JAMIE LEWIS SMITH, PHD

(AKA The NeHRd Lady)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER * CEO * LEADERSHIP PSYCHOLOGIST

Jamie Lewis Smith, PhD (aka, the NeHRd Lady) is passionate about making managers suck less by providing simple, science-backed actions to transform them into empowering leaders (aka Empowering Leaders)! She is the founder and CEO of  Pixel Leadership Group, a team of “nerdy, but fun” executive coaches, psychologists, and data analysts who are on a mission to combat toxic cultures and supercharge employee engagement by bridging the gap between the science and practice of leadership. By offering a structured, data-driven methodology to coaching that can be applied at scale, Pixel creates real, sustainable change that turns managers into talent maximizers, builds people-centric organizational cultures, and fosters employee thriving. Jamie has spent her career as a human resources leader, coach, and advisor across private sector, nonprofit, and government agencies, working extensively in the technology, higher education, and healthcare industries. She is a contributing member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a published author, and an international speaker on the topics of leadership, assessment, and employee retention.

DisruptHR Ann Arbor 2025 talk - Your Brain Is A Real A**hole: But You Don't Have to Let It Win

Watch Her Speaking Highlights

Speaking

TOPICS (Follow the links to view the session descriptions + learning objectives)

Strategic Talent Development + Succession Planning

• Succession Planning in Action: Practical Tools to Secure Your Leadership Pipeline
• Building Bench Strength through a Sustainable Pipeline of High Potentials

Applying Neuroscience and Psychological Principles to Elevate Leadership and Individual Effectiveness

• Neuro-Hacks to Build Resiliency and Adaptability​
• ​Are Goats the Secret to Beating Burnout?
• ​Your Brain is a Real A-hole: But You Don’t Have to Let It Win!​
• ​Elevate Your Impact: A Neuroscientific Approach to Persuasive Communication

Talent, Leadership, and Organizational Assessments

• Using 360-Degree Assessment in Consulting Psychology: Best Practices and Common Challenges

Empowering Leadership (aka Servant Leadership)

• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Engage and Retain Global Teams
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Retain Your Rock Star Talent ​
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks for Engaging and Retaining Gen Z Talent 

The Power of Coaching to Drive Individual and Organizational Change

• Coaching 101: What It Is, When to Use It, and How It Can Transform Your Organization
• ​Coaching is the Key to Supercharge Workplace Creativity and Innovation
• ​The Power of Coaching to Evolve Your Workplace Culture 
  

