Logo with large, cursive text Katie and smaller, uppercase McDonald underneath. Below, in lowercase letters, it says speaker. coach. author. with a horizontal line separating the names and titles.

de-LIBERATE

de-LIBERATE:
From Reactivity to Intentional Productivity

The Flagship Keynote for Overwhelmed High Achievers

Approach: Getting the right work done, at the right time, for the right reasons.

A person with short gray hair, glasses, and a sheer black blouse gestures with open hands while speaking, against a plain white background.

The Problem Your Audience Is Facing

They're drowning. Meeting after meeting, deal after deal, deadline after deadline. Tasks topple their bulging inbox demanding more and more. They wonder if it's all even doable.

They might feel like they have to choose between taking care of business and taking care of themselves. Maybe they're starting to come undone in service to getting things done.

Frenzy has become familiar. An old friend. The electric current of their life that they tell themselves is enthusiasm, motivation, drive. The pacing, the racing. But it's ineffective time management masquerading as productivity.

They're plowing ahead as if to cross some imaginary finish line that only moves further away with any progress.

What This Keynote Delivers

Through de-LIBERATE, Katie helps audiences trade chaos for intention. This keynote dismantles reactivity and teaches a practical system for aligning calendars, commitments, and self-respect.

attendees learn:

  • How to be de-LIBERATE instead of reactive in their daily decisions
  • Why time management is a fallacy (time is fixed; we are not)
  • The intersection of self-care and self-discipline for sustainable productivity
  • Concrete strategies to get things done without coming undone
  • How to lower expectations of themselves while raising their standards
when you're de-LIBERATE, you get the right work done, at the right time, for the right reasons.
Ideal Audiences:
  • Corporate teams experiencing overwhelm and burnout
  • High performers struggling with work-life integration
  • Leaders who want sustainable productivity strategies for their teams
  • Organizations prioritizing employee wellbeing as competitive advantage
  • Anyone who's tired of feeling like they're constantly behind
What Attendees Will Walk Away With:
  • A reframed understanding of productivity that doesn't require self-sacrifice
  • Practical tools for intentional decision-making
  • Permission to prioritize what truly matters
  • Strategies to implement immediately (not "someday")
  • Renewed energy and clarity about their path forward

Katie-isms featured in this keynote

"Lower your expectations of yourself and raise your standards."
"tiME management is a fallacy. Time is fixed. We are not."
"tiME management is at the intersection of self-care and self-discipline."
"Choose badass over half-ass, every time."

Logistics

Duration
30, 45, or 60 minutes (customizable)
Format
Keynote or workshop
(half-day/full-day versions available)
Delivery
In-person or virtual
Language
Gender-neutral or customized to your audience

What People Are Saying

Her talk was more than a keynote; it was a reset. It prepared everyone to look inward before turning outward.
Tania A. Doub, Mindful Quadrant
Katie is a candid storyteller who weaves humor and personal history into an engaging, insightful, and captivating program.
Shannon Froma, Hearst
Katie brought truthfulness and valuable insight into topics rarely discussed in the open. Employees were left empowered to create positive change that will not only help to strengthen our firm’s culture, but will allow them to provide better value to our clients over the long-term.
David Almonte, DiSanto, Priest & Co.
Audit Manager
Bring back Katie! Excellent speaker, very knowledgeable and engaging, wish we had more time. The hour flew by.
Participant in corporate presentations
She served as a wake up call and she shook our world.
Emily Liu, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
This woman is an absolute warrior.
Sales Accelerator Bootcamp participant
Katie has a rare ability to connect with HR leaders in a way that feels both deeply personal and professionally transformational. Katie brings authenticity, wisdom, and practical insight that resonates long after the session ends.
Pam Thornton, Employers Association of New England
Katie McDonald is a wonderful, passionate speaker. You will enjoy her presentation and leave feeling very empowered.
Denise Hempe, SHRM-SCP
The passion, authenticity and thought leadership she brought to the program was extraordinary.
Jeremy Ford, People & Change and UNFI
VP
Katie is a beautiful soul who is able to connect to her audience. Her presentations are simple, unique and inspiring.
Jennifer Martel, Blum Shapiro

Ready to book Katie for your next event?

Request Information → Hear it from Katie Herself → Media Kit → Download Speaker Sheet →
A smiling woman with short gray hair wearing a black top and silver earrings, posed against a plain light background.

Download b.nourished Resource Guide

This getting-started guide is the result of the countless hours — actually decades — I’ve devoted to finding the most powerful tools and resources available. It was carefully curated to help you find valuable and transformative resources for your own journey.
Download the Guide