Keynote Speaker

Book Heather as your

A woman with long, wavy gray hair holding several paintbrushes, standing against a light blue background, smiling and wearing a black blazer and gold jewelry.

Hi, I’m Heather. I help leaders unlock the innate creativity of their people and build cultures where breakthrough ideas become the norm not the exception.

As an organizational psychologist, I pioneered The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™, a model that reveals how people naturally solve problems, collaborate, and drive innovation. Everyone is creative, and we need everyone’s unique creativity to solve complex problems today.

But most workplaces unintentionally shut that creativity down. People hold back their ideas. Teams play it safe. Innovation stalls.

That’s where I come in.

Understanding your unique creative genius is just the beginning. I help leaders create environments that unleash every type of creativity so people feel energized, teams solve problems faster, and organizations innovate at a level they didn’t know they were capable of.

Heather Hodges, PhD Keynote Speaker on Creativity and Innovation and Speed-Painter

Mastering the Art and Science of Human Creativity at Work

Underperforming teams are costing organizations time, money, and talent. In a world defined by speed and uncertainty, technical skill alone isn’t enough. The future belongs to those who can think creatively, adapt quickly, and innovate fearlessly. Each of The Art of Performance™ keynotes redefines creativity as the ultimate competitive edge. It’s not just for artists, it’s for everyone who wants to innovate, lead, sell, collaborate, and perform at their best.

Organizations are facing a perfect storm of challenges: staffing shortages, burnout, tight budgets, constant change, and disengaged teams. The pressure is real, and while resources may be tight, your most powerful asset—creativity—is limitless.

Creativity is the engine that drives innovation, engagement, and organizational performance. Today we have AI as a creativity partner to optimize processes and generate ideas. And yet, for all its brilliance, AI’s creativity is derivative. It draws from what has already been done. It cannot imagine new possibilities, be innately curious, or understand the rich complexity of human experience and emotions. Only humans can do that.

In this unforgettable keynote, Heather blends art, stories, and neuroscience to help unleash your creative genius to use it as a strategic advantage.

Unleash Your Creative Genius

Heather Hodges, PhD Keynote Speaker and Speed-painter, Creativity and Innovation

Organizations today face soaring turnover, underdeveloped managers, inconsistent culture, and mounting pressure to deliver results with tight budgets. The bottom line is that you cannot build momentum to reach your goals without strong managers and leaders.

In today's competitive landscape, training leadership competencies is no longer enough. Without leaders who can unleash the creative potential of every employee, organizations fail to adapt, innovate, and thrive.

In this dynamic keynote Heather shares research-backed insights and actionable strategies that train leaders to unleash employee creativity and drive innovation.

Ignite Creativity and Elevate Performance

In today’s sales environment, referrals are harder to earn, and budgets are tighter than ever. Your sales team is under constant pressure to hit ambitious targets while navigating emotional conversations.

Enter your sales superpower: creative imagination. Research shows that creative salespeople make more money, and creative organizations outperform their peers in organic revenue growth.

In this highly interactive keynote, Heather helps sales professionals rediscover the human side of selling and the creative spark that drives extraordinary results.

Unlock Your Competitive Edge

Every organization runs on teams. Yet underperforming teams cost organizations millions in lost productivity, missed opportunities, and high turnover. When trust breaks down, team culture disintegrates, your best people leave, and communication feels like swimming through Jell-O. Even the most talented individuals can't reach their potential and the entire organization suffers.

The difference between a mediocre team and a high-performing one isn't just talent or resources. It's the daily practices that build trust, the coaching conversations that unlock potential, and a culture of accountability that drives radical teamwork.

In this high-energy keynote Heather uses vivid stories and actionable strategies to explore how self-leadership, trust, and coaching conversations can elevate individual and team performance.

Elevate Individual and Team Performance

Watch Heather in Action

Heather donates the paintings she creates during her keynotes to the event!

Client Testimonials

“Best speaker of this whole conference! I can’t wait to hear another by her.”

Alix Stankus
Atlantic Care Services
"Dr. Hodges is one of the most impressive speakers that I have ever heard."

Ingrid Foster
COO, Care First Home Health
"My favorite part was when Heather began our afternoon with her painting and speech of empowerment - That was Incredible! She reminded us that Success is a mindset and we CAN become what we need!"

April Johnson
Healthcare Leader
"Heather’s down to earth presentation skills brought clarity to a topic that had always confused me. Her expertise in the topic was evident, not by fancy words or ambiguous phrases, but by real life experiences and obvious passion."

