Last month, I had the privilege of delivering the closing keynote at NextUp’s Rising Stars Conference in Dallas, Texas. My keynote, “How We SHOW UP Matters,” was designed to help attendees take everything they had learned during the conference and turn it into meaningful, intentional action.

That is one of the reasons I love keynote speaking.

A great keynote is not simply about standing on a stage and delivering a message. It is about creating a connection with the audience that helps them see themselves more clearly. It is about offering a perspective they may not have considered before, challenging them to think differently, and giving them something practical they can use long after the event is over.

For me, the real measure of a successful keynote is not applause at the end. It is what happens after people leave the room.

That is where transformation begins.

At the Rising Stars Conference, I had the opportunity to speak to a room filled with talented professionals, emerging leaders, and mid-career managers who are thinking seriously about how they want to lead, grow, and make a greater impact. NextUp does a tremendous job creating spaces where leaders can learn, connect, and be challenged in ways that support their professional growth. For mid-career professionals and managers, that kind of environment is invaluable.

But here is the truth.

Professional development without action is nothing more than informational entertainment.

You can attend the conference, take pages of notes, meet incredible people, and feel inspired in the moment. But if nothing changes afterward, the experience does not move your career forward.

That was the heart of my message.

I wanted the audience to leave with more than inspiration. I wanted them to leave with a tangible action plan. During my keynote, I invited them to reflect on how they were currently showing up in their careers and where they needed to be more intentional. We explored my six SHOW UP strategies and how each one could help them strengthen their leadership presence, build more meaningful relationships, and take ownership of their next career move. I wove those strategies through each of the week's topics and invited them to consider how they wanted to SHOW UP because of what they learned.

The goal was not for them to overhaul everything overnight. I invited them to pick one SHOW UP strategy and focus on that for the next 90 days. After all, they are busy. This experience was meant to safely add to their professional development, rather than add more to their plate and overwhelm them. 

One conversation.
One ground rule.
One opportunity.
One way to protect and promote their brand.
One decision that would help them SHOW UP more intentionally.

At this stage of your career, action looks different than it did earlier in your career. Early career action is often about proving yourself, learning the rules, gaining experience, and showing you can do the work.

Mid-career action is different.

It is about strategically positioning yourself.
It is about increasing your visibility.
It is about strengthening your influence.
It is about making sure the right people understand the value you bring.
It is about leading with greater intention instead of waiting for someone else to notice your good work.

That is why action matters so much at mid-career. You are no longer simply building skills. You are building trust, credibility, reputation, and impact.

And that does not happen by accident.

So, the next time you attend a conference, workshop, leadership program, or professional development event, do not ask yourself, “Was this helpful?”

Ask yourself, “What am I going to do differently because of this?”

That answer is what moves your career forward.

And remember, how you SHOW UP matters.

Video and Photo Credit: Emma Flack

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Bring This Message to Your Organization

If your organization is investing in professional development, leadership growth, or career advancement for mid-career professionals, make sure the learning does not stop when the event ends.

My keynote, “How We SHOW UP Matters,” helps leaders and professionals turn insight into action so they can lead with greater clarity, visibility, influence, and impact.

If you are planning a conference, leadership development event, employee resource group program, or professional development experience, I’d welcome the opportunity to help your audience create meaningful action after the event.

Interested in bringing this keynote to your organization? Contact me at [email protected] to start the conversation.