Keynote Speaker & Storytelling Strategist Who Proves To Audiences That The Fastest Way To Stand Out Is To Stop Trying To Fit In.

I’M ON A MISSION

to prove that the best way to stand out isn't by being perfect…it's by being authentically, unapologetically you.

I know this because I've lived it.

I spent over a decade as a licensed counselor, helping other people find their voice while quietly shrinking my own. I was the classic introvert who cringed at the thought of networking, hid behind other people's stories, and never dreamed I'd end up on a stage.

Then I built an 8-figure sales team, coached over 1,800 entrepreneurs, co-created a top 1.5% podcast with my husband Brian…and somewhere along the way, I realized: the thing that made me different - my counselor's lens, my introversion, my obsession with story - wasn't a liability. It was my superpower.

Now I help audiences ditch the "be like everyone else" playbook and build brands, businesses, and confidence rooted in who they actually are.

Because your different really is better than better - and I've got the red lipstick to prove it.

Speaker Reel - Coming Soon!

KEYNOTE #1

You Are Your Brand: Why Your Different Is Better Than Better

In a world of curated feeds, AI-generated content, and everyone following the same playbook, it's tempting to blend in. But here's the truth: the brands that win aren't the ones that are "better" β€” they're the ones that are different.

  • Drawing from her background in counseling psychology and her experience building an 8-figure sales team, Krista walks audiences through the three pillars of an unforgettable personal brand β€” and the three traps that keep most people invisible.

    Whether you're an entrepreneur trying to stand out online, a corporate professional building your reputation, or a team looking to differentiate in a crowded market, this keynote will shift the way you think about branding β€” from something you create to something you uncover.

TAKEAWAYS

Identify your Style, Stance, and Story β€” the three pillars of an authentic personal brand

Recognize the three traps that keep most people blending in instead of standing out (and how to avoid them)

Understand why "real beats perfect" β€” especially in the age of AI

Walk away with a framework to build a brand that attracts the right people by repelling the wrong ones

Learn why the thing that makes you different is the thing that makes you memorable

As delivered at: jBloom National Conference, Agent Growth Convention.

KEYNOTE #2

The 4-Letter Word That Can Change Your Life: Stop Thinking & Start Doing

The quality of your life is shaped by the stories you tell yourself β€” and nobody knows this better than Krista. A classic introvert who once made herself smaller and smaller trying to be perfect, she's spent the last 20 years learning (and teaching) the power of one four-letter word: JUST.

Just try. Just start. Just jump.

  • This high-energy keynote gives audiences a framework to stop waiting for "ready" and start building the confidence they've been looking for β€” not by being fearless, but by being willing to go first.

    Blending science-backed research with deeply personal storytelling, Krista introduces the JUST framework  and gives every audience member a tangible tool to measure their growth on their terms β€” not anyone else's.

    Enter: STORIES. But not just *any* stories. You need to tell stories that not only create emotional buy-in from your listener, but also spur them to action. Stories are remembered 22x more than facts, and Krista’s unique approach turns storytelling into storyselling and leaves attendees feeling inspired + excited to get their ideas, products + services into the hands of the others.

TAKEAWAYS

Discover the JUST framework β€” a four-step process to build confidence through action

Learn the science behind the confidence-competence loop and why trying (even failing) is always a win

Uncover the power of an alter ego β€” and find your own "red lipstick" moment

Build your Resilience Resume to unlock confidence you didn't know you had

Leave with a tangible tool to measure success on YOUR terms

As delivered at: Women for Women Conference, New York Junior League

KEYNOTE #3

Sell It Real Good: How to Use Stories to Simplify Your Selling

When most people think of sales, they picture a guy in an ill-fitting suit shaking hands a little too hard. But in today's landscape β€” where 40% of our day is spent selling, no matter what industry we're in β€” the way to create curiosity, captivate customers, and close sales requires much more than a "BUY NOW" sign.

It requires stories. But not just any stories.

  • Drawing from her experience coaching over 1900 entrepreneurs and building an 8-figure sales team, Krista teaches her signature 7S Storyselling Framework that turns everyday stories into sales conversations that feel natural, not sleazy. Whether you're pitching on stage, posting on social media, or having a one-on-one conversation, this keynote will change the way you think about selling β€” forever.

TAKEAWAYS

Understand the sales pitfalls most people fall into, and learn how to avoid them

Build the backbone of every great sales story by identifying who you are, what you say, and how you say it

Learn the 7S Storyselling Framework (Star, Sage, Supervillain, Shift, Stakes, Success, Sell) and how to apply it

Uncover the limitless stories that already lie within you β€” and use them to sell your brand and yourself

Leave feeling inspired and equipped to sell with soul, not sleaze

As delivered at: Tastefully Simple National Conference, Stella & Dot Family of Brands Hoopla

KEYNOTE #4

The Red Lipstick Effect: Boldly Branding Yourself, Inside + Out

When most people think of branding, they envision a curated social media feed or a slick logo. But true branding goes far deeper -  it's about boldly embracing all the quirks and qualities that make you, YOU.

  • Krista shares her own story of using red lipstick as an alter ego cue to show up boldly in moments when she felt scared, nervous, or less than β€” and how that one small act unlocked a more confident version of herself, both internally and externally.

    Grounded in psychology research on alter egos and embodied confidence, this keynote inspires audiences to find their own "red lipstick" - the physical cue or bold choice that helps them step into the version of themselves they want to be. You'll leave with a framework for building a personal brand rooted in Relatability, Reputation, and Resolve.

