. It is about whether people feel safe enough to tell the truth, ask questions, and name what is actually happening.
This keynote explores:
What psychological safety really looks like in day-to-day work
Why silence and politeness are often early warning signs
How trust is built or eroded through everyday interactions
What helps teams navigate disagreement without avoidance or blame
Grounded in psychology and real-world experience, this talk helps organizations create cultures where people can speak honestly, learn together, and stay engaged, even when conversations are difficult.
WHAT MAKES THERESA DIFFERENT?
Theresa does not simply deliver a talk and leave.
Her keynotes are:
- Experiential, not passive
- Grounded in psychology and neuroscience
- Designed to create connection in the room
- Memorable because people are actively involved
- Creates cohesion across full-day and multi-session events as a trusted MC and host
Bring Theresa Bailey to Your Next Event
Whether you are planning a conference, leadership retreat, or organizational gathering, Theresa brings insight, clarity, and connection to the room.
