Get to know Carylynn as she introduces her exciting keynote, Break/Through, about improving mental health at work - and beyond.
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Dr. Carylynn Larson Bio (Curated)
Dr. Carylynn Kemp Larson is a dynamic professional speaker who helps leaders and teams navigate change and build resilient, connected cultures. With more than a decade of experience speaking at conferences, corporate events, and leadership summits, she’s known for delivering keynotes that blend research, personal insight, and practical tools that stick.
Her work spans the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors, alongside faculty roles at institutions like The George Washington University and The American University. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason University, has logged tens of thousands of hours in coaching and consulting, and brings 17+ years of experience leading a national mental health nonprofit.
Dr. Carylynn Larson Bio (Full)
Dr. Carylynn Kemp Larson is a dynamic keynote speaker who brings research, real-world experience, and personal insight to every stage. A recognized expert on leadership, team dynamics, coaching, and mental health, she has delivered dozens of speeches at corporate events, leadership summits, and professional conferences, inspiring audiences to rethink workplace well-being and build cultures of resilience and connection.
Dr. Larson holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason University, and is an ICF Professional Certified Coach with thousands of hours of coaching experience. She has spent her career helping leaders and teams thrive through change and uncertainty. Her work spans sectors - government, corporate, and nonprofit, in addition to serving on the faculty of renowned universities including The George Washington University, George Mason University, the United States Naval Academy, and The American University.
With a unique combination of leadership and mental health experience, Dr. Larson bridges two critical but often separate worlds—organizational success and human well-being. In 2008, she founded Rock Recovery, a national nonprofit dedicated to bridging mental health treatment gaps, designing innovative community-based recovery programs, and fostering healing through education and empowerment. Over the past 17 years, she has led the organization in multiple roles, including Executive Director, President, and Board Member.
Microphone: Countryman (wireless) if available. Backup: wireless lavalier
Projector/Screen: N/A (but a backdrop slide will be provided if a screen is present)
Sound: Speakers to ensure voice projection to entire room
Stage Lighting: Light as much of the stage as possible
Wifi: N/A
Stage Setup: Empty with one high-top table upstage left for water
Room Setup: Flexible - auditorium and/or round tables/pods facing front
Rehearsal: Ideally the afternoon prior for AM talks, AM prior for PM talks
Music: Walk-on / out music provided
You want your company to thrive, but in today’s high-pressure world, even the most capable people are running on empty—juggling too much, sleeping too little, and bracing for the next crisis. Today, 80% of employees say that the workplace undermines their mental health. And when mental health suffers, work suffers: Conversations get strained, mistakes happen, burnout spreads like wildfire, and the best people leave.
Thankfully, many organizations have stepped up, offering robust mental health benefits and resources. But there's a disconnect: most people don’t use them. Why? Because saying “I’m not okay” still feels risky. People worry that reaching out will make them look weak or derail their career. Meanwhile, those who care hesitate to say something, for fear of saying the wrong thing, overstepping, or oversharing.
The result? We build programs—but not trust. We offer support—but people still suffer in silence.
In this relatable, provocative, and compelling speech, Dr. Carylynn Larson brings warmth, humor, and real-world insight to a conversation we can no longer avoid. With decades of research in workplace psychology and powerful storytelling, she offers a fresh framework for a future where people don’t just function—they flourish.
You’ll walk away with Dr. Larson’s “Recipe for a Healing Community”—a three-part blueprint to:
✔️ Shift from surviving to thriving
✔️ Build human-centered, high-performing teams
✔️ Create a culture of care that fuels well-being
Break|Through will rewire your thinking and give you actionable tools—along with the confidence to use them. You’ll laugh, reflect, and experience the power of connection. If you're ready to lead the way in creating communities that foster true well-being, this talk is for you.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe mental health as a continuum, mental health challenges as something we all experience, and mental illness as something none of us are immune from.
Recognize how mental health directly impacts trust, communication, engagement, and performance in the workplace.
Apply Dr. Larson’s “Recipe for Healing Community” to meet people where they are and connect them with the care they need and deserve.