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PAST SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Your Brain is a Real A-hole (DisruptHR Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, September 2025)
• Neuro-Hacks to Build Resiliency and Adaptability (HR Florida Annual Conference, Orlando, FL August 2025)
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Engage and Retain Global Teams (HR Florida Annual Conference, Orlando, FL August 2025)
• Coaching is the Key to Supercharge Workplace Creativity and Innovation (HR Indiana Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN August 2025)
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Retain Your Rock Star Talent (Western Reserve SHRM Chapter, Youngstown, OH, July 2025)
• Your Brain is a Real A-hole: But You Don’t Have to Let It Win! (DisruptHR Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, June 2025)
• Networking: The Secret Sauce of Career Success (AISTech Conference, Nashville, TN, May 2025)
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Retain Your Rock Star Talent (North Texas SHRM Annual Conference, Denton, TX, April 2025)
• Use Brain Science to Navigate Change: Neuro-Hacks to Build Resiliency and Adaptability in the Workplace (Virginia and DC Area SHRM Annual Conference, Virginia Beach, VA, April 2025)
• Mega-Session: Become the Leader You Want to Be: Creating Your Leadership Vision, Brand, and Action Plan (Virginia and DC Area SHRM Annual Conference, Virginia Beach, VA, April 2025)
• Keynote: Are Goats the Secret to Beating Burnout? (Northern Ohio Human Resource Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH, March 2025)
• Elevate Your Impact: A Neuroscientific Approach to Persuasive Communication (OH CUPA-HR Monthly Meeting, Virtual, January 2025)
• Coaching 101: What It Is, When to Use It, and How It Can Transform Your Organization (Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of SHRM, Invited Speaker, November 2024)
• Keynote: Managing Transitions and Overcoming Resistance to Change (OH CUPA-HR 2024 Annual Conference, Columbus OH, November 2024)
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Engage and Retain Global Teams (2024 Garden State Council SHRM Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, September 2024)
• 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Retain Your Rock Star Talent (2024 Ohio SHRM Annual Conference, Sandusky, OH, September 2024)
• Opening Keynote: Become the Leader You Want to Be: Creating Your Leadership Vision and Action Plan (Emerging Leadership Alliance Annual Conference hosted by Association for Iron & Steel Technology, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2024)
• Mastering Feedback to Maximize Performance (Emerging Leadership Alliance Annual Conference hosted by Association for Iron & Steel Technology, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2024)
• Defining, Embodying, and Bringing Visibility to Your Brand (Association for Iron & Steel Women in Steel Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2024)
• Keynote: Combating Stress and Burnout (Association for Iron & Steel Women in Steel Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2024)
• Become the Leader You Want to Be: Creating Your Leadership Vision, Brand, and Action Plan (HR Florida Conference & Expo, Orlando, FL, August 2024)
• Coaching if the Key to Supercharge Workplace Creativity and Innovation (SHRM Missouri State Conference 2024, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, August 2024)
• Keynote: Workplace Culture Hacks: 5 Science-Backed Workplace Culture Hacks to Help Your Business Thrive (Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association joint session with Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, Sarasota, FL, July 2024)
• Make Yor Managers Talent Maximizers (Northeast Ohio HR Association, Toledo, OH, June 2024)
• Neuroscience of Communication (Hilton Group Genius Hub, Virtual, May 2024)
• 5 Actions Managers Can Take to Maximize Employee Engagement and Retention (HRMA Northwest PA, Spring Conference, Erie, PA, May 2024)
• The Power of Coaching to Evolve Your Workplace Culture (SHRM New Mexico 2024 Annual State Conference, Albuquerque, NM, April 2024)
• Evolve Your Managers! 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Supercharge Dispersed and Hybrid Teams (SHRM New Mexico 2024 Annual State Conference, Albuquerque, NM, April 2024)
• Going for Gold: 5 Empowering Leadership Hacks to Engage and Retain Global Talent (HR Virginia Annual State Conference, Richmond, VA, April 2024)
• Using 360-Degree Assessment in Consulting Psychology: Best Practices and Common Challenges (Ohio Psychological Association 2024 Annual Convention, Virtual, April 2024)
• 5 Actions Managers Can Take to Maximize Employee Engagement and Retention (Ohio CUPA-HR, Invited Speaker, Virtual, April 2024)
• Coaching 101: What It Is and How to Use It In Your Organization (Akron Area SHRM, Invited Speaker, April 2024)
• 7 Empowering Leadership Hacks for Engaging and Retaining Gen Z Talent (Ohio CUPA-HR 2023 Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, November 2023)
• Coaching: The Great Reset Hack You Need (Iowa SHRM 2023 Annual Conference, Des Moines, IA, October 2023)
• 7 Empowering Leadership Hacks for Retaining Global Talent (Global HR Conference hosted by Texas SHRM, Houston, TX, September 2023)
• Powerful Presentations to Amplify Your Influence Workshop (Emerging Leadership Alliance Annual Conference hosted by Association for Iron & Steel Technology, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2023)
• Combating Stress + Burnout (Emerging Leadership Alliance Annual Conference hosted by Association for Iron & Steel Technology, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2023)
• Best Practices and Considerations for Integrating Assessments into Your Talent Development Strategy (HR Florida Conference & Expo, Orlando, FL, August 2023)
• 5 Powerful Actions Managers Can Take to Dramatically Increase Employee Engagement and Retention (SHRM-Atlanta, SOAHR 2023 Annual Conference, March 2023)
• Making Your Managers Talent Maximizers (Butler Human Resources Association, Invited Speaker, Butler, PA, January 2023)
• To Combat the Talent Crisis – Develop Your Managers into Employee Engagement + Retention Maximizers (2022 Garden State Council SHRM Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, October 2022)
• Psychological Safety and Physical Safety: This Is the Secret Sauce for Maximizing Your Organization’s Safety – and It’s Success! (2022 Honda Supplier Sustainability Symposium, Invited Speaker, Columbus, OH, September 2022)
• Practical Strategies and Critical Best Practices to Develop Managers into Employee Engagement and Retention Maximizers (PA SHRM 2022 Annual Conference, State College, PA, September 2022)
• Best Practices and Considerations for Integrating Assessments into Your Talent Development Strategy (Dulles SHRM Monthly Learning Session Speaker, Virtual, April 2022)
• Elevate Your Coaching Practice: Leveraging the Power of Assessments (ICF Cleveland Invited Speaker, Virtual, October 2021)
• Transforming Leadership: Become an Empowering Leader Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Cleveland, OH, April 2021)
• Leader as Coach Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Cleveland, OH, June 2021)
• Mentors, Sponsors, Coaches, & Teachers…What’s the Difference? (Engage! Cleveland Annual Professional Development Conference, Virtual, November 2020)
• Leader as Coach Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session in Cleveland Ohio, Virtual, November 2020)
• Leading with Emotional Intelligence Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Virtual, November 2020)
• HR Focus: Untangling the Web of Leadership Assessments Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Virtual, October 2020)
• Leading with Emotional Intelligence Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Cleveland, OH, November 2019)
• Executive Presence Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Pittsburgh, PA, May 2019)
• Powerful Presentations Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Pittsburgh, PA, May 2019)
• HR Focus: Untangling the Web of Leadership Assessments Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Cleveland OH, February 2019)
• Work Strong + Successful – Know Your Strengths (2018 Annual YPN Seattle ProDev Conference, Seattle, WA, December 2018)
• Leader as Coach Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2018)
• Leadership Style Assessment Session – The Power of YOU+ (Engage! Cleveland 2018 Annual Professional Development Conference, Cleveland, OH, November 2018)
• Building a Culture of Trust Full-day Workshop (HRCI-Approved Session, Cleveland, OH, September 2018)
• Building Bench Strength through a Sustainable Pipeline of High Potentials (Nonprofit Talent & Culture Summit, Washington, DC, April 2016)
• Servant Leadership: What is it and what can it do for you? (Talent Management Without Borders, Orlando, FL, November 2014)
• Assessing and Developing Servant Leaders: A Practical Approach (Greenleaf Centre for Servant Leadership – Asia, Singapore, April 2014)
• Application of Servant Leadership within the Veterans Health Administration (Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN, June 2013) 