TAKEAWAYS

Understand the psychology behind alter egos and how they unlock confidence

Identify the signature "red lipstick" symbolism that sparks your bold persona

Apply the 3R framework of Relatability, Reputation, and Resolve to shape an unforgettable brand

Learn to unapologetically embrace your quirks as strengths in your branding

Tailoring each keynote to PERFECTLY MATCH your audience and industry is a non-negotiable. Whether it's face-to-face or through the virtual realm, I’VE GOT YOU covered on delivering IMPACTFUL MESSAGES that resonate. Your needs, your way.

KEYNOTES ARE DESIGNED FOR:

Seminars + Conventions
Conferences
Corporations
Nonprofits + Educational Institutions

PAST AUDIENCES INCLUDE:

Direct sales organizations, real estate professionals, women entrepreneurs, young leaders, creative industry professionals, and nonprofit communities.

What’s better than one voice inspiring + teaching your community?

How about TWO. 

ACORN Workshops, led by Krista + Brian Demcher, are dynamic, hands-on and easily actionable trainings to help you turn thinking into doing, and planning into results.

Meet Brian Demcher

Brian is a professional market development expert, sales leader, team builder, and process and training improvement guy. After graduating from West Point and leading soldiers in a combat unit, he transitioned to the business sector. 

Working with both larger corporations and smaller start ups, he specializes in improving messaging and market access to drive sales. 

Brian has a straightforward style and the ability to easily get to the heart of a problem, which adds an invaluable layer of insight. 

With over 18 years of experience leading 8 figure sales teams, he’s got the competence and capacity to not only inspire your group, but also keep them laughing with his secret weapon:  an arsenal of Dad jokes.

Here are OUR MOST REQUESTED workshop topics:

STORY SCHOOL

Stories shape our lives, yet few of us know how to harness their power effectively.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to captivate clients, a corporate leader striving to motivate teams, a parents hoping to impart wisdom, Story School teaches the vital skill of compelling storytelling, including:

STORY MINING MASTERY: Breakthrough barriers to recalling and framing your life's meaningful moments as rich stories. We'll guide you through exercises to unearth your internal and external stories - the ones that have shaped you, and the ones that can inspire action in others.

THE STORYTELLING FRAMEWORK: Stories are powerful, but only if structured intentionally. You'll learn a step-by-step storytelling methodology you can use for pitches, presentations, or simply more impactful daily communication.

STORYTELLING STAGE: It's showtime! You'll have the opportunity to take the stage and tell your crafted story to an engaged audience of peers. Receive valuable feedback in a supportive environment designed to bolster your storytelling skills and confidence.

SELL ANYTHING

β€œSelling is fun!” said NO ONE EVER.  We're on a mission to change that. 

In this workshop, we're covering the three areas you need to master to sell your ideas, beliefs, products or services with confidence:

CHARACTER:  Selling is an inside job.  Not only do you have to believe in yourself, but you also need to come from the right place - one that doesn't make you seem desperate or make you sound like you have "commission breath".  It's a delicate balance, and we're going to equip you with the right skills to help you sell with soul (not slime or sleaze 🫣)

COMPETENCE:  How do you get others to see you as the expert you truly are, without puffing out your chest or feeling braggy or salesy?  It's simple, actually:  by telling really great stories.  We're teaching you the 7S sales storytelling framework that will allow you to build trust with your customers.  It's a repeatable process that you'll use again and again!

COMMUNICATION:  It's not WHAT you say, but it's HOW you say it.  You can have the best stories in the world but if the delivery is off you'll lose your listener.  You'll learn the communication secrets that will take you from feeling nervous to talk about who you are + what you do, to being ready to shout it from the rooftops with clarity + confidence!  

THE ART OF THE PITCH

Ideas are great, but in this age of AI and automations, the ability to communicate those ideas is vital to your success.  By the end of this workshop, you’ll have every element you need to build a pitch that has the power to change the course of your business forever, along with:

MASTER YOUR MINDSET:  Breakthrough mindset barriers holding you back from taking courageous, biz-changing action and sharing your story when it comes to pitching. We’ll be sure you believe in yourself and that you can and should do this before we begin.

WHY YOU, WHY NOW:  We’ll teach you a step by step framework that you can use for pitching yourself for years to come. You’ll be able to use this to create pitches that answer the questions that every potential client needs to know to hire or buy from you.

READY IS A DECISION:  It's time to bring it to life! We’ll practice your pitch in real time to get valuable peer feedback, and we’ll build an action plan so that you have next steps to get your pitch out into the world.

BE THE LEADER YOU’D WANT TO FOLLOW

In order to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.  Whether you’re leading a corporate team toward a common goal, a community of clients as an entrepreneur, or yourself to be the person you want to be, finetuning your leadership skills is one of the most effective ways to level up in life.  Brian brings the leadership lessons he learned as a cadet at West Point and an Army Officer leading soldiers through combat, and packages them into an inspired sessions with topics including:

START WHERE YOU ARE:  In order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.  We’ll guide you through self-reflection to help you identify + understand your leadership style, and build confidence in the natural qualities you possess as a leader.

BUILD YOUR LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY:  It’s tempting to look at leaders you admire and try to emulate them, but your leadership special sauce is one that’s not packaged up from someone else.  We’ll give you a fill-in-the-blank formula to build out your own leadership philosophy, and help you clearly communicate that to others.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH:  Difficult conversations?  Providing constructive feedback?  Telling stories to inspire + motivate?  All in a day’s work for a leader like you, so we’re giving you the time and space to practice all of the above (and more!) in a safe + encouraging environment.

Have another topic in mind that you’d like Krista + Brian to train on?  Let us know!

We’re experts in sales + messaging, personal branding, mindset, confidence, storytelling + more.  We also happen to be married almsot 25 years and are raising 3 kids together, so if you want a lifestyle slant - we got you covered!