Lori Robertson - Keynote Speaker & SpeakHer Coach

05/04/2026

Did you ever feel like to much as I kid? I know I did. I always got "talks too much" marked on my report card. I was always a little too loud, too boisterous, too much.

So I learned to dial it back. Tighten myself up and play smaller. Maybe you did, too.

Women who grew up with the same feeling I had are now professional women who work hard to communicate information. You present the data. Share the update. Stick to the facts.

You do it really well. And brevity is valuable. Having enough clarity to be consise is important, especially in high-stakes moments.

But here's what gets lost.

Information without meaning doesn't move people. It just checks the update box and fills the time.

Leaders who actually move rooms do something different. They don't just tell you what's happening. They tell you what it means. Why it matters and what you (or they) are going to do about it.

It's the shift from information to impact. And it's one of the biggest communication gaps I see in the leaders I coach.

The good news? It's a skill. Not a personality trait.

The bad news? Nobody is teaching in. Which means female leaders are winging it in the moments that matter most. And it's costing you confidence, credibility and impact.

In this week's Speaking from Experience newsletter, I'll share a framework that will change how you approach those high-stakes communication moments.

🔗 to join 1000+ women leaders leveling up communication and impact every week: https://5steps.speakhercoach.com/

What's a high-stakes communication moment on the horizon for you? How are you preparing to show up as your best self and make the most of it?

Effective communication is the best way for professional women to level up your leadership, grow your business and elevate your personal brand. But you can hesitate when you undervalue the wisdom you have to share and overestimate the risk in stepping up, speaking up and leading. This quick start gu...

12/19/2024

417-Land ladies! If you're focused on leveling up your communication in 2025, we'd love to join us for the February Remarkable class!

👉 👉 Applications close tomorrow, Dec 20 👈 👈
Take the leap and apply for Biz 417’s Remarkable 2025 Spring Class!

This is your moment to grow, learn and shine as you embark on a journey of empowerment and connection. With expert coaching and a supportive community led by Logan Aguirre, you'll master the art of impactful storytelling.

Here's what Remarkable alumni have to say:
🗣️ The program gave me the protected time and space to work on message development and public presentation. I loved the opportunity to build community and develop relationships while also developing myself. Logan and Lori were so supportive, honest, and inspiring.

🗣️ This program was the perfect opportunity to hone my skills and develop the tools given with the aid of true professionals. This opportunity gave me the confidence to do the hard thing - accept that offer to share the story and do that with confidence.

🗣️ This was an incredible experience. I knew I would get out of my comfort zone. I’ve just kind of naturally winging it and being comfortable speaking and public. But having an agenda to organize my thoughts and to practice what I want to say and how incredible experience I will never forget.

Over six classes, you'll gain the skills and confidence to deliver a compelling 15-minute signature talk that resonates with your audience.

Don’t miss out on this chance to empower yourself and inspire others. Seize the opportunity and apply today at the link below!

https://ladieswholaunch.biz417.com/remarkable -1

07/09/2024

Tanzania Trip Recap - World-Class Customer Service at Moivaro Lodge

After 36 hours of travel, we landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport. After loading 8000 pounds of luggage on the top of our little bus, we drove to Moivaro Lodge, a gorgeous little village of cottages on a former coffee plantation.

When we arrived late in the night, staff members gathered on the front porch to greet us with hugs and choruses of "Karibu," which means welcome in Swahili.

We quickly got our keys and were helped to our cottages by kind porters who easily hefted 75-pound suitcases on their heads!

The lodge is nestled into a beautiful rainforest area where little grey monkeys live on the treetops. Apparently, these monkeys can be naughty, so night guards are stationed on the paths and appear immediately to es**rt guests around the grounds. I kept hoping to see the monkey's naughtiness but nothing untoward happened.

Every hotel employee I encountered was filled with joy and delight at helping hotel guests have an enjoyable experience.

