Lisa Bodell

We’re no longer managing change at work – we’re coping with chaos. There’s too much – of everything. With people overwhelmed by complexity and the path forward anything but clear, the answer is to not try and control chaos, the solution is to embrace simple. In this presentation, Lisa Bodell shows organizations why simplicity is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s the strategy to eliminate noise, regain focus, and unleash the capacity to create the future.

Lisa’s passion for simplicity is personal.  Raised in a home filled with instability and unpredictability, she learned early how to survive chaos. That skill propelled her corporate success – but it also led to burnout. It wasn’t until she realized she didn’t need to manage chaos – she needed to eliminate it – that everything changed.

Backed by more than 25 years of global experience and compelling case studies from organizations like Netflix, AT&T, and Pfizer, Lisa shares the practical tools and mindset shifts that help organizations simplify how work gets done – without sacrificing results. Through humor, interactive polling technology, and unforgettable storytelling, Lisa challenges leaders to stop reacting to the chaos around them and get clear about shaping the work – and culture – they truly want.

We’re no longer managing change at work – we’re coping with chaos. The answer is to not try and control chaos, the solution is to embrace simple.

Key Takeaways:

Clear methods to prioritize simplicity and create clarity during chaotic times
Practical tools like “Kill a Stupid Rule” help people focus on what matters most
Real-world examples of how simplification drives more speed and innovation
A call to action: stop fixing people to do more work – start fixing work to better fit people
Lisa’s personal story inspires new ways to work with less stress and more engagement

In this talk, Lisa Bodell tackles a truth many leaders feel but seldom say out loud: Expectations have multiplied, clarity has disappeared, and leaders are being asked to do everything for everyone – at the expense of real performance.

The urgent work of transforming organizations amid unprecedented change can’t happen if leaders have to navigate systems so complex and contradictory that even the best of them are burning out. We tell them to be bold, then drown them in process. We demand fast decisions, but require consensus. We celebrate courage, only when it’s comfortable. This isn’t leadership; it’s performance art.

The pendulum swung from command and control to endless accommodation – creating an impossible situation for leaders that won’t get organizations to the future fast enough. Lisa lays out a refreshing balance for leaders – the kind that pairs support with standards, empathy with performance, and humanity with results. When leaders are empowered to lead boldly, they don’t just elevate themselves – they elevate everyone around them.

It’s time to burn down the models that no longer work – and finally let leaders lead. “The future belongs to unapologetic leaders who prioritize clarity over complexity, purpose over politics, and action over appearance,” she says.

The future belongs to unapologetic leaders who prioritize clarity over complexity, purpose over politics, and action over appearance.

Key Takeaways:

Inspires leaders to lead with clarity, boldness, and simplicity
Understand why leadership feels impossible—and how to fix it
Real-world stories of leaders who simplified, clarified, and took back control
How clarity, focus, and boundaries lead to higher performance and engagement
Practical shifts that drive productivity gains and execution speed
Tactical tools to cut through noise and lead with focus
The permission to stop performing and start actually leading

In too many organizations, teams are stuck in the comfort of the status quo. We’re moving faster than ever, surrounded by powerful AI tools—but spending less time thinking than ever. That’s the real risk. AI doesn’t replace thinking; it exposes whether we’re doing any at all.

The challenge isn’t a lack of technology. It’s a lack of curiosity, courage, and clarity. Many of the processes designed to drive innovation actually suppress it, reinforcing existing behaviors instead of challenging them. When AI is layered onto these systems without intention, it simply accelerates what already exists.

This keynote is an inspiring call to rethink how we approach change. It reframes AI not as a shortcut or crutch, but as a thinking partner—one that helps humans question assumptions, explore new possibilities, and make better decisions. True innovation starts by changing how people think, not just what tools they use.

Drawing on insights from Kill the Company and Why Simple Wins, Lisa Bodell shows how to reignite the most underused human capabilities in organizations: curiosity, creative problem-solving, and judgment—and then amplify them with AI in practical, responsible, and unexpected ways.

This is not a passive keynote. Through live, interactive moments, participants transform the room into a real-time innovation lab—challenging assumptions, stress-testing ideas, and uncovering new opportunities together. Attendees leave inspired and equipped, ready to think more bravely about change, growth, and transformation.

AI doesn’t replace our thinking — it supports it. It gives us the chance to think bigger, challenge faster, and imagine more boldly than ever before.

Key Takeaways

AI’s blind spot: it amplifies thinking, it doesn’t replace it?
How to reignite curiosity and creative problem-solving at work
Using AI as a safe provocateur, not a replacement for judgment
Practical human-centered techniques to drive innovation immediately
A clearer, braver mindset for leading change in an AI-powered world

Fireside Chat with Senior Leadership
After the keynote, keep the energy and focus alive with a powerful 30-minute fireside chat featuring Lisa Bodell and a senior leader from your organization. This session creates a platform for leadership to engage in an honest discussion about what holds the organization back and what must change—culturally, behaviorally, or structurally. Lisa facilitates a provocative, no-fluff discussion that bridges keynote insights with your company’s real challenges. The second half of the session opens up to the audience for live Q&A—giving people the opportunity to ask bold questions, surface concerns, and hear candid reflections from the top. It’s equal parts inspirational and actionable—and a dynamic way to model change from the top down.

Simplification Tactics Workshop
Ready to make simplification stick? This highly engaging 45–60 minute workshop is the perfect way to activate Lisa Bodell’s keynote content with immediate, tangible next steps. Each participant receives a personal deck of 50+ simplification tactics—proven approaches that remove daily friction, streamline work, and accelerate decision-making. Lisa facilitates a rapid-fire “tactic swap” across tables, encouraging people to share favorites, discover new ideas, and commit to the first action they’ll take. After the exchange, Lisa guides a high-energy, full-room discussion to uncover the most frequently chosen tactics and clusters them into key themes—whether it’s killing unnecessary meetings, shifting approval processes, or cutting low-value reports. From there, she dives deep with real examples and activation strategies tailored to your audience. Participants leave with new ideas, a customized plan, and a renewed commitment to doing work that actually matters.

Kill a Stupid Rule Workshop
If you want to spark bold thinking and real results fast, this session delivers. Based on one of Lisa’s most iconic tools, Kill a Stupid Rule is a fast-paced, interactive workshop where teams identify and challenge the outdated rules, bloated processes, and unnecessary work holding them back. In small groups, participants brainstorm all the “stupid rules” they’d love to eliminate—then plot them by ease of elimination and potential impact. With Lisa’s expert facilitation, groups vote on the top candidates, share insights across teams, and leave with a clear path to act. The session can be customized from 45 to 75 minutes depending on group size and time available. Whether used as a breakout or full-room experience, this session generates immediate ideas, energy, and action—and gives leaders a replicable tool to drive change long after the event ends.