Dan Boggs
Board Certified Chaplain
"Brilliant and eloquent! Dr. Hodges is not only extremely smart but also possesses an exceptional ability to communicate her ideas with clarity and grace."

Jennifer Elliott, RN
Executive Director, Heart of Georgia Hospice
Heather is BY FAR my favorite speaker. She is inspiring, encouraging, motivating.. AND she has always kept ME engaged (which says a lot for itself) I’ve sat through many classes and speaking events.. and she's #1 for me.

Brandy Arnold
Branch Director, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
"I've been in the audience when Dr Hodges has spoken multiple times and she has a remarkable gift for teaching. Her messages stick with the audience members and impact their paradigm!"

Lindsey Charon
Course Facilitator, Emerson College
"I heard Dr. Hodges speak once at a Las Vegas conference and it was one of the most impactful presentations I have experienced! She has a true gift to convey her message while captivating the audience. I would highly recommend Dr. Hodges for any corporate engagement event."

Mindy Curtis, PT, DPT, MHA
Clinical Liason, Baylor Scott & White
"I have had the pleasure of being in the audience a couple of a when Heather spoke. I always walked away with a better grasp of my leadership style and capability! Many wise words and takes on leadership and styles that I still use today!"

Chandra Sevenstar
Vice President, Mays Plus, Inc.
"When Heather combines her artistic talents with her development presentations - there is not a person in the room that is not engaged. You find yourself on a journey and you want more - more insights, more ideas and more opportunities to learn.”

Brooke Erickson-Mignogna
Director, Sales & Community Partnerships, Careforth
“Heather’s enthusiasm and passion are palpable! She captivates the audience.”

Rachel Trombley Meyer, MSN RN COS-C
Director of Clinical Operations, Medalogix
"The cornerstone of learning development is engagement. Heathers exceptional knowledge of professional development tempered with her extraordinary ability to connect with the audience helps foster transformational change."

Tony Maxwell
Home Care Executive
“Heather captivated the audience.”

Brian Lantier
CEO, Traditions Health

A woman is giving a presentation on a stage at a large conference room, with an audience seated at tables listening.

A woman in a white suit painting on a large canvas on an easel at an indoor event with dark blue curtains in the background.

Let’s Partner Up!

I would love to partner with you on your next conference with a dynamic keynote that leaves your audience inspired, engaged, and ready to act!

Imagine your team laughing, learning, and tapping into their creativity to drive innovation.

Let’s elevate your event to create an unforgettable experience together!

Trusted by these Organizations

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Let’s work together

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Keynote Speaker

Book Heather as your

Mastering the Art and Science of Human Creativity at Work

Unleash Your Creative Genius

Ignite Creativity and Elevate Performance

Unlock Your Competitive Edge

Elevate Individual and Team Performance

Watch Heather in Action

Client Testimonials

“Best speaker of this whole conference! I can’t wait to hear another by her.”

"Dr. Hodges is one of the most impressive speakers that I have ever heard."

"My favorite part was when Heather began our afternoon with her painting and speech of empowerment - That was Incredible! She reminded us that Success is a mindset and we CAN become what we need!"

"Heather’s down to earth presentation skills brought clarity to a topic that had always confused me. Her expertise in the topic was evident, not by fancy words or ambiguous phrases, but by real life experiences and obvious passion."

"Brilliant and eloquent! Dr. Hodges is not only extremely smart but also possesses an exceptional ability to communicate her ideas with clarity and grace."

Heather is BY FAR my favorite speaker. She is inspiring, encouraging, motivating.. AND she has always kept ME engaged (which says a lot for itself) I’ve sat through many classes and speaking events.. and she's #1 for me.

"I've been in the audience when Dr Hodges has spoken multiple times and she has a remarkable gift for teaching. Her messages stick with the audience members and impact their paradigm!"

"I heard Dr. Hodges speak once at a Las Vegas conference and it was one of the most impactful presentations I have experienced! She has a true gift to convey her message while captivating the audience. I would highly recommend Dr. Hodges for any corporate engagement event."

"I have had the pleasure of being in the audience a couple of a when Heather spoke. I always walked away with a better grasp of my leadership style and capability! Many wise words and takes on leadership and styles that I still use today!"

"When Heather combines her artistic talents with her development presentations - there is not a person in the room that is not engaged. You find yourself on a journey and you want more - more insights, more ideas and more opportunities to learn.”

“Heather’s enthusiasm and passion are palpable! She captivates the audience.”

"The cornerstone of learning development is engagement. Heathers exceptional knowledge of professional development tempered with her extraordinary ability to connect with the audience helps foster transformational change."

“Heather captivated the audience.”

Let’s Partner Up!

Let’s work together