TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE & NEXT-LEVEL THINKING KEYNOTES

For over 40 years, Val Vigoda has been focused on what truly moves people. As an honors sociology major in college, she analyzed the elements of music that connected with people on a vast scale, and the ones that didn't. Fascinated by the intersection of artistic expression and human behavior, Val has made it her mission throughout her career to create moving, uplifting and transformative work, in musical performance, songwriting, theatre, and now in the speaking realm as well.
She brings the concept of "collective effervescence" (first coined by pioneering sociologist Émile Durkheim) to joyful life in her keynotes, creating connection and leaving a lasting impact on every audience she encounters. Her work is especially timely, and sorely needed, in this era of global disconnection, guardedness, frayed social fabric, and pervasive loneliness. And it is essential in corporate settings, where studies show that self-trust, playfulness and expression directly improve productivity and team cohesion: expressiveness improves effectiveness. Val's presentations on resilience, courage and optimism will deeply resonate with your audience, and her dynamism and energy will make your event a huge success.
Which presentation will resonate more with your audience?

Creative Resilience: Fueling Courage, Connection, and Innovation Through Uncertainty
45 - 90 minutes
Bold + Unexpected. Motivational. Electric.
Faced with chaos, most leaders either go rigid—or unravel.This keynote offers a third path: creative resilience.
Through powerful storytelling, unexpected humor, and riveting live music, Val Vigoda doesn’t just talk about bouncing back—she shows your audience how to rise forward.In real time. With courage, connection, and an electric violin.
It’s part rock concert, part masterclass—and 100% a wake-up call to lead from presence, not panic.
🔥 What They’ll Learn:How to transform overwhelm into creative energyWhy resilient leadership requires flexibility, not just strengthTactics for building connection and trust during high-stakes momentsA new model for leading with presence, courage, and authentic expression
🎯 Perfect For:Leaders and teams navigating rapid change—especially those burned out, overwhelmed, or craving more creativity in how they lead. From CEOs to rising stars, this keynote speaks to anyone ready to lead boldly through uncertainty.
Pivot with Courage: How to Lead Through Change with Creativity, Connection, and Grace
45 - 90 minutes
Gritty. Grounded. Raw Truth.
We’re all born creative, brave, and willing to leap before we know the landing.But somewhere along the way, those instincts get dulled—replaced with fear, perfectionism, and disconnection.
This keynote helps audiences reclaim that boldness.
Through powerful personal stories of navigating upheaval—punctuated by live songs that bring each insight to life—Val Vigoda shows audiences how to rise through adversity with resilience, creativity, and a deeply human kind of courage.
It’s a keynote that doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff. It meets people where they are—and helps them move forward, together.
🔥 What They’ll Learn:How to reconnect with innate confidence during times of uncertaintyWays to shift from stuck or fearful into agile, creative actionTools for fostering deeper emotional resilience—both personally and as a teamA mindset of grace over grit when facing change, failure, or fear
🎯 Perfect For:Organizations navigating transitions, restructures, or cultural change—especially teams recovering from burnout, leadership turnover, or emotional disconnection.
Overcome Fear with Optimism, Resilience, and Courage:How to Rise Boldly by Rewiring Your Response to Challenge
45 - 90 minutes
Uplifting. Strategic. Lasting Impact.
Our brains are wired to protect us—from pain, risk, and failure.But in doing so, they also guard us from joy, growth, and the extraordinary.
This keynote is a rallying cry for courage.
Through unforgettable music and bold storytelling, Val Vigoda shares a playful, vulnerable, and sometimes hilariously awkward journey through fear—showing how we build true resilience not by hardening, but by opening.
With humor, heart, and her six-string electric violin, she redefines bravery as something accessible, expressive, and surprisingly joyful.
🔥 What They’ll Learn:How to challenge fear-based thinking with optimism and flexibilityWhy playfulness is a strategic leadership asset—not a liabilityReal-world tools for moving through perfectionism and self-doubtHow to lead (and live) with boldness, even when afraid
