Blog - Jody Urquhart

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Overwhelmed with Work? Here’s How to Make Self-Care a Priority

May 14, 2025 No Comments

When you’re overwhelmed with work demands, self-care often feels like a luxury you can’t afford. But here’s the truth: the

Motivational Speaker Soothes Hustle Hangover with the Power of Deep Work

May 6, 2025 No Comments

As a motivational speaker I can be on the road alot, on exhausting travel days it feels like a hustle

Leadership Speaker: How to Get People to Take Initiative

May 1, 2025 No Comments

1. Make It Safe to Act Getting people to take initiative isn’t about pushing them—it’s about creating the right environment.

The Pitfalls of Hiring a Motivational Speaker: Inspiration Alone Isn’t Enough

April 24, 2025 No Comments

Hiring a motivational speaker can feel like a quick win — a burst of energy to shake things up and

How to Get People to Take Initiative

April 22, 2025 No Comments

Are you struggling to inspire initiative within your team? Learn to create an environment where people feel safe and valued,

How to Be a Motivational Speaker: Most Speeches Fail Because They’re Too Self-Centered

April 16, 2025 No Comments

Most speeches fail because they focus too much on the speaker rather than the audience. The mistake many speakers make

What Clients Are Saying

Tracy Dejong Discover Card

Jody creates breakthrough moments of self-reflection that fundamentally changes how teams collaborate.

Victoria McPheat Sunlife Global Investments

Jody’s use of comedy helped break down our defences and encouraged our team to stop living on autopilot

Marisol Kroll Kruger

This isn't about another motivational speech. It's about rewiring how professionals authentically engage, lead, and create meaningful workplace connections.

Donna Balter Cambridge Health Alliance

It’s a huge relief to experience a motivational speaker with no PowerPoint. You are authentic, hilarious and relatable.

You’re not addicted to results. You’re addicte

You’re not addicted to results.
You’re addicted to the chase.

It’s not the outcome you crave—it’s the rush of almost arriving.

The sprint. The grind. The pressure.

And when it’s over? You don’t feel relief.
You feel restless.
Because chasing gives you purpose.
Finishing makes you feel lost.

But here’s the thing:
You don’t need to keep earning your worth.
You were never meant to live on a treadmill of proving.

Real success isn’t about chasing—it’s about choosing.
Choosing what matters.
Choosing where your energy actually lands.
Choosing to be enough, even when you’re still becoming.

#LeadershipSpeaker #HumanCenteredLeadership #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker #MotivationalSpeaker #WorkplaceWellness #EndBurnout #LeadershipDevelopment #DoLessLeadMore #ReclaimYourEnergy #CanadianSpeaker

To the dedicated education and facility managers—I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
Together, we’ll explore how to stop letting stress run the show—and start finding the joy in the important work you do every day.

#LeadershipWithHeart #FacilityManagers #EducationLeadership #JoyAtWork #BeatBurnout #MotivationalSpeaker #HumanCenteredLeadership #StressRelief #WorkplaceWellbeing #CanadianSpeaker

Stop Being Nice. Start Being Kind. One connects. T

Stop Being Nice. Start Being Kind.
One connects. The other avoids.

Being nice is about being liked.
Being kind is about being real.

Nice avoids conflict.
Kindness tells the truth—with care.

Nice says, “I’m fine,” when you’re not.
Kindness says, “This isn’t working,” and invites honesty.

Kindness doesn’t perform—it connects.

It doesn’t gloss over—it works through.
It doesn’t sugarcoat—it sets boundaries.

The cost of being “nice”?
→ Your voice
→ Your energy
→ The depth you deserve

When you manage everyone’s feelings,
you lose touch with your own.

Kindness makes it real. Niceness keeps it surface.

So stop being nice.
Start being kind.

