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Speaking

The real cost is the conversation you never had.

Keynote speaking on connection, trust and small talk at work.

Small talk is one of the clearest expressions of Connection Intelligence: the small, learnable behaviours that build trust, visibility and belonging at work. Brief encounters are where trust begins, visibility grows and professional relationships quietly form.

Keynotes for conferences, leadership offsites and internal events, translating Connection Intelligence into practical tools for modern teams.

Read: the questions bookers ask before they book
Three keynotes

Three keynotes. One shared thread: human connection.

01

Small Talk Is NOT Small

How brief encounters build the relationships your career depends on

The real cost of avoiding small talk is not the awkward moment. It's everything on the other side of the conversation you didn't have. The colleague you never knew. The introduction that never happened. The relationship that never began. This keynote reframes small talk as one of the most underestimated skills in modern work.

  • — Why small talk opens the door to trust, visibility and opportunity.
  • — How brief encounters shape who gets remembered, included and connected.
  • — Practical ways to create more natural human connection in everyday moments.

What the room takes home

How to start better conversations

Practical ways to connect more naturally without forcing conversation or trying to impress people.

How to make people feel heard

Why better questions create stronger trust, connection and relationships.

How to notice the moment

A simple way to spot the brief encounters that most people miss.

Best for

Conferences, leadership offsites, women-in-business events, early-careers audiences, employee resource groups & networks, and networking-focused events.

02

Connection Intelligence

The human connection philosophy behind trust, visibility and belonging in modern work

Connection is rarely built through one big moment. It's built through repeated small behaviours that shape how people feel around us, remember us and connect with us. This keynote explores the hidden role of brief encounters, and why human connection becomes more valuable as work becomes faster, noisier and more digital.

  • — How small moments shape trust, visibility and belonging.
  • — Why social confidence matters in modern work.
  • — How to turn everyday conversations into stronger relationships and future opportunity.

What the room takes home

Building trust in small moments

Practical ways to create emotional safety, warmth and stronger human connection.

Becoming more memorable

How visibility grows through consistency, contribution and meaningful connection.

Creating belonging

The small signals of welcome, attention and inclusion that change how people show up.

Best for

Leadership programmes, all-hands events, culture events, employee resource groups & networks, sales teams, client-facing teams and organisations navigating change.

In development03

The Human Edge

The human skills we need to work well with AI

As AI takes on more of the tasks, the human side of work becomes the differentiator. Judgement, curiosity, trust, communication, the ability to read a room and lead a conversation, these are the skills that decide who thrives alongside intelligent tools. This new keynote explores the human edge: what it is, why it matters, and how to build it.

  • — Why human skills become more valuable, not less, in an AI-powered workplace.
  • — The behaviours that build trust, judgement and influence machines can't replicate.
  • — How leaders and teams can develop their human edge on purpose.

What the room takes home

Sharpening judgement

How to stay the decision-maker, not the operator, as AI takes on more of the work.

Leading with humanity

The communication, empathy and presence skills that set people apart.

Future-proofing teams

Practical ways to develop the human capabilities AI can't replace.

Best for

Leadership offsites, future-of-work events, innovation and transformation programmes, and organisations rolling out AI across their teams.

What people remember after Cara speaks.

Such a brilliant talk Cara. You had us hanging off every word.
Sophia Hodges
I walked away feeling more inspired, more grounded, and more committed to being the kind of leader people remember for all the right reasons.
Gemma Watts, The Whitehall & Industry Group
Thought provoking, energetic and made an impact on our attendees. We highly recommend Cara as a speaker.
Enterprise Nation and HISCOX StartUp Show
Work with Cara

Bring Connection Intelligence™ to your people.

Keynotes and workshops that turn everyday interactions into trust, visibility and stronger performance at work.

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