Keynote Speaker

Book Heather as your

Heather Hodges is a keynote speaker known for blending story, science, and speed-painting in unforgettable presentations. Yes! she paints live on stage while she speaks!

Hi, I’m Heather. I help organizations unlock their team's creative potential.

As an organizational psychologist, I pioneered The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™, a model that reveals how people naturally solve problems and drive innovation. I believe everyone is creative, and we need everyone’s creativity to solve complex problems.

But most workplaces unintentionally shut creativity down. People hold back their ideas. Teams play it safe. Innovation stalls.

That’s where I come in.

Understanding your unique creative genius is just the beginning. I help leaders create environments that unleash every type of creativity so people feel energized, teams solve problems faster, and organizations innovate at a level they didn’t know they were capable of.

Mastering the Art and Science of Human Creativity at Work

Underperforming teams are costing organizations time, money, and talent. In a world defined by speed and uncertainty, technical skill alone isn’t enough. The future belongs to those who can think creatively, adapt quickly, and innovate fearlessly. Each of Heather’s keynotes redefines creativity as the ultimate competitive edge. It’s not just for artists, it’s for everyone who wants to innovate, lead, sell, collaborate, and perform at their best.

Heather Hodges, PhD Keynote Speaker on Creativity and Innovation and Speed-Painter

Unleash Your Creative Genius

Organizations are facing a perfect storm of challenges: staffing shortages, burnout, tight budgets, constant change, and disengaged teams. The pressure is real, and while resources may be tight, your most powerful asset—creativity—is limitless.

Creativity is the engine that drives innovation, engagement, and organizational performance. Today we have AI as a creativity partner to optimize processes and generate ideas. And yet, for all its brilliance, AI’s creativity is derivative. It draws from what has already been done. It cannot imagine new possibilities, be innately curious, or understand the rich complexity of human experience and emotions. Only humans can do that.

In this unforgettable keynote, Heather blends art, stories, and neuroscience to help unleash your creative genius to use it as a strategic advantage.

Heather Hodges, PhD Keynote Speaker and Speed-painter, Creativity and Innovation

Unleash Your Team’s Creative Genius

You don't have an innovation or retention problem. You have an untapped talent problem.

The most painful professional experience isn't failure. It's the suffocating feeling that your greatest gifts are going completely unseen. For organizations, the most painful and expensive problem is not recognizing and unleashing the talent on your team. The defining talent risk of 2026 isn't mass resignation; it's the quiet disengagement of people who are physically present but creatively absent.

Great leaders change that.

In this powerful keynote experience, featuring two live speed-paintings performed on stage, Dr. Heather Hodges introduces The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™, a research-backed framework developed over a decade that gives leaders a clear map of human potential. You'll discover how every person on your team is uniquely wired to create, contribute, and innovate, and how to build a culture where that genius flourishes.

When you unleash the creative genius on your team, people do the best work of their career and you create a culture no one wants to leave.

The most powerful thing a great leader can do is see and unleash the genius in everyone.

Unlock Your Competitive Edge

In today’s sales environment, referrals are harder to earn, and budgets are tighter than ever. Your sales team is under constant pressure to hit ambitious targets while navigating emotional conversations.

Enter your sales superpower: creative imagination. Research shows that creative salespeople make more money, and creative organizations outperform their peers in organic revenue growth.

In this highly interactive keynote, Heather helps sales professionals rediscover the human side of selling and the creative spark that drives extraordinary results.

Watch Heather in Action

Heather donates the paintings she creates during her keynotes to the event!

Client Testimonials

“Best speaker of this whole conference! I can’t wait to hear another by her.”

Alix Stankus
Atlantic Care Services
"Dr. Hodges is one of the most impressive speakers that I have ever heard."

Ingrid Foster
COO, Care First Home Health
"My favorite part was when Heather began our afternoon with her painting and speech of empowerment - That was Incredible! She reminded us that Success is a mindset and we CAN become what we need!"

April Johnson
Healthcare Leader
"Heather’s down to earth presentation skills brought clarity to a topic that had always confused me. Her expertise in the topic was evident, not by fancy words or ambiguous phrases, but by real life experiences and obvious passion."

Dan Boggs
Board Certified Chaplain
"Brilliant and eloquent! Dr. Hodges is not only extremely smart but also possesses an exceptional ability to communicate her ideas with clarity and grace."

Jennifer Elliott, RN
Executive Director, Heart of Georgia Hospice
Heather is BY FAR my favorite speaker. She is inspiring, encouraging, motivating.. AND she has always kept ME engaged (which says a lot for itself) I’ve sat through many classes and speaking events.. and she's #1 for me.

Brandy Arnold
Branch Director, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
"I've been in the audience when Dr Hodges has spoken multiple times and she has a remarkable gift for teaching. Her messages stick with the audience members and impact their paradigm!"

