What They’re Saying About Mary…
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Mary delivers powerful and energizing messages that take leadership to another level. She was easy to work with and customized her program to meet our specific needs. If you haven’t used Mary to pump energy back into your team, you need to.
Mary is a very engaging speaker. The data in her presentation is current and up to date along with her ability to delivery the economic message is amazing.
Your session has had a lasting impact on those who attended. Your expertise and engaging presentation style brought a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspectives that enriched the entire event.
Mary on behalf of the ISA Education Foundation Board, I want to thank you for a wonderful presentation. So informative, so useful, so timely....... just great!
This is my third time having Mary speak to different leadership groups on our team, and each time she has delivered motivating and insightful presentations. Mary takes the time to learn about her clients businesses....success and challenges and tailors here presentation accordingly, leading to a very high level of engagement. Simply the best and deserving of the many honors and accolades she receives!!!
Mary!!
Thank you so much for a wonderful presentation yesterday. The group was delighted with your Futurenomics presentation and extremely happy with their client experience.
I greatly appreciate everything your brought to the event in terms of style, energy and of course, the valuable, thought-provoking content that you communicated.
After seeing Mary present at a symposium for CEOs and Board Chairs, we realized she would be a very effective presenter for the Economic Update topic at our credit union’s planning conference. She delivered an informative, entertaining, and very well-prepared presentation that not only covered the current economic environment, but touched on how our members and employees are affected by the environment, and how we might address those concerns. Our Board of Directors and executive team remained engaged throughout, and Mary did a great job of answering all their questions. We will be asking Mary to return to future conferences for sure.
Mary did a great job energizing the room on day 1 of our engagement. She was able to make the topic of economics very interesting helping to set the stage for the week.
Mary took a group of board members from a non-profit organization and provided focus, direction, resources, and suggestions for the group. Her out-of-the-box thinking has given us so many opportunities that we can't wait to implement and meet back up for another six-month session for accountability.
Mary did an outstanding job of our opening keynote and a follow-on workshop. Her combination of economist, leadership coach and motivator, and was exactly what our members needed to kick off our national conference. She actively participated in our meeting, engaged with our members and set a tone that energized our whole event. Personally, she is super to work with and am already looking for ways to engage her again.
Testimonial by Andrew Bryant
Testimonial by Debbie Sardone, CEO
Testimonial from Utah Trust
Testimonial by Bruce Arfsten
It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Mary Kelly, Ph.D. Mary is an outstanding keynote speaker, workshop leader, coach, and facilitator. She spoke most recently at the Texas Municipal League (TML) Elected Officials’ Conference on February 13, 2015 in San Marcos. This was just one of Mary’s many repeat performances for the League. She had previously addressed our Annual Conference audience, and was a featured speaker at TML’s inaugural Leadership Academy among other events.
When I first heard Mary speak, I knew five minutes into her keynote that our attendees were hooked. Leaning forward in their seats, eyes focused, and smiling, they were surprised and delighted by her presentation and couldn’t get enough of her.
Mary fits into my favorite category of speaker – she’s both educational and entertaining. She delivers relevant and practical information with an engaging and humorous style. And a bonus for meeting planners, Mary does her homework, always knows her audience, and is a dream to work with.
Mary is one of TML’s favorite speakers, and will undoubtedly be one of yours too.
Testimonial by Bill Stainton
Testimonial from NSA Northwest
I booked Mary Kelly, for our Asia Professional Speakers convention 2015 in Singapore. As a leadership author and speaker myself, I have very high standards and little tolerance for vacuous feel good statements. Mary Kelly delivered above and beyond expectations; her rapid fire insights with pragmatic and practical take-aways confirmed that I made the right decision. Smart and funny with an ability to connect with diverse audience makes Commander Kelly the intelligent choice for your next conference.
My clients love Mary’s programs and we love that Mary is so easy to work with, flexible, and responsive.
