DESIGN THINKING UX STRATEGIST AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dynamic Keynotes that Spark Change and Drive Results
When organizations need to UPGRADE the way they LEAD,
they call on Dr. Janel Anderson to help them
redesign leadership.
Her keynotes blend design thinking, storytelling, research, and actionable takeaways—empowering audiences to thrive now and into the future.
Expect the Unexpected: Design for What's Next.
In today’s unpredictable marketplace, disruption is no longer a surprise—it’s the norm. But being ready for what’s next isn’t about having a crystal ball. It’s about training your brain to notice what others overlook.
In this future-focused keynote, Dr. Janel Anderson draws on UX principles and systems thinking to help leaders spot early signals of change, distinguish turbulence from noise, and develop simple, repeatable processes for staying future-ready. With just a few minutes of intentional focus each day, you can expand your awareness of the adjacent possible—those new opportunities that emerge the moment something changes.
This isn’t reactive. It’s intentionally designing systems to anticipate what’s coming and make the most of what’s newly possible. Because in a world that changes daily, the real advantage isn’t speed—it’s foresight.
By the end of this keynote you’ll be able to:
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Distinguish between turbulence and distraction using design-thinking filters
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Identify leading indicators that signal meaningful change
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Leverage the adjacent possible to act on emerging opportunities before others do
The Experience of You: Would They Give You a Five Star Rating?
In today’s competitive job marketplace, talented workers have choices. They are being recruited left, right and center. And who stays behind? The average and below average performers. Frightening.
What if your organization was seen as an employer of choice, and you were seen as a manager and a leader of choice? Someone top talent is getting in line to work for. Imagine if your employees bragged about you behind your back, shouting from the rooftops how amazing it is to be on your team.
In a time when a new app can live or die by the experience the early adopters have and the social proof they share online, it is more important than ever to be acutely aware the experience others have of you. Whether you realize it or not, your customers – internal and external – are implicitly rating you. What experience do they have of you? Would you get a five star rating?
This highly interactive keynote delivers action-packed ideas for ensuring that you are providing the very best experience. You’ll learn what it takes to provide your team and customers with a five star experience that will have them never want to leave you. Ever.
You’ll learn:
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The five elements that lead to a five star rating
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How to upgrade the experience you create for others
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How to engage others to also create five star experiences
Your Brain on Change: How to Upgrade for the Future
Change is constant—but your brain wasn’t designed for today’s pace of disruption.
Why do some people thrive in uncertainty while others stall out or resist? The answer lies in how we’re wired—and, more importantly, how we can intentionally redesign our mental systems for agility and resilience.
In this compelling keynote, Dr. Janel Anderson blends neuroscience, human behavior research, and design thinking to reframe how we approach change. Think of your brain as a powerful system: your hardware supports an operating system (your worldview), which runs apps like mindset and habits. And just like with any high-performance system, you can upgrade it.
You’ll learn how to override outdated programming, shift into high-performance states, and develop flexible thinking patterns that help you lead with clarity—even in chaos. This session isn’t just about surviving change—it’s about mastering it by design.
What you will learn:
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Why your brain resists change—and how to rewire that instinct
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How to implement a brain-based UX toolkit that allows you to respond with clarity, flexibility, and resilience
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How to use UX-inspired principles to redesign mindset and behavior for adaptability
Connection by Design: Building Strong Human Networks
Today’s leaders face a paradox: We’re more digitally connected than ever—yet more socially disconnected. The rise of hybrid work, digital communication, and relentless busyness has frayed our relational fabric, leaving leaders and teams more isolated, less engaged, and increasingly unsure how to foster meaningful human connection.
But connection isn’t a soft skill—it’s a leadership function, and it can be designed.
This keynote draws from UX principles, behavioral science, and leadership psychology to equip technical leaders with actionable strategies for designing more connected workplaces. You’ll learn how to strengthen your network through the often-overlooked power of weak ties, foster human moments in hybrid and remote environments, and intentionally craft interactions that create belonging and trust.
Whether you're building new relationships in a growing organization or leading in a world of Zoom fatigue and digital overload, this session gives you the tools to lead with clarity, empathy, and intentional connection.
By the end of this keynote you’ll be able to:
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Build and maintain a visible, authentic presence—regardless of work location
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Structure team interactions to foster trust, psychological safety, and informal connection
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Apply UX-inspired strategies to intentionally design for human connection at work
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Recognize the importance of weak ties and how to activate them for leadership effectiveness
High-Energy, High-Impact: An Unforgettable Audience Experience!
When Dr. Janel takes the stage, it’s more than a presentation—it’s an experience. With dynamic storytelling, interactive exercises, and real-world insights, she keeps audiences fully engaged from start to finish. Dr. Janel knows how to captivate, energize, and leave a lasting impact.
Book Dr. Janel Anderson for your next event!
Whether you need a top female business speaker, design thinking speaker, future of work speaker, female futurist, UX speaker, conference speaker, motivational speaker, or inspirational keynote speaker, Dr. Janel Anderson should be the first person you reach out to. If you are an event planner or a meeting planner who wants a speaker who will deliver timely, actionable content that and relate to the audience, Dr. Janel Anderson is your speaker!
Contact Dr. Janel today!