Be More You: The Power of Authenticity in the Workplace

Speaker: Joel Katte, Author/Speaker at Sole Proprietor 

Description: 

The program will begin with an introduction to the topic and speaker. From there, participants will be invited to reflect on the power of authenticity and the impact it can have on individuals, teams, and workplace culture.

What if every leader, manager, and supervisor said to their employees, "I just need you to be you. In fact, I need you to be more you." What would that feel like? What would it look like? And what kind of impact could people, teams, and organizations have in an environment where individuals felt empowered to bring their authentic strengths, perspectives, and talents to work every day?

During this engaging and inspiring session, Joel shares excerpts from his children's story written for all ages, Finding You at the Zoo, while providing humor, inspiration, and practical tools that guide participants on a powerful journey of self-reflection, discovery, and affirmation. Attendees will explore how embracing authenticity can strengthen workplace relationships, increase engagement, enhance well-being, and unlock greater individual and team performance.

Building on these ideas, this presentation is designed specifically for HR professionals, people leaders, and workplace champions, highlighting the critical role organizations play in creating cultures where employees feel seen, valued, and encouraged to contribute their unique gifts. Participants will discover how to apply these concepts to themselves by gaining greater self-awareness and confidence, to their teams by fostering trust, connection, and belonging, and to their leaders by encouraging authentic leadership that inspires engagement and growth. As workplaces continue to navigate change, burnout, retention challenges, and evolving employee expectations, the ability to help people become more fully themselves at work has never been more important.

By the end of the session, Joel's simple yet profound strategies will leave attendees with tools they can instantly put to use in their work and personal lives to foster greater work-life harmony, build stronger relationships, increase resilience, and bring a more passionate, purpose-driven, and solution-focused energy to every interaction, team, and workplace culture they influence.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will leave inspired to create environments where people don't feel pressured to fit a mold—but instead are empowered to thrive by becoming more of who they were created to be.

Whether applied personally, within a team, or across an entire organization, these insights will help attendees cultivate workplaces where authenticity fuels connection, performance, and lasting impact.

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

11:15 am - 11:45 am: Registration, Networking & Lunch
11:45 am - 12:00 pm: Business Meeting Update
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Presentation

Registration Deadline: Due to venue catering requirements, registration for in-person attendance closes 7 days prior to the event date. Virtual participation registration closes the day before the event.

Location: Mane on Main, 201 E Main St #1500, Lexington, KY 40507 (Validated parking is reserved in the Chase Tower Parking Garage) Mane on Main Parking Map. Details for virtual attendance will be sent to all attendees prior to the meeting, up to 24 hours in advance. 

If you wish to sponsor this meeting or future events, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for a 2026 Sponsorship Packet.or

Transfer and Refund Policy

BGSHRM strives to provide quality events that are educational in content and rich in networking opportunities. We place emphasis on the humans in Human Resources and value the shared experience of our peers and comrades who are working to create safe and productive environments for their employees. We have designed chapter meeting fees to be as low as possible. 

Because of rising costs in our community, your regular member registration fee covers the program related expenses and is not a fundraiser for the chapter.  As such, all payments for registration to BGSHRM events are non-refundable. View full Transfer and Refund Policy.