PRESS
and
SPEAKING
Past Speaking Engagements
When we’re ready and willing to be open and authentic, and speak about the impactful insights we discover through difficult times, we create a safe space for deep connection, healing, and awareness.
My mission is to be the person I needed when my world turned upside down. By sharing my story and the lessons I’ve gained during my journey, I aim to empower others to face and conquer adversity.
KELLI in ACTION
I speak about resilience and how to turn unexpected challenges into opportunities to help audiences reclaim their confidence and purpose, so they can live each day without limits!
Check Out My TEDx Talk!
"Kelli was an incredible speaker and an absolute pleasure to work with. Her talk was truly transformational and an inspiration to all of our viewers."
Manya Gupta, TEDxYouth@Berwyn
"The Netflix Mental Health ERG and Accessibility@ ERG were thrilled to host Kelli as our spotlight speaker for our respective communities. Kelli's story and approach to embracing life's challenges is incredibly inspiring and her Three F Word Method offered our ERG members digestible tools to reach achievable goals. Our ERGs aim to prioritize mental health and disability advocacy in the workplace and we felt the event with Kelli aligned wonderfully with our mission to create programming through a lens of inclusion and allyship by educating, amplifying diverse perspectives, providing resources, and a sense of belonging for our colleagues."
NETFLIX ERG LEADERS - TRACY POPE, BRITTANY HICKS, AND MELISSA SALAZAR
RAVE REVIEWS
RAVE REVIEWS
RAVE REVIEWS
RAVE REVIEWS
RAVE REVIEWS
RAVE REVIEWS
RAVE REVIEWS
Dr. Morgan Jean Craig Belknap, Host of the Let’s Grow Girls women’s resilience retreat and founder/owner of Healing Not Healed
Her keynote shares an inspiring story of perseverance despite unexpected trauma. Kelli's story encourages her audience to build both confidence and resilience as a part of their journey of healing after pain or obstacles. All audiences would value from this keynote, due to the level of relatability and vulnerability that Kelli shares in her storytelling. The call to action is strong and holds all listening ears accountable to take their next steps towards future growth.
"Kelli Chu is a strong woman of resilience."
BDO Canada LLP
She gave us valuable insights on how to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression in our professional and personal lives. She spoke with empathy and connected with our people on a deep level. We are grateful for her vulnerability and wisdom.
"During our firm wide webcast on mental health, Kelli joined us to share her personal story of struggle and recovery."
DACIA HENSHAW,
VP OF OPERATIONS AT SHEFACTOR
Like so many of us, we have been “surviving” through all of this. Kelli inspired me to take a deeper look into me and really think about how I approach my day. With limitations during Covid, it didn’t mean that I needed to just check the box everyday or “survive”. I was ready to “LIVE”! Kelli is truly an amazing young woman, and will inspire you as well. Life goes on…it’s time to LIVE.
"YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO HER STORY."
Blue Shield of California,
Elevating Women Employee Resource Group
A wonderfully honest conversation with great tools to use in our everyday lives. We walked away knowing we CAN give purpose to challenges and even turn them into success!
"Kelli's presentation was incredibly impactful to our Employee Resource group."
What happens when your plans suddenly get derailed? And you feel stuck or overwhelmed, forced to go off the beaten path, asking questions like, “Why me?”
In this program, which includes some interactive elements to engage the audience, Kelli assures that only you have the power to define and control your detour despite the level of hardship that is thrown your way, things not going according to plan, or what’s expected from you.
After surviving a major car accident involving 11 surgeries and severe permanent injuries, Kelli shares her vulnerable yet powerful story to exemplify our ability to not only overcome unexpected challenges but also to embrace them, give them purpose, and transform them into the most meaningful experiences and opportunities.
She creates a space for attendees to feel more encouraged than yesterday to better handle the bumps in the road and to feel confident enough to welcome the road less traveled while discovering new possibilities.
One person's survival story is another person's survival guide. Through Kelli’s actionable steps, mindset tactics, and resilience strategies, the audience who walked in feeling a certain way will walk out owning the way they feel.
DESCRIPTION
Embrace Your Detour: How to Navigate Through the Unexpected to Discover New Possibilities
High school students, youth leadership groups, colleges and universities, young professional organizations, women’s groups, ERGs, disability inclusion groups, and DEI groups.
Ideal audiences
• Recognize that difficult times lead to growth opportunities.
• Change our self-sabotaging thoughts into an optimistic mindset.
• Learn how to control the narrative and seek solutions.
• Learn how to use the power of gratitude as a stepping stone.
TAKEAWAYS
signaTURE KEYNOTE TOPIC
This keynote is perfect for: navigating life changes and hardships, improving self-esteem, purpose building, and adapting a more forward-thinking mindset.
"I love that she said she's adjusted and accepts being unique."
"I loved her advice of when things go wrong, call it a plot twist and move on."
Takeaways from a few wonderful attendees
"It was insightful and relevant."
"Positive and motivating attitude!"
"To love myself and be confident."
"So many helpful
suggestions."
