Kim Carpenter
Global Speaker | Leadership Expert
Kim Carpenter has spent the past two decades helping business leaders and their teams hone their leadership and communications skills while mastering the tools and practices to lead change.
Inquire about having Kim speak at your event, or customize a workshop for your organization.
Kim Carpenter — Founder - People at the Center, Global Speaker, Executive Coach, Leadership Expert
Example Topics Include
Future-proofing Your Workplace Through Trust
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, trust is the key to high-performing teams, innovation, and long-term success, but it is often fragile and overlooked. This session explores the science behind trust, why it breaks down, and how leaders can build, sustain, and restore it. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to create a high-trust culture that enhances collaboration, engagement, and resilience. Designed specifically for HR professionals, this session provides the insights and tools needed to future-proof organizations by making trust a strategic advantage.
Micro-stressors: Secret Killers of Employee Engagement
Burnout isn’t usually caused by major crises—it often builds up through micro-stressors, the small, unnoticed pressures that accumulate throughout the workday, from constant task-switching, unclear expectations, or the emotional toll of workplace or life interactions. While we can’t eliminate stress entirely, we can take control of how we respond to and manage these cumulative drains on our energy. When we recognize microstressors and acknowledge what is actually in our control, we learn how to set boundaries, improve communication, and build resilience to prevent burnout before it starts. By making small but meaningful shifts in mindset and habits, we can create a healthier, more productive work experience.
The Future of Work Is Human
As AI and technology rapidly advance, it won’t be technological skills that make the difference for organizational success in the future; it will be human-centered leadership skills. Learn how people-centric leadership drives innovation, engagement, and retention, creating workplaces where employees thrive. Walk away with actionable strategies to build a culture that unlocks human potential, fuels business success, and future-proofs your organization. As AI defines the future of work, human beings will determine business success. Organizations that put their people at the center won’t just keep up—they will lead.
Your Customized Topic Here!
Talk with us about creating a bespoke presentation for your group!
Previous Speaking Engagements
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The Hershey Company
Coca-Cola
Microsoft
Santander Bank
SHURE
BossFight Entertainment (now Netflix)
ChampionX (now SLB)
Association for Talent Development (ATD)
Society for HR Management (SHRM)
Women’s Networks: National Association of Professional Women, Ellevate, CHIEF, Junior League
Higher Ed: University of Texas, E Texas A&M, University of British Columbia
Speaking Testimonials
GREAT SPEAKER FOR SKEPTICAL EMPLOYEES
As an HR leader with highly skeptical employees, it’s been challenging to find speakers that can captivate my team while also inspiring them to take action. Kim’s superpower is relating to people from what’s possible, rather than not possible. I experienced a tremendous amount of positivity and curiosity from team members after her speaking and training sessions, which is fantastic!
Pamela Daniel — HR, Netflix (Gaming Division)
ENTERTAINING, ENGAGING, KNOWLEDGABLE
Kim was entertaining, engaging and very knowledgeable. My leadership team walked away with tangible actions to take, and we felt more connected to each other at the end of it.
Rose Ann Garza, SPHR, SHRM-SCP; CHRO, Kerbey Lane | State Director, Texas SHRM
ENGAGES A CROWD AND CREATES ACTIONABLE CHANGE
As the head of our women’s ERG at The Zebra, The Shebras, I led the search for a powerful keynote speaker to celebrate International Women’s Day. Kim was recommended to us as someone who could both engage a crowd and leave an audience with actionable steps for change. She definitely delivered on that promise, and worked diligently with myself and our leadership team to create compelling custom content that would resonate with not just women attendees, but the staff population overall. The result was that this was one of our most highly attended sessions and I’ve gotten many positive responses and requests to bring Kim back. I’d definitely recommend her to anyone wanting to host uplifting, enlightening and entertaining sessions for your teams.
Elyse Exposito, Chief of Staff, The Zebra
POWERFUL GO-TO SPEAKER
Kim is a brilliant business coach who shows us that you can thrive in your career, while being true to your values and authenticity. She is one powerful coach, consultant, trainer and speaker. She will always be a “go to” person for my interview series and podcasts!
Tara Butler Flock — Founder, Broadviewpreneur Coaching
TRANSFORMATIONAL SPEAKER OPENS HEARTS AND MINDS
Kim is highly professional with a high degree of emotional intelligence and an open heart. There were people that came into this (seminar) really skeptical, not interested in diving into themselves or others, and it was transformational to watch them go from having folded arms at the beginning to open arms and minds at the end.
Jeff Denby — Founder & Co-CEO, The Renewal Workshop
CURRENT SPEAKER, ON TOP OF SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES
What I like most about Kim is that she keeps current. This is a rapidly changing landscape and Kim is always on top of the most successful strategies.
Debra Boulanger — Founder, Launch Lab For Women
Headshots
Kim Carpenter Speaker Bios
Short Bio:
Kim Carpenter, PCC, is the founder of People at the Center©, a consultancy dedicated to using research-backed tools and proven practices to create environments where both people and profits thrive. In the past 20 years as a Global Speaker, Executive Coach and Trainer, Kim has worked with thousands of professionals at companies such as Apple, Netflix, Hershey and PBS. She is the author of the forthcoming book, People at the Center: Reinventing How We Lead, Work and Create Organizations.
Longer Bio:
Kim Carpenter, PCC (Professional Certified Coach), is a nationally recognized leadership expert celebrated for her ability to transform professionals into high-performing, people-centric leaders. With a distinguished career spanning marketing, business development, advertising, and IT project management for Fortune 500 corporations, Kim brings a unique blend of strategic acumen and human-focused leadership to her work. She has collaborated with top brands across industries—including manufacturing, energy, technology, and healthcare. She has coached leaders to impact organizations such as SLB, Marqueta, Microsoft, Apple, and PBS to achieve impactful change.
As the founder of People at the Center, Kim has spent the past 17 years coaching and training over 7,500 professionals through live workshops, virtual programs, conferences, and one-on-one coaching. Her work is grounded in neuroscience, trust-building, and teamwork, delivering no-nonsense, bottom-line results that don’t sacrifice our humanity. She’s been a featured speaker at 50+ conferences, captivating audiences with actionable insights on leadership, trust and cultural transformation. She is the author of the forthcoming book, People at the Center: Reinventing How We Lead, Work and Create Organizations.
Kim’s clients consistently report measurable improvements in retention, engagement, KPIs, and workplace satisfaction. One of her proudest accomplishments is a year-long talent development engagement significantly enhanced culture and teamwork, culminating in their acquisition by Netflix.
People at the Center’s team of coaches are certified practitioners in DISC, Hogan, and Leadership Circle Profile. They also provide recertification training for HR leaders through SHRM and HRCI. Kim’s influence extends across 22 countries on 7 continents, where she has worked with diverse teams and leaders to create thriving workplace cultures. She is also a coach and facilitator for Chief, the premier women’s leadership network, where she moderates conversations among senior executive women to elevate their leadership and drive organizational success.
As strong advocates for ESG, her firm partners with B1G1.org to align business initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) through global giving impacts, and contributes locally as a member of Social Venture Partners Austin, offering expertise to strengthen non-profit leadership.
When not transforming leaders and workplaces, Kim enjoys hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, watercolor painting, and wine tasting. She resides outside of Dallas, Texas, with her family and Cosmos the Wondercat, who keeps everyone on their toes.