For all-staff and people managers
He/She/They/Hey!
What pronouns are, why they matter, and how to use them without overthinking it.
The singular they dates back to the 13th century, used by Chaucer and Shakespeare. The conversation about pronouns is older than most of the people having it. This keynote gives a calm, plain-language tour of pronouns at work, with the humour to keep a mixed room with you.
Trailer
A 90-second look at the talk
A short trailer to give you a feel for the tone, the audience, and what you can expect on the day.
Overview
A calm, plain-language tour of pronouns at work
Pronouns have become a flashpoint in many workplaces, mostly because the topic has been handled badly: too much jargon, too little context, too much shaming.
This keynote does the opposite. It starts with what a pronoun actually is, walks through the kinds people use today, and explains why honouring pronouns is one of the clearest signals of 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion a workplace can send.
Michael uses humour, evidence, and a generous tone to bring a mixed-comfort room along, so people leave able to do the right thing without overthinking it.
Verified attendee feedback
What the rooms said
Combined, response-weighted scores from every delivery of this keynote, collected independently through Talkadot.
- 97%Memorable
- 96%Relevant
- 95%Actionable
- 95%Engaging
- Great content delivered in a smart, data driven way, by a highly engaging speaker. Though my knowledge of the content was already strong, it helped me to look at it in a new way. Attendee
- Riveting, educational, eye opening. While a serious topic, Michael's delivery was persuasive, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny. Attendee
- I learned about grace and acceptance. Such a valuable presentation. Unique approach to a topic that can be uncomfortable. Amazing sense of humor. I adore Michael. It was like at first sight! Attendee
Ten-minute speaking sample
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Frequently asked
Quick answers before you reach out
How long is this keynote?
This keynote runs 60 minutes, adaptable shorter or longer.
Can it be delivered virtually?
Yes. This keynote is delivered in person or virtually, with the same structure and audience interaction in both formats. Virtual delivery uses Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or your platform of choice.
Who is this talk for?
Best for All-staff sessions, people manager cohorts, employee resource groups. The content also lands well with broader leadership audiences, ERG members, and anyone tasked with making DEIA real inside their organization.
Can the content be customized for our audience?
Yes. Every booking includes a prep call to tailor examples, language, and case studies to your sector, audience seniority, and the moment your organization is in. Customization is included in the speaking fee, not billed separately.
How do we book Michael for this talk?
Send an inquiry through the contact page with your event date, audience, format, and budget range. You will hear back within two business days with availability, a fee quote, and a short proposal for the talk.
Bringing Michael to your stage
Tell us about the event, the audience, and what you want them to leave thinking about. We will come back with a short note on fit, format, and what a strong version of this looks like for your group.