#HumanCenteredLeadership
#FemaleKeynoteSpeaker
#CanadianMotivationalSpeaker
#AuthenticLeadership
#KindnessOverNiceness
#SpeakYourTruth
#LeadWithKindness
#BoundariesAreKindness
#RealConnection

Don’t Just Talk Culture—Write a Speech That Bu

Don’t Just Talk Culture—Write a Speech That Builds It

I was recently asked to help a leader write a speech on belonging at work.

But speeches are so… linear.

I’m a visual thinker (and a recovering overtalker), so I created a mind map instead.

Here it is—because when it comes to belonging, I always come back to three things:
Being seen. Feeling safe. Knowing you matter.

Or as I like to say: no one ever felt truly included because they crushed their KPIs.

Let me know what hits home for you.

#BelongingAtWork #HumanCenteredLeadership #WorkplaceHumor #MotivationalSpeaker #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker #TeamConnection #LeadershipWithHeart #CultureShift #EmployeeEngagement #NoPowerPointJustPeople

95% of Self-Talk Is a Choice—Here’s How to Tak

95% of Self-Talk Is a Choice—Here’s How to Take Control

If you talked to your team the way you talk to yourself… you’d probably get fired.

Most of our self-talk isn’t kind—it’s critical, anxious, or downright harsh. But here’s the truth: 95% of self-talk is automatic—but not unchangeable.

You don’t have to believe every thought that pops into your head.
You don’t have to take direction from a voice that doesn’t serve you.

Not every thought deserves your attention.
Not every story needs to be lived out.

Let’s stop letting old narratives run the show.

#MindsetShift #SelfTalk #MotivationalSpeaker #Leadership #BurnoutRecovery #MentalWellbeing #FemaleKeynoteSpeaker #LeadershipSpeaker #JodyUrquhart

It’s been a full and meaningful month, and this

It’s been a full and meaningful month, and this moment stood out:

At a recent symposium, I had the chance to speak to a group of passionate, thoughtful leaders. Their energy made it easy to show up fully—and the best part? Watching them see more in themselves.

One kind piece of feedback:
“Your energy, insight, and humor made such a memorable impact. You were a perfect fit, and the feedback has been nothing but glowing!”

It’s never about the speaker—it’s about the spark that happens when people feel seen, inspired, and ready to lead with heart.

#LeadershipSpeaker #MotivationalSpeaker #HumanCenteredLeadership #FemaleMotivationalSpeaker #SpeakingHighlights #WorkplaceBelonging

Most leaders don’t mean to create dependency—

Most leaders don’t mean to create dependency—
But they do, by only making people feel valuable when they perform.

Don’t build followers.
They build mirrors.
They reflect people’s worth until they see it themselves.

Recognition is nice.
But it’s not oxygen.
Let internal validation be the first voice, not the last one.

Leadership isn’t about inflating egos.
It’s about anchoring identity.

We don’t build belonging with applause and gold stars.
We build it by seeing people fully—
For their effort, thoughtfulness, and resilience.

When we recognize who people are, not just what they do,
They stop asking, “Do I belong here?”
And start saying, “This place reflects me.”

👉 Lead people back to themselves—
That’s how real cultures of trust and growth are built.

#HumanCenteredLeadership #WorkplaceBelonging #LeadershipDevelopment
#LeadershipMatters #MotivationalSpeaker #LeadershipSpeaker
#FemaleMotivationalSpeaker #BuildTrust #ModernLeadership
#LeadWithEmpathy #AnchorIdentity #NoPowerPoint #JodyUrquhart

Quiet quitting isn’t a performance issue—it’

Quiet quitting isn’t a performance issue—it’s a culture signal. Before you blame disengaged employees, ask: what are they trying to protect themselves from?In this video, I break down how leaders can create workplaces people want to show up for—without pushing them to burnout.Hashtags:#QuietQuitting #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #HumanCenteredLeadership #MotivationalSpeaker #EmployeeEngagement #BurnoutPrevention #FemaleLeadership #LeadWithEmpathy #PeopleFirst

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