40+ Years in Recovery; 30 Years in Corporate; Speaker on Leadership and Wellness

Turn Stress into Self-Awareness, Conflict into Connection, and Bosses into Leaders.

Maureen Ross Gemme is a keynote speaker and Everything DiSC® leadership trainer who helps people understand their personality, lower their stress, and bring out the best in the people around them. She has trained more than 4,000 professionals across 170+ organizations, and she opens every room the same way: honestly.

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4,000+professionals trained 170+organizations 30+years speaking

Maureen Ross Gemme speaking at a Connecticut Office of Early Childhood event

Signature Keynotes

Reduce Stress and Burnout in Your Organization With Maureen’s Keynotes and Training

Your people are being asked to do more with less, and it shows up as stress, friction with coworkers, and good employees walking out the door. Maureen gives audiences a practical way through it. Using the Everything DiSC® model, she helps every person in the room identify their own style, recognize the styles around them, and notice how stress shows up differently for each one. Then she closes on something most leadership talks skip: how to actually take care of yourself so you can keep showing up for others.

Every keynote is tailored to your audience and your event goals.

Signature Keynote

Personality Under Pressure

Understand your personality style, manage stress, and take care of yourself so you can keep showing up for others.

When pressure rises, people become more intense versions of themselves. Maureen teaches the four Everything DiSC® styles and how to recognize yourself in them. Everyone self-selects their style in a live phone poll and sees the mix of styles in the room. More polling questions show how stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue show up differently for each style. She closes with practical self-care that people will actually use.

See what audiences get

Audiences will

Recognize their own DiSC® style and see the mix of styles in the room
Understand their strengths, fears, and common stress responses
Spot the signs of burnout and compassion fatigue in themselves and others
Leave with simple self-care strategies to respond instead of react

Ideal for: conferences, association meetings, all-staff events, wellness days, and helping professions. 60-minute keynote or 1 hour 40-minute workshop.

Elevate Your Inner Leader

Quiet the inner critic and lead with confidence.

Almost everyone carries two quiet fears: “I’m not enough” and “I won’t be loved.” The inner critic leans on both, and it gets loudest when people step up, like a new supervisor now leading former peers or a capable professional who feels like an imposter. Maureen shows audiences how to name that voice, answer it, and act anyway.

Audiences will

Recognize the six common ways the inner critic talks to them
Use a simple five-step process to quiet it: decide, name it, dismiss it, build a new thought habit, and act
Retell their own story as a victor instead of a victim
Leave with three action steps toward a goal they have been putting off

Ideal for: new supervisors leading former peers, emerging leaders, women’s leadership events, and anyone working through imposter syndrome. Keynote or 2-hour workshop.

7 Steps to Transformation in Leadership

Lead yourself through change, no matter what life throws at you.

This talk grew out of Maureen’s book, Emerge: 7 Steps to Transformation. She has since refined the steps into the coaching process she uses with clients today. Leaders learn to change themselves first, so they can lead others through change.

The seven steps

Know your personality and leverage your strengths
Raise your energy and become the next version of yourself
Know your values and get into alignment
Reprogram old beliefs and patterns
Forgive and let the past go
Build your vision, strategy, and plan
Manage fear, failure, and success

Then put it all into practice as a leader, with emotional intelligence.

Ideal for: leadership teams, organizations in change, and professionals in mid-career transition.

Build EQ at Work

Grow your emotional agility in a fast-changing world.

Emotional intelligence is not fixed. It grows when you understand the mindsets that come naturally to you and stretch past them. Using the Everything DiSC® model of emotional intelligence, Maureen helps audiences see their natural mindsets, pick one to grow, and respond with agility when things are uncertain.

Audiences will

Discover the emotional intelligence mindsets that come naturally to their style
Choose one mindset to stretch and practice
Step outside their comfort zone and respond with agility when things change

Ideal for: teams going through change, managers, and professional associations.

Give, Replenish, Grow

The human needs behind burnout.

The people who give the most are often the ones running on empty. Using the six human needs, Maureen helps audiences see which needs drive their choices, which ones have gone unmet, and why burnout is about unmet needs, not weakness. Live polling keeps everyone involved, and she closes with a simple way to keep giving without burning out: give, replenish, grow, and give more.

Audiences will

Identify their top two human needs and how they drive everyday choices
Spot the need that has been running on empty
See rest as a responsibility, not a reward
Commit to one small shift to give in a way they can sustain

Ideal for: women’s leadership events, helping professions, nonprofits, and wellness programs.

Book a 30-Minute Discovery Call

Meet Maureen

About Maureen and Her Keynotes and Leadership Trainings

Maureen’s story starts in a place most speakers would leave out. She struggled with drugs and alcohol as a teenager and got sober at 24. More than 40 years later, that turning point is still the foundation of everything she teaches. Real change is possible, and the qualities that carry someone through recovery, like honesty, reliability, humility, and gratitude, are the same qualities that make people great leaders.

