Kelli Thompson

Kelli Thompson Kelli Thompson is an influencer

Award-Winning Executive Coach | Author: Closing The Confidence Gap® | Tedx Speaker | Keynote Speaker | Founder: Clarity & Confidence® Women’s Leadership Programs | Industry-Recognized Leadership Development Facilitator

Omaha, Nebraska, United States
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About

It’s time to shift from high achiever to influential leader.

Leaders who want coaching, CEOs who want me to coach their leaders, and companies who want workshops/speaking trust me to help their leaders break free from tactical execution and transform into strategic, influential decision-makers.

My coaching clients have worked in family run businesses to Fortune 100 companies like Chase and Amazon...and even the White House. My corporate training & speaking clients range from Fortune 500 companies like JP Morgan Chase, Raymond James, Union Pacific, Mutual of Omaha to small companies in all industries.

MEET KELLI:
▪️ Former Leader in Financial Services & Healthcare Tech
▪️ Award-Winning Leadership & Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker | Author
▪️ Featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, FastCompany & more.
▪️ TEDx talk named an Editor's Pick (less than 1% of talks)

I am passionate about helping more women advance to the rooms where decisions are made.

THE BOOK:
Kirkus Reviews calls my book, Closing The Confidence Gap, “A motivational guide that aims to help women to find their power and purpose in the workplace...A clearly and forcefully written strategy manual for upping one’s professional game.

The book has also been named a "must read" by The Next Big Idea Club. (A list curated by Malcom Gladwell, Dan Pink, Adam Grant & Susan Cain)

1-1 & GROUP COACHING PROGRAMS:
As a former corporate leader, I've coached & trained thousands of high-achieving professionals to lead with more confidence and make an impact. I've won industry awards for the high ROI my development programs create.

My programs help leaders:
✨ Claim their role as a confident leader
✨ Use their talents to create innovation & revenue at work
✨ Overcome doubt & imposter syndrome and lead with confidence
✨ Trust themselves and make clear decisions
✨ Amplify their voice and lead change
✨ Take their bravest next step by turning plans into results
✨ Advance from high achievers to influential leaders

I use the Enneagram to help people to be clear, confident, & emotionally intelligent leaders.

SPEAKING & WORKSHOP PROGRAMS:
As an experienced keynote speaker and corporate trainer with audiences from 10 to 3000+, my programs leave audiences inspired to claim their role as a confident leader and make impact in the rooms where decisions are made.
Popular topics:
🔹 Leading with Clarity & Confidence
🔹 Closing The Confidence Gap
🔹 Advance From Achiever to Leader

➡️ Want to learn more? Send me a message or visit www.kelliraethompson.com.

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Experience

  • Kelli Thompson, LLC Graphic

    Founder | Leadership & Executive Coach, Speaker, Author

    Kelli Thompson, LLC

    - Present 7 years

    Omaha, Nebraska, United States

    Kelli is an award-winning leadership and executive coach, keynote speaker, and the author of Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck. Kelli has coached and trained thousands of leaders through her no BS, yet highly compassionate approach. Leaders who want coaching, CEOs who want Kelli to coach their leaders and companies who want workshops/speaking trust Kelli to help their leaders break free from tactical execution and transform into strategic, influential…

    Kelli is an award-winning leadership and executive coach, keynote speaker, and the author of Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck. Kelli has coached and trained thousands of leaders through her no BS, yet highly compassionate approach. Leaders who want coaching, CEOs who want Kelli to coach their leaders and companies who want workshops/speaking trust Kelli to help their leaders break free from tactical execution and transform into strategic, influential decision-makers. She is passionate about helping more women advance to the rooms where decisions are made.

    Clients say Kelli helped them stop selling themselves short, apply for next level roles, trust themselves to speak up, and fulfill their potential in leadership. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Raymond James, Mutual of Omaha, and Union Pacific. Her coaching clients have worked for family run businesses to organizations like Amazon, Chase, and the White House.

  • Harvard Business Review Graphic

    Contributing Writer

    Harvard Business Review

    - Present 2 years 6 months

    I write articles on the unique challenges that arise as leaders advance from high achievers to strategic leaders and how to address these challenges with clarity and confidence.

  • Fast Company Graphic

    Contributing Writer

    Fast Company

    - Present 3 years 3 months

    I write articles on career and leadership, specifically the unique challenges that arise as leaders advance from high achievers to strategic leaders.

  • Business Insider Graphic

    Contributing Writer

    Business Insider

    - Present 3 years 8 months

    New York, New York, United States

    I write career, leadership and confidence-building articles based on my personal career and leadership experiences.

