LEADERSHIP & CULTURE STRATEGIST • SPEAKER • FACILITATOR
I’ll help you build teams, campuses & communities where people belong, lead & thrive
Where Strategy Meets Humanity
I help organizations create cultures of belonging through practical, people-centered leadership development—not as a one-and-done speaker, but as a true partner in your growth.
TRUSTED BY THESE IMPACTFUL ORGANIZATIONS AND MANY MORE FOR OVER 14 YEARS
ABOUT AUSTIN
Hi, friend!
I’m Austin!
I've spent 14 years helping organizations, campuses, and communities strengthen their people and their culture - whether that's developing student leaders at a major university, guiding a corporate team through a culture shift, or helping a nonprofit align around its mission.
My work spans keynotes, workshops, retreats, and hands-on consulting - always customized, always practical, always focused on creating environments where people feel like they belong, know how to lead, and are set up to thrive.
If you're looking for someone who brings both strategy and heart to the work - and who will care about your people as much as you do - I'd love to connect.
HOW I CAN HELP
Three Ways to Work Together
Whether you need an energizing keynote, a practical workshop, or a deeper consulting engagement — every program is built around your goals and designed to create real, lasting impact.
Speaking & Keynotes
Customized keynotes for campuses, companies, associations, and conferences of all kinds — built around your audience, your goals, and what you want people to carry with them.
Workshops & Facilitation
Interactive programs that build real skills and shift culture — for leadership teams, boards, organizations, and communities across every sector. You leave with a plan, not just goosebumps.
Consulting & Assessment
Organizational and culture assessments that give you an honest, structured picture of where you are — and a practical, grounded plan for where you want to go.
WHAT I HELP YOU DO
Outcomes Focused, Driven by Connection
Practical outcomes that strengthen your people and your culture
Strengthen People & Culture
Build environments where people feel like they belong, understand their role, and are equipped to contribute meaningfully.
Develop Confident Leaders
Grow skilled, self-aware leaders—at every level—who know how to show up for their teams and create positive impact.
Build Trust & Communication
Create genuine connection across teams, departments, and organizations through intentional communication and shared purpose.
Solve Culture Challenges
Navigate change, address misalignment, and move from stuck to strategic with a clear path forward.
“Austin’s organization, communication, and presentation skills made his time with us one of the most talked about events our company participated in during our time together over those few days.”
CUSTOMER SUCCESS TEAM
PAR TECHNOLOGY & DATA CENTRAL
WHO I WORK WITH
Engagements Built for Every Room
Find your audience and see exactly what I can bring to your community — engagements designed for the specific people, pressures, and possibilities of each context.
Higher Education
Keynotes, workshops, and consulting for every corner of your campus — student leaders, campus professionals, and the culture that holds it all together.
Explore higher ed programsK-12 Education
Student leadership keynotes for high school audiences and professional development workshops for K-12 educators — because both deserve programs built with them in mind.
Explore K-12 programsCorporate
Keynotes, leadership workshops, and culture consulting for teams and organizations investing seriously in how their people communicate, trust each other, and do their best work.
Explore corporate programsAssociations & Nonprofits
Keynotes, staff development workshops, board retreat facilitation, and culture consulting for mission-driven organizations that invest in their people as seriously as they invest in their mission.
Explore A&NP programs-
![JWU logo featuring a blue circular background with a crest at the top and the white text 'JWU' in the center.]()
“Austin may be a speaker, but he is more aptly described as a facilitator - channeling student passions, that brought them to each of their organizations, into operational best practices…Austin puts students first. Austin brings energy, excitement, the occasional joke, and his own passions to his facilitation… we would gladly welcome Austin back.”
Johnson and Wales University - Charlotte
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![Blue university logo with a white silhouette of a leaf in the center and the text 'Indiana State University' below.]()
“Austin is a dynamic and engaging speaker and facilitator who ensures your event is enjoyable and thought-provoking for participants. Attendees always leave with something new, and even months after the presentation, I hear my students referencing content from the program.”
