Mike Shoreman

The conversations that matter most at work are often the ones that never happen.

An employee is overwhelmed but says they’re fine. A colleague needs support but doesn’t know how to ask. A manager senses something is wrong but isn’t sure what to say. A team is navigating pressure or change, yet everyone keeps moving as though everything is normal.

What does that silence cost a team?

In The Things We Don’t Say at Work, professional speaker and bestselling author Mike Shoreman explores how communication, trust and human connection shape mental health, workplace culture and the way teams perform.

Through powerful storytelling, humour, lived experience and relatable workplace scenarios, Mike examines why people often struggle quietly, what prevents important conversations from happening and how everyday interactions between colleagues and leaders can either strengthen trust or slowly erode it.

This keynote isn’t about turning managers into therapists or expecting employees to share personal information. It’s about creating workplaces where people communicate effectively, recognize when someone may need support, respond appropriately and feel comfortable asking for help when they need it.

Mike explores some of the simplest and sometimes hardest things to say at work: I need help. I’m overwhelmed. I made a mistake. I don’t understand. Something isn’t working. Can we talk?

When these conversations don’t happen, problems can grow quietly. Communication breaks down. Stress increases. Teams disconnect and performance can suffer.

When trust exists, conversations can happen earlier.

At the centre of the keynote is a simple idea: You don’t need to have all the answers to make a difference. Sometimes you need to know how to start the conversation and how to listen when someone starts one with you.

Participants leave with practical approaches for stronger workplace communication, greater confidence navigating difficult conversations and a better understanding of how trust and connection contribute to healthier, stronger teams.

Organizations are always measuring results. Revenue. Growth. Targets reached. Projects completed. Problems solved. Milestones achieved.

But behind every result are people.

In The People Behind the Work, professional speaker and bestselling author Mike Shoreman turns the focus from what organizations accomplish to the people who make those accomplishments possible.

Through powerful storytelling, humour and lived experience, Mike explores something that can easily get lost in busy workplaces: the importance of knowing that who you are and what you contribute matters.

Not every contribution appears on a performance dashboard. Some people quietly support the colleagues around them. Some solve problems nobody else sees. Some bring energy into difficult days. Some keep teams connected during periods of change. Others simply show up consistently and do the work that everyone depends on.

And sometimes the people making the greatest difference have no idea anyone has noticed.

Mike explores how recognition, gratitude, connection and belonging shape the way people experience work. He challenges leaders and employees alike to become more intentional about noticing the contributions happening around them and understanding the impact a simple moment of genuine recognition can have.

The keynote also asks organizations to reconsider how they celebrate success.

Work moves quickly. One deadline becomes another. One target is replaced by the next. Teams accomplish something significant and, before they have had a chance to recognize it, everyone is already focused on what comes next.

The People Behind the Work creates a reason to stop and recognize what has been accomplished and who made it possible.

At the centre of the keynote is a simple message: Behind every organizational result are people who made it possible. Make sure they know you noticed.

Audiences leave feeling appreciated, connected and reminded of the value they bring to their organization. They also leave with practical ways to recognize the contributions of others and strengthen the everyday connections that make teams better.

For organizations, the keynote provides more than a moment of celebration. It reinforces a workplace culture where contribution is recognized, people feel valued and success is understood as something created together.

What happens when an accessibility barrier doesn’t generate a complaint? The client simply leaves

In The Client You Never Knew You Lost, professional speaker and accessibility educator Mike Shoreman challenges organizations to look beyond accessibility as a compliance requirement and consider its role in client experience, trust, retention and long-term relationships.

Every client relationship is built through a series of interactions. Discovering an organization, navigating its digital presence, making initial contact, attending meetings, receiving documents, communicating with professionals and accessing services over time. Accessibility can strengthen or interrupt that relationship at any point.

Through storytelling, practical examples and a business-focused lens, Mike explores how physical, digital, communication, sensory and attitudinal barriers can influence whether clients engage, remain, refer others or quietly take their business elsewhere.

For client-focused organizations, the implications can extend far beyond a single transaction. A relationship may last years or decades. When accessibility friction affects a client’s ability to participate fully, organizations may be putting trust, retention, referrals and the lifetime value of that relationship at risk.