Rarely have I seen a speaker who is so engaging, charming, relatable and humorous all at the same time. Mary doesn’t just give a presentation, she has a concrete message for all audiences. Her preparation for each audience is impeccable. And Mary is so easy to work with, something we wish for with all professional speakers, and so many can make it challenging. The most important thing I can say about Mary is she is a woman of substance and integrity. Mary is one of my all-time favorite leadership and business speakers. Great original content, funny stories, and fabulous, helpful takeaways. Mary also bonds with audiences and they want her booked to come back.
Mary is a TML crowd favorite – we can’t get enough of her! She has an uncanny ability to connect with diverse personalities, ages, and cultures. Her keynotes are powerful and uplifting, and she always leaves the audience smiling and inspired.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation at the North Texas NSA meeting — It was like trying to sip water from a fire hydrant, but incredibly helpful — It may take me 6 months to put to use all the information you gave us — Thank you – Thank you – Thank you !!! I know people tell you daily that you are a ROCK STAR, so I am going to say it one more time — YOU ROCK !!!!! Thank you for your generosity, giving out the books and all the other info — You embody the NSA spirit and I thank you for that.
Texas Payroll Event
“Mary Kelly’s presentation was engaging, entertaining & very informative.”
“Knowledgeable & motivating session. Wonderful mastery of leadership.”
“I love how she interacts with the audience. Excellent speaker.”
“Funny, informative, great speaker technique.”
“Fantastic speaker! She was motivating, real, funny, engaging, and did a great job of reading the room.”
“Informative with great tips to define the day. Loved the daily planner.”
“Funny with great substance.”
“Was able to understand and easily relate to her presentation! She used great examples! Great personality!”
“I can unequivocally state that in my 20+ years of knowing Mary, she is truly one of the most engaging, interesting, and optimistic persons I know. Her motivation, intellect, and ability to communicate with such a wide breadth of individuals on such varied topics is amazing. Her understanding of human nature and how to connect to people is inspiring. I can without hesitation support her on any endeavor and know when she gets involved with something it is going to be accomplished with flying colors.”
“Dr. Mary Kelly is a very astute, detail oriented, and personable individual who is proficient in her genre and takes pride in the services she provides to universal audiences. Obvious by her participant’s feedback, Dr. Kelly’s objectives are met and her deliveries superseded their expectations. As a participant in Dr. Kelly’s workshops, I offer very positive testimony to a superb delivery of surviving tests of human dignity in trials of unforeseen perils. She describes how ordinary challenges might offer opportunities with extraordinary triumphs simply by believing in one’s self, and never entertaining the thought of giving up. I highly recommend Dr. Kelly as an expert in leadership.”
“Dr. Mary Kelly is an amazingly effective leadership expert. Her educational background along with the practical skills she has acquired truly allows her to walk her talk. I literally watched her transform lives. She is inspirational, motivational, and full of immediately practical business ideas. Her passion for learning and relationship skills make her a dream to work with. If you are serious about improving your leadership skills she is the one you want. I can’t wait to hear Mary speak again!”
“Curiosity Instigator & Professional Speaker — It is rare to find a person like Mary Kelly that is able to inspire audiences around the world, mentor her fellow speakers, and have a heart that shows a profound care for her fellow human beings and her beloved dogs. Her profound knowledge, combined with her charismatic personality and her heart of gold, make her a rare combination that truly connects with the audience and gets her message across. She is truly memorable!”
Dan and I had the pleasure of listening to the amazing Mary C Kelly this morning! The program is called “In case of emergency break Glass” – Imagine if anything happened to you or your spouse/partner/parents?? What if nothing was written down..no will..no trust…no emergency contact? Who gets to take care of your children .. or your dogs or cats? Don’t let strangers in the courts make decisions for you or have your family members assume they would know your wishes for your family and your belongings. Have you updated your beneficiaries on your 401k/benefits or is it an ex -spouse…or a child you don’t talk to. .or a deceased parent?
We realized that we didn’t know these items or even all of each other’s bank accounts (guess I have to tell him about ALL of them?? ;)) we don’t know each other’s bills, passwords, etc… This is important to talk about now…before it is too late.
