Design with Intent,
Lead with Empathy,
Cultivate with Care
Learn About Susan’s Newest Keynote: How to Grow a Thriving Culture in the Age of AI
AbOUT SUSAN
Organizational culture expert, speaker, consultant and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business
Dr. Susan Reilly Salgado teaches business leaders how to drive results by creating remarkable workplaces. A keynote speaker and consultant, Susan has guided corporate leaders across more than 20 industries—including financial services, insurance, education, hospitality, and healthcare—on boosting employee engagement, improving customer experience, and building enduring cultures that generate extraordinary business outcomes.
With a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and 20+ years as an executive and partner in Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, Susan’s genuine approach to simplifying complex concepts around organizational culture makes them tangible and actionable. Her practice is rooted in the simple ethos that when you take care of your team, they will take care of the rest. So whether you want to jump-start profits, be the first to market, foster creativity, or deliver an outstanding customer experience with caring hospitality, Susan’s keynotes will equip your organization’s leaders with a strategy that makes employees engaged and invested.
Susan has been an invaluable partner to CLEAR over the last 10 years. In her leadership development workshops and consulting, she has challenged us to raise the bar on how we lead, align, and develop talent. Susan has a rare ability to blend research-backed insight with practical, actionable tools that not only elevated our team dynamics but also sharpened how we show up for our people and members—strengthening the culture that powers the CLEAR experience. The impact is clear: stronger collaboration at the top, a more engaged culture throughout the organization, and a sharper focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience. Her partnership was one of the best leadership investments we’ve made. For any executive serious about building high-performing teams and a resilient culture, Susan is the partner you want.
Jimmy Hahn
EVP, People & Performance
CLEAR
“Susan Salgado was outstanding as our keynote at the 2025 Private Physicians Alliance Annual Meeting. Her preparation, engagement, and genuine curiosity about our audience made her session the highest-rated of the event, leaving guests raving and eager for more.”
Ellisa H. Hambrecht
CEO
Private Physicians Alliance
“Susan Salgado has been an incredible partner and thought leader for CHANEL US Fashion for nearly a decade. Her relationship with the House is predicated upon her approachable yet elevated vision of hospitality that proves salient across any facet of the service industry. In 2019, Susan was the keynote speaker for CHANEL’s Retail Conclave in New York wherein she inspired CHANEL leaders across the country to think differently about aligning service with brand culture while meeting clients where they are. She was keynote speaker once again for a globally-driven service innovation program in 2023, fueling CHANEL leadership’s determination to challenge the status quo around hospitality within its Fashion Retail network. Years later, Susan’s rich hospitality experience, sharp insights and relatable storytelling continue to inform CHANEL programming and inspire its evolution of service excellence.”
Catherine Porter
Head of Client Engagement & Development
Fashion, Chanel, Inc.
Susan has truly been a gift to Ford Motor Company. She has an incredible gift of storytelling, to bring to life extremely important lessons on hospitality and culture in the modern business world. We have worked with Susan at both in-person and virtual events. She has been engaging and inspirational in both settings. Susan works hard as a partner to understand our key messages, and helps support and amplify our story through her lessons on culture. Our dealers continually tell us she is the star of the show. If I could only pick one person to speak to my team about customer experience, culture, and hospitality… it would be Susan Salgado.
Jason H. Sprawka
Director, Global Customer Experience
Ford
“We had the pleasure of partnering with Susan to lead a motivational session on hospitality during Gallagher Private Client’s first offsite summit. The theme of our summit was Unstoppable, and Susan’s message aligned perfectly with our focus on elevating our brand and client experience. Susan brought an extraordinary blend of insight, warmth, and energy to the room. Her ability to connect hospitality principles to our business in a meaningful and actionable way left a lasting impression on our team. She challenged us to think differently about how we show up for our clients—and for each other—and inspired us to embrace a mindset of excellence and empathy. Susan’s session was a catalyst for deeper conversations about our culture and client promise. We would highly recommend her to any organization looking to elevate their service ethos and ignite their team’s passion.”
Laila Brabander
President, Private Client
Gallagher
Speaking
Transform Your Culture, Transform Your Results
Susan Salgado is a recognized keynote speaker with a commanding stage presence and a simple message: thriving cultures drive exceptional results. With a unique combination of academic pedigree and real-world experience, Susan’s keynotes distill complex concepts and hollow buzzwords into tangible ideas that are easily understood and highly actionable. Whether you want to boost profitability, spark innovation, improve customer experience, or become an employer of choice, Susan equips your leaders with tools they’ll use the very next day. The bigger you get and the faster you grow, the more critical her message becomes.
KEYNOTE TOPICS
Signature Keynotes
Leadership Meets Culture Meets Results
Discover the powerful connection between leadership, culture, and performance. Learn how culture drives organizational outcomes and why balancing caring with accountability is essential for success.
Hospitality
at Work
Exceptional customer experiences start with exceptional employee experiences. Create hospitable workplaces that drive outstanding service and deliver on your brand promise.
Being an Employer of Choice
Build a values-driven culture that attracts and retains top talent. Learn research-backed strategies to establish your reputation as an employer of choice while driving optimal results.
CONSULTING
Go Deeper with The Cultural Alignment Program (CAP)
Susan’s exclusive consulting offering is designed for organizations that already have a healthy culture and are committed to making it even stronger, especially during periods of intensive change. This white-glove engagement includes assessments, custom alignment sessions, executive coaching, and strategic implementation support. This isn’t crisis intervention or a ‘magic bullet.’ It’s for leadership teams ready to embark on a journey to true cultural excellence through deeper alignment and intentional development.
Develop Your Leaders with The Leadership Development Program (LDP)
Susan’s transformative leadership offering is designed for organizations ready to invest in developing leaders who understand that culture isn’t managed from above, it’s cultivated from within. This comprehensive program includes leadership assessments, customized workshops, peer learning circles, and practical application support. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all training or a quick fix for leadership gaps. It’s for organizations committed to developing leaders who can balance genuine care with high standards, creating environments where both people and performance thrive through intentional, consistent leadership practices.
CLIENTS
Trusted by Leading Organizations
