Transform Your
Workplace Culture

Learn to Lead, Connect, and Succeed with People Not Like You

“We keep bringing her back because our dealers request her and her information is so important to them.” - Harley Davisdon

Watch Kelly In Action
A woman in a blue suit giving a presentation in front of a screen displaying slide content about agreeing to disagree. The slide surfaces points such as not antagonistic, not judgmental, not combative, and not trying to win.

How do we build teams where differences drive innovation rather than create tension?

A culture where different perspectives fuel innovation because team members know how to communicate effectively across differences. A culture where people feel valued for their unique contributions, empowered to collaborate productively, and equipped to transform challenges into opportunities TOGETHER.

The answer: A workplace culture where differences become competitive advantages.

Watch Kelly In Action
Great Clips logo with the slogan "It's Gonna Be Great" in black text on a white background.
Black Nike logo with swoosh on white background
State Farm logo with red text and emblem on a white background.
Harley-Davidson logo with orange and black text on a white background
NASA logo with blue circle, white stars, and red swoosh.
Toyota logo with red emblem and text on a white background
State Farm logo with three interconnected ovals and the company name in bold black letters.
WATCH KELLY SPEAK

KELLY’S SIGNATURE KEYNOTE

Building High-performing Teams Across Different Work Styles and Perspectives.

How to work with & lead people not like you

In today's workplace, success increasingly depends on your ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues who think, communicate, and approach problems differently than you do. Understanding how to navigate these differences isn't just nice to have—it's essential for building teams that consistently outperform, innovate, and adapt to changing business conditions.

Kelly McDonald's signature keynote tackles the most common workplace friction points and transforms them into opportunities for breakthrough performance. Drawing from extensive research and work with organizations like Toyota, Nike, and NASA, she provides a practical framework for turning different work styles and perspectives into your team's greatest strength.

A woman in a teal blazer and pants is giving a presentation on stage behind a podium with a red circle. She is holding a remote in her right hand and gesturing with her left, in front of a blue curtain backdrop with white geometric decorations.
A woman and a man sitting and smiling at an event, with other attendees in the background.
A woman in a red suit giving a presentation at the annual meat conference. She is standing on stage, gesturing towards a large screen that displays the conference logo and text.

You'll discover why working with people who approach tasks differently can feel challenging (and why that's completely normal), and learn specific tactics for building trust and collaboration across various thinking styles, communication preferences, and work approaches. Kelly's straightforward, no-nonsense style cuts through the noise to provide tools and techniques you can implement immediately to improve team dynamics and performance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The four key words that transform difficult interactions into productive collaboration every time

  • Specific communication techniques that bridge different work styles and perspectives

  • How to recognize your own blind spots that may be creating obstacles for team members

  • Three essential steps to make your team work more cohesively, productively and enjoyably

  • Practical strategies for navigating generational and communication-style differences without creating tension

  • How to address and resolve the "derailers" and naysayers that threaten team cohesion and performance

  • Techniques for giving and receiving feedback across different communication styles that builds trust rather than defensiveness


This session is ideal for leaders at all levels, team members navigating workplace dynamics, and organizations seeking to improve collaboration across departments or functions. Whether you're leading a team with different approaches or simply wanting to enhance your ability to work effectively with colleagues, you'll gain practical tools to move from "uncomfortable and uncertain" to "confident and empowered" in your daily interactions.

BOOK KELLY TO SPEAK AT YOUR CONFERENCE

KELLY’S MARKETING KEYNOTE

How to Market to People Not Like You

If you could grow your business simply by marketing to your existing customers, making money would be easy. But sustainable growth requires winning over customers you're not getting today—but could be.

In this high-energy session, Kelly McDonald reveals exactly how to identify and connect with untapped market segments that represent significant growth opportunities. She demonstrates why understanding what different customer groups truly value is the key to expanding your customer base and growing market share.

Winning New Business by Understanding What Different Customers Value.

A woman in a blue blazer giving a presentation in a conference room.
Attendees listening at a conference, wearing lanyards and conference badges, focused on a speaker or presentation.
A woman in a teal blazer giving a presentation in front of an audience, with a construction worker shown on a large screen behind her.

Through consumer insights and real-world examples from successful companies across industries, Kelly shows how subtle adjustments in your marketing approach, messaging, and customer experience can dramatically increase your appeal to new customer segments without alienating your core audience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • How to identify the highest-potential customer segments you're currently underserving

  • Five specific low-cost/no-cost strategies you can implement immediately to reach new customer groups

  • The critical do's and don'ts when marketing to people with different values and expectations

  • How to communicate in ways that resonate with new prospects without diminishing your brand identity

  • Practical methods to research and understand what different customer segments truly value and how they make purchasing decisions

  • Proven techniques for recovering from missteps and building trust across different customer groups

This session is ideal for organizations looking to expand their customer base, enter new markets, or better serve increasingly different customer populations. You'll leave with practical tools to adapt your marketing approach for different customer segments while maintaining a cohesive brand experience.

BOOK KELLY TO SPEAK AT YOUR CONFERENCE

KELLY’S CUSTOMER SERVICE KEYNOTE

Crafting Amazing Customer Experiences for People Not Like You

Creating Memorable Experiences That Build Loyalty Across All Customer Groups.

Your industry is undergoing tremendous change: technology is reshaping how business is done and what customers expect. More than ever, organizations must differentiate themselves on the experience they provide, not just the products and services they offer.

In this high-impact session, Kelly McDonald shows you exactly how to create customer experiences that turn casual purchasers into loyal brand advocates. Drawing from real-world examples and best practices from leading organizations, she demonstrates how understanding different customer values and expectations can transform your approach to service..

A woman giving a presentation on a stage at a conference, with flags and colorful banners behind her, and a large screen displaying a red stop sign and black and white background.
Woman with blonde hair smiling, attending an event in a conference room filled with other attendees.
Woman in blue blazer speaking to an audience during a presentation, with a large screen displaying an image of a construction worker in the background.

This isn't about superficial changes—it's about recognizing what truly matters to various customer groups and adjusting your approach accordingly. Kelly provides specific, actionable strategies that work across industries, whether your "customer" is external (purchasers of your products or services) or internal (colleagues, team members, or your leadership).

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The three essential principles that ensure an exceptional customer experience every time

  • Exactly what to do—and NOT do—when things go wrong (including the 5 specific words that work in every difficult situation)

  • How to identify the unique values and service expectations of different customer groups

  • Five low-cost/no-cost action items you can implement immediately to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty

  • Proven techniques for turning service recovery into opportunities for deeper customer connection

Perfect for organizations seeking to enhance customer retention, increase referrals, and build a reputation for exceptional service that sets you apart from competitors.

BOOK KELLY TO SPEAK AT YOUR CONFERENCE

Meet Kelly McDonald

A woman with blonde hair wearing a blue blazer and black top, smiling in front of a light background.

Kelly McDonald is a four-time bestselling author and one of the nation's leading experts in People and Culture, leadership, marketing and sales to people "not like you", consumer trends, and leveraging the customer experience. As the founder of McDonald Marketing, which has twice been named one of the "Top Ad Agencies in the U.S." by Advertising Age magazine and ranked as one of the fastest-growing independently-owned companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine, Kelly brings a wealth of practical business experience to her work.