Presentation Details

"Be Yourself at Work: The New Rules of Leadership, Belonging & Brave Culture Change"

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What if the old rules of professionalism—button up, fit in, power through—are the very things holding your culture back?

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In this powerful and deeply human session, Claude Silver, the world’s first Chief Heart Officer and author of Be Yourself at Work (HarperBusiness, October 2025), invites audiences to reimagine the role of work in our lives—and the role of leaders in shaping it.

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Blending real-world experience from scaling a global team at VaynerX with her signature heart-led approach, Claude explores how emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and authenticity are not soft skills—they’re cultural drivers that unlock trust, retention, and innovation.

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Part keynote, part interactive reflection, and all heart—this session is designed to spark transformation, not just inspiration. Whether you're a rising leader, seasoned executive, or someone trying to build a better workplace from wherever you sit, this talk offers a roadmap for leading with courage and compassion in the modern world of work.

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Because being yourself at work isn’t just possible—it’s the future of leadership.

Attendees will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of how emotional bravery transforms leadership

• Practical tools for embedding inclusion and belonging into everyday culture

• A fresh perspective on professionalism rooted in presence, not perfection

• Permission (and a plan) to show up more fully—and help others do the same

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Speaker Bio:

Claude Silver is the world’s first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, where she champions a radical belief: when people feel seen, heard, and valued, they thrive—and so do companies. Known for infusing humanity into leadership, Claude is a sought-after speaker, podcaster, and LinkedIn voice, inspiring others to lead with empathy and emotional bravery.

Since stepping into her role, Claude has helped VaynerX grow from 400 to over 2,000 employees across 11 countries, and guided VaynerMedia to be named Adweek’s Breakthrough Media Agency of the Year in 2022. Her heart-first leadership is rooted in what she calls “emotional optimism”—the belief that leading with belief, compassion, and courage is a strength, not a liability.

Long before corporate culture caught up to empathy, Claude was being told she “thinks too much with her heart.” That “flaw” became her superpower. It led her to start an outdoor adventure and surf company in San Francisco, become an Outward Bound instructor, and study transpersonal and positive psychology, along with spiritual traditions including Buddhism. She also spent years as a global advertising executive at JWT London, Publicis, and other agencies.

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Claude has received Campaign US’s Female Frontier Award, Adweek’s Changing the Game Award, and Adweek’s 2025 Mother of the Year. Her voice has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and the Wall Street Journal.

Her first book, Be Yourself at Work—a bold call to lead with heart, show up as yourself, and rewrite the rules of professionalism—is being published by HarperBusiness and comes out in October 2025.

Claude’s mission is simple: to create workplaces where people feel safe enough to be themselves, brave enough to grow, and supported enough to be wildly successful.