Keynote Speakers
Valerie Alexander
Valerie is a renowned expert on happiness & inclusion & a globally recognized speaker on the topics of happiness in the workplace, unconscious bias & the advancement of women. Her TED Talk, “How to Outsmart Your Own Unconscious Bias” has been viewed over half a million times & has been used as an instructional tool in classrooms & boardrooms around the world.
About Valerie
Valerie’s books include the Amazon #1 seller, Happiness as a Second Language and several more on happiness and success. Prior to this work, Valerie was a securities lawyer, an investment banker, a tech startup CEO, and a screenwriter and film director. She also writes Christmas movies for the Hallmark Channel, which she knows you secretly love, even though you’ll only admit to watching them with your mom. Valerie and her husband, writer-producer Rick Alexander, live in Los Angeles, CA, with their ill-mannered German Shepherd, Vegas, Baby! Please visit SpeakHappiness.com to learn more about her work.
Scott Abel
Named Leadership and Innovation Manager with oversight of the Texas Health and Human Services Leadership Development Program, Scott is a seasoned veteran of public service, having served in various state government leadership positions for more than twelve years. Scott speaks frequently on leadership, communication, innovation, & generational differences in the workplace.
About Scott
Scott has also provided leadership in the field of higher education and intercollegiate athletics as a senior administrator at various universities and with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, where he was the youngest-elected chairman of the organization’s prestigious Legislation Committee.
Scott has a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Texas Wesleyan University, but is a rabid, life-long fan of the TCU Horned Frogs. He is the author of the supernatural suspense novel, Sunrise, and lives in the suburbs of Austin with his wife and two daughters - who assist him in his search for the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.