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Leadership strategist & global speaker

Samantha Karlin

Transform leadership cultures with Samantha Karlin, speaker and leadership strategist. Samantha works with organizations across 48 countries to develop inclusive, emotionally intelligent leaders, delivering research-backed methodologies as a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow.

Trusted by Wintershall Dea, IE Business School, AWS, Graham Packaging

Samantha Karlin, Speaker | Leadership Strategist, Founder
Samantha Karlin

Samantha Karlin

Seattle, United States

Typical fee range

$6k–10k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Seattle, United States

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$6k–10k

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+44 203 835 2929

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Samantha Karlin's biography

At a glance

  • Leadership development expert transforming organizational culture
  • Founder of Empower Global influencing leaders across 48 countries
  • Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow for feminist leadership
Samantha Karlin is a leadership strategist who transforms how organizations navigate complexity and change. As founder of Empower Global, she develops inclusive, emotionally intelligent leaders equipped to thrive amid uncertainty and volatility. Through her leadership accelerators and global workshops, Samantha has influenced over 10,000 leaders across 48 countries. She created the Women's Leadership Challenge for women in male-dominated industries and is a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow for her forthcoming book on feminist leadership. Her insights appear in ABC13 Houston, SABC South Africa, and The Washington Post. Samantha's cross-disciplinary approach combines neuroscience, cross-cultural intelligence, and gender equity frameworks to help organizations address critical challenges. Her methodologies enable leaders to shift from transactional management to transformational leadership, resulting in more resilient teams, improved decision-making during uncertainty, and workplaces where diverse talent can thrive. Audiences leave Samantha's presentations with practical strategies for authentic leadership, actionable techniques for building inclusive environments, and frameworks for balancing performance with purpose in high-pressure situations. Her interactive, story-driven approach ensures concepts translate into immediate workplace application. Book Samantha when your organization needs a catalyst for meaningful leadership transformation that drives both cultural change and bottom-line results.

Samantha's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Unshakable: Reclaiming Power, Redefining Leadership
Samantha Karlin, a leading authority in women's leadership, empowers women to embrace their authentic selves and lead with confidence. In her keynote, she unveils the Intrinsic Power Map™, a framework designed to help women overcome imposter syndrome and amplify their influence. Attendees will gain practical tools to enhance self-awareness, foster inclusive leadership, and advance gender equity. Organizations will benefit from a renewed sense of purpose and belonging, making this talk essential for cultivating effective leaders in today's dynamic business environment.
From Transactional to Transformational: Leading in a Globalized World
In her keynote, Samantha Karlin addresses the complexities of leadership in an interconnected world, emphasizing the need for transformational leadership that transcends transactional management. She highlights critical trends such as cultural intelligence and purpose-driven leadership, using case studies from conflict zones to illustrate the demand for trust and compassion in leadership. Attendees will learn how to foster inclusive cultures, inspire diverse teams, and lead authentically, gaining tools to create meaningful global impact.
From Chaos to Clarity: Leading with Confidence in a "VUCA" World
In her keynote, Samantha Karlin addresses the unprecedented challenges leaders face in today's VUCA world, including technological disruption and economic uncertainty. Drawing from her expertise in leadership development and cultural intelligence, she equips attendees with actionable tools to foster adaptability and drive innovation. By leveraging insights from neuroscience and sharing real-world examples, Samantha inspires leaders to navigate change gracefully and transform challenges into opportunities. Attendees will learn how to cultivate an adaptive leadership mindset for lasting organizational impact.
Neuroscience of Happiness: A Framework for Flourishing at Work
In her keynote, leadership expert Samantha Karlin, a member of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Network, explores the science of flourishing as a strategic advantage in today's high-pressure world. She presents her six-part framework based on the PERMA model, offering a roadmap for leaders to enhance happiness, resilience, and performance. Attendees will engage in a self-assessment, receive a practical workbook, and learn actionable strategies to cultivate thriving organizational cultures, ultimately driving engagement and retention.
The Voice Within: An Operatic Journey to Authentic Leadership
Samantha Karlin delivers a unique keynote experience that combines live operatic performance with leadership insights. In a world filled with uncertainty, she emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and authenticity in effective leadership. Through her Intrinsic Power Map framework, Samantha has guided numerous leaders to reclaim their authentic voices and develop impactful leadership styles. Attendees will learn to navigate challenges with emotional agility, foster high-trust environments, and transform their values into measurable business outcomes.