Read Maureen’s full story

She went on to spend 30 years in corporate, most of them at a Fortune 200 company, working in HR, IT, communications, training, and change management. She led remote training teams and rolled out multi-million-dollar technology systems across the enterprise. Along the way she went back to school in her 40s, while working full time, and earned a BA in Psychology and an MS in Education, both Summa Cum Laude.

In 2013 she left corporate life and founded Emerge Leadership Academy, where she helps organizations turn bosses into leaders, reduce turnover, and increase productivity. She is an Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner, a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), a Distinguished Toastmaster, a Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+), the author of Emerge: 7 Steps to Transformation (No Matter What Life Throws At You!), and host of the Emerge. Evolve. Lead. podcast.

Audiences describe her as warm, funny, and refreshingly real. Event planners describe her as easy to work with.

30 yearsin corporate HR, IT, and training
40+ yearsin recovery, told openly from the stage
4,000+professionals trained across 170+ organizations
Podcast hostof Emerge. Evolve. Lead. and a frequent podcast guest

Gemme is pronounced “Gem.”

Book a 30-Minute Discovery Call

Speaker Reel

See Maureen in the Room

Watch on YouTube

On Stage & In the Classroom

Real Rooms. Real Audiences.

Maureen presenting 7 Steps to Leadership Transformation

Maureen presenting on personal growth and contribution

Maureen speaking to a full conference room

A packed room of women listening to Maureen

Audience at a Maureen Ross Gemme workshop

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What to Expect

Maureen’s sessions are interactive from the first few minutes. She teaches the four DiSC® styles and how to recognize yourself in them. Then everyone self-selects their style in a live phone poll and sees the mix of styles in the room. More polling questions about stress keep people engaged, and they leave with practical tools they can use at work and at home the very next day.

Industries Served

CorporateNonprofitFinanceHigher EdHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentHospitality

Organizations Include

Connecticut Public Learning
University of Hartford
UConn
Lectra
State of CT Office of Early Childhood Development
Cyalume

Testimonials

What Clients and Audiences Say About Maureen

Working with Maureen has been an absolute pleasure. She is a dynamic and engaging speaker whose energy and insight make a long lasting impact. We’ve worked with Maureen on multiple occasions. In our small group sessions, Maureen skillfully helped our team better understand our work personalities, creating an open and reflective environment that truly brought out the best in everyone.
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We were thrilled to welcome her back as a keynote speaker for our Home Visiting Conference, where attendees raved about her perspective-shifting messaging and meaningful take-aways. Maureen consistently delivers exceptional value and we look forward to partnering with her again in the future!

Ashley TostarelliHome Visiting Manager, CT Office of Early Childhood

Great guidance in leadership training by Maureen. With the difference in personality types within our organization, Maureen was able to help our leaders identify certain traits in others to improve interpersonal communications resulting in a more efficient operation.

Jimmy Mac

Maureen is a fantastic instructor and made the material and content understandable. Had opportunity to work with other great leaders within our organization at this training.

Brenda MilhommeBrenda Milhomme Realty Group

Each year, our company celebrates International Women’s Day with a brunch and a small token of appreciation for our female employees. In 2025, we decided to enhance the event by inviting an inspirational guest speaker. My first thought was my longtime colleague and friend, Maureen Ross Gemme. Having heard Maureen speak on numerous occasions, I knew she would be a perfect addition to the day.
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As expected, she exceeded our expectations. Maureen shares her personal story with authenticity and insight, drawing meaningful connections to the choices, challenges, and journeys we all experience in our lives. Her relaxed, engaging style, paired with a wonderful sense of humor, creates an atmosphere that is both uplifting and empowering. She left our audience feeling inspired, motivated, and better equipped to approach life’s challenges with resilience and confidence.

Sharon Courey-CammilleriHR Business Partner, Lectra

Trusted By

Some of the Organizations Where Maureen Has Spoken and Trained

For Event Planners

Speaker Media Kit

Everything you need to promote your event and introduce Maureen.

Speaker Photos

High-resolution headshots and stage photos

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Speaker One Sheet

Topics, background, and testimonials at a glance

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Speaker Bio

Short and long versions for programs and websites

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Speaker Introduction

A ready-to-read introduction for your emcee

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Speaker Requirements

A/V, room setup, and travel details

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Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner

Signature Leadership Training Programs

For organizations that want the change to last after the event is over, Maureen brings the same energy into the training room.

Everything DiSC® Workshops

Understand yourself. Understand each other. Work better together.

Hands-on workshops for teams and leaders built on each participant’s personal Everything DiSC® profile.

Benefits

Fewer misunderstandings and less day-to-day friction
A shared language for how people work best
Managers who adapt to the people they lead
Lower stress and stronger retention

Format: on-site sessions or multi-session programs for teams of any size.

DiSC® Facilitator Certification

Build the capability inside your own organization.

Maureen certifies your internal trainers to deliver Everything DiSC® to your own people, so the learning keeps going long after she leaves.