❤️ One of the night guards promised to show us monkeys in the morning. I'm not saying he slept on our porch to honor this promise. But I am saying he appeared immediately the following morning and delivered on the monkey playground visit. Monkey play video in the comments.

❤️ My morning coffee order was odd. Hot coffee, hot milk and a splash of cool water to make it drinkable. Despite the side-eye at my weirdness, the young woman at the coffee station memorized and delivered coffee just as I like it every morning.

❤️ The staff delighted in teaching us Swahili phrases and helping us engage in their native language. Every morning, we greeted with "Jambo" (hello), "Asanta sana" (thank you very much) and "Karibu sana" (you are very welcome). One of the monkey guards taught us "Mambo vipi" (What's up?) which is answered with "Poa" which means cool.

Everywhere I've ever been, people share the desire to connect, to share and to welcome. The kind people of Moivaro Lodge could give a masterclass on customer service.

What does above-and-beyond customer service look like to you?

07/08/2024

It took four planes and over 36 hours to get to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. Two flights were over 7 and 9 hours.

Over the years, I've learned a few hacks that make long flights more bearable.

Here are my top 4 LONG flight survival tips:

👉 Upgrade ASAP
As soon as your flight's booked, grab a business class seat using money or miles if you can. The extra space will pay big time when you're trying to sleep.

I'm not talking about a $2K upgrade to first class. I'm talking about $100-200 for the next level of seating.

👉 Prep to Sleep
I have a whole flight sleep kit that's well worth schlepping around the world: a pillow, blanket, earplugs, and eye mask. I'm also a fan of those cozy compression socks.

Add a glass of wine and benadryl, and you've got some good rest coming your way.

👉 Prep to Not Sleep
Even if you can catch some quality shut-eye, you likely won't sleep through your whole journey. (I said one glass of wine and one Benedryl.🥴) If the Wi-Fi isn't great, make sure you've downloaded your favorite show and a book or two.

A 7-hour flight will feel like 15 if you aren't able to sleep or entertain yourself.

👉 Bring Lots of Water
Grab a big water bottle and fill it before your flight. Don't depend on the little beverage service water to get you through. Staying hydrated will help with jet lag, too.

What are your LONG flight tips? Drop em in the comments. I'd love to know.

07/06/2024

We did it! On June 29, Team Compassion International stood on the roof of Africa as we summitted Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet.

It was the most amazing, incredible, beautiful, hard thing I've ever done.

Still processing sharable takeaways.

For now, thank you to all who prayed, cheered, and donated to the mission of building safe, secure homes for families in Tanzania.

One thing I know for sure: We can do hard things.

You're stronger than you realize. And stronger still in community with other brave people sharing the journey. I'm forever grateful for the incredible team that made this journey possible.

06/21/2024

Let’s go!

04/26/2024

If I've shared anything smart or insightful about communication or leadership, odds are I learned it from Mary Graham.

Mary was president of Women of Faith and my boss, mentor and friend.

Today, I'd like to pay it forward and share a few of the most lasting pieces of Mary wisdom with you.

💫 Context is everything. 💫

One of Mary's strengths on ​StrengthsFinder​ was input. She wasn't nosy. But she did like to know all the things.

Why? Because nothing is meaningful without context.

Context adds depth and nuance.

Context isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must-have for effective communication.

💫 No one cares about when you got it right. 💫

Vulnerability is hard. I get it. Especially when you're the leader. Especially when you're the female leader. But vulnerability sets the stage for connection and true impact.

As Mary always said, "No one cares about when you got it right. We want to know what happened when it all went wrong. What did you do? And what did you learn that will help me with the challenge I'm facing?"

💫 "What might this make possible?" 💫

Mary had this super-annoying habit of nudging our leadership team to look for opportunities in every challenge. Crazy, right?

Rather than spending our time and energy railing against the injustice or ridiculousness of a situation, she'd encourage us to ask ourselves, "What might this make possible?"

