speaking + Facilitation
Leadership speaker, facilitator, and retreat guide helping leaders see differently and lead with clarity
I work with organizations, leadership teams, and professional groups as a speaking facilitator and leadership development speaker, helping people navigate complexity, change, and transition with greater clarity, confidence, and perspective.
My work is designed for leadership retreats, offsites, professional development sessions, and intimate speaking engagements where reflection, dialogue, and real leadership growth can happen.
This is not performance-based speaking - it is facilitated conversation that shifts how leaders think, relate, and lead.
Self-awareness as a leadership advantage
In complex environments, leadership begins with self-awareness.
This session helps leaders understand their patterns, emotional responses, and blind spots so they can lead with intention rather than reaction—especially under pressure.
Leading through career growth and transitions
Leadership transitions are not just professional shifts - they are identity shifts.
This session supports emerging and new leaders in understanding what actually changes when they step into new roles, and how to lead with confidence through uncertainty.
Where I speak and facilitate best
I am most often invited into intimate, reflective, and applied learning environments, including:
Leadership retreats
Executive and team offsites
Professional development workshops
Higher education and post-graduate programs
Moderated panels and facilitated leadership conversations
I am especially effective in spaces where the goal is not just information, but perspective shift, reflection, and leadership growth.
Speaking experience
I have spoken across corporate, academic, and professional development settings, including leadership programs, career development initiatives, and organizational learning sessions.
Topics have included:
Leadership and professional development
Workplace communication and relationships
Conflict navigation and team dynamics
Career growth, confidence, and personal effectiveness
Professional presence and communication impact
Signature speaking topics
Each session is designed as a reflective leadership experience, blending coaching, facilitation, and practical insight.
Navigating workplace dynamics and influence
Every organization has formal structure and informal influence.
This session helps leaders build “political sensitivity”- the ability to understand dynamics, read the room, and navigate complexity with clarity and integrity.
Breaking the comparison cycle in leadership
Comparison quietly undermines confidence, decision-making, and leadership identity.
This session helps participants reconnect with their internal compass, redefine success on their own terms, and build grounded self-trust.
My speaking and facilitation style
My approach blends coaching, facilitation, and leadership development practice.
Sessions are:
conversational and interactive
grounded in real workplace experience
reflective rather than lecture-based
designed to help participants connect insight to action
Participants often leave with:
clearer self-awareness
new language for leadership challenges
practical strategies for navigating complexity
and a stronger sense of direction and confidence
What participants and organizers say
“Ami created an engaging and reflective space that helped participants understand themselves and their leadership more deeply.”
— Program Lead, Toronto
“You are a master of your craft—clear, engaging, and incredibly well facilitated.”
— Corporate Event Host
“The session was practical, interactive, and extremely relevant. Participants left with real tools they could use immediately.”
— Workshop Organizer
(Additional testimonials available upon request.)
Let’s design a session for your leaders
If you're looking for a leadership speaker, facilitator, or retreat contributor who brings clarity, presence, and meaningful reflection into the room, I’d love to explore working together.
I design sessions tailored to your context—whether that’s leadership development, navigating change, or strengthening leadership capacity across your team or organization.
The workplace is constantly changing. I talk about the strategies that you need to navigate the workplace landscape.
signature talks
Why Self-Awareness Needs to be Your Top Priority
We’ve seen people who behave in ways that make us cringe. The ability to have a true read on your own character, emotions, and desires are essential at work. I discuss ways to be more self-aware and how to gain insights about our blind spots.
How to Build Your Political Sensitivity Muscle
Engaging with others at work is inevitable and you’ll likely be involved in office politics. I explain what you can do to be politically astute and navigate the workplace waters with ease.
How to Get Rid of the ‘Comparison-Syndrome’
We usually long to fit in and are paralyzed by fears to step off the road and carve our own path. I discuss how you can tap into your inner voice so that you can listen and act according to your own intentions rather than what others may be thinking about you.
Itching for a Promotion? What to Expect and How to Get There
Humans are competitive and usually aspire for something more. Sometimes promotions are not what we expect. I describe some of the challenges new managers face and some strategies to prepare for the transition.
SAMPLE talks
How to Build Positive Professional Relationships, CPAC Canada, RBC Enhanced Mentorship Program
How to Focus on You! Ontario Society of Senior Citizens Organizations, Employment Networking Group
How to Improve Your LinkedIn Presence, LinkedIn Local, Markham
How to Prevent and Manage Group Conflict, George Brown College, The Consulting Hub
What is Organizational Development and Tips for Career Success, Humber College, HR Management Graduate Certificate
"The [conflict management] session was a big hit and the coaches thought it was a great piece of work! CONGRATS! However, I am not surprised :) Great work Ami - I have enjoyed working with you and look forward to more."
