The Human Relations Revolution

When I speak at an event, I bring honesty, humor, and real stories from the HR trenches. I deliver the same warmth and clarity that shaped my TEDx talk, but in a way that feels human, relatable, and conversational. I keep people laughing, nodding, and thinking differently about leadership and culture. Most importantly, audiences walk away with practical tools they can use immediately—not just inspiration that fades by Monday.

When a client hires me, they get someone who shows up prepared, personal, and focused on their audience’s real needs. I tailor every keynote or workshop to the challenges your team is facing, not just the challenges you hope they’re facing. I talk openly about how to handle difficult conversations without destroying relationships, how to lead without ego, and how to create work environments where people actually want to show up.

My sessions are engaging, interactive, story-driven, and grounded in 25+ years of lived experience. I don’t just teach kindness as a concept—I show people how to use it as a leadership strategy that improves trust, accountability, and performance.

Your audience will leave energized, seen, and better equipped to lead the Kinder way.

I’m Lindsay Mattes—author, mama of four daughters, HR revolutionary, and founder of Kinder HR. I spent more than 25 years in HR watching people get treated like problems instead of humans, and I finally decided I couldn’t keep doing it that way. HR shouldn’t be paperwork, punishment, and “who do we write up?” HR should be about people, connection, and how we actually work together. That’s why I started the Kinder HR Revolution.

My speaking style is simple: real stories, real talk, and real tools you can actually use on Monday morning. I’ve been in rooms full of terrified employees, overwhelmed managers, and executives who swear they “have a culture issue” but don’t understand they’re the culture. I’ve helped organizations walk through layoffs, conflict, toxic leadership, and total burnout - without losing sight of compassion or humanity.

I teach a practical leadership approach I call the K.I.N.D.E.R. Framework, because leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about how you treat people:

Kinship & Community — belonging helps everyone perform better
Inquisitive & Introspective — ask before you assume
Nimble & Adaptive — because business changes every 10 minutes
Dedicated & Determined — culture takes consistency
Empathy & Example — lead like the person you want others to be
Results & Relationships — because success needs both

If you want a speaker who’s polished but human, who’s funny but not fluffy, and who tells the truth about leadership without shaming anyone, that’s me. My TEDx talk, “The Secret to a Better Workplace: Don’t Be a D.I.C.K.,” captures my whole perspective in one sentence: kindness is not weakness, and you don’t need to be a jerk to get results.

I don’t do corporate jargon. I don’t do “10 habits of high performers.” I talk about what really happens in teams, how to have hard conversations without destroying trust, and how to build workplaces where people don’t cry in their cars before walking in.

If your event needs energy, humor, honesty, and a fresh take on leadership, I’d love to join you. Let’s help your audience reconnect with their humanity and lead in a way that actually works.

Wireless mic or lapel mic
Working sound system
Projector/screen if slides are being used
Space to move on stage