Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer

In a world fixated on metrics and outcomes, the science is clear: holistic approaches to learning and working dramatically improve both wellbeing AND performance. Yet organizations continue to operate within outdated paradigms that separate achievement from wellness. This evidence-based presentation dismantles the false dichotomy between caring for ourselves and excelling in our roles. Drawing from neuroscience, education research, and organizational psychology, Dr. Shaffer illuminates how integrated wellness practices aren’t just “nice to have” but essential strategic advantages. Audiences receive practical frameworks for implementing holistic strategies that transform learning cultures, reduce burnout, and enhance performance across their organizations. Through engaging storytelling and interactive elements, participants discover how small, intentional shifts in approach can create ripple effects throughout teams, classrooms, and institutions.

Attendees will gain:

• Research-backed evidence to advocate for holistic approaches within their organizations
• A comprehensive framework for identifying systemic barriers to wellbeing in learning environments
• Practical strategies to implement wellness-centered practices that enhance rather than hinder performance
• Tools to measure and demonstrate the impact of holistic approaches on organizational outcomes

Burnout isn’t an individual failure of self-care—it’s a systemic disconnection requiring both personal and collective solutions. This transformative keynote reframes burnout not as weakness but as wisdom—a signal demanding attention in our lives and organizations. Through powerful storytelling and evidence-based insights, Dr. Shaffer explores the four dimensions of burnout: disconnection, systemic pressure, ongoing process, and inherent wisdom. Rather than offering quick fixes or self-care clichés, this presentation provides a revolutionary framework for sustainable engagement, rhythmic embodiment, and strategic prioritization. Participants will leave equipped with practical tools to reclaim their agency, honor their capacity, and transform their relationship with productivity in ways that foster genuine thriving rather than mere surviving.

Attendees will gain:

• A transformative framework for understanding burnout as feedback rather than failure
• Evidence-based strategies for attention reclamation in distraction-filled environments
• Practical tools like the Priority Wheel and Capacity Assessment to align daily choices with human rhythms
• Actionable approaches to identify and address systemic drivers of burnout in organizations

Productivity doesn’t have to come at the cost of wellbeing. This paradigm-shifting presentation challenges the prevailing toxic productivity culture that has led to epidemic levels of burnout, disengagement, and diminishing returns. Dr. Shaffer introduces the revolutionary concept of “Humane Productivity”—an evidence-based approach that honours natural human rhythms while achieving meaningful outcomes. Through compelling research and experiential activities, participants discover how alignment with chronobiology, attention management, and capacity-attuned practices leads to more sustainable and satisfying achievement. Rather than pushing harder within broken systems, this keynote provides a roadmap for creating environments where people can contribute their best work without sacrificing their humanity.

Attendees will gain:

• A comprehensive framework for identifying and dismantling toxic productivity patterns
• Practical tools for implementing capacity-aware workflows that honor human rhythms
• Strategies for measuring success through impact rather than hours or output
• Leadership approaches that foster cultures of sustainable achievement without burnout

Traditional goal-setting methods are failing us. Despite decades of SMART objectives and vision boards, intention-to-action gaps persist because conventional approaches ignore crucial neurological and psychological factors. This groundbreaking presentation reveals why SMART goals often create pressure without progress offers innovative alternatives. Dr. Shaffer demonstrates how aligned ambitions create sustainable momentum. Through interactive exercises and evidence-based examples, participants will experience firsthand how this new approach transforms vague aspirations into embodied realities, without the shame, pressure, or disappointment of traditional methods.

Attendees will gain:

• Evidence-based understanding of why traditional goal-setting approaches often fail despite best efforts
• A suite of alternatives to SMART goal-setting, including WOOP and ecosystemic models
• Practical tools like the Bubble Method and Priority Wheel for transforming intentions into actions
• Implementation strategies for applying these approaches within organizations and teams

In today’s hyperconnected environment, our most valuable resource isn’t time—it’s attention. This transformative keynote challenges conventional productivity wisdom by revealing how attention management, not time management, determines our success and wellbeing. Dr. Shaffer helps participants reclaim their attention from digital distraction, overwhelm, and competing priorities. Through engaging demonstrations and practical strategies, audiences discover how to move from reactive task-completion to intentional priority-alignment. Participants leave equipped with concrete tools to evaluate competing demands, create focused environments, and make decisions that honour both their goals and their wellbeing in an increasingly fragmented world.

Attendees will gain:

• A comprehensive understanding of attention economics and how it impacts performance and wellbeing
• Practical strategies for creating environments that protect and enhance focused attention
• Evidence-based frameworks for evaluating and selecting priorities based on impact rather than urgency
• Implementation tools for building sustainable attention hygiene practices individually and organizationally

The traditional approach to education often leaves many learners behind, particularly those with diverse needs and backgrounds. This inspiring presentation reveals how holistic learning strategies create the foundation for truly equitable educational environments where everyone can thrive. Dr. Shaffer demonstrates how learning strategies serve as the crucial intersection where equitable practices, mental health support, and academic achievement naturally converge. Through powerful storytelling and authentic examples, participants discover how honouring neurodiversity and creating welcoming spaces transforms not just individual experiences but entire learning communities. Drawing from her extensive work with diverse populations, Dr. Shaffer illustrates how inclusive approaches benefit everyone—including those traditionally marginalized by conventional methods. Through interactive elements and collective reflection, audiences discover practical pathways to create learning environments that truly welcome and empower all participants.