- Mark S., Professor and Coordinator, Social Innovator and Entrepreneur (event organizer)
“What a night! An amazing delivery of a fun and engaging session. You are a master of your craft. You are such a good speaker - good content, interactive, and great time control. The old school flip chart worked wonders when the ancient projector caved in!”
- Hangmei, Sales Manager, Toronto (event host)
"Thank you, Ami, for being our guest speaker in the Enhancing Economic Opportunities for Older Workers job-search workshop series. You really nailed it. ‘How to Focus on You’ was the right blend of: we know you’re doing 'this' and here’s how to help yourself. During a job-search, it’s too easy to compare yourself to other employed people or to think that other unemployed people are getting more interviews than you are. The group exercises and moments of self-reflection during this session were valuable steps towards realizing that your own journey is the important one, and you explained in a very relatable, encouraging manner how to place your attention and value on yourself. It’s an absolute pleasure working with you.”
- Meg M., Educational Program Associate, Toronto (event host)
“Excellent presentation last night...I certainly picked up a couple of "hacks" as well! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!”
- Sharon F., Credit & Collections Manager, Toronto
“Your presentation was very informative and helpful. I am definitely going to use your tips moving forward.”
- Natasha D., Lawyer, Markham
“Ami was so supportive by providing clear, meaningful, and strong tips. Thank you so much.”
- Wen Z., Government Relations and Project Management Specialist, Toronto
“I attended an engaging session. Thank you Ami for the great insights!”
- Sudeshna S., Learning and Development Professional, Toronto
“Thanks so much for sharing and it was a great event! I personally learned a lot from you.”
- Maggie H., Lecturer, Interpreter, and Founder, Toronto (event host)
“The attendees were very engaged and energized! Thank you so much for coming out, you did an amazing job!”
- Jane C., Assistant Branch Manager, Markham (event host)
"Ami taught me to look inside myself as a means of facilitating my future interactions with others. She helped me to grow exponentially and always made time to listen attentively and provide eloquent feedback."
- Kevin D., Project Manager and Energy Innovation Entrepreneur, Toronto
“Ami is a very experienced speaker in career coaching. I coordinated a mentorship program helping international trained professionals with employment support and invited her to deliver a workshop on Building a Positive Relationship at Work to my clients. Ami provided practical tips on building positive relationships with employers and mentors. We find it essential to have an expert, like Ami, to deliver this content so our clients will be equipped with quality knowledge for their future career success. The material was well prepared, and she’s very well spoken. I highly recommend her for future workshops!”
- Larissa, L., Program Coordinator (event host)
"Ami is a great educator, especially speaking about human development. I had the opportunity to learn about human resources from a coaching perspective, which specifically brought me more confidence while working in groups."
- Franklin L., Sr., Human Resources Manager, Toronto
"Ami was always very approachable and she made sure each of us always had a chance to speak and express ourselves. I feel like the sessions helped me become more self-aware of my actions and my leadership skills as a project manager. One of the biggest challenges I had was receiving feedback without feeling like a failure. Ami provided me with tools and techniques to combat that fear of feedback and how to turn the negatives into an opportunity to improve myself. I highly recommend Ami to anyone who is looking to improve themselves and become more aware of their strengths and skills."
- Tanya M., Project Coordinator, Toronto
"Ami was a guest speaker in the Career Seminar Series when I was a Humber College student in the Human Resources Management Program. She provided valuable insight from her own HR journey through labour relations, organizational development and change management. She is an engaging communicator who listens carefully to her audience's questions and provides pertinent career advice. Ami taught me how to recognize transferrable skills from one industry to another, and from one aspect of HR to another."
- Meg M., Human Resources Professional, Toronto
"Ami was very approachable and understanding, her passion for her work was evident in the sessions as demonstrated by her engagement with everyone. Ami’s communication and facilitation style were excellent, she used a mixture of participation group exercises and discussions to introduce new material and concepts, which was great as it promoted team building and healthy intelligent conversations amongst us. Her passion and commitment had a positive impact on me personally, I learned to be more confident in myself first and foremost along with many other valuable skills. However, one thing that really had an impact on me and was my greatest learning was the self-development exercises which allowed me to get a truly better understanding and sense of myself. This has continued to be a positive impact on me personally and professionally and I have Ami to thank for that."
- Rishi L., Project Coordinator, Toronto