Carissa Halton

While many professionals wouldn’t identify as “writers” like Carissa Halton, putting words on the page is a large part of their job. Whether writing reports, emails, grants or summaries, writing is a big part of modern work. And sometimes it can feel like the hardest part. In this workshop, Carissa Halton shares lessons from working with magazine and book editors that has mades the writing process easier and results clearer. She pulls back the curtain on the purpose and process of writing and provides tips for drafting and editing one’s work. While not everyone wants to win a Pulitzer, this workshop will have audiences eager to think differently about their approach to writing and the final product.

Audience Take-aways:

• Understand the building blocks of great written communication
• Learn some tips and tricks for better business writing
• Explore the strengths and weaknesses of AI in business writing

In an era of increasing division, Carissa Halton examines how individuals and organizations can rebuild trust, foster dialogue, and strengthen collaboration across differences. This presentation explores the forces that separate people, including technology bias, personal bias, and misinformation, and how they shape perceptions and limit intellectual freedom in workplaces and communities. Carissa Halton draws from her extensive experience as a consensus and community builder to illustrate how leaders, teams, and organizations can create conditions for meaningful connection. Through research and lived examples, she demonstrates how dialogue grounded in respect, curiosity, and shared purpose can bridge divides and renew trust.

Participants are guided through practical approaches to navigate polarized environments and new technology how to counter misinformation and recognize the role of personal and systemic bias in shaping relationships and decision-making. Through stories and strategies, Carissa Halton equips audiences with a framework for building environments that value intellectual freedom, encourage open exchange, and move groups toward common goals without erasing differences in order to lead with integrity, engage across perspectives, and create authentic connection in an increasingly fragmented world.

Great leaders aren’t just decision-makers—they’re storytellers.

Carissa shares how to craft compelling narratives that engage teams, visualize a shared vision, and inspire action.

Synopsis

Great leaders don’t just make decisions—they move people, shape culture, and drive change through the stories they tell. Whether you’re leading a team, advocating for change, or engaging partners and collaborators, storytelling is a powerful tool to build trust and inspire action.

In this keynote or workshop, award-winning writer Carissa Halton explores how leaders can use storytelling to bring clarity, connection, and momentum to their organizations. She breaks down what makes a story compelling, how to tailor messaging for different audiences, and how to use narrative to strengthen workplace culture, drive engagement, and mobilize people toward action.

This session is designed for leaders, managers, and professionals looking to enhance their communication, build alignment, and lead with authenticity.

Audience Takeaways

• Why Storytelling Matters in Leadership – Understand how stories shape decisions, culture, and organizational success.
• The Science of Storytelling – Learn how narratives engage emotions, create connections, and drive action.
• Storytelling for Team Alignment – Explore how to use stories to clarify vision, reinforce values, and create a shared sense of purpose.
• Authenticity & Connection – Discover techniques for telling stories that resonate, build trust, and inspire meaningful engagement.
• Practical Applications – Gain tools to incorporate storytelling into presentations, team meetings, public speaking, and day-to-day leadership communication.

Strategic planning isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about learning from the past, engaging your team, anticipating what’s next, and creating a plan that lives beyond the page.

In this interactive keynote or webinar session, facilitator and strategic planning expert Carissa Halton explores what strategic planning really is—and why the process matters more than the final document. Attendees will walk away with practical tools to lead effective planning efforts that serve as both a valuable one-time event and an ongoing, adaptive process.

Key Takeaways

• What Is Strategic Planning? – Explore a practical definition and get familiar with different approaches and key terms.
• Why Do It? – Learn the core benefits of strategic planning for teams, leadership, and sound decision-making.
• Who Should Be Involved? – Discover how to identify critical voices and engage staff, board members, and stakeholders meaningfully.
• How to Build a Usable Plan – Understand essential elements of planning: learning from the past, anticipating the future, defining goals, setting priorities, and establishing success metrics.
• How to Keep It Alive – Avoid the dreaded “shelf plan” by integrating evaluation and strategic goals into daily operations.

Consensus is more than just agreement—it’s about moving forward together in a way that values diverse perspectives and strengthens team cohesion.

In this session, facilitator and community-builder Carissa Halton explores what consensus really means, debunks common myths, and examines the values and skills required to facilitate effective consensus-building. Through real-world scenarios and practical strategies, leaders will gain tools to navigate complex group dynamics, foster collaboration, and make decisions that benefit the whole community.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the true nature of consensus, including its advantages and challenges.
• Explore the value systems that support consensus-building, such as humility, shared learning, and community well-being.
• Identify key characteristics of effective consensus facilitators, including curiosity and vulnerability.
• Reflect on how to integrate consensus-building approaches into leadership and organizational processes.