Elevating Conversations, Transforming Perspectives.
Dialogue Partner & SpeakerInsightful, Bold, Engaging, and Transformative Thought Leadership for the Future of Work, Leadership, and Digital Transformation.
Jen Kelchner is more than a speaker—she is a global authority on cultural transformation, leadership foresight, and future-focused innovation. Renowned for her ability to simplify complexity and ignite actionable ideas, Jen is a trusted partner for C-suite leaders, global organizations, and changemakers seeking to reshape the future.
With over 25 years of experience in leadership, operational transformation, and organizational culture, Jen’s talks challenge conventional thinking and equip audiences to act with clarity and precision. Her work spans sectors including technology, government, education, and nonprofit, offering unique cross-disciplinary insights that connect emerging trends with actionable strategy.
Event Highlights
Here is a sample of Jen’s diverse speaking engagements:
Red Hat Summit (2022): Open Culture & Leadership – Boston
ICA 53rd Conference (2019): Seamless Government for Youth and Aging Populations – Bucharest, Romania
Microsoft CELA Europe Development (2021): Open Collaboration – Virtual
Wyoming Governor’s Council Conference (2021): Embracing Inclusivity in the Workplace – Cheyenne, WY
Lausanne Global Workplace Forum (2019): Open Collaboration – Manila, Philippines
Berry College Leadership Conference (2017): Leading Change – Rome, GA
For a complete list of speaking engagements, click here.
Speaker Bio
Jen Kelchner is a globally recognized speaker, advisor, and thought leader specializing in organizational transformation, leadership foresight, and the future of work. With over 20 years of experience driving cultural change and operational excellence, Jen delivers actionable insights that challenge conventions and inspire transformative leadership.
A contributor to Forbes (featured over 55 times), Opensource.com, and several leading publications, Jen is also the co-author of books on open culture and innovative organizational models. Her work bridges the gap between complex concepts and practical application, making her a sought-after voice at Red Hat events, government symposiums, and global workplace forums, as well as on executive panels and in virtual discussions.
Audiences consistently describe Jen as “creative, collaborative, credible, and thought-provoking,” with the ability to “set a new vision and deliver practical solutions that empower leaders to act with clarity and purpose.” Known for her straight talk and engaging delivery, she connects deeply with leaders ready to tackle complexity and embrace innovative approaches.
Jen’s expertise spans open culture, digital transformation, leadership development, and the power of collaborative ecosystems. Her reputation as a trusted, authentic speaker and facilitator makes her an ideal choice for keynote addresses, panels, and workshops. Whether guiding audiences through the intricacies of change or inspiring bold new visions, Jen Kelchner delivers an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impact.
What sets Jen apart
Visionary Thought Partner: Reveals bold, forward-looking perspectives that empower leaders to navigate complexity with confidence.
Dynamic, Interactive Facilitation: Engages audiences in immersive, results-driven dialogue, creating actionable takeaways in real-time.
Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Bridges leadership, culture, and technology to provide a holistic lens for reimagining the future of work.
Tailored, Impactful Content: Each talk is designed to resonate deeply with the audience’s unique challenges, offering both relevance and transformation.
Driving Impact
Jen Kelchner delivers keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and panel engagements that drive meaningful impact. Whether addressing the intersection of culture and technology or reimagining leadership for the digital frontier, her sessions offer bold insights and practical frameworks.
Recent Speaking Topics Include:
The Future of Work: Prepare your organization for distributed leadership and human-centric cultural evolution.
The Human Side of Digital Transformation: Beyond technology—how leadership and culture drive sustainable innovation.
Open Principles for Modern Leadership: Build resilient, adaptive organizations rooted in transparency and inclusivity.
Navigating Complexity with Precision: Actionable frameworks for leaders managing rapid change in uncertain environments.
Collaboration Without Limits: Harness cross-boundary teamwork to create agility, alignment, and impact.
If you’re seeking someone who’s working on the cutting edge of organizational culture and leadership development research, then you’ll want Jen Kelchner to speak to your team. Jen helps audiences understand clearly how principles derived from open source projects and movements translate directly into actionable processes and practices your organization can tap to become more innovative.
Having worked with Jen and watched her deliver seminars and learning labs, I have now booked her for two events with my students. She is creative, collaborative, credible and an excellent speaker with a wealth of knowledge and experience. My students will be learning from the best!
