Corporate Leadership Training

Proven workshops that build stronger teams

Lisa D. Foster, PhD, is a leadership coach and TEDx speaker who helps organizations build stronger managers and more effective teams.

I deliver corporate leadership training workshops and keynote-style presentations that help managers and employees improve leadership skills, strengthen motivation, and work together more effectively.

Many of my clients come from technical environments where strong individual contributors are stepping into leadership roles for the first time or leaders are moving up into more senior ranks. My workshops are designed for organizations where strong technical expertise must be paired with strong leadership skills.

Each leadership workshop combines research-based insights with practical tools that help managers communicate clearly, build trust, and motivate high-performing teams.

Past clients include engineering firms, biotech companies, business organizations, and professional associations.

Participants can expect:

• Real-world stories and examples
• Small-group discussions and exercises
• Time for Q&A
• A balance of humor and practical insight

Most sessions run 60–120 minutes. For deeper engagement, I also offer full-day training with flash coaching sessions.

Who These Workshops Are Designed For

These sessions are especially valuable for:

• Engineering, biotech, and technical professionals transitioning into leadership roles
• Organizations developing new managers and supervisors
• Companies seeking stronger communication and collaboration across teams
• Professional associations supporting members in leadership growth

Workshops can be customized for leadership teams, managers, mixed employee groups, or professional associations.

Popular Leadership Workshops & Speaking Topics

These presentations help organizations build leadership capability across teams, strengthen communication, and improve performance.

Fight, Flight, or Freeze: Recognizing Threat Signals in the Workplace

Emotions are powerful signals that shape how people respond to pressure, feedback, conflict, and decision making. When leaders understand these signals, they can create workplaces rooted in trust, clarity, and strong performance.

Participants learn:

• How fight, flight, or freeze responses appear in workplace behavior
• Why emotional intelligence improves communication and decision making
• Practical tools for managing emotional reactions under pressure
• How leaders promote trust and psychological safety in teams

Length: TTwo 45-minute sessions, delivered consecutively, on the same day, or a few weeks apart.

Conversations That Drive Performance: How Great Managers Use 1:1 Meetings to Motivate Teams

Many organizations encourage or require one-on-one meetings, but few train managers how to use them effectively. Without training, results vary widely across teams.

This workshop shows managers how to turn routine 1:1 meetings into a powerful leadership system that strengthens motivation, alignment, and ownership.

Participants learn:

• Why one-on-one meetings are the most important leadership conversation a manager has
• The specific goals managers and direct reports can achieve each week
• How goal-setting and 1:1 meetings work together to build ownership and motivation
• Practical techniques for running focused, productive meetings
• A high-performing agenda template managers can use immediately

Length: 60 minutes

From Accountability to Ownership: How Leaders Build Teams That Take Responsibility

Many leaders rely on accountability systems to monitor performance. But the strongest teams don’t just comply with expectations — they take ownership of results.

This session explores how leaders create environments where employees step forward, solve problems, and drive progress without constant supervision.

Participants learn:

• Why accountability supervises performance but ownership distributes it
• Why experienced teams are motivated by autonomy, not oversight
• How structured one-on-one conversations create alignment and ownership
• How clear expectations, visible progress, and recognition build responsibility
• How ownership cultures allow leaders to scale their impact

Length: 60 minutes

Making Difficult Conversations Easier

Difficult conversations arise when people feel disrespected, unheard, or misunderstood. These situations often trigger emotional threat responses that escalate conflict and shut down problem solving.

This workshop teaches leaders how to de-escalate tension and turn conflict into constructive dialogue.

Participants learn:

• What triggers defensive reactions in conversations
• The communication patterns that escalate conflict
• How to interrupt fight, flight, or freeze responses
• Practical strategies for de-escalating tense discussions
• How to handle difficult conversations with employees, stakeholders, or community members

Length: 60 minutes

Additional Speaking Topics

The 80% Trap: Why Strong Leaders Sometimes Stall — and How to Break Through to Senior Leadership

Many talented professionals reach a point where their career momentum slows. They are competent, respected, and successful—but promotions stop coming.

This session explores the hidden leadership gaps that often prevent strong performers from advancing into senior roles.

Participants learn:

• Why strengths that drive early success can limit advancement later
• How leadership gaps become more visible as scope expands
• Why senior leadership requires structural integration—not just effort
• How to identify the leadership skill that may be limiting advancement
• Practical ways to expand leadership influence and readiness for promotion

Length: 45 minutes

Pricing for Leadership Workshops

Pricing for leadership workshops is simple and transparent.

$2,500 per 60-minute presentation + travel (from Boston)

or

$6,000 Full-Day Leadership Package

Includes:

• Up to two presentations
• Up to four hours of flash coaching sessions
• Leadership insights shared with management

Flash coaching allows up to 8 individuals to meet one-on-one for focused coaching during the day.

At the end of the day, I share anonymized themes and insights with leadership to help guide future growth.

Workshops can be delivered as stand-alone sessions or combined into leadership development programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes your leadership training different?

My workshops combine research, practical tools, and real-world examples. Sessions are interactive and designed so participants leave with ideas they can apply immediately.

How long are the workshops?

Most sessions run 60–120 minutes, though workshops can be customized depending on your organization’s goals.

What leadership topics do you cover?

Popular topics include emotional intelligence, leadership growth, one-on-one management, ownership cultures, and difficult conversations.

Book a Consultation

Let’s talk about your team’s leadership goals.

Most organizations start with a short conversation to discuss their team, goals, and event format before selecting a workshop topic.

Book a free 30-minute consultation to explore the best workshop or training format for your organization.