Inspire Your Audience

Vanessa Jupe

Founder • Entrepreneur • Former Executive of Product & Design at Fortune 500 Firms

Expert in Humane Workplaces, Modern Leadership, and the Future of Work.

Helping companies build cultures where people and performance thrive.

Vanessa Jupe, a woman with blonde hair, in a gray dress sitting on a blue armchair, smiling, in a modern interior with artwork on the wall behind her.
Book Vanessa for Your Event

Vanessa blends two decades of corporate leadership with deep research on humane work.

Highlights include:

  • Former SVP of Product & Design at a 500-person insurtech startup

  • Executive leader of digital strategy at USAA and H&R Block

  • Founder of Leva, a parental support platform serving companies nationwide

  • Creator of 101 Ways Out, a global research project on work, identity, and freedom

  • Speaker at leading events including:

    • Hint Health conference

    • TeamKC Training Camp (annual talent summit)

    • NXTSTAGE Innovation Summit

    • C3KC Conference

    • PEER 150 HR Events

    • Global Entrepreneurship Week KC

    • Multiple college campuses

    • Corporate Town Halls

  • Corporate Partnerships with Texas811, Ballentine Partners, Bishop-McCann, Root Financial, and additional enterprise clients

Signature Talks

  • How to build cultures that actually retain talent.

    Big Takeaways:

    • Why traditional management is failing

    • The 3 elements of psychologically safe workplaces

    • How leaders can show strength and humanity

    Evidence-Based Insights:

    • Research from behavioral science, maternal wellbeing, and employee engagement

    • Patterns uncovered through 101 Ways Out

    Stories:

    • High-performing teams Vanessa has built

    • Moments that shaped her leadership philosophy

    ROI for the Audience:

    • Leaders gain actionable frameworks

    • Teams gain trust and clarity

    • Organizations gain loyalty

  • From burnout to reinvention — what people wish they had known sooner.

    Big Takeaways:

    • The five most common catalysts for “leaving”

    • Why traditional success models no longer work

    • What people discover on the other side

    Evidence-Based Insights:

    • Direct interview data from diverse global participants

    • Trends in remote work, digital nomadism, and lifestyle design

    Stories:

    • The moment Vanessa knew she had to “step out”

    • The most surprising reinvention stories

    ROI for the Audience:

    • Inspires bold thinking

    • Helps people reconnect with purpose

    • Ideal for innovation teams & professional development events

  • Why working mothers are leaving in record numbers — and what leaders must do now.

    Big Takeaways:

    • The hidden forces pushing women out: workload, identity strain, policy failures

    • The ROI of supporting parents: retention, engagement, and organizational stability

    • The 5 non-negotiable cultural shifts every company must make

    Evidence-Based Insights:

    • Gallup, McKinsey, and 101 Ways Out research

    • Data from maternal health, burnout, and employee turnover

    Stories:

    • Corporate moms trying to survive “the second shift”

    • What 50+ escape stories reveal about work today

    ROI for the Audience:

    • Immediate changes leaders can implement

    • Lower turnover costs

    • More productive, engaged teams

  • Modern benefit strategies that are effective, scalable, and human.

    Big Takeaways:

    • What parents actually need — and what HR can stop doing

    • The critical difference between policies and support

    • How to measure the impact of parental-support programs

    Evidence-Based Insights:

    • 101 Ways Out findings

    • Leva user data + industry benchmarks

    Stories:

    • HR leaders drowning in outdated systems

    • Companies that got this right

    ROI for the Audience:

    • Save HR time

    • Improve retention

    • Strengthen employer brand

  • Why the maternal health system is cracking — and what companies can do.

    Big Takeaways:

    • The motherhood penalty: what it is and why it persists

    • Mental health realities for modern parents

    • How employers can fill systemic gaps

    Evidence-Based Insights:

    • U.S. maternal health statistics

    • Corporate trends

    • Global comparisons

    Stories:

    • Mothers who hit breaking points

    • Leaders who stepped up and made a difference

    ROI for the Audience:

    • Understand the cost of inaction

    • Implement simple, high-impact adjustments

    • Strengthen care-driven leadership

Audience Testimonials

“Thank you for your time and wisdom in creating a truly inspiring afternoon! ”
— Gina Stingley, G3KC Organizer
“I sincerely enjoyed the conversation and gained so much insight and confidence from the panel. Thank you for being brave and paving the way for future women entrepreneurs! ”
— Anne Hickman, Ed.D, CTE Director
“Thank you for bringing these facts to the table and sharing your authentic journey. You did an amazing job!”
— Jenn Kabler, Revenue Director
“It’s so inspirational to see your passion come to fruition, and what a strong business leader you are. Thank you for sharing your experiences — both positive and bumps along the way — so our students can see what it’s like on the other side of the desk!”
— Professor Teresa Harrison, UIW
“It was amazing learning from you and hearing your powerful insights, Vanessa Jupe!”
— Dr. Kirsten Brown Persley, Founder and CEO Persley Advisors
“You were impressive and engaging and thoughtful and positive. Thanks for guiding us on this important topic.”
— Joe Gagnon, CEO

Booking Information

Speaking formats include:

  • Keynotes

  • Fireside chats

  • Panels

  • Corporate workshops

  • Podcast / media interviews

To bring Vanessa to your conference, company, or workshop:

Book Vanessa for Your Event
Vanessa at BioKansas Innovation event
Vanessa on panel at C3KC Conference
People attending a conference, with two presenters on stage, one at a large screen showing a presentation about machine learning, with a fireworks display in the background on the screen.
Vanessa speaking at Hint Health Conference
Vanessa speaking at C3KC Conference
Vanessa on air media interview
Vanessa speaking at One Million Cups
Vanessa speaking at NXSTAGE
A woman giving a presentation in front of a room full of people. There are two large screens displaying a slide about brands responding to disruption, with logos of Netflix, Amazon, and others. The audience is seated, attentively listening.
Vanessa speaking on Capitol Hill
Vanessa at BioKansas Innovation event
Vanessa on panel at Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)
Vanessa Speaking at Investment Innovation Panel
Vanessa speaking at Dolphin Tank
Vanessa on panel at C3KC Conference