Every great conversation begins with someone willing to ask a question. Through keynote speaking, workshops and facilitated discussions, I help organisations explore leadership, artificial intelligence, resilience and the power of belonging.
Keynote Speaking – Conversations that inspire action.
The most powerful ideas don’t begin on a stage.
They begin around a table.
As a keynote speaker, I bring together lived experience, research and practical insight to challenge assumptions, encourage new thinking and inspire meaningful change.
Whether speaking to leaders, educators, businesses, public organisations or community groups, my goal is simple:
To leave people with ideas they can use—and conversations worth continuing.
Read the Testimonials.
Keynote Speaking Topics
Talk 1: THE EMPTY CHAIR
Seeing the Person Behind the Behaviour
A personal and honest talk about how our experiences shape us—and how greater self-awareness can lead to safer relationships, better collaboration and more conscious leadership.
The Empty Chair is a powerful and deeply personal keynote about belonging, inclusion and leadership.
Drawing on her own life story, Mirjam Hagen explores what happens when we stop looking only at behaviour – and start seeing the person behind it.
Read more about the book: The Empty Chair
The keynote challenges audiences to ask one simple but powerful question:
“What am I not seeing?”
And ultimately:
“Who is missing from your table?”
A keynote about people, culture and leadership – and why meaningful belonging sometimes begins with something as simple as pulling out a chair.
Suitable for: workplaces, leaders, teams, organisations and professional communities.
Language: Norwegian and English
Talk 2: The Human Manual
Understanding Yourself.
Understanding Others.
Building Better Teams
A talk about differences, communication, trust and belonging in teams.
Strong teams are not made up of people who are alike. They are made up of people who understand themselves, one another and the value of different roles. With warmth, experience and practical reflections, Mirjam shows how differences can become a strength—when we make room to listen, disagree and still belong.
This talk takes the audience from “me” to “us”: from self-awareness to collaboration, from assumptions to curiosity, and from good intentions to action.
Different people. Different roles. Same ship.
Suitable for: leadership teams, teams, businesses, organisations and conferences.
Talk 3: The Long Table – From Insight to Action
This combine the first two Talks.
An extended talk with reflection and practical exercises for teams that want to strengthen communication, trust and belonging.
The Long Table is an invitation to listen before we judge, learn before we lead and make room for more voices. Through personal storytelling, powerful images and practical exercises, participants explore their own user manual—and create a shared one for their team.
A central part of the experience is The Empty Chair: the question of who is missing from the table, who is not being heard, and what we can do to create genuine space and belonging.
The goal is for participants to leave not only with something they have heard, but with something they can do.
Suitable for: teams and leadership groups looking for a longer session combining a talk, reflection and practical team development.
Talk 4: Artificial Intelligence with Humanity at the Centre
Helping organisations understand how AI can enhance learning, innovation and productivity while keeping people at the centre.
A practical talk, course or webinar about using artificial intelligence wisely, critically and humanely in everyday teaching and learning.
How can we use AI to strengthen learning without losing the human qualities that make great teaching possible?
In this session, we connects artificial intelligence, pedagogy and soft skills in ways that are directly relevant to educators, leaders and professional communities.
Participants gain insight into bias, source evaluation and the ethical use of AI, alongside practical tools and real-life examples they can use straight away. Through reflection, dialogue and engaging exercises, we explore how AI can support learning—without replacing relationships, judgement, critical thinking or the human factor.
The session creates reflection, discussion and motivation for the continued development of teaching and learning environments.
Suitable for: schools, universities and colleges, educators, leaders, organisations and professional communities.
Every Talk Is Different
No organisations are the same.
Every keynote, workshop or panel discussion is tailored to your audience, your goals and the conversations that matter most.
Whether you need a conference keynote, leadership session, workshop or facilitated discussion, I work closely with you to create an engaging and practical experience.
Audiences
I speak for:
- Businesses and organisations
- Public sector organisations
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Leadership teams
- Professional associations
- Conferences and events
- Charities and community organisations
Let’s Start the Conversation
If you’re looking for a speaker who combines lived experience, practical insight and evidence-based thinking, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Every Great Conversation Starts with an Invitation
Whether you’re planning a conference, leadership event, workshop or panel discussion, I’d love to learn more about your audience and explore how we can create a meaningful experience together.