Motivation & Engagement Keynote to Elevate Team Performance at Work
A research-backed keynote that helps organizations boost motivation, strengthen engagement, and elevate performance — no matter where teams are starting from.
Sustaining motivation and engagement is one of today’s greatest leadership challenges.
Whether teams are navigating change, experiencing declining morale, rebuilding after disruption, or striving to reach the next level of performance, this keynote will meet them where they are.
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 strengthen focus, boost morale, and drive meaningful results.
As a corporate wellness and performance expert and award-winning author of Work-Life Tango, Kristel blends performance psychology, neuroscience, and leadership research to create lasting impact.
✔ TEDx Speaker
✔ 2026 Top Impact Speaker (Real Leaders Magazine)
✔ Featured on NBC, ABC, FOX & Forbes
✔ Integrative Medicine Fellow & Physician Assistant
✔ Clinical background in Integrative Psychiatry
✔ Corporate wellness and performance expert
✔ Award-winning author
✔ Host of the Live Greatly podcast
✔ Has partnered with global and national organizations
Based in Chicago and partnering with organizations nationally and internationally.
What Is a Motivation & Engagement Keynote?
A motivation and engagement keynote helps leaders and teams reconnect with purpose, strengthen commitment, and bring greater energy to their work.
Rather than relying on short-term hype, this keynote focuses on sustainable motivation — helping people stay engaged long after the event ends.
Kristel’s keynotes aim to create engagement that lasts, turning motivation into sustainable performance.
Why Motivation and Engagement Matter More Than Ever
Today’s organizations face:
Rising workloads and competing priorities
Hybrid and remote work challenges
Increased stress and burnout risk
Talent retention pressures
Rapid organizational change
When engagement declines, performance, collaboration, and innovation suffer.
This keynote helps organizations reignite energy and momentum.
The Cost of Disengagement
Low engagement can lead to:
Decreased productivity
Higher turnover
Reduced morale
Weaker customer experiences
Leadership strain
Motivation is not a “nice-to-have” — it is a strategic advantage.
What Audiences Will Learn in This Motivation Keynote
Participants will gain:
✔ Effective strategies to boost intrinsic motivation
✔ Tools to strengthen focus and accountability
✔ Techniques to increase energy and resilience
✔ Skills to build a positive team culture
✔ Leadership practices that inspire commitment
Igniting Motivation & Engagement for High-Performing Teams
A high-impact keynote designed to re-energize teams and strengthen performance from the inside out.
Sustained performance begins with engaged people. In this energizing and actionable keynote, Kristel Bauer helps teams reconnect to purpose, strengthen collaboration, and build the mindset needed to perform at their best — even amid pressure and change.
Drawing on insights from performance research, integrative psychiatry, and real-world business experience, Kristel shares actionable strategies to increase motivation, strengthen team connection, and cultivate a culture where people feel valued, accountable, and energized.
This session is especially impactful for organizations seeking to boost morale, re-engage teams, and elevate performance across departments.
Key Takeaways
Practical strategies to strengthen individual and team motivation
How to create greater connection, trust, and accountability
Tools to improve communication and reduce disengagement
Techniques to manage stress while sustaining performance
How a growth-oriented culture fuels innovation and results
Audience Outcomes
After this keynote, participants are better equipped to:
Increase engagement and ownership
Improve collaboration and alignment
Re-energize teams during periods of change or pressure
Strengthen accountability and communication
How This Keynote Differs From Traditional Motivational Talks
Many motivational speeches create short-term enthusiasm that fades quickly.
This keynote combines inspiration with science-backed strategies, helping organizations build systems that support ongoing engagement and performance.
Drawing on her background in integrative psychiatry and integrative medicine, Kristel delivers research-backed tools leaders and teams can use immediately.
Where This Program Would Be Most Impactful
This keynote would be especially effective for:
Leadership conferences and executive summits
Sales kickoffs and performance meetings
Employee engagement initiatives
Company-wide town halls
Organizational transformation programs
Teams experiencing declining morale
Groups launching new initiatives
Rebuilding after restructuring
High-growth teams navigating change
Each program is customized to fit your audience and goals.
Kristel has partnered with many different organizations including:
Industry Applications
Kristel’s motivation and engagement keynotes can be customized for organizations across:
Healthcare and life sciences
Financial services, banking, and insurance
Technology and SaaS
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
Kristel refines her programs to reflect industry-specific challenges and performance demands.
Ready to Inspire Motivation and Engagement?
Formats Available
Conference keynote
Leadership summit session
Corporate offsite presentation
Sales kickoff keynote
Executive retreat workshop
Virtual or hybrid keynote
Each program is tailored to your organization.
Who This Program Is For
Ideal For:
✔ Teams experiencing declining engagement
✔ Leaders seeking stronger commitment
✔ Organizations focused on retention
✔ Companies navigating change
Not Ideal For:
✖ One-time hype sessions
✖ Programs without follow-through
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this motivation and engagement keynote customized for our organization?
Yes. Every keynote is tailored to your organization’s goals, industry, and audience. Kristel collaborates with event planners and leadership teams to align the content with your strategic priorities, current challenges, and desired outcomes.
What makes this different from a traditional motivational speaker?
Many motivational talks focus on short-term inspiration. Kristel’s approach integrates her clinical medical training and real-world business experience with research-backed strategies — ensuring motivation translates into sustained engagement and measurable results.
Can this keynote support leadership development?
Absolutely. Leaders would gain practical tools to inspire engagement, strengthen accountability, and create high-performing team cultures. The program would support both individual contributors and senior leadership.
Is this appropriate for teams experiencing low morale or disengagement?
Yes. This keynote is designed to meet teams where they are — whether they are navigating change, rebuilding after disruption, or striving to elevate performance. The strategies are actionable and adaptable across performance levels.
How long is the keynote and can it be delivered virtually?
The program can be delivered as a 30–90 minute keynote and is available for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Additional workshop or breakout sessions can also be added based on your event needs.
What outcomes can we expect after this keynote?
Desired results would include stronger engagement, improved morale, increased focus, and greater alignment around performance goals. Participants would leave with practical tools they can implement immediately.
High engagement is not accidental. It is designed.
If your organization is ready to energize its people, strengthen commitment, and drive 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, measurable impact.
Contact Kristel today to bring Motivation & Engagement: A Keynote for High-Performing Teams to your next event.