Talk about it. Make a plan. Even putting a card in your wallet with who the police should contact if you are in an accident, especially if have kids or pets that need to be taken care, is a huge step. REALTOR/REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE FRIENDS – what an amazing thing to offer or talk about with clients too. Help them get organized and protect their biggest investment and their family’s future?! Thank you again so much Mary C Kelly for helping us get on track!!
“Mary conducted a 3 hour leadership workshop/presentation for our state (police department) conference. She is a true professional who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience. Her presentation was well received and extremely valuable.”
“Mary is an outstanding professional speaker. As a leadership expert, she helps people and businesses become wildly successful. Every group that experiences her talk agrees that she is amazing! (I) highly recommend Mary for your next conference, retreat, or business training.”
“If you’re not working with Mary, you’re missing out on the best! At Pathos Leadership Group, we have high standards when we reach out and strategically partner. What can I tell you about Mary? Her professionalism astounds me, her intelligence is incredible and her humor is boundless. I recommend running, not walking, to see if you can get her to work with you and your organization right now.
Still reading this recommendation… What are you waiting for?”
“What an AMAZING woman! So incredibly knowledgeable (PhD in economics? who does that?) and so generous with that knowledge. She is a catalyst for [meaningful] change and instantly designs recommendations or
jump starting change that inspire, encourage and energize. A force with which to be reckoned (only in the best way) her genuine enthusiasm for authentic leadership, fullness of life and lovable dogs is contagious. Doesn’t hurt that her sense of humor is FABULOUS, too! I feel so fortunate and blessed to call Mary colleague and friend.”
“Thank you so much for a wonderful keynote at our Annual Conference. Your 20 years of active duty in intelligence with the Navy really caught the audience’s attention, and set exactly the right tone, and while you were wonderfully entertaining, the substance and leaning of your message was very enlightening and informative.
We personally appreciated your very high standard of professionalism. You were a pleasure to work with. As people who hire and work with a number of professional speakers every year, we found your preparation and professional approach to be very reassuring and pleasant. Thank again for your great contribution to the success of our meeting.”
Special District Association
Ann Terry, Executive Director and Donna Alengi, Deputy Executive Director
“It was off the charts! I could have listened to more of what she had to offer. Thanks for sharing. Totally enjoyed it.”
“Mary’s presentation was lively and interesting. I can relate to the topic and can use it to manage my team. Many thanks, Mary! “
ON behalf of LIMRA, LOMA, and the SOA, I want to thank you for speaking at the DI & LTC Insurers’ Forum in Florida. Your session received excellent reviews. In fact, your presentation was mentioned as a highlight of the conference with comments like the following:
– “Terrific. Informational and motivating in both professional and family environments.”
– “Mary Kelly’s presentation was a highlight. Very enjoyable.”
– “Mary was very motivated and her real life experiences helped make all her points. Wonderful presentation.”
We especially want to thank you for your professionalism, excellent preparation, and your willingness to share your expertise. Our audience expects very high caliber speakers, and you exceeded their expectations. Thank you again for contributing the success of the DI & ITC Insurers’ Forum.
When I picked up ‘15 Ways to Grow Your Business in Every Economy’ from Amazon I wasn’t expecting much more than the usual tips that you find in most of these types of books but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised… The author, Mary C. Kelly, has an easy to read style that’s not complicated in the least and will be a breeze for practically any reader. Ms Kelly adds copious notes at the beginning and excellent questions at the end of each chapter to get her points across more powerfully and engage the reader more intensely. I like that. It shows that she not only knows her stuff but actually cares about the subject and the people reading… I found this book very entertaining and stuffed full of little tidbits of information that I could use even after almost 20 years as a small business owner. If you’re just starting out this is required reading if you want to survive the coming months and years. If you’re an ‘old pro’ like me pick it up anyway. The tips and insights are well worth the read.
