For people leaders and HR
You Can’t Be What You Can’t See
Why representation is a business strategy, not a photoshoot.
Marian Wright Edelman put it plainly: you cannot be what you cannot see. Representation in leadership is the practical difference between a workplace that promises inclusion and one that produces it. The catch is that representation done badly looks a lot like tokenism, and tokenism does real harm.
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.
Trailer
A short trailer for this talk lands here. Speaking feedback and a longer sample appear below.
Overview
Representation, done well, is the difference between a poster and a practice
Representation is one of the most misunderstood ideas in DEIA. Some teams treat it as a numbers game. Others avoid it entirely for fear of getting it wrong.
This keynote separates representation from diversity, names what good representation actually looks like in a workplace, and walks through the concrete actions leaders can take without veering into tokenism.
It is the talk for leaders who want their people to see themselves in the room, and to know that the room was built with care.
Verified attendee feedback
What the rooms said
Combined, response-weighted scores from every delivery of this keynote, collected independently through Talkadot.
- 97%Engaging
- 95%Informative
- 95%Memorable
- 95%Actionable
- A light and impactful presentation on the human and business cases for creating intentionality behind a plan to bring representation into your organization. Attendee
- Engaging, informative, candid presentation. Michael keeps it real and empowers actionable takeaways to implement in the workplace. Attendee
- Dealing with work and life struggles it becomes extremely difficult to be motivated and want to succeed. The data, the explanations opened up my mind and understanding to see how one or even diverse people can succeed up the corporate ladder 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 People managers, HR teams, leadership 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.