I reached out to Kelli as a keynote speaker for our conference because our conference theme was "Motivate the Future". Our organization is made up of teachers, from middle school through college level. Everyday, we are faced with difficult tasks that require us to push forward so that we can provide the best education to our students possible. Kelli offered an interactive presentation that allowed us to really reflect on what areas we wanted to change our mindset and actionable steps to make our plan work -- regardless of our personal circumstances.
Heather Borowiak, IBEA Board Member - President Elect
"Kelli's real-life experiences and ability to thrive despite her circumstances is extremely motivating."
She had such a calm and unwavering approach to what has changed her life forever. I walked away from the conference being thankful and grateful for what I do have, and what I can do in this life, with more empathy for my fellow friends and family, a more humanitarian look at each of us as the same beings, over and over.
Jennifer Williams, attendee for keynote
"I was absolutely in awe of Kelli and her perseverance in the face of such a tragic situation."
The most important takeaway I have from Kelli's presentation, is how it's important to break down even the most inspirational story into actionable steps, so that it could potentially help others even more.
Danielle Brazant, attendee for keynote
"Kelli Chu's words helped me to better gain understanding of how I could better share my own story, in ways that could help others in tangible ways."
After hearing Kelli speak, I was genuinely filled with a profound sense of peace, motivation, and positivity. Her insightful guidance helped me identify several major sources of stress and anxiety that were beyond my control, and she showed me how to release those stressors.
Moreover, Kelli taught me to reframe my perspective and develop strategies to improve the aspects of my life that I can control. This approach was incredibly liberating and filled me with immense hope.
Jillian Poulsen - Active MindS at UCLA, Outreach Director
This workshop, led by Kelli, a trauma-informed certified coach, is designed to help employees create a safe, supportive environment for colleagues who may be experiencing trauma. Drawing from her expertise and personal experience, Kelli will guide participants through understanding how trauma impacts mental health, work performance, and relationships. Participants will explore trauma-informed communication techniques and gain practical strategies for fostering emotional well-being, navigating challenging conversations, and building resilience within teams. By the end of the workshop, employees will feel equipped to engage compassionately with colleagues, provide support, and create a more inclusive, trauma-sensitive workplace.
DESCRIPTION
Creating a Safe Space at Work: Supporting Colleagues Through Trauma
Workshop
- Understand trauma’s impact on mental health and performance.
- Apply trauma-informed practices in sensitive situations.
- Communicate effectively in trauma-related conversations.
- Build resilience and emotional well-being at work.
- Foster a supportive, inclusive workplace culture.
TAKEAWAYS
- Employees across all departments
- Managers and team leaders
- Human Resources professionals
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) teams
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- Wellness or mental health program coordinators
ideal audiences
FEATURED PRESS
FEATURED PRESS
"Morning Cup" with Dr. C serves as a guidebook to help you become the best possible version of you! Listen to hear about Kelli's TEDx talk experience, entrepreneurship, strategies to break through roadblocks, and Kelli's answers to some fun rapid fire questions!
Youtube Interview with Dr. Caroline Iscovitz | Nothing Can Define You Unless You Let It
Morning Cup with Dr.C
Author, speaker, researcher, and storyteller, Mikaela Brewer, brings a series of storytelling-focused conversations with youth in our communities. In this episode, Mikaela and Kelli reflect on acceptance, the connection between mental & physical healing, communication, owning your authentic self, and much more!
Episode 11: Acceptance Allows You to Move Forward
Braving the Waves | Bridging the Gap: Stories of Unsinkable Resilience & Resolvving Stigma
Podcast hosts, Kristy Yee and Angie Yu, discuss mental health challenges, cultural identity struggles, and adulting. In this episode, Kelli opens up about regrets, the dark places, and everyday struggles for women in their 30s: career, marriage, and kids.
Episode 24: Life After Surviving a Traumatic Car Accident ft. Kelli Chu
Sh!t We Don't Tell Mom Podcast
TWENTY SOMETHING TRIALS PODCAST
Episode 45: Limitless Living | Transforming Trauma with Accident Survivor Kelli Chu
Twenty Something Trials is a lifestyle podcast, hosted by Gabby Dionisio, dedicated to women navigating this critical, ever-changing, always confusing decade of life. In this episode, Kelli talks about how she reclaimed her power and story, and how to use your trauma to tap into transformational healing.
unWiNEd is hosted by Natalie Plackowski, who shares her thoughts, questions, and answers to conquering life as a 20something. In this episode, Kelli discusses how sometimes life doesn't go as planned for a number of reasons, but if you stay true to yourself, new plans can be formed.
Episode 14: Embracing Your Authentic Self
unWINEd - Thoughts of a 20something Podcast
The Grief Coach Podcast
Episode 48: Living After Surviving With Motivational Speaker Kelli Chu
The Grief Coach is hosted by Brooke James, who creates a space that respects profound loss and the practicality of needing to make decisions in heartbreak. In this episode, Kelli discusses resilience after loss and how to talk to those who've experienced something hard.
Tell Me, If You Can Podcast
Episode 6: From Life Changing Accident to Motivational Speaker with Kelli Chu
Tell Me, If You Can is hosted by Ogechi Akalegbere, who shares women's stories of hope, real change, transformation, and inspiration. In this episode, Kelli shares her accident story, the emotional toll it took, and how that has led her to the passions she has now.