Lindsey Charon
Course Facilitator, Emerson College
"I heard Dr. Hodges speak once at a Las Vegas conference and it was one of the most impactful presentations I have experienced! She has a true gift to convey her message while captivating the audience. I would highly recommend Dr. Hodges for any corporate engagement event."

Mindy Curtis, PT, DPT, MHA
Clinical Liason, Baylor Scott & White
"I have had the pleasure of being in the audience a couple of a when Heather spoke. I always walked away with a better grasp of my leadership style and capability! Many wise words and takes on leadership and styles that I still use today!"

Chandra Sevenstar
Vice President, Mays Plus, Inc.
"When Heather combines her artistic talents with her development presentations - there is not a person in the room that is not engaged. You find yourself on a journey and you want more - more insights, more ideas and more opportunities to learn.”

Brooke Erickson-Mignogna
Director, Sales & Community Partnerships, Careforth
“Heather’s enthusiasm and passion are palpable! She captivates the audience.”

Rachel Trombley Meyer, MSN RN COS-C
Director of Clinical Operations, Medalogix
"The cornerstone of learning development is engagement. Heathers exceptional knowledge of professional development tempered with her extraordinary ability to connect with the audience helps foster transformational change."

Tony Maxwell
Home Care Executive
“Heather captivated the audience.”

Brian Lantier
CEO, Traditions Health

A woman is giving a presentation on a stage at a large conference room, with an audience seated at tables listening.

A woman in a white suit painting on a large canvas on an easel at an indoor event with dark blue curtains in the background.

Let’s Partner Up!

I would love to partner with you on your next conference with a dynamic keynote that leaves your audience inspired, engaged, and ready to act!

Imagine your team laughing, learning, and tapping into their creativity to drive innovation.

Let’s elevate your event to create an unforgettable experience together!

Trusted by these Organizations

Black and white painting of a man with glasses, a beard, and a mustache, holding his chin thoughtfully.

Black and white painting of a woman with large earrings and styled hair, showing intense expression.

Black and white painted portrait of Albert Einstein with wild hair, mustache, and a serious expression, wearing a collared shirt.

Black and white painting of an Indigenous woman wearing a headscarf and traditional clothing, staring intently.

Let’s work together

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, earrings, and facial hair, painted in a stylized, high-contrast style.

Black and white stylized portrait of a woman with an intricate headpiece and flowing hair, one eye painted as if with a mask, and her face divided into light and dark sections.

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, wearing star-shaped earrings and headphones.

Black and white portrait of an elderly man with a beard, painted with bold strokes, against a dark background.

Keynote Speaker

Book Heather as your

Mastering the Art and Science of Human Creativity at Work

Unleash Your Creative Genius

Unleash Your Team’s Creative Genius

Unlock Your Competitive Edge

Watch Heather in Action

Client Testimonials

“Best speaker of this whole conference! I can’t wait to hear another by her.”

"Dr. Hodges is one of the most impressive speakers that I have ever heard."

"My favorite part was when Heather began our afternoon with her painting and speech of empowerment - That was Incredible! She reminded us that Success is a mindset and we CAN become what we need!"

"Heather’s down to earth presentation skills brought clarity to a topic that had always confused me. Her expertise in the topic was evident, not by fancy words or ambiguous phrases, but by real life experiences and obvious passion."

"Brilliant and eloquent! Dr. Hodges is not only extremely smart but also possesses an exceptional ability to communicate her ideas with clarity and grace."

Heather is BY FAR my favorite speaker. She is inspiring, encouraging, motivating.. AND she has always kept ME engaged (which says a lot for itself) I’ve sat through many classes and speaking events.. and she's #1 for me.

"I've been in the audience when Dr Hodges has spoken multiple times and she has a remarkable gift for teaching. Her messages stick with the audience members and impact their paradigm!"

"I heard Dr. Hodges speak once at a Las Vegas conference and it was one of the most impactful presentations I have experienced! She has a true gift to convey her message while captivating the audience. I would highly recommend Dr. Hodges for any corporate engagement event."

"I have had the pleasure of being in the audience a couple of a when Heather spoke. I always walked away with a better grasp of my leadership style and capability! Many wise words and takes on leadership and styles that I still use today!"

"When Heather combines her artistic talents with her development presentations - there is not a person in the room that is not engaged. You find yourself on a journey and you want more - more insights, more ideas and more opportunities to learn.”

“Heather’s enthusiasm and passion are palpable! She captivates the audience.”

"The cornerstone of learning development is engagement. Heathers exceptional knowledge of professional development tempered with her extraordinary ability to connect with the audience helps foster transformational change."

“Heather captivated the audience.”

Let’s Partner Up!

Let’s work together