Ginny Priem
With over two decades of leadership experience in the corporate world, Ginny Priem is not only a dynamic and captivating motivational speaker and a #1 bestselling author, but also hosts the popular Drinking With Gin podcast, and holds a master certification in life coaching. In her #1 best selling book, You’re My Favorite, she shares the true story of her own personal traumatic end of a romantic relationship with a shocking twist — the man she thought was living in her house turned out to not be the man she thought he was at all. This harrowing experience sent her on her own path of healing and growing.
In discovering her own path forward, she created GINpath, which is the path that she developed, tested and implemented to help others in growing through adversity. We all face tough times and have that one story, one that we may not think is big enough to share or manage through, but it’s what we do with these stories that really matters. Ginny’s keynotes leave audiences inspired to take the next step on their own path and overcome obstacles that come their way.
Tina VanSteenbergen
I learned too late in my life that women need women. To be successful in the workplace. To feel understood. To help us believe in ourselves. To feel less alone in the world. Women need women. Women deserve strong communities full of empathy, kindness, and empowerment at work, at home, and literally everywhere in their lives. That’s where I come in.
I help women tear down the walls built between us. My speaking style gives women permission to open up, have honest conversations, and connect. With a combination of authenticity, storytelling, and humor, I’ve been able to help hundreds of thousands of women build relationships with one another, believe in themselves, and take up space at companies, campuses, and organizations around North America.
My work sets my soul on fire. So does a good nap. An excellent pour of bourbon. A beautiful snow. A peaceful and reflective sunset flight. An episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A perfectly green avocado. The skyline of New York City. A warm and cheesy mac n’ cheese. A well-written West Wing quote. My husband, my son, and a Minnesotan accent, of course.
Jasmine Brett Stringer
Jasmine Brett Stringer is an uplifting keynote speaker, award-winning author of Seize Your Life: How to Carpe Diem Every Day, on-air TV personality, host of the podcast and lifestyle blog Carpe Diem with Jasmine and founder of Share the Mic Minnesota. In these times of transformational change, Jasmine is on a mission to help people live empowered and authentic lives. Through her Seize Your Life keynotes, workshops and customized coaching sessions, Jasmine guides clients and audiences through a simple process to identify their goals and achieve their personal definition of success. Jasmine’s common-sense approach to creating a life of one’s own has inspired thousands of people across the world to carpe diem! Jasmine has shared her positive message to corporate and nonprofit organizations such as Land O’ Lakes, Federal Reserve Bank, Airbnb, Cargill, Goodwill, Mondelēz International, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Radisson Hotel Group, NEW, the Network of Executive Women and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Jasmine inspires revelation and change by leveraging her experiences working with some of the world’s biggest brands. Additionally, Jasmine speaks on how to effectively network and how to build synergy and develop interpersonal skills- core tools for living a vision-driven life.
The international “new awakening” to racial inequalities and social justice issues during the summer of 2020 inspired Jasmine to launch a new project, #SHARETHEMICMN. #SHARETHEMICMN was established to give Black and Brown women in Minnesota additional exposure through connection and engagement with new audiences. The goal is that the new conversations and relationships develop into a deeper understanding that will be impactful in tackling and overcoming unconscious biases, racial injustices and racial inequities. Through storytelling, relationship development, programming and collaborations #SHARETHEMICMN strives to help make Minnesota a more inclusive and equitable state. Jasmine is using the #SHARETHEMICMN platform to elevate the voices of women of color, inspire action and allyship, and show the world that a Carpe Diem spirit can drive change.
Jasmine is a graduate of American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C. She was named one of “100 People to Know in 2021” by Twin Cities Business Magazine, a Twin Cities Fearless Woman in 2017, and a Woman of Promise by the Girl Scouts in 2012. She received the 2020 Team Women Community Impact WaveMaker Award. Additionally, she was awarded Distinguished Alumna of American University and is an active member of the National Speakers Association. Ebony Magazine featured her as one of its “30 Future Leaders Under the Age of 30 in America.” Jasmine is based in Minneapolis but can often be found two hours south of the city working with her husband at the family farm. On a personal note, Jasmine is a Minnesota State Fair ribbon winner for her delicious canned sweet pickles grown with love in Blue Earth, MN.
