Resilience Through Joy®: Transform Burnout Into Sustainable HR Leadership

Burnout is rising. Turnover is climbing. And leaders are exhausted from trying to hold everything together.

In this dynamic and actionable session, resilience strategist and executive leadership expert Nicole Van Valen delivers a fresh, research-driven framework for transforming workplace stress into sustainable high performance—without sacrificing well-being.

Drawing on her Ready-Set-Go® model and insights from her book The Joyful Leader, Nicole shares how resilience is about bouncing forward, rediscovering purpose, reconnecting with joy, and reigniting engagement across teams. This talk is a wake-up call to redefine resilience in modern HR.

Whether you lead teams, coach leaders, or manage organizational strategy, this session will equip you with practical tools to elevate employee experience, reduce turnover, and build a culture where people and performance thrive.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

• Discover why joy is a leadership asset — not a luxury
• Learn how to reduce burnout by transforming how teams relate to stress
• Reframe resilience as a driver of retention, engagement, and business impact
• Walk away with actionable strategies that align with SHRM behavioral competencies
• Learn how HR leaders can shift culture from crisis mode to clarity and connection

ABOUT OUR PRESENTER:

Nicole Van Valen isn’t just another leadership expert — she’s your secret weapon against burnout, disengagement, and workplace chaos. As the founder and CEO of Keane Insights™, Nicole helps leaders and organizations not just survive but thrive in today’s high-pressure environments. Think of her as your workplace resilience coach — minus the whistle, but packed with proven strategies to keep your team energized, focused, and high-performing.

With over 25 years of experience spanning healthcare, behavioral health, and entertainment, Nicole blends mental health expertise with leadership strategy to create psychologically safe, high-performing cultures. She’s a licensed therapist, SHRM Senior Certified Professional, and organizational consultant with specialized knowledge in stress management, inclusive culture, and the human-AI leadership intersection.

A former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader and Miami HEAT Dancer, Nicole leads with contagious energy and joy. Her unique path — from professional sports to executive coaching — powers her signature message: resilience is a mindset, and joy is the strategy. Author of The Joyful Leader, Nicole is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, healthcare innovators, and mission-driven teams. Whether she’s delivering a keynote, coaching leaders, or building leadership programs, Nicole’s insights consistently turn pressure into performance — and burnout into breakthrough.

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