If you’re planning a conference or leadership event for 2027, you’re probably trying to solve one of two problems. Your people are worn out and stuck, or your managers don’t know how to keep good people from leaving. I have a keynote for each.
Laurie Ruettimann Keynote Speeches 2027
“Ready for More” is the talk I took on the road in 2026. Stops included OC Tanner’s internal SKO, Perceptyx’s EX:ACT, a global EY meeting, Chicago SHRM Elevate, and more than two dozen leadership teams onsite. It’s about leading yourself (your energy, your attention, your learning, and your willingness to take smart risks).
“Be the Manager People Won’t Leave” comes from my LinkedIn Learning course, which has reached more than two million learners. It’s about leading other people, because bad bosses are the most expensive mistake companies keep making.
The two talks work together. Your team can’t see good leadership if you can’t be it. And you can’t be it if you’re running on empty. Below, I’ll cover what each keynote includes, who it’s for, and how to book one (or both).
Ready for More: For People Who Are Tired of Being Tired
“Ready for More” is a talk about leading yourself. Most people wait for their company to fix their careers, and they wait a long time. I spent more than two decades in HR, and I can tell you the cavalry isn’t coming. But the good news is that you have more control than you think.
The talk covers four ideas. First up is self-leadership, or taking responsibility for your career instead of handing it to your boss or HR. Next is cognitive wellbeing, or how you protect your focus and energy when work keeps asking for more. Third is continuous learning. Boredom is one of the fastest routes to burnout, and learning something new is one of the fastest ways out. Finally, there’s the premortem, my favorite tool. You set a timer for two minutes, imagine your plan already failed, and write down every reason why. Then you fix those problems before they happen.
“Ready for More” works for all-hands meetings, HR conferences, and employee events. It’s also a good fit for leadership teams who want their people to stop running on empty. I offer a longer workshop version, too, for groups who want to put the tools to work in the room.
Be the Manager People Won’t Leave: For Bosses Who Want Fewer Exit Interviews
“Be the Manager People Won’t Leave” is a talk about leading other people. Bad bosses are the most expensive mistake companies keep making. Most managers got promoted because they were good at their jobs, and then nobody taught them how to lead. People stayed anyway because they needed the paycheck and the benefits. But that deal is breaking down.
In this talk, I show managers how to keep their best people. That means treating them with respect, telling them the truth, and having their backs. We also cover practical habits, like making time for your team to learn. Another is running a premortem where the manager reads their list of risks out loud first.
I also talk about where work is headed. AI agents are taking on more work at big companies. Someday there may also be an income floor, like universal basic income, so people don’t have to work to survive. When that happens, the best managers will be the ones people would still work for if they didn’t need the job.
This talk is for first-time supervisors, senior executives, and everyone in between, at companies of every size. It fits leadership offsites, manager training programs, and conferences. It’s also available as a half-day executive workshop.
Which One Should You Book?
If your people are burned out, bored, or stuck, start with “Ready for More.” If good people keep leaving and your managers don’t know why, book “Be the Manager People Won’t Leave.” Planning a leadership event and want both? I can pair them. That way, your managers learn to lead themselves first, and then they learn to lead their teams.
I’m booking keynotes and workshops for 2027 now. Reach out through my contact page and tell me about your audience and the problem you’re trying to solve. Then I’ll help you figure out which talk fits.