In a world that rewards urgency and instant results, what would happen if we paused—not to hesitate, but to lead with clarity?

In this transformative keynote, Dr. Payal Beri invites leaders to shift from knee-jerk reactions to grounded responses. Drawing from her experience as an organizational psychologist and former therapist, she explores what happens when leadership is fueled by empathy, not ego, curiosity, or control.

This talk is your call to slow down, reflect, and rewire how you lead under pressure—so you can show up with presence, power, and perspective in even the most chaotic moments.

In this keynote, your audience will learn how to:

Identify when fear is shaping decisions and shift into an emotionally regulated response

Transform emotional triggers into tools for insight and action

Navigate high-pressure situations with emotional precision and presence

Build teams and cultures rooted in trust, not tension

In a world racing toward automation and AI, it’s tempting to believe that innovation lies in speed, data, and systems. But the most meaningful disruption ahead won’t come from what we build, it will come from how deeply we understand who we’re building for.

In this powerful and timely keynote, Dr. Payal Beri argues that human connection is the most overlooked innovation strategy of our time. As organizations double down on efficiency, people, whether customers, employees, or community members, crave emotional resonance, not just streamlined results.

Because machines can optimize, and only humans can interpret, imagine, and relate.

Dr. Beri reveals how true innovation starts with insight into human behavior, not assumptions. She shows how empathy isn't about being “nice”—it's about anticipating needs before they’re spoken, spotting patterns no algorithm can detect, and designing solutions that people don't just use but trust.

In this keynote, you’ll explore how to:

✔ Use emotional intelligence to anticipate unspoken needs and drive deeper customer and team loyalty
✔ Harness empathy as a strategic lens for designing bold, human-centered solutions
✔ Shift from transactional creativity to transformational innovation grounded in real human experience
✔ Reclaim connection as a leadership imperative, not a cultural add-on, in the age of AI

This keynote is ideal for any organization facing growth, disruption, or cultural transformation, and looking to lead with relevance, resonance, and a renewed commitment to humanity.

We live in an era where every product is searchable, every service is replicable, and attention is fleeting. What can’t be copied? How you make people feel.

Dr. Payal Beri challenges the outdated notion that persuasion closes deals in this compelling keynote. Today’s buyers are discerning, emotionally aware, and exhausted by being “targeted.” They don’t want more tactics—they want a real connection.

The future of sales doesn’t belong to the most persistent voice. It belongs to the most trusted one.

Dr. Beri reveals that empathy isn’t the soft side of sales; it’s your sharpest tool. When you learn to listen between the lines, ask better questions, and lead with emotional precision, you shift from convincing people to partnering with them. That builds loyalty, which lasts long after the contract is signed.

In this keynote, you’ll discover how to:

✔ Build client trust without chasing or convincing
✔ Shift from transactional selling to values-aligned relationships
✔ Use emotional intelligence to read the room, not just pitch into it
✔ Create brand advocates through presence, personalization, and authentic resonance

This keynote is designed for organizations and teams ready to replace hustle culture with human connection and prove that relationships will always outperform tactics.

For generations, women have been told to lead with less, less emotion, less intensity, less ambition. We’ve internalized those expectations, learned to self-edit, and been rewarded for fitting into a leadership mold that was never built for us in the first place.

Dr. Payal Beri invites women to do something radical: stop apologizing for being powerful.

In this transformative keynote, Dr. Beri challenges the cultural and systemic narratives that have kept women from fully owning their voice, their presence, and their impact. She unpacks how those patterns show up subtly, in negotiations, in boardrooms, in client meetings and how to dismantle them with confidence and clarity.

This isn’t about leaning in. It’s about standing tall.

Because power isn’t something women need to earn. It’s something we reclaim.

In this keynote, you’ll learn how to:

✔ Rewrite the internal and external narratives that keep you playing small
✔ Step into leadership from a place of alignment and unapologetic clarity
✔ Move from approval-seeking to impact-making with confidence
✔ Foster cultures of collective empowerment where women rise together, not compete for space

This talk is designed for organizations committed to equity, leadership development, and creating spaces where women don’t shrink to succeed but rise by being fully themselves.