🎯 Perfect For:Leadership trainings, company-wide events, and any team looking to reconnect with a more courageous, creative, and joy-filled version of itself.
The ROI of Joy: Why Playful Teams Outperform Burned-Out Ones
45 - 90 minutes
Rejuvenating. Tactical. Energizing.
In a culture obsessed with hustle and optimization, joy is often treated as fluff.But neuroscience—and real leadership data—reveal the opposite: delight isn’t a distraction; it’s a performance enhancer.
In this revitalizing, music-infused keynote, Val Vigoda makes the case for joy as a strategic asset—one that fuels collaboration, emotional resilience, and long-term success.
Through powerful storytelling, humor, and unforgettable live music, she gives audiences permission to reconnect with play—and the tools to build a culture where people feel alive, not just productive.
This keynote redefines joy not as an indulgence, but as a competitive advantage.
🔥 What They’ll Learn:Why joy drives engagement, innovation, and team cohesionTools to bring play and creativity into leadership cultureHow to shift from burnout cycles into sustainable energyPractices for building emotionally intelligent, high-performance teams
🎯 Perfect For:Organizations battling burnout, low morale, or change fatigue—and teams ready to recharge, reimagine, and lead with renewed energy.
The Human Edge in an AI World:How Presence, Creativity, and Soul Beat the Algorithm
45 - 90 minutes
Strategic. Disruptive. Soul-Driven.
AI can write for you, think for you, even learn from you—but it can’t be you.
In a world racing toward automation, the leaders who will thrive aren’t the most efficient—they’re the most human.Val Vigoda makes the case that creativity, empathy, presence, and meaning-making aren’t soft skills anymore. They’re survival skills.
Through live music, powerful storytelling, and future-facing insight, Val shows how emotional intelligence and creative leadership are no longer “nice to have”—they’re your unignorable edge.
It’s not just a keynote. It’s a reset for how we lead in the age of machines.
🔥 What They’ll Learn:Why human-centered leadership is your competitive advantageHow to activate creativity, presence, and emotional intelligence under pressureTools to lead with vision (not fear) in a tech-dominated eraA new story about what it means to thrive through disruption
🎯 Perfect For:Leadership teams, innovation summits, and future-forward organizations navigating disruption who want to stay relevant—without losing their humanity.
Rewrite the Script: Turning Struggle into Strength Through Story
45 - 90 minutes
Reflective. Actionable. Transformational.
Everyone faces adversity. But the stories we tell about those moments?That’s what determines who we become next.
This keynote is a call to reclaim authorship.
With live music, honest storytelling, and hard-won insight, Val Vigoda invites your audience to reframe the plot—transforming pain into purpose and fear into forward motion.
Through her own journey—from perfectionism to presence, from breakdown to breakthrough—Val shows how vulnerability becomes velocity when we rewrite our inner narrative.
It’s not about pretending the struggle didn’t happen.It’s about choosing the version of the story that leads to power.
🔥 What They’ll Learn:How to shift limiting stories into empowering narrativesWhy storytelling is a leadership skill (not just a performance tool)Strategies to reframe failure and activate resilienceThe role of creative expression in emotional clarity and momentum
🎯 Perfect For:Organizations navigating culture shifts, team healing, or mission realignment—especially during times of disruption, reinvention, or emotional fatigue.

Need a keynote that blows your audience away—and makes you look like a genius for booking it?

Common Audience Reaction To Val's Presentations:

"Superpowers" (Expertise)

TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE & NEXT-LEVEL THINKING KEYNOTES

Creative Resilience: Fueling Courage, Connection, and Innovation Through Uncertainty

Pivot with Courage: How to Lead Through Change with Creativity, Connection, and Grace

Overcome Fear with Optimism, Resilience, and Courage:How to Rise Boldly by Rewiring Your Response to Challenge

The ROI of Joy: Why Playful Teams Outperform Burned-Out Ones

The Human Edge in an AI World:How Presence, Creativity, and Soul Beat the Algorithm

Rewrite the Script: Turning Struggle into Strength Through Story

Sample of Organizations That Have Benefitedfrom Val's Insights and Unique Expertise

See Val Vigoda in Action!

Bring Val's creativity, innovation, insights and passion to your next event.