Jen is one of the most articulate people I’ve ever met. She is both eloquent and extremely interesting. She can also think on her feet, which makes her a great speaker for panels or a facilitator for workshops. She is an expert in open culture, leadership, digital transformation and the power of community. She is authentic and educated, a great choice.
Jen studies her audience and addresses their needs in a no-BS sort of way. Straight talk, practical solutions, immediate impact. That’s what you’ll get with Jen Kelchner.
Book Jen for Your Next Event
Looking to spark transformative conversations at your next conference, workshop, or leadership retreat? Jen Kelchner offers high-level insights and engaging dialogue facilitation that empower leaders to act with foresight. Whether through keynote talks, panel discussions, or interactive workshops, Jen will tailor the experience to meet your organization’s unique goals.
Engagements Available:
- Q&A Styled Discussion: Audience-driven questions meet expert insights for an engaging, tailored dialogue.
- Panel Discussions: Expert insights and real-time dialogue for industry leaders.
- Roundtables: Facilitated discussions for small groups of senior leaders and executives.
- Workshops: Customized interactive sessions aligned with your strategic objectives.
Let’s Collaborate
Ready to inspire, engage, and empower your audience? Book Jen Kelchner today to deliver impactful conversations that bridge vision and action.
Send us an email → jen at ldr21.com
” In addition to speaking on digital transformation, I’ve also led initiatives that required building and managing complex platforms, giving me a unique perspective on how strategy connects to real-world execution.
Speaking Events
| Client | Event | Topic | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Red Hat Summit | Open Culture & Leadership | Boston | 2022 |
| Red Hat | Open Leadership Community of Practice | What blocks open culture | Virtual | 2022 |
| Microsoft | CELA Europe Team Development | Open Collaboration | Virtual | 2021 |
| Red Hat | Future-Ready Government LATAM Conference | Open Culture | Virtual | 2021 |
| State of Wyoming | Wyoming Governor’s Council Developmental Disabilities Conference | Embracing inclusivity in the workplace | Cheyenne | 2021 |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Summit | Open Knowledge Roundtable | Virtual | 2021 |
| LearnTech UK | Open Futures Panel | Open characteristics | Virtual | 2020 |
| GlobeGuides | HR Summit | Wrangling the chaos of a paradigm shift | Virtual | 2020 |
| EdNC | Policing Free Speech in Education Panel | Open Culture | Virtual | 2020 |
| Redeemer University | Marketing & Business Capstone | Open Collaboration | Virtual | 2020 |
| Red Hat | 53rd ICA-IT Conference, Seamless Government | Seamless Government for youth and aging populations | Bucharest, Romania | 2019 |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Government Symposium | Open Culture | Washington, DC | 2019 |
| Redeemer University | Marketing & Business Students | Open Collaboration | Virtual | 2019 |
| Lausanne | Global Workplace Forum | Open Collaboration | Manila, Philippines | 2019 |
| Fresno Pacific University | International Business Management Senior Class | Open Collaboration & Learning | Virtual | 2019 |
| Red Hat | OpenFirst DC | Open Culture | Washington, DC | 2018 |
| Red Hat | North America Public Sector Sales Team Retreat | Open Organizations | Williamsburg, VA | 2018 |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Summit | Open Culture | San Francisco | 2018 |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Roundtable | The Power of Community | Virtual | 2018 |
| Duke University | Open Source Class | Open Organizations | Virtual | 2018 |
| The Open Org | All Things Open | Open Culture | Raleigh, NC | 2017 |
| International Association of Women | Annual Summit | Building Futures | Virtual | 2017 |
| Berry College | Emerging Leaders Conference | Leading Change | Rome, GA | 2017 |
| Tennessee DECA | Blackman High School DECA | Gen Z Entering the Workplace | Murfreesboro, TN | 2016 |
| Tennessee DECA | Blackman High School DECA | Comparison is a Killer | Murfreesboro, TN | 2015 |
| Broadwell Group Inc. | Georgia Agape Executive Board Retreat | Facilitator | Rome, GA | 2015 |
| Broadwell Group Inc. | Georgia Agape Executive Board Retreat | Facilitator | Rome, GA | 2014 |