  • Quartz Graphic

    Contributing Writer

    Quartz

    - Present 3 years 3 months

    I write articles on women in leadership, career advancement and building confidence to take action.

  • Reality-Based Leadership Graphic

    Vice President, Strategic Development

    Reality-Based Leadership

    - 2 years 8 months

    Omaha, Nebraska

    Partnered with NYT best-selling author and sought after leadership expert and keynote speaker, Cy Wakeman. Lead client training, consulting and toolkit sessions to help leaders ditch the drama that gets in the way of delivering great leadership, innovation, collaboration, and results.

    Developed Reality-Based Leadership training and media content that provides game-changing tools for the modern leader to cultivate accountability, lead change and call teams to succeed beyond their…

    Partnered with NYT best-selling author and sought after leadership expert and keynote speaker, Cy Wakeman. Lead client training, consulting and toolkit sessions to help leaders ditch the drama that gets in the way of delivering great leadership, innovation, collaboration, and results.

    Developed Reality-Based Leadership training and media content that provides game-changing tools for the modern leader to cultivate accountability, lead change and call teams to succeed beyond their circumstances.

    Coach senior leaders at client organizations to better lead their teams to results using the Reality-Based tools.

    Led the continuous innovation of Reality-Based Leadership programs and practical solutions for clients.

  • AMN Healthcare Graphic

    Director, Client Education & Marketing

    AMN Healthcare

    - 1 year 4 months

    Greater Omaha Area

    Leads consulting content development programs, including client education, change management and training engagements, leveraging Avantas’ Work Strategies and Healthcare Enterprise Labor Management approach, while also serving as a lead on Avantas business strategic initiatives. Uses training and curriculum best practices to execute on the build of consulting content and Smart Square (labor management software) education programs. Drives the effort to meet client labor optimization goals and…

    Leads consulting content development programs, including client education, change management and training engagements, leveraging Avantas’ Work Strategies and Healthcare Enterprise Labor Management approach, while also serving as a lead on Avantas business strategic initiatives. Uses training and curriculum best practices to execute on the build of consulting content and Smart Square (labor management software) education programs. Drives the effort to meet client labor optimization goals and improve outcomes by developing advanced labor strategy curriculum and certification programs.

    About Avantas (division of AMN Healthcare):
    Avantas fills a critical void in the healthcare industry. Our technical innovation and workforce management expertise have allowed us to develop a truly unique and effective approach to managing labor across a healthcare enterprise. This patented, industry-leading approach is called HELM (healthcare enterprise labor management). Our award winning software-as-a-service program, Smart Square, enables organizations maximize these labor strategies. Avantas is part of the $1 billion, publicly-traded company, AMN Healthcare.

  • Avantas, LLC Graphic

    Director, Talent Management

    Avantas, LLC

    - 11 months

    Omaha, Ne

    Designs and leads innovative, end-to-end HR recruitment to retention programs to meet the growth needs of Avantas. Drives culture-defining strategies to make Avantas a "Best Place to Work" for current and future employees. Develops talent acquisition strategies, including community outreach programs and employment branding. Drives the development of the employee onboarding program, including HRIS solutions, to ensure a successful career transition to Avantas and continuous employee development.…

    Designs and leads innovative, end-to-end HR recruitment to retention programs to meet the growth needs of Avantas. Drives culture-defining strategies to make Avantas a "Best Place to Work" for current and future employees. Develops talent acquisition strategies, including community outreach programs and employment branding. Drives the development of the employee onboarding program, including HRIS solutions, to ensure a successful career transition to Avantas and continuous employee development. Drives professional growth and leadership opportunities for employees, modeling the organizational core values.

  • First National Bank of Omaha Graphic

    Marketing Officer, Commercial Card Product & Strategy

    First National Bank of Omaha

    - 2 years 4 months

    Greater Omaha Area

    Drives marketing and product strategies across all customer segments for the Commercial Credit Card division and ensure consistency and alignment across the portfolio.
    * Serve as the team marketing lead for all Commercial Card customer segments, new products and brand strategies.
    * Provides strategic, data-driven recommendations for investment based on market potential, customer need, financial metrics/growth opportunity and competitive landscape. Includes market/target…