“Dr. Payal Beri created an incredible experience for our talent across all agencies to learn how to tap into empathy to add value, create influence and advocate for self in remote work environments. We had everyone from early career to senior leadership attend her immersive experience, with an attendance that has surpassed any of our former engagements. The participants' feedback has been positive, motivated, and ready to apply her strategies immediately. We’ve had senior leaders who already see the benefits of her teaching after one month. Senior leaders are ready to bring Dr. Beri in for recurring work with our agencies and ensure talent continues to apply her strategies as it’s enhancing the culture we’ve already built of trust and innovation. “

Naimah Bhuruku

Program Specialist, Flight Center, Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at NASA

"There is a lot to planning and organizing an ERG speaker event. The catering has to be delicious, the swag has to be on point, and of course the speaker needs to be fun and engaging. We specifically wanted a speaker that was able to speak on breaking the asian stereotype in the workplace and foster a culture that welcomes new ideas and culture - and Dr. Beri was perfect for this. She also interviewed us to see if we were also a perfect fit for her as a client, which I very much appreciated.

Already having attended one of her workshops from SASE, I knew that she would be engaging with the audience. But what was profound is that allies understanding the perception and how they could promote a more inclusive culture. I was able to visibly see everyone nodding collectively. Many colleagues have expressed how Dr. Beri was able to clearly provide insight in how to navigate the stereotypes. As a fellow asian, I thought I knew it all - but for Payal to add value to even just the allies at the event, showed that she was able to communicate beyond cultural boundaries. I really look forward to the next time we can coordinate a company workshop!"

Simon Lee, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Tenable Inc

"Dr. Payal Beri spoke at two of the recent Insurance Business Women in Insurance Summits, and brought a fantastic perspective on the importance of emotional intelligence as a leader. She artfully engaged the audience through her session talk and moderation of interactive table discussions. Dr. Payal Beri brought an energy into the room that both lightened the day and deepened the discussion. She was a fantastic addition to the summit!"

 Jesse Friedl

Global Head of Events at Key Media

“If you have not had the pleasure of Dr. Payal Beri talking to your leadership team, you are missing out on having a stronger team that uses the power of empathy. The passion and power of her words hit the core of our humanity. Thank you Dr. Payal Beri for your voice, your courage, your passion and your service. I look forward to your next talk with us.

Raquel Cundiff

Senior Engineer and Program Administrator at Boeing

“Payal created an excellent workshop on Using Emotional Intelligence to add value, create influence and advocate for self to support the team during the leadership annual meeting. Her initial partnership was smooth, from the insightful questions and understanding of our needs to customize the talk that best supported our team. She was incredibly receptive to feedback, worked through iterations that made the delivery impactful, and left the team with resources and immediate and long-term transformations. The strategies and insight Payal provided resonated with each team member, regardless of seniority and role. We were thoroughly pleased with Payal as a guest speaker at the annual leadership conference.”

Soumya Chauhan

Finance Leader at Google

“Payal Beri facilitated an excellent interactive, engaging session filled with discussion about strategies and support systems to ensure better mental health as Groupon's Global Inclusion and Diversity first of its series of Virtual Conversations for employees.”

Corey Flournoy

Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Groupon

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Payal for the past three years on various leadership development programs for our Asian professional audience. I can honestly say that Payal is one of our most valued partners. She continuously innovates her approach and consistently brings high energy and a can-do attitude as we continue to learn and evolve to our audience's needs in this fast-changing landscape. I’m looking forward to continue working with Payal and RK Empathy for years to come!

Paraag Maddiwar,

Program Event Manager of SASE (society of scientists and engineers) 

"Your insights were not only enlightening but also profoundly inspiring to everyone in attendance. We have already received fantastic feedback from the approximately 130 attendees, many of whom have expressed how much they gained from your talk. Your ability to connect with the audience and provide valuable perspectives on the AAPI experience was both impactful and memorable.

Thank you once again for taking the time to join us and for making our event such a resounding success. We look forward to the possibility of collaborating with you again in the future."

Muta Mashack, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Tenable Inc