Dr. Mary Kelly is one of the most fluid and relatable speakers I have had the pleasure of watching. Her topics are relevant and she presents them with a solid knowledge base and, more importantly, passion. She has a way of charging the audience to excite them about otherwise flat and fact-heavy subjects, like economics and financial planning. Mary incorporates her own unique sense of humor and mannerisms that make everyone laugh and actually enjoy listening to her stories and advice. I have heard her speak several times and each time I leave with sore cheeks from smiling so much and a list of action items that I need to complete. I would highly recommend Dr. Kelly to anyone looking for a speaker to inform and entertain!
Energetic and creative, Mary was an instructor who could make any dull subject come alive. With a sharp wit and cleverly constructed stories or examples, she energized students in a variety of subjects from freshman college history to planning a persona budget. She is one of the most creative and motivating facilitators or instructors I have worked with.
Mary is the premier Leadership and Productivity Expert for businesses, government organizations, and associations. She finds efficient and creative ways to solve business problems. The consummate service provider, Dr. Mary Kelly is easy to work with, friendly and approachable at all levels. She is simply AWSOME….Book her if you can!
Mary Kelly was a fabulous keynote speaker for the W2W Mentor Mingle. Not only did she address why women need to help other women, but she brought it down to how individuals in the audience have helped her. She leads by example!
Mary is an incredible person and speaker. She would be a great asset for any team/business. I know her both on a professional and personal level and you cannot find a better person or worker.
I’ve known Mary since 1997. Effective leader, manager and teacher. Creative, inspirational and energetic. Embodies the highest sense of personal integrity and commitment.
I already knew she was smart and kind, but I didn’t know how laugh out loud funny Mary Kelly was (and is). In her presentation at the Colorado Speaker’s Academy, she filled our heads with great information, a multitude of ideas and kept us engaged with her style and humor. I would recommend her for any speaking engagement, anywhere. I feel lucky to have been in the audience.
Mary Kelly is a joy to work with. She is attentive, quick to respond and an absolute professional. Her topics are applicable and her delivery method refreshing. I’d highly recommend her as a speaker to any organization!
Mary Kelly is a consummate professional and very knowledgeable in regards to helping businesses and organizations optimize their potential. She helps through great organizational skills, marketing and networking knowledge, as well as understanding economic side of their businesses as well! I highly recommend Mary as a great resource to help any business or organization reach their potential!
As Vice President of the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, I thank you for the informative presentation on Social Media Networking last week at UCCS. Mary’s professional, down to earth and humorous demeanor created a relaxed but educational atmosphere for the audience to listen and learn. Mary Kelly makes work important and fun. Entertaining, funny, and energetic!
I was interviewed for by a college student regarding my experience as a woman CEO. One of the questions asked was who inspires and influences me as leader. Here’s my answer: ‘Mary Kelly, PhD, CEO of Productive Leaders. She is a strong and powerful leader who takes a generous and gracious approach to all she does. She has the perfect blend of strength, resolve and compassion.’ Thank you for your contribution to my life!
Thank you, Dr. Kelly, for your uplifting words at the Texas Municipal League’s Women in Government breakfast this morning. Your words were full of inspiration, encouragement, and strength! Your words were just what I needed today! THANK YOU for “lighting the fire.”
Mary is an energetic presenter whose combination of humor and knowledge makes a memorable experience for her audience. In fact, she takes her audience’s needs into account and tailors her presentation to those needs. She knows her content and skillfully boils it down to the essentials.
Mary accepted my invitation to speak at the winter 2007 CHART (Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers) Conference in Annapolis, MD. She was a professor at the United States Naval Academy at that time. Her topic was “Everything that I learned about Leadership, I learned from my dogs”. While obviously professional, Mary’s approach to leadership and team development utilized a fun and interactive method based on her experience training (you guessed it) dogs. Her message was clear – focus on the trainee, reward positive behavior, do not tolerate poor behavior. So simple, but so true – even when applied to humans. It was a treat to have Mary participate by delivering her presentation at two break-out sessions – two of the highest of the entire conference. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking to cut through the clutter and achieve breakthrough results. Her knowledge and depth of experience goes well beyond this particular topic.
Great presentation on Friday at CSWEN luncheon. Found myself sharing info at our BeautiControl training on Saturday afternoon regarding the importance of growing our businesses with Customer