    Drives marketing and product strategies across all customer segments for the Commercial Credit Card division and ensure consistency and alignment across the portfolio.
    * Serve as the team marketing lead for all Commercial Card customer segments, new products and brand strategies.
    * Provides strategic, data-driven recommendations for investment based on market potential, customer need, financial metrics/growth opportunity and competitive landscape. Includes market/target definition, developing channel distribution plans, forecasting sales targets, pricing, promotional spending requirements, developing marketing budgets and delivering a specific customer value proposition.
    * Drives the branded marketing plan for the Commercial Card portfolio; including developing fully integrated, multi-touch-point, strategic marketing campaigns which are tied to specific products and services as well as overall BU communication strategy by channel.
    * Oversees market research efforts including customer research, competitive benchmarking and industry tracking.
    * Leads business segment review process and assists with Commercial Card long-term strategy development including P&L and budget planning.
    * Serves as key point of contact for special committees as Commercial Card representative to ensure strategic focus and outcomes are communicated and implemented.
    * Leads product training efforts for internal sales, account management, co-brand and partnership teams to ensure consistency in message and clear understanding of the Commercial Card program.

  • University of Nebraska at Omaha Graphic

    Adjunct Professor - Management & Marketing Department

    University of Nebraska at Omaha

    - 4 years 10 months

    Greater Omaha Area

    Instructor for Principles of Management
    -Facilitate topics for students including management theory and behavior, strategic planning, decision making, leadership and motivation strategies and operations processes.

  • First National Bank of Omaha

    First National Bank of Omaha

    6 years

    • First National Bank of Omaha Graphic

      Director of Training & Communications

      First National Bank of Omaha

      - 4 years

      Retail Bank Officer

      Lead and develop a multi-functional team of eight individuals focusing on training, development and employee communications programs. Direct employee communication initiatives including divisional intranet, employee recognition programs and leadership communication events. Lead organization or management development initiatives that require strategic planning, change management or process implementation.
      Key Accomplishments:
       Key strategy team member that lead…

      Retail Bank Officer

      Lead and develop a multi-functional team of eight individuals focusing on training, development and employee communications programs. Direct employee communication initiatives including divisional intranet, employee recognition programs and leadership communication events. Lead organization or management development initiatives that require strategic planning, change management or process implementation.
      Key Accomplishments:
       Key strategy team member that lead a major change management implementation for a business model change. Achieved $1.5 million in operational efficiencies and a 3% increase in customer loyalty scores.
       Oversee the employee recognition program focusing on performance and personal development to improve staff engagement and retention. Achieved 100% staff participation resulting in improved sales performance, product and business knowledge.
       Develop and deliver senior leadership communications, memos, town halls and recognition events. Write all Division Head and Leadership Team memos to staff.
       Partner with human resource business partners to launch new divisional managerial competencies program. Co-lead development and facilitation of best practice learning and development sessions for managers resulting from 360 assessment feedback.
       Lead the Retail Training, Communications and Development team with a focus on employee strengths and best practices in training design and delivery. Accomplished a $160,000 annual reduction in vendor expense due to curriculum design by internal staff. Due to quality of curriculum, it is now used enterprise wide.
      Financial Wellness Programs
       Led the Business Development Program team that partnered with over 300 organizations to deliver financial wellness solutions to employees. Exceeded 115% of goal in new relationships in 2008 and 2009. Successfully transitioned program ownership to retail branch employees.

    • First National Bank of Omaha Graphic

      HR Advisor/HR Training Consultant

      First National Bank of Omaha

      - 1 year 2 months

       Partnered with division managers, leadership team and head of division with organization design and recruitment to ensure the alignment and retention of organization talent. Consult with division managers to establish role accountabilities to ensure consistent and an effective performance management system.
       Prepare and conduct talent inventory feedback sessions to identify top division talent, performance needs and skill gaps.
       Consult with management to identify employee relations…

       Partnered with division managers, leadership team and head of division with organization design and recruitment to ensure the alignment and retention of organization talent. Consult with division managers to establish role accountabilities to ensure consistent and an effective performance management system.
       Prepare and conduct talent inventory feedback sessions to identify top division talent, performance needs and skill gaps.
       Consult with management to identify employee relations issues and performance gaps and recommend solutions to drive desired performance results.
       Designed and delivered leadership skill and talent management training courses to bank managers, focusing on consistent performance management practices.
       Created bank “Day One” employee orientation program to introduce newly hired employees to our culture, policies and employee benefits.