Why we recommend booking Samantha

Samantha Karlin, a leadership strategist who has influenced over 10,000 leaders across 48 countries, transforms organizations through her cross-disciplinary approach combining neuroscience, cross-cultural intelligence, and gender equity frameworks. Book Samantha when your team needs practical strategies for authentic leadership that drives both cultural change and bottom-line results.

Check Samantha's availability

Trusted by Wintershall Dea, IE Business School, AWS, Graham Packaging

Testimonials

Thanks to Samantha for a great presentation and workshops for our organization. I thought it brought so much value to our group and was a great catalyst for us to keep working to improve. Events like this help us to define our values and set standards for how we want to work – but also just give us a chance to come together to learn as a community. I absolutely recommend Samantha to any organization looking to move forward on how to communicate in a realistic, multinational setting and to actively empower all employees!

Kyla Bishop

Exploration Geologist, Wintershall Dea

Samantha is an inspirational leader and speaker who is passionate and knowledgeable on the subject of biases and disparities that women in the technology industry face every day. She led a collaborative workshop for our team that allowed for a safe space for us to learn, share our experiences, and discuss how we can better support and advocate for our success, work/life balance, and professional development. I highly recommend her.

Caitlin Anderson

Senior Sales Leader, AWS

I would absolutely recommend Samantha Karlin. I got so much out of the women’s workshop series Samantha facilitated for my company. I happen to be passionate about DE&I, and workshops like this help us discover our intersectional diversity within our larger identity groups (in this case, women). Samantha tailored the workshop series to our needs and was very flexible. Her energy during was amazing, and I think all the attendees were inspired by her. I’d absolutely work with her again!

Kathleen Hager-Gima

Internal Communications Wizard, Graham Packaging

Featured Projects

Samantha Karlin - Samanthropolitics book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Samantha Karlin for my next event?
Email samantha.karlin@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Samantha's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
What is Samantha Karlin's speaking style like?
Samantha Karlin uses a story-driven, interactive format that combines case studies drawn from conflict zones and real-world leadership scenarios with proprietary frameworks such as the Intrinsic Power Map™, grounding concepts in neuroscience and cross-cultural intelligence to support immediate workplace application.
What topics does Samantha Karlin specialise in?
Samantha Karlin's sessions cover women's leadership and imposter syndrome, transformational versus transactional leadership in globalised contexts, and adaptive leadership in VUCA environments. She is a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow and founder of Empower Global, through which she has worked with over 10,000 leaders across 48 countries.
Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

Yes. Beyond booking a single speaker, PepTalk helps shape a full programme, matching voices to your agenda, audience, and goals across a day or a series. It is a consultative service, not just a booking. Tell us about your event at getapeptalk.com.

What does 'typical fee range' mean?

Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.

What logistics should I prepare before my speakers arrive?

Before your speakers arrive, confirm AV is tested, a green room is ready, and printed schedules are on hand. Prepare warm introductions for each speaker and brief your team on timings. PepTalk speakers come fully briefed, making event-day logistics smoother and stress-free from the start.

What's the difference between a keynote speaker, an MC, and event entertainment?

A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule a speaker booking?

Life happens! Most speaker bookings can be rescheduled with reasonable notice. Cancellation terms vary by speaker, but PepTalk handles all the details & contracts transparently upfront so there are no surprises. Our team supports you through any changes, making the process as smooth as possible.

Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

What information do I need to provide when booking a comedian?

When booking a comedian, share your event format, audience size and demographics, any sensitive topics to avoid, and the tone you're after. PepTalk makes this easy — their booking process guides you through a simple checklist so nothing gets missed and your comedian is perfectly matched to your crowd.

What information do I need to provide when booking a speaker?

When booking a speaker, you'll need your event date, audience details, format, key objectives, and budget. Having these ready makes the process smooth and straightforward. PepTalk's team uses this information to match you with the perfect speaker quickly and efficiently.

Can I book entertainment and speakers as a package?

Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.

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Sorry, we do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, or any non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.

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How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.

Help, I need a last-minute speaker for my event!

No problem! We often handle last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, comedian, awards or event host quickly — almost anywhere in the world. However, speaker availability might be limited as the event date approaches. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.