Kirsten Norwood
DEI Professional, Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, Facilitator, Panelist, and Host
What to Expect
Kirsten is the best friend or older sibling that you go to for career advice. You know, when you’re nervous about asking for more money during the interviewing process or when you’re up for a promotion.
“Girl, you better negotiate, you know you’re worth more than that!”
Her relatability and wisdom are what set her apart.
What People Are Saying
BEST HOST EVER! Kirsten is at home in front of an audience whether large (in the 1,000's) or small. She is highly articulate, entertaining and has excellent leadership skills. She is absolutely beautiful on the inside and the outside. Would highly recommend Kirsten as a speaker for any audience.
— Lisa Wells, Down Syndrome Indiana Executive Director
“Kirsten made us feel excited about everything she spoke about. She made us want to listen to whatever she had to say, no matter what it was she was speaking on. She captivated our attention and made us immediately become interested in any topic and subject she was there to present on.”
— Howard University student
“Kirsten Norwood is an outstanding public speaker! Not only does she prepare eloquent speaking points that will leave your guests feeling empowered and motivated, but you can also tell she genuinely cares and takes the time to put together content tailored to your audience. It was a pleasure working with her, and I will book with her time and time again! “
— Tatyerra Spurlock, Gratitude For Black Girls Founder
My Signature Topics:
Black Girls in Corporate America: Beyond the Magic
According to research from Lean In, women have worse experiences at work than men. Women of Color have worse experiences than white women and black women have the worst experience of all. As a human resources professional, I have spent the majority of my career compiling the unwritten rules of corporate America to empower and improve the experience for black women and people of color.
In this session, participants will not only learn 3 unwritten rules for the workplace, but also actionable recommendations on how to use these rules in the workplace. I open up how I struggled with correcting leaders who pronounced my name incorrectly and how I was terrified to change my hair the first year of working. I also encourage participants to not only succeed but teach them how to advocate for their work – the missing puzzle to advancing in the workplace.
Unmute: You have a Story to Tell
Have you ever been afraid to authentically show up as yourself at work? Perhaps you don’t feel like you can show your true personality at work. Maybe you feel like if your religion won’t be welcomed. For me, I’m a caregiver to my sister who has Down syndrome. For years, I hide who I truly was – a professional and a caregiver.
In this motivational speech, I share the importance of bringing your full self to work. In a hybrid world, there’s power in “unmuting” yourself because let’s face it when your passions are on display opportunities find you!
My Award-Winning Workshops:
More Than a Minority: How to Stay True To You While Career Searching
Just as companies are interviewing us, we are interviewing them as well when we are career searching. While there are many do’s and dont’s of interviewing for the candidate, often students lack the knowledge of what their rights are in the recruiting process. In this 90-minute workshop, participants will learn their recruiting rights be able to answer the following questions:
What are my work values and does this company align with them?
You can read the company’s diversity and inclusion statement, but does good look like for you?
What are my skills, and will my skillset be valued in this role?
This award-winning workshop has been presented at MIT, University of Michigan, Howard University, Indiana University and Michigan State University.
Stay Ready: Interview Bootcamp
93% of interviewees get nervous before a job interview and that’s mostly because they don’t know what to expect. However, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.
In this half-day workshop, participants will learn how to turn their resume solid so that it’ll lead to a rock-solid interview. They will perfect their elevator pitch and the dreaded “tell me about yourself” question as well as learn interview and LinkedIn strategies.
About Kirsten Norwood
Kirsten Norwood is an experienced HR professional with a focus in recruiting, training, and inclusion. Norwood is a journalist by trade but a HR professional by passion that’s why she is the host of All Things Career podcast. The mission of the show is to empower professionals of color with the unwritten rules of career success. Her career purpose is to help minorities have a fair chance at achieving their career goals and be empowered to reach their full potential.
Throughout her career, she has recruited thousands to companies and helped hundreds reach their career goals. Now, she wants to expand her reach nationwide so that she can be the person she wishes she had when she was first navigating corporate America.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Darius, their fur baby Lola. She also enjoys giving back to her community, particularly the Down Syndrome community and the pageantry industry.
“When I look back on my career, I hope I can say that I helped people believe that they could achieve their career goals. I want people to say because of you I could.”