Burnout Prevention & Sustainable Performance Keynote for Thriving at Work

A research-backed keynote that helps organizations reduce burnout, strengthen resilience, and sustain high performance without sacrificing well-being.

Burnout is no longer an individual issue — it’s an organizational challenge.

In this powerful keynote, Kristel Bauer — TEDx speaker and 2026 Top Impact Speaker (Real Leaders Magazine) — equips leaders and teams with practical, science-backed strategies to protect energy, restore focus, and perform at their best without sacrificing well-being.

As a corporate wellness and performance expert and award-winning author of Work-Life Tango, Kristel delivers engaging, evidence-based insights that help organizations create healthier, more productive cultures.

Based in Chicago and serving organizations nationwide and internationally.

✔ 2026 Top Impact Speaker (Real Leaders Magazine)

✔ TEDx Speaker

✔ Featured on NBC, ABC, FOX & Forbes

✔ Clinical background in integrative psychiatry & integrative medicine

✔ Corporate wellness and performance expert

✔ Award-winning author (Work-Life Tango)

✔ Has partnered with global and national organizations

What Is a Burnout Prevention & Sustainable Performance Keynote?

A burnout prevention and sustainable performance keynote provides leaders and teams with the mindset, tools, and systems needed to manage stress, maintain energy, and deliver consistent results over time.

Rather than promoting “push harder” cultures, this keynote focuses on creating conditions where people can have sustainable long-term success.

Why Organizations Need This Keynote Now

Today’s workplaces are experiencing:

  • Rising stress and workload demands

  • Talent shortages and turnover

  • Blurred work-life boundaries

  • Constant digital connectivity

  • Consistent change and pressure to adapt

  • Decreased engagement and morale

Without intentional strategies, these pressures can lead to exhaustion, disengagement, and declining performance.

This keynote helps organizations address burnout proactively — before it becomes costly.

The Cost of Poorly Managed Workload and Burnout

When burnout is left unaddressed, organizations may experience:

  • Increased absenteeism

  • Higher turnover rates

  • Reduced productivity

  • Lower innovation

  • Leadership fatigue

Burnout impacts culture, performance, and profitability.

What Audiences Will Learn in This Burnout Prevention Keynote

Participants will gain:

✔ Practical tools to manage stress and energy
✔ Strategies to build sustainable performance habits
✔ Techniques to improve focus and recovery
✔ Skills to establish healthy boundaries
✔ Leadership practices that prevent burnout on teams

This keynote blends neuroscience, performance psychology, and workplace well-being research to drive lasting change.

Sustainable Performance Without Burnout Framework

Kristel will introduce a model for thriving in high-demand environments:

1. Protect Energy

Manage physical, mental, and emotional resources.

2. Optimize Focus

Reduce overload and increase productivity.

3. Build Recovery Rituals

Create daily practices that restore performance capacity.

4. Align Work with Purpose

Reconnect effort to meaningful outcomes.

5. Design Supportive Systems

Establish team norms that prevent chronic overload.

This keynote helps organizations achieve high performance — without sacrificing well-being.

How This Keynote Differs From Typical Burnout Talks

Most burnout programs focus only on individual self-care.

This keynote addresses both personal habits and organizational systems, helping teams create sustainable performance environments that last.

Drawing on her integrative medicine training and her clinical background in integrative psychiatry — where she worked one-on-one with individuals experiencing burnout — Kristel brings a rare depth of insight to workplace well-being. Audiences gain practical, research-informed strategies that can be implemented immediately.

Where This Program Is Most Impactful

This keynote is especially effective for:

  • Leadership conferences and executive summits

  • Healthcare, education, and frontline workforce meetings

  • Sales kickoffs and revenue performance events

  • HR, talent development, and people operations programs

  • Corporate retreats and leadership offsites

  • Change and transformation initiatives

  • High-growth organizations managing rapid expansion

  • Teams experiencing elevated stress or turnover

Industry Applications

Kristel’s burnout and sustainable performance keynotes can be personalized to support multiple industries including:

  • Healthcare and life sciences

  • Financial services, banking, and insurance

  • Technology

  • Education and higher education

  • Professional services and consulting

  • Nonprofit and mission-driven organizations

  • Manufacturing and operations

  • Retail and customer-facing organizations

  • Government and public sector agencies

  • Hospitality and service industries

Outcomes Event Planners Can Expect

Goals from this keynote include:

  • Improved engagement

  • Reduced burnout indicators

  • Stronger retention

  • Higher leadership effectiveness

  • More resilient teams

This program would be very impactful for:

  • Leadership transitions

  • High-growth phases

  • Post-merger integration

  • Healthcare and education staffing shortages

  • Sales performance recovery

Ready to Build Sustainable Performance?

Early booking is recommended to secure your desired dates.

Formats Available

  • Conference keynote

  • Leadership summit

  • Corporate offsite

  • Sales kickoff

  • Executive retreat

  • Virtual or hybrid delivery

  • Workshop

  • Fireside Chat

Each program is customized to meet the needs of the audience.

Who This Program Is For

Ideal For:

✔ High-performing teams under pressure
✔ Leaders managing heavy workloads
✔ Organizations focused on retention
✔ Companies prioritizing well-being

Not Ideal For:

✖ One-time wellness sessions with no follow-through
✖ Quick-fix motivation programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this keynote customized?

Yes. Each program is tailored.

Does this support leadership development?

Absolutely.

Can this be delivered virtually?

Yes.

Is this appropriate for high-stress industries?

Yes. This is ideal for high-stress industries.

If your organization is ready to reduce burnout, strengthen resilience, and build sustainable performance, this keynote will deliver lasting value.

Based in Chicago and serving organizations across the U.S. and internationally, Kristel Bauer partners with event planners to create meaningful impact.

Contact Kristel today to bring Burnout Prevention & Sustainable Performance to your next event.