If we've learned anything in the last few years, we've seen there are new opportunities and creative possibilities in even the biggest challenges. They're there for the taking when you're willing to look for them.

💫 Every organizational unit reflects the leadership it's given. 💫

Mary was an incredible leader. Her grace-filled, encouraging, inspiring heart was reflected in everything Women of Faith was.

She was a perfect illustration of the fact that the leader influences the team, the culture and the results...every time.

As the leader, your words and actions carry weight far beyond what you can see. Your team is a reflection of you.

You'll never fully see the impact you're making.

But it's there. And it's good.

Lead on, sister. ❤️

04/25/2024

Ever found yourself playing small?

Me, too.

When I first started my speaking and coaching business as it is today, I called it SpeakHer Coach.

I love that brand because it perfectly articulates my 2 key focus areas: empowering women through clear, confident communication.

It also fit because it allowed me to hide. To raise my hand to do this scary new thing without totally raising MY hand. To hide behind a brand rather than stand in my own voice and personal brand.

So in January, I sucked it up and spent more than I wanted to on ​LoriRobertson.com​.

And now, there's a real, live website there!

SpeakHer Coach is still my business through which I offer 1:1 coaching for professional women as well as courses and group programs to help women step up, speak up and shine.

All under the umbrella of my personal brand through which I provide keynotes and workshops for leaders (sometimes all-women groups, sometimes mixed) in the areas of communication, strategic storytelling and personal branding.



If you're playing small, I hope you'll take one step toward a bigger play. Just think what might be possible when you do.

And if you know a woman who's not shining like she could, give her a little encouragement. Someone else seeing her magic might be just the thing that gives her the courage to set it free.

04/24/2024

🎯 "Brevity is nice. But sometimes clarity is the true soul of wit." 🎯

One of the things I miss most about Ted Lasso was all the nuggets of wisdom in disguise.

For instance, this beauty on that highlights the power of clarity:

"Brevity is nice. But sometimes clarity is the true soul of wit."

In communication, clarity always beats creativity.

And especially for leaders, clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.

A few reasons why clarity reigns supreme:

📣 Communicating the Tough Stuff: When the going gets hard, clarity becomes your best ally. It removes the extraneous noise that can cloud challenging conversations.

❤️ Kindness in Transparency: We've all been there—wrapping a tough message in layers of soft padding to avoid hurting feelings. But guess what? That obscures the very essence of the message.

⏩ Clear is Kind, and Kind is Empowering: If you truly want to empower others to grow and improve, then be transparent. Offer them the gift of understanding.

🔊 Don't Silence Your Clarity: It's not only your right but your responsibility to make your message understood. Anything less robs the listener of an opportunity for growth.

If you're wrestling with delivering a message that's both kind and clear, I'm here to help.

04/23/2024

If you see public speaking as heavy, risky, hard, you're looking at it wrong.
It's time to change your perspective.

Why?
Because perspective changes everything.

As the late Wayne Dyer said,
When you change the way you look at things,
the things you look at change.

Over the years, I've found several pivotal shifts in perspective that have changed the way I think about communication. And freed me to step up and speak up more confidently and effectively.

One powerful reframe:

⭐️ Public speaking is conversation ⭐️

When you see public speaking as presenting, lecturing, performing, that feels like a lot, doesn't it?

That feels heavy. Challenging. Uncertain and un-fun.

But the most powerful speakers draw the audience into an authentic, connecting, engaging conversation.

That sounds much more fun, right?

Public speaking is just conversation at scale.

In this week's Speaking from Experience newsletter, you'll learn 4 more powerful reframes on speaking and communication that can change your mind, how you show up and what's possible for you and for the people you lead and serve.

Want in? Join over 350 professional women leveraging confident, compelling communication to grow businesses and personal brands here: 5steps.speakhercoach.com

When you sign up, you'll also get my Speak with Confidence quick start guide and mini-video course in your inbox.

I'll see you there!