Long before I became a keynote speaker and emcee, I was a kid drawn to experiences that sparked aliveness - volunteering to wear a boa constrictor at five, dancing as a bumblebee ballerina and lighting up from within, standing under the pressure of the National Spelling Bee. Those moments revealed a simple truth: connecting with people isn’t just something I do; it’s where meaning happens.
Today, that instinct for connection guides me as a keynote speaker, emcee, moderator, and on-camera host. I bring warmth, clarity, and a dancer’s intuition to every event, creating an atmosphere where people feel engaged and energized. My work sits at the intersection of content and connection—animating key messages, reading the room in real time, and engaging audiences in ways that make them active participants.
My signature keynote, BE PRESENT. BELIEVE. BE AUTHENTIC., is the heart of everything I do. It’s an invitation: slow down enough to feel the moment, trust the fire already inside you, and lead from the rhythm of your truest self. When a room taps into that resonance, transformation happens.
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology with honors from the University of Michigan — a path that blended scientific rigor with a lifelong devotion to theater, dance, improv comedy, and storytelling. That fusion of science and soul guides the way I translate complex ideas in technology, healthcare, finance, and other industries into messages people don’t just understand, but feel.
I've hosted multi-day conferences like CES and IFT, energized internal sales kickoffs, interviewed celebrities, and emceed award galas across North America, Europe, Singapore, India, and the Middle East. Whether standing in front of thousands or guiding an intimate panel, my intention is always the same: create connection, elevate the message, and move the room.
As a ballerina bumble bee at age 6 (pictured above), it was my love of performance and connecting with audiences, that ignited a flame inside. That passion continues to drive me today when speaking to folks all over the world.
Dance is about emotional connection. I choreograph and teach Repertoire dance to adults. Each season, we focus on a contemporary piece that tells a story and resonates emotionally with audiences, and I often throw in a fun second piece. To watch videos of my dance choreography and our performances, click here, and enter the all lowercase five-letter word that titles this section.
Influenced by my grandfather, a dentist ahead of his time in holistic health, and my father, a pathologist and dermatologist, I appreciate the balance between science and technology and spirituality, emotion, the arts, nature & beauty - looking at the world through a holistic lens. Choosing Biopsychology, the study of psychology as a natural science, as a pre-med major was the perfect blend between art and science.
I love nature, animals, the arts, dance, yoga, the water, and vegetable gardening. Spending time on holistic health and contemplating all things beautiful and connected is a daily practice. A few words to describe me are passionate spirit, powerful, authentic, truth speaker, connected, emotive, adaptive, empathetic, inspired, soulful.
Rich and I live to the east of Chicago with our newest family member, an English Cream Golden Retriever named BeeGee (Beeg for short - yes, named after the musical group). We have partnered together for years on video production projects through his company, Bolin Video Communications.
In between traveling the world hosting events, we enjoy a peaceful life near Lake Michigan with our beloved families, many of whom live in the Midwest.
Gut Instinct, a local improv comedy troupe, is where I workshop and perform between event trips. "Yes and", being in the moment, listening, reacting, making smart, quick choices, translates directly into my work as a host, emcee, and speaker. Connecting with audiences through humor and sharing in their laughter is a feeling like no other!
As a former spelling bee champion and lifelong dancer, scenes that focus on words, emotion, and physicality are some of my favorites. Improvising scenes from silly audience pleasers to deeper character development that focuses on our humanity feels amazing in this challenging and rewarding craft.