Attendees will gain:

• Powerful frameworks for implementing learning strategies that honour neurodiversity and individual differences
• Practical approaches to create more equitable and inclusive learning environments
• Actionable techniques that support both mental wellbeing and meaningful academic engagement
• Collaborative methods to dismantle barriers and create genuinely welcoming learning communities

Hopes and wishes are one thing, but as the poignant adage goes, “hope is not a plan”. We all have so much we want to do. Big dreams, aim-high ambitions, poignant goals. Things we long for, strive for, yearn for.

Yet, doing them—getting there, and materializing those dreams—is another thing altogether.

This uplifting presentation for professionals of every sector shares buoyant and insightful overview of current, lackluster goal-setting systems—approaches that are ultimately leaving our intentions unfulfilled, and our lives unsatisfied. And, with an inviting and innovative approach, offered are all-new strategies on how to get done all that you are dreaming of. No burnout here, no over-doing it anymore, no spinning your wheels any longer—instead, purposeful, planful techniques to doing, and ultimately to reaching and realizing those hopes and wishes.

Key takeaways include clarity about the limitations of modern goal-setting methods, and specific alternatives that better support goal-fulfillment.

Once the flurry of back-to-school shopping, and excitement over new and rekindled friendships have passed, then what? When a first failed quiz or exam comes home, then what? When a report card or midterm mark is nearing or at a failing grade, then what? When it’s three weeks or three months into the school year and things aren’t going so well, what are learners, families, and educators to do?

So much hype and hope go into those initial days starting a new school, or returning after summer break. But when those new sneakers aren’t so new anymore, when those school supplies have lost their novelty, and when those “this year will be different” intentions are dashed, then what?

This riveting presentation reveals the singlemost missing element in teaching and learning today: learning strategies. It’s the one thing that’s never been tried—sharing how to learn with students, from studying to repairing focus to time management—yet could transform academic performance, contribute to greater equity and justice in the classroom, foster more resilient student mental health, and prevent teacher burnout all at once. More than metacognition, richer than learning science, holistic learning strategies, integrated throughout a learner’s course, term, semester, or year, are the key to supporting this generation of learners.

Hear how learning how to learn can change everything.

Key takeaways include understanding the power and potential of learning strategies, and specific, success-oriented, micro-interventions to weave in right away.

“Just start with what’s most important!” That’s the usual advice when it comes to prioritizing. But what exactly counts as “most important”? And, what to do when there are more than one “most importants”, or even competing “most importants”?

Too often, so-called priorities are based on urgency, on obligation, or on undefined values. And, the struggle to sort out which to-do comes first or what project is highest on the importance list leads to shame, procrastination, and very loud self-criticism.

This energizing and soulful presentation helps professionals in every industry discern what goes into prioritization, how to see and set them, how to know what to do first (and second) (and last), and how to move through them all towards lasting success (and relief!).

From the trouble with task lists to myths about “managing” time, get ready to deep dive into the pressures implicit in prioritization, and how misunderstanding “priorities” is keeping that sought-after work-life balance out of reach.

Key takeaways include expanding definitions of priorities beyond what’s most urgent, and introduction to new, holistic, and healthful approaches to productivity.

Does everything feel rushed? Compressed, breathless, scrambling, frenzied? Like there are never enough minutes or days to “get it all done”? There is a lot on the go, all at once, and it seldom lets up—so much to do, so little time, and soaring stress.

This presentation tackles all things time: our relationship to it, what to do with our extensive to-do lists, how to get more done with less tension, and all the while how to prevent overwhelm, exhaustion, and burnout.

From energy amplification to reclaiming focus, integrated leisure to refined efficiency, enhanced productivity is possible, and at less of a personal cost. Full of innovative time management strategies, this presentation will leave professionals of every industry feeling more in control of their tasks, more excited about their to-do’s, and more at ease with the demands of their days.

Key takeaways include a reinvigorated approach to productivity, and a palpable sense of relief.

From belonging-building strategies to joy-based activities, attention restoration to connecting with chosen family, note-taking that nails it to study strategies that build confidence and GPAs, this talk is ideal for whole schools, classroom teachers, and education administrators and leaders. The full arc of academic skills will be flipped on its head, including test-taking, perfectionism, and essay-writing.

No longer is well-being considered a nice-to-have; instead, it’s never been more clear just how directly mind, body, heart, and spirit nourishing strategies lead to optimal, and equitable, learning performance and success.

Sustainable, integrative, whole-person strategies that are both good for students and good for professionals will be the focus of this heartfelt presentation. In a storied and poignant journey, learn seldom-shared strategies for holistic learner success that promote well-being, recruitment, and retention.

Key takeaways include feel-good micro-interventions that support all learners, including early alert, pre- and post-probation, and international learners, and all educators.