Indiana State University
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![Large white anchor symbol on a building facade, against a blue sky, with trees and additional building elements in the background.]()
"From start to finish Austin was very pleasant to work with. From our first conversation I could tell he truly has a passion for what he does and his main goal is to help communities improve… Austin went the extra mile to customize his program 100% to our campus and its needs… I am truly thankful for Austin, as I feel he was what our community needed to get back up and running."
University of Akron
WHY WORK WITH ME
Not Just a Speaker. A Strategic Partner.
Too many organizations bring in a great keynote or workshop — everyone gets fired up, and then Monday arrives. The energy is gone and nothing has changed. I build programs that are designed to outlast the moment, grounded in research, and followed up with real support. Because inspiration without action isn't enough.
Grounded in Research. Built for How People Learn.
Deep roots in instructional design and curriculum development mean every program is sequenced intentionally — not just a good story with energy. The structure underneath is as purposeful as what happens in the room.
Warm Energy. Real Substance.
People call it "golden retriever energy" — and yes, I bring humor, heart, and genuine care to every room. But don't let the warmth fool you. Every engagement is backed by 14+ years of cross-sector experience and a commitment to outcomes that actually stick.
Full Follow-Through — Before, During, and After.
I prepare deeply before walking into your room, stay engaged during, and offer real follow-up after — workshops, assessments, and ongoing support for organizations ready to go further. The day of the event is the beginning, not the end.
Built for Your Goals. Not a Generic Agenda.
Every engagement starts with a real conversation about what you're trying to build. Your audience, your culture, your challenges shape the program — not the other way around. No copy-paste solutions.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions People Ask Before We Work Together
A few things to know up front. If your question isn’t here, just ask.
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I'm a leadership and culture strategist, speaker, and facilitator based in Nashville.
For 14 years, I've helped organizations, campuses, and communities build places where people belong, lead, and do their best work. That happens through keynotes, workshops, and consulting, and usually some combination of the three.
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Audiences of all kinds!
Colleges and universities
K-12 schools and districts
Corporate teams and managers
Associations and nonprofits
Each one has its own page here, because a room full of student leaders and a room full of managers need different things from me, even when we're talking about the same thing.
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Great question! The differences are important in deciding the right event to achieve your goals.
A keynote shifts how people think and sets the tone for everything after it.
A workshop builds actual skills through practice, so people leave with a plan instead of a feeling.
A consulting engagement goes deeper, using organizational and culture assessments to give you an honest read on where you are and a practical path to where you want to be.
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I am happy to discuss nearly any topic of interest.
The most common topics include leadership development, workplace and campus culture, trust, communication, and belonging.
I organize programs by audience rather than by topic, so the fastest way to find what fits is to head to your audience page and look at what's built for your people.
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Every program is customized.
We start with a real conversation about your audience, your goals, and what your people are actually dealing with, and the content gets shaped from there. The core message stays consistent. How it gets shaped for your audience is what changes.
When clients tell me why a program landed, customization is almost always the first thing they name.
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The structure underneath is what makes working with me different.
I have deep roots in instructional design mean every program is sequenced on purpose, not just a good story with energy behind it. Clients also mention the warmth, and the fact that I stay engaged before, during, and after the event. The day of the program is the start of the work, not the finish line.
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Yes - I am happy to do programs virtually.
Keynotes, workshops, and webinars all work virtually, which helps when your team is spread across four time zones or your travel budget is having a rough year. For retreats and heavily interactive workshops, in-person is usually the better call. We can talk it through early.
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Start with a discovery call.
You tell me who's in the room, what you're planning, and what you want people carrying out with them, and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.
Education bookings, including education-focused associations and nonprofits, go through CAMPUSPEAK.
Everything else comes straight to me through the contact form.
Ready to strengthen your team, campus, or organization?
Whether you're supporting students, developing managers, strengthening staff culture, or planning a conference - I'd love to help you create meaningful, lasting change.