The keynote leaves leaders with a question they may never have considered: How many clients aren’t telling you about the barriers they’re experiencing? What if they’re simply choosing someone else?

Participants leave with a new way of examining accessibility across the client journey and understanding how more inclusive experiences can strengthen relationships, build trust and support long-term organizational performance.

Great customer service is about making people feel welcomed, respected and understood. But what happens when a customer has an accessibility need and the person serving them isn’t sure what to say or do?

In Accessibility Is Customer Service, professional speaker and accessibility educator Mike Shoreman brings accessibility into the everyday interactions that shape how customers experience an organization.

Through powerful storytelling, humour, lived experience and relatable real world scenarios, Mike explores the moments that can determine whether a person with a disability feels welcomed and included or encounters another barrier.

From communicating with someone with a disability and recognizing hidden disabilities to responding to accommodation requests, interacting with service animals, avoiding assumptions and navigating situations when we simply aren’t sure what to do, Mike takes accessibility out of the policy manual and puts it into the conversations and interactions employees experience every day.

Rather than giving teams another list of rules to memorize, Mike challenges audiences to think differently about what excellent service actually means and provides practical approaches they can use immediately.

Because accessibility isn’t separate from great customer service.

Accessibility is customer service.

Participants leave with greater confidence communicating with people with disabilities, a stronger understanding of how everyday interactions can create or remove barriers, and practical ways to create customer experiences where people feel respected, understood and included.

Accessibility is often discussed in terms of compliance, accommodation and removing barriers. But what happens when we look at accessibility through a business lens?

In this engaging keynote, Mike explores the connection between accessibility, customer, fan and guest experience, purchasing behaviour and organizational revenue. Using his own lived experience and the unexpected example of an $8 package of Twizzlers, Mike demonstrates how seemingly small accessibility barriers can influence how someone navigates an experience, what they see, what they purchase and how they participate.

For organizations across sports, tourism, hospitality, entertainment, municipalities and the broader business community, these individual moments can add up. Mike challenges leaders to look beyond simply getting someone through the door and consider the full experience once they are inside.

Can every customer, fan and guest fully participate? Because accessibility isn’t only about who can access your organization.  It’s about what happens when they do.

Through personal storytelling, business examples and practical insights, audiences will leave with a new perspective on accessibility as both an inclusion priority and an opportunity to improve experiences, remove barriers and strengthen organizational outcomes.

In North America 1 in 5 will struggle with mental health challenges. In “Building Supportive Teams for Mental Health,” Mike addresses the critical need for mental health awareness and support within communities.

This keynote is structured to guide the audience through practical steps using science-based strategies to create a supportive and resilient environment.

Mike’s personal experiences and achievements highlight the importance of fostering inclusive communities, reducing stigma, and ensuring access to mental health services. He provides a roadmap for organizations to support their employees effectively and build environments where everyone can thrive.

Learning Outcomes:

• Reflect on and evaluate one’s own mental health and wellness
• Identify barriers that prevent individuals from seeking help
• Break stigma and stereotypes associated with mental health
• Understand your strengths and how they can impact a team
• Improve resiliency by how we view life’s challenges

In today’s high-pressure work environments, professionals often face overwhelming stress, which can lead to burnout. Mike’s dynamic talk, “Drowning in Stress: Navigating Burnout and Reclaiming Calm,” highlights the essential importance of self-care and setting boundaries to protect mental health while achieving long-term success. Drawing from the metaphor of putting on your own life jacket before helping others, Mike encourages attendees to prioritize their well-being first.

This session offers practical tools and strategies to help people safeguard their peace, avoid burnout, and regain balance. Mike will walk participants through a clear framework to integrate self-care into their daily routines, establish healthy boundaries in the workplace, and cultivate joy beyond their careers. With actionable insights, relatable examples, and tips that can be immediately applied, this talk empowers professionals to enhance their productivity, well-being, and overall job satisfaction.

Outcomes
• Maintaining a strong connection to your professional purpose
• Setting and upholding professional boundaries
• Incorporating self-care into your daily routine
• Cultivating a strong professional network of support
• Preventing burnout and preserving your well-being.