  • First National Merchant Solutions Graphic

    Training Consultant

    First National Merchant Solutions

    - 2 years

     Created and delivered talent management and competency-based leadership development programs to identify skill gaps, provide learning opportunities and identify high-potential employees.
     Collaborated with Leadership Team to continually advance employee development initiatives to achieve organization goals. Collaborated with strategy leaders to ensure all development opportunities actively support the long-term strategies of the organization.
     Maintained relationships with external…

     Created and delivered talent management and competency-based leadership development programs to identify skill gaps, provide learning opportunities and identify high-potential employees.
     Collaborated with Leadership Team to continually advance employee development initiatives to achieve organization goals. Collaborated with strategy leaders to ensure all development opportunities actively support the long-term strategies of the organization.
     Maintained relationships with external vendors to provide quality leadership and competency development programs and facilitate successful and on-going organization change initiatives.
     Designed, developed and delivered sales training programs to inside and outside merchant sales representatives. Utilized subject matter expertise in merchant products and services and previous merchant sales experience to create valuable training opportunities.

Education

Licenses & Certifications

Skills

Publications

  • Emotional Intelligence Series: Psychological Safety

    Harvard Business Review

    Contributed Article published as part of best-practice series on Psychological Safety. "To Help Your Team Grow, Give Them Space To Struggle."

    See publication

  • To Help Your Team Grow, Give Them Space to Struggle

    Harvard Business Review

    When you see an employee struggling with a task you could do easily, it’s only natural to want to step in and help. But from the other side, this can feel more like micromanagement than support. And when leaders over-function by keeping too much work for themselves, they allow those around them to under-function. We all know how important it is to delegate — both to help employees grow and to create a more collaborative, empowered, productive team. How can you get better at this key leadership…

    When you see an employee struggling with a task you could do easily, it’s only natural to want to step in and help. But from the other side, this can feel more like micromanagement than support. And when leaders over-function by keeping too much work for themselves, they allow those around them to under-function. We all know how important it is to delegate — both to help employees grow and to create a more collaborative, empowered, productive team. How can you get better at this key leadership skill? First, shift from a doer to a leader mindset. Second, embrace the discomfort of the learning process. Third, identify low-stakes tasks that are less risky to delegate. Finally, be curious and facilitative instead of prescriptive.

    See publication

  • Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck

    Amplify Publishing

    What would you do if you had a little more confidence? Would you take the next step in your career, assume more leading roles, set boundaries, ask for a raise, or even run for office?

    Doubt and imposter feelings are a big reason women hold back and play small instead of going for what they truly desire at work. Coupled with the systemic gender equity issues and the resulting burnout that plagues women in the workplace today, it’s no wonder that so many women are undervaluing themselves…

    What would you do if you had a little more confidence? Would you take the next step in your career, assume more leading roles, set boundaries, ask for a raise, or even run for office?

    Doubt and imposter feelings are a big reason women hold back and play small instead of going for what they truly desire at work. Coupled with the systemic gender equity issues and the resulting burnout that plagues women in the workplace today, it’s no wonder that so many women are undervaluing themselves and their abilities.

    These doubtful thoughts and systemic issues are expensive―they cost women their peace, their potential, and their paychecks.

    To close the confidence gap and see more women showing up in their full potential at work, we need more women leaders at the top of organizations. Closing the Confidence Gap will show you how to advance with confidence, despite the systemic issues that women face every day at work. You’ll hear deeply personal stories and walk away with practical tools to show you how to claim your role as a confident leader.

    It’s time to own who you are, trust yourself, and take your bravest next step.

    See publication

Honors & Awards

  • Women in Business- Coach of the Year

    Stevie Awards

    Kelli is a leadership coach, speaker and writer who specializes in helping women advance professionally and lead with confidence. According to the judges, Kelli earned her Stevie Award for crafting a coaching program that addresses the particular challenges women typically experience and solutions to overcome them - along with evidence of client satisfaction. In addition to her inspiring mission and unique approach to leadership development, her leadership coaching skills have produced hundreds…

    Kelli is a leadership coach, speaker and writer who specializes in helping women advance professionally and lead with confidence. According to the judges, Kelli earned her Stevie Award for crafting a coaching program that addresses the particular challenges women typically experience and solutions to overcome them - along with evidence of client satisfaction. In addition to her inspiring mission and unique approach to leadership development, her leadership coaching skills have produced hundreds of leaders and self-confident women. She delivered an impressive business reinvention due to the impact of Covid.

    Kelli reflected on her award, “I am delighted to win a Stevie Award because I love what I do and love my clients. I take pride in researching and listening to the needs of women leaders in business today and creating unique programs that address the challenges faced by women at work that often go unaddressed by traditional leadership programs. Women learn to own their unique strengths, trust themselves and lead with more clarity and confidence. They create careers they love. When women make an impact, everybody wins.”

    The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run– worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards.

  • Top Emerging Training Leader Award

    Training Magazine

    Received Emerging Training Leader award for demonstrated creativity, effectiveness and ROI of her corporate training programs.

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