Publications

LINKEDIN ARTICLES

• You’re Not Harnessing Your Greatest Resource: Your Managers (LinkedIn.com, June 2022)
• The Leadership Lessons Autism Has Taught Me (LinkedIn.com, April 2022)

FORBES COACHES COUNCIL ARTICLES

• 15 Business Coaches Share the No. 1 Issue They Counsel Clients About (Forbes.com, September 2022)
• 15 Effective Ways to Gan More Influence In Your Space (Forbes.com, May 2022)
• 15 Steps to Get Rid of Negative Thought Patterns (Forbes.com, April 2022) 
• 15 Smart Things Companies Can Do To Curb High Employee Turnover (Forbes.com, April 2022)
• 15 Ways to Keep Company Culture Intact When Key Leaders Depart (Forbes.com, December 2021)
  
  

SELECT ACADEMIC ARTICLES

• Leadership Assessments: A history and overview of empirical and practical considerations (New Directions for Student Leadership, 2021 [170], 23 - 34, Summer 2021) 
• Creation of a Multi-Rater Feedback Assessment for the Development of Servant Leaders at the Veterans Health Administration​ (Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice, 3 [1], 12 - 51, February 2016)

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Client Feedback

I had the pleasure of working with Jamie Lewis Smith as a professional coach after I was promoted to Director at Cisco. Jamie created a safe and supportive environment where we could discuss challenges and opportunities for personal growth. Her advice on communication and relationship-building helped me navigate complex dynamics within the company. With Jamie's expertise, guidance, and encouragement, I gained valuable insights to assist my growth as a leader. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Jamie at this point in my career and wholeheartedly recommend working with her.    
 
-- Associate General Counsel, Cisco

Jamie is a fantastic coach and mentor.  She genuinely took an interest in getting to know me and quickly won my trust with her expertise and candor.  Drawing from her vast experience, she asked thoughtful questions and provided relevant industry insight which allowed for powerful self-discovery in creating an actionable growth plan.  I would highly recommend Jamie!     
 
-- Sr. Principal, Fortune 500 Retail Industry

Jamie is a seasoned coach and excellent listener who was able to provide sound and actionable advice. As a recipient of Jamie’s coaching, I've seen firsthand how our work together has improved and expanded my leadership capabilities.  I highly recommend Jamie to any executives seeking to improve their leadership capabilities and deliver tangible business results.
 
-- Sr. VP IT Solution Delivery, Retail Industry

Thanks a lot Jamie for all the time you spent with me. Your advice was instrumental in helping me navigate the various organizational changes and challenges, and spark longer-term thought processes."
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-- Sr. Director, Engineering, Fortune 50 Global Technology Company

My coaching experience exceeded my expectations. Jamie Lewis Smith is an incredible coach, and she transformed my thought process to handle uncomfortable situations confidently. Thank you, Jamie!"

-- Sr. Director, Data & Analytics, Fortune 50 Global Technology Company