Fresh thinking. Real talk. Immediate impact.
Rachel Cooke delivers keynotes that challenge conventional thinking and inspire actionable change. She works with leaders who want to achieve real results while keeping their teams engaged and resilient. Her talks go beyond the typical leadership strategies to help teams perform at their best, even in challenging, high-pressure environments. With Rachel, leaders gain actionable tools to turn engagement into performance, transform their approach to change, and finally address burnout—all without compromising results.
Beyond Busy: Unlocking Hidden Results
The Big Idea
Leaders need more from their teams, but most teams are already maxed out. Pushing harder won’t work. This talk shows how to shift the conditions around the work so teams can perform at a higher level without burning out.
Keynote Description
Most teams are overloaded and still falling short of what the business needs. The problem isn’t effort—it’s the way the work is set up. Conflicting priorities, constant pivots, unclear decision-making, and limited ownership quietly drag down performance even when people are working hard.
In this talk, Rachel Cooke gives leaders a clear approach to remove the friction that slows teams down. She shows how to lead differently—by tightening focus, reducing noise, and creating the structure that helps people do their best work. This isn’t about asking for less. It’s about making better performance possible with what you already have.
Audience
This talk is for leaders who are:
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Pressed to deliver more without adding headcount
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Managing teams that are working hard but not making enough progress
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Ready to shift how the work runs so performance can improve
Outcomes
Attendees will leave with:
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A framework for identifying what is holding team performance back
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Tools to reduce friction and focus teams on what matters most
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Strategies to improve how work is led, not just how much gets done
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A path to better results without overloading people or lowering the bar
How to Lead Change When Nothing Holds Still
The Big Idea
Change no longer comes in waves. It is constant. But most leaders are still relying on outdated approaches that assume a clear plan, a fixed timeline, and a clean rollout. That approach no longer works. This talk gives leaders a better model for leading change in motion, not after the fact.
Keynote Description
Change today is nonstop. There is no finish line, no stable ground to return to. But many leaders are still trying to manage change the old way—treating it as a one-time shift instead of a constant part of the job. The result is frustration, resistance, and stalled progress.
In this talk, Rachel Cooke gives leaders a new way to lead when the ground keeps moving. She shows how to lead change in real time, with transparency, shared ownership, and room to adapt. This is not about inspiring people to follow a plan. It is about building the change with them, while it is happening. That is how real traction starts.
Audience
This talk is for leaders who are:
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Navigating constant shifts in strategy, structure, or priorities
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Facing resistance or fatigue around ongoing change
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Ready to replace old models of change management with a more adaptive approach
Outcomes
Attendees will leave with:
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A clear understanding of why traditional change strategies fall short
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A practical model for leading change with their teams instead of at them
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Tools for communicating, adapting, and building shared ownership
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A new mindset for leading in motion, not waiting for clarity to lead
Solving Burnout Without Slowing Down
The Big Idea
Burnout isn’t just about long hours. It happens when people are working hard but feel disconnected, unclear, or stuck. The good news is that it doesn’t have to mean scaling back. Leaders can reduce burnout without easing up on performance by changing how the work happens, not how much of it there is.
Keynote Description
Burnout is one of the most persistent and misunderstood challenges facing teams today. Leaders often assume the only fix is to slow down or do less, but that is a false choice. Most burnout comes from how work is led, structured, and experienced, not just how much there is.
In this talk, Rachel Cooke breaks down what is actually driving burnout inside high-performing teams and why typical fixes fall short. She gives leaders practical ways to reduce friction, create clarity, and rebuild the kind of momentum that supports performance. The focus is not on wellness programs or extra time off, but on how to lead and structure work so people can go further without burning out.
Audience
This talk is for leaders and teams who are:
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Facing pressure to deliver more with fewer resources
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Watching strong teams show signs of burnout or disengagement
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Looking for real solutions that work in fast-paced, high-demand environments
Outcomes
Attendees will leave with:
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A clearer understanding of what causes burnout in capable teams
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Specific strategies to reduce burnout while maintaining high expectations
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Tools to create more focus, energy, and accountability
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A model for sustaining performance without grinding people down
Light a fuse for your leaders
Spark excitement at an internal employee development day. Kick off a senior leadership offsite with momentum. Build upon a broader leadership program or event. Whatever situation is relevant, founder Rachel Cooke is geared up to deliver an inspiring, action-oriented message tailored to your people.
Rachel typically provides virtual experiences but is also available for in-person speaking engagements. Most keynotes span 45–90 minutes but can be adapted to fit your needs.
Choose from a popular topic below or talk to us about the themes you need your people to embrace.
You can also preview one of Rachel’s talks.
Watch Rachel in action in this virtual keynote snippet. Looking for more?
