Keynote 02 · Leadership communication

Own the Room

How to communicate with confidence when the stakes are high

TEDxspeaker10,000+taught150+stages

Dr. Christiane Schroeter · TEDx speaker · Professor · Author of Petite Practice®

As featured inNewsweekBusiness InsiderTEDxSheKnowsInnovation WomenWomen Thrive Magazine

The science, made simple

870+
Citations of her peer-reviewed research

Behavioral economics your audience can use on Monday

People decide early

In a high-stakes room, listeners form a view in the first moments, then look for reasons to keep it. That makes your first sentence the most valuable one you say.

Attention is a scarce resource

Every extra point costs your listener attention. Fewer words, chosen well, are easier to remember and easier to repeat after you leave the room.

See her on stage

Watch the full TEDx talk before you book

No sizzle reel. The whole talk, start to finish, so your committee sees exactly how a room responds.

Want Big Change? Start With Small Steps · TEDxFolsom

Dr. Christiane Schroeter speaking at TEDxFolsom

How the talk unfolds

From a story in the room to a step they take home

StoryA high-stakes room, the sentence that lost it, and the one that won it back
ResearchHow people weigh information under pressure, from 20+ years of decision science
PracticeEach leader drafts the one-sentence opening for their next hard conversation

What your audience leaves with

Three moves to use on Monday

01

Open a high-stakes conversation with the point, in one sentence

Lead with the conclusion. The room relaxes when it knows where you are going.

02

Hold the pause instead of filling it

Silence reads as certainty. Filler words read as doubt.

03

Disagree with a senior voice, calmly and once

Say it clearly, give the reason, and stop. Repetition costs authority.

TEDxFolsom 2025
10,000+Professionals taught
150+Podcast interviews
Top 1%Global podcast

Why organizers book her

“
Engaging, practical, extremely well received. Attendees left with strategies they could apply immediately.L.A. Plax, Conference Chair, Inland Prosperity Conference · Inland Empire Women’s Business Center
We selected Christiane as our TEDx kick-off talk. Top-notch. Consummate professional.Jen Oliver, Executive Producer, TEDxFolsom
It was such a pleasure to see the inspired faces after her talk at our bookstore and to see the attendees immediately take action!Julie Saunders, Owner, Salty Pages Bookstore, Cambria

The details

Everything your committee needs

Best fitExecutive retreats20 to 150 people
FormatsKeynote or workshopIn person or virtual
Based inSan Luis Obispo, CATravel quoted with the keynote
Reply timeTwo business daysWith a hold on your date
One-sheetDownload →Talks, bio and fee

Planning questions

What organizers ask first

How long is the keynote?

45 to 60 minutes. Half-day and full-day workshop versions are available, and the talk also runs as a virtual session.

Can it be shaped to our event?

Yes. Every keynote is built around what you need your audience to do differently on Monday.

What does it cost?

The fee is on the one-sheet. Travel is quoted with the keynote.

Where is Dr. Christiane based?

San Luis Obispo, California. She travels for keynotes and has spoken in five countries.

How quickly will we hear back?

You get a personal reply and a hold on your date within two business days.

Your stage, your date

Bring Own the Room to your event

Tell me your date, your room, and what you need your audience to do differently on Monday. You will have a personal reply and a hold on your date within two business days.

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