Rachel Evangelisto
Rachel is from the Húŋkpapȟa Standing Rock Sioux tribe and grew up in Rapid City, SD. Working under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) as an ICWA Guardian ad litem, Rachel advocates for native youth and cultural preservation in Minnesota. She is committed to keeping Native Youth out of the child protection system and is working on obtaining her Juris Doctorate in Native American law to support this mission further. She is passionate about Indigenous sovereignty rights, racial justice, advocating for the Indian Child Welfare Act, and Indigenous representation. Rachel has delivered speeches, keynote addresses, and presentations to many different organizations about diversity and inclusion. Additionally, Rachel earned the honor of becoming the first Indigenous Miss Minnesota and will be competing for the title of Miss America in December.
Vineeta Sawkar
Vineeta Sawkar rarely sits on the couch. Her motto: “Get the ticket. Go to the event. See the friend. Take the trip. No regrets.” She spent most of her career as a television news anchor/reporter before she was let go from the job she loved. After a few days of sulking, she regrouped and embarked on an exciting career journey pioneering a video role at a major market newspaper and then bringing her own unique spin on public relations to a healthcare organization and then a major university. The program director at news/talk station WCCO radio reached out and he asked her to come back to broadcasting and be the host of their three hour morning show. She jumped at the chance and now brings the most important and impactful news stories and interviews to WCCO radio listeners every weekday morning. In the short time she has been a radio host, Minnesota Star Tribune readers voted her Best Radio Personality in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Through her life, Vineeta has overcome her fear of hearing the word “no.” Apprehension about that word can keep people from realizing success in business and life. At one point in her career, she could have wallpapered a room with rejection letters. Once she overcame being rejected, she took control of her life and has tried to make the most of her opportunities. She has real life examples and suggestions to conquer the fear of hearing “no” and also harnessing the power of that word to reach your goals and dreams.
Wendie Pett
Wendie Pett, is passionate about motivating people to make fitness and good nutrition part of their daily routine. She teaches the balance of mind, body and spirit through her Visibly Fit™ wellness program. Wendie has a nationally syndicated television program that airs every Tuesday on the NRB Network. Her show also airs on Upliftv, WLCN, and IBN Television. She contributes weekly on KTIS radio in the Twin Cities as ‘Coach Wendie’ and is a featured columnist in VEGWORLD Magazine, The Christian View, Best Ever You, Refreshed, Vegan Lifestyle, and Diet.com. Wendie is a full-time business owner, a naturopathic doctor, wife, mother, author, speaker, TV host, advisory board member for Christian Women in Media and part-time volunteer. Her business consists of whole-food/plant-based wellness coaching, emotional healing, personal online training, fitness planning, educational and motivational speaking, and creating new products/tools to assist clients along their wellness journey. After a major injury to her shoulder, she resorted to body weight resistance exercises for strength and healing and hasn’t turned back to any other form of training since. She has helped countless others reach their fitness and health goals without ever compromising their joints, tendons, or ligaments – teaching that Your Body Is Your Gym™ and instilling new diet habits that have shown to reverse multiple diseases and allow people to get off medications.
Lori La Bey
Humorist, Heartfelt Stories, Practical Tools & Resources
Families and healthcare professionals are looking for the same thing when it comes to caring for those they serve. They want new, innovated way to assess and share knowledge. Lori La Bey has been recognized by Oprah as “Health Hero,” Maria Shriver as an “Architect of Change,” Dr Oz as the “#1 Influencer Online for Alzheimer’s,” and by AARP MN as a “Disruptor, Caring Creator, and Inspiring Leader.” Members of Lori’s audience benefit from her humor and heartfelt style as she:
- Delivers simple, practical tools and techniques they can easily implement,
- Provides a wide array of resources, and
- Demonstrate techniques to shift mindsets from crisis to comfort.
Been There Done That
Lori understands the lived experience of caring for others and herself. Her own family maneuvered the roller coaster of dementia with her Mother for 30 years, the journey of brain cancer with her Father, having a child almost die from Meningitis, taking in teens and adults in her home that no longer could live with their families. She knows what it’s like to be in the trenches of care: the stress, exhaustion, tug of war with family and friends, frustration of lack of access to support, knowledge, plus lack of a cure. Her healthcare background allows Lori to understand service delivery systems and how to adapt to move forward. Her marketing experience allows her to create unique strategies, create friendly onboarding processes, which provide dignity, respect, and empowerment to all involved. Lori understands we must provide a variety of platforms to engage and reach various learning styles. Some initiatives Lori has launched:
- The first, radio show dedicated to dementia and caregiving in the world,
- The first, video platform which raised the voices of people living with dementia in the world,
- The first, Dementia Friendly Community in the United States,
- Bringing the Memory Café’ concept to the United States from the United Kingdom, and
- The first global resource directory for dementia care.