Benefits

Consistent DiSC® language across the organization
Lower long-term training costs
Ongoing support from an Authorized Partner

Ideal for: HR, learning and development, and internal training teams.

Leadership Development

Turn good managers into leaders people trust.

Practical leadership training on trust, communication, conflict, and feedback, drawn from 20 years of training managers across government, corporate, nonprofit, and higher education.

Benefits

Leaders who communicate with clarity and empathy
Healthier team culture and reduced turnover
Tools people use the very next day

Ideal for: new managers, emerging leaders, and leadership cohorts.

Not sure which program fits? Let’s talk it through.

Free Quiz

What Animal Best Represents Your Leadership Style?

A quick, fun way to see how you lead and how others experience you.

Take the Quiz

Straight From the Program Evaluations

Comments from participants in Maureen’s classes.

“Maureen is a master at storytelling and very charismatic.”

Maureen C.

“Maureen made everyone feel at ease. She was open and honest and spoke on a level for all types of employment.”

Kathy C.

“She kept the topics ‘real’ by using true life stories.”

Aaron C.

“I liked her time management of keeping us on track. She set timers and kept things going while pausing for questions and comments.”

Scott M.

“Maureen’s teaching style, genuineness and sense of humor was very helpful.”

Marisol T.

“Very animated. She kept my attention.”

Scott C.

“I loved learning how to deal with different personalities and Maureen was very engaged with the class and what we had to share.”

Esteban

“She was able to express empathy for our issues and that helped.”

Yvonne B.

“I appreciated the hands on aspect of the class. We were involved and engaged.”

Keith H.

Book Maureen

Elevate Your Event With a 30-Minute Discovery Call

Tell me a little about your event and your audience. I read every inquiry myself and will reply personally to set up a short call. It’s a relaxed conversation about what you’re hoping your people walk away with.

860-989-6506 [email protected]

Prefer to pick a time yourself? Book a 30-minute call on my calendar.

Ready to rise? Let’s talk.

Podcast

Prolific Podcast Guest and Host of the Emerge. Evolve. Lead. Podcast

Emerge. Evolve. Lead. podcast hosted by Maureen Ross Gemme

Tap a cover to hear Maureen’s episode.

Hear Maureen in Her Own Words

Solo episodes from her podcast, Emerge. Evolve. Lead.

How to Get a Promotion at WorkEpisode 80 · 21 min 15 Leadership Lessons Learned on the Mother RoadEpisode 83 · 28 min In the Pursuit of HappinessEpisode 100 · 18 min

See all 100 episodes

Free Video Series

The ABCs of Personality

26 two-minute videos, A to Z, on the qualities that shape how we lead and get along.

Watch the Series

The Blog

Stories on Leadership, Stress, and Life

A year of Maureen’s weekly newsletters, all in one place.

Read the Blog

Weekly Newsletter

Leadership, Self-Care, and Life on Life’s Terms

One short email a week on leading well, managing stress, and handling difficult people.

Subscribe Free

The Book

Emerge: 7 Steps to Transformation

(No Matter What Life Throws At You!)

The book behind Maureen’s keynotes. Seven practical steps for changing your life from the inside out: know your personality, raise your energy, align with your values, rewrite old beliefs, forgive, build your plan, and work through fear, failure, and success.

“You are the leader of your life and by stepping up and challenging yourself to get to the next level you can make the world a better place.”

Step 5, page 78

“The only way to experience a quantum leap, and you will, is to keep taking baby steps towards your goal.”

Step 7, page 106

“Know that you are the solution to all of your problems.”

Step 5, page 77

Get the Book on Amazon#1 Best Seller on Amazon

Turn Stress into Self-Awareness, Conflict into Connection, and Bosses into Leaders.

Reduce Stress and Burnout in Your Organization With Maureen’s Keynotes and Training

Personality Under Pressure

Elevate Your Inner Leader

7 Steps to Transformation in Leadership

Build EQ at Work

Give, Replenish, Grow

About Maureen and Her Keynotes and Leadership Trainings

See Maureen in the Room

Real Rooms. Real Audiences.

Industries Served

Organizations Include

What Clients and Audiences Say About Maureen

Some of the Organizations Where Maureen Has Spoken and Trained

Speaker Media Kit

Speaker Photos

Speaker One Sheet

Speaker Bio

Speaker Introduction

Speaker Requirements

Signature Leadership Training Programs

Everything DiSC® Workshops

DiSC® Facilitator Certification

Leadership Development

What Animal Best Represents Your Leadership Style?

Straight From the Program Evaluations

Elevate Your Event With a 30-Minute Discovery Call

Prolific Podcast Guest and Host of the Emerge. Evolve. Lead. Podcast

Hear Maureen in Her Own Words

The ABCs of Personality

Stories on Leadership, Stress, and Life

Leadership, Self-Care, and Life on Life’s Terms

Emerge: 7 Steps to Transformation

Follow Maureen