Speaking

In the face of AI disruption, don't underestimate the power of relatable, hard-won stories to inspire hope and action—especially from a friendly human who's been where your people are, and where we're all heading.

Since leaving corporate in 2022, I've been living what many employees are bracing for, and come to mostly love it. I'm a former tech manager + financial coach → humorist + author who's very interested in what makes life so cool and people so interesting.

I've navigated scrappy income, business building/pivots, nontraditional benefits, and the very real question of "how long can I make this last?" While breaking up with fancy job titles and "status," I've written two books* for knowledge workers about personal autonomy, money, and building a meaningful life—independent of a particular job or job title.

Very relevant to my speaking engagements are the stories and lessons I've gathered from a lifetime of noticing the small, often funny stuff.

Readers find me relatable and say nice things: 

"Nobody observes the world quite like you do. Your ‘Sad Choices Building’ story is classic, clever and totally hilarious. Thanks for always sharing your lens with us. Honestly, the world is just a bit brighter and funnier because you’re in it pointing these things out."

‍Another said, "I so appreciated this piece. I rarely laugh right now. (Existential dread is real.) This made me laugh and think about something that is curiously important and not life threatening. Thank you for the breath of fresh air."

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*Dear Fellow Dreamer released January 2026. Dear Fellow Spender published 2023.

Professional Emily with a fancy-schmancy tech manager job and a burgeoning financial coaching business on the side.

Exploring Emily in Greece, four months out of corporate. Feeling wetter and more alive than I'd felt in years. Becoming a writer.

What a talk with me feels like:

The cool thing about us authors is that we don't take ourselves too seriously. We really can't since we recognize that we're delusional enough to think we can make a living off our WORDS. Part of the job description, though, is that we take life really seriously, and notice the stuff not everyone does.

My time in and out of corporate has been spent reading people and rooms. I therefore keep my suit-free, corporate-jargon-free writing and speaking real, substantial, and story-filled. Goal? Connect with and inspire more living and noticing in other cool humans.

That I like people, and believe in the potential of everyone to do cool things with their life, shines through. Talks are inspirational without me pretending to be Tony Robbins or anything more than I am—a regular woman who's been willing to take big risks to make the most of my one life.
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Here are a few directions a talk with me might go:

  • "Disruption might be the best thing that ever happened to you"

  • "The wonder of no title and little security"

  • "Pursuing your dreams might actually be the most responsible thing you can do"

  • "Losing (or loosening) your professional identity...and thriving"

  • "Lessons from improv-ing life outside corporate safety"

  • "Becoming your own HR department in the face of AI disruption"

I also offer virtual book clubs to interested orgs/groups.

I've spoken to community groups of hundred and am very comfortable connecting with audiences of any size. The above video was taken unbeknownst to me at a local impromptu speaking event, and is provided to give you a sample of my speaking personality. More speaking footage will be added as available.

Interested? Fill out the form and I'll be in touch soon.

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