Speaking Engagements
Book Kia to speak.
From the Cotton Club stage to the conference stage — Kia brings the same command, clarity, and conviction to every room she enters. Her talks are direct, experience-grounded, and built to move people to action.
Topics
Each talk is tailored to your audience and context. Kia speaks to nonprofit boards, arts organizations, creative professionals, and mission-driven leaders.
Governance Without the Guesswork
Most nonprofit boards are full of well-meaning people who were never taught how to govern. This talk cuts through the confusion — covering roles and responsibilities, fiduciary duty, board-staff dynamics, and how to build a culture of accountability without burning out your volunteers. Attendees leave with practical frameworks they can use at their next board meeting.
What attendees take away
- Clarity on board vs. staff roles
- Tools for productive board meetings
- A framework for board self-assessment
Lead Before You Feel Ready
Imposter syndrome shows up in every leadership space — not because people aren't capable, but because they're stepping into roles that require them to grow in real time. Kia spoke on this at the Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network luncheon and the response was immediate: this is the talk people needed but didn't know to ask for. It covers how confidence is built through action, how to own your voice at the table, and how to lead with clarity even in uncertainty.
What attendees take away
- A reframe of imposter syndrome as a growth signal
- Tools for stepping forward before feeling fully ready
- How to lead with clarity in uncertain environments
The Business of Being an Artist
Drawn directly from Kia's own journey as a classically trained vocalist, founder of KiaB Music, and arts consultant — this talk is the one she wished she'd heard at the start of her career. It covers artistic identity, brand positioning, revenue strategy, and how to build a sustainable creative career without losing what makes your work worth doing.
What attendees take away
- A framework for artistic identity and positioning
- Revenue models that fit creative careers
- How to build visibility without selling out
Artist Development in the Modern Era
The old model of artist development — find talent, sign talent, manage talent — is broken. This talk explores what it actually takes to develop, support, and sustain artists in today's creative economy: the role of mentorship, the importance of business literacy, and how organizations can build infrastructure that serves artists rather than extracting from them.
What attendees take away
- A new model for artist development
- How to build artist-centered programs
- Metrics that actually measure artist success
Formats & availability
Keynote
45–60 minutes. Full-room, high-impact delivery for conferences, galas, and annual meetings.
Workshop
90 minutes to half-day. Interactive, hands-on sessions for boards, staff teams, and cohorts.
Panel & Moderation
Kia is available as a panelist or moderator for conversations on governance, arts, and creative entrepreneurship.
Board Retreat Facilitation
Full-day facilitation for nonprofit boards ready to reset, realign, and recommit to their mission.
A career built on stages
Before she was a consultant, Kia was a performer. She has sung at the historic Harlem Cotton Club, performed in the African American opera Barefoot — narrated by the late Dr. Maya Angelou — appeared with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus, and shared the stage with jazz greats Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, and saxophonist Antonio Hart. That performance background shapes everything about how she shows up as a speaker.
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Speaking inquiries
Book Kia to speak
Tell us about your event and we'll be in touch within two business days.