- Her emotional based training to get people to feel the need to change, not just the mandate to do a job.
Caring Has No Boundaries
Lori La Bey specializes in dementia care, but her programs are easily adapted to a variety of groups as caring has no boundaries. Other prime audiences are: Hospice & Palliative Care, Loss and Grief, Conscious Compassionate Selfcare, Divorce, Bullying, Empowerment and Well Being, Cancer and Other Terminal Illnesses, Struggling Teens, Ageism, Economical and Simple Culture Adjustments, Living with Purpose, Marketing to Be Remembered, Caregiving and more. Lori presents to patients, families, and professionals and can easily adapt to be inclusive and respectful when speaking to combined audiences. She is available for keynotes, breakouts, and training programs range from an hour to multiple days.
Lori La Bey – Changing How Care Is Perceived, Received and Delivered
Karla Hult
Karla offers the style, substance and rich perspective of an award-winning journalist, a mother “trying to do it all,” and a dedicated daughter dealing with the darkest of diseases.
As a graduate of both St. Olaf College and Columbia University (Master’s in International Affairs), Karla has worked as an anchor and reporter in several markets, covering diverse topics that touch our community: from the international refugee crisis, to local political clashes, to those who leave a lasting legacy. She translates that education, empathy and understanding of diverse issues to delivering the most personable, compelling and passionate delivery as an emcee.
But Karla hasn’t stopped there… after losing her own beloved dad to Alzheimer’s disease, Karla uniquely captures the challenges of what she calls, “So Many Goodbyes,” saying goodbye to your loved one’s ability to talk, walk, remember. We promise… you have not yet heard an Alzheimer’s speaker describe the emotional pain, the financial toll, and the need to “savor what you still have,” with as much compassion, sincerity and power… as Karla.
And even while Karla has become a leader in the fight against Alzheimer’s, she also always reassures others on the journey, “you’re not alone.”
Courtney Godfrey
Courtney Godfrey is a local TV reporter in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her job has taken her all over the country, from San Francisco to New York City. She has reported on major news events, appearing on Fox News Channel and CNN.com. She has interviewed celebrities and sports icons, and covered major events including the police death of George Floyd, the Super Bowl and multiple Kentucky Derbys.
In September 2017, she was involved in a boat accident that resulted in the amputation of her left leg. The recovery was long and painful, but not once did she lose her positivity and drive. With the support of her family, Courtney found the strength to return to all the activities she enjoyed before the accident. Four months post-amputation, Courtney was back on her snowboard. She returned to work, her favorite fitness classes and even got back in her beloved high heels.
She serves on the board of the nationally recognized amputee non-profit, Wiggle Your Toes as well as the board of the Hennepin Healthcare Foundation.
On her own time, she provides one-on-one peer support to new amputees and does frequent hospital visits. She advocates for amputee rights at the state and federal level, lobbying members of the Minnesota legislature and U.S. Congress.
She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and their son, Callan.
Roxane Battle
Roxane Battle is best known for her 20+ years as a TV personality, most notably on NBC-Minneapolis, CBS- Minneapolis and FOX-TV. She is also a Mental Health and Health Equity Advocate and held executive-level positions inside Fortune 5 UnitedHealth Group, where she appeared as a video series influencer with 4 million subscribers.
Roxane’s talks focus on mental wellbeing, belonging and psychological safety. Her client list includes Apple Inc, UnitedHealth Group, 3M, Voya Financial, Wells Fargo, and state and local associations and community organizations. As a gifted storyteller who has mastered the art of public speaking, Roxane knows how to connect and engage audiences. With a sprinkle of humor and lots of grace, Roxane shares generously from her own lived experiences with anxiety and depression and combines behind-the scenes stories for her television career with ripped-from-the-headlines research to provide audiences with customized, real-time solutions to their specific pain points.
An Amazon best-selling author, her book Pockets of Joy: Deciding to Be Happy, Choosing to Be Free, ranks among the Top 100 Bestsellers. Roxane is a proud alumna of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she completed a BA in journalism, prior to completing a MA journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She studied psychology through the Harvard Extension School of Continuing Education and in 2023 earned a certification in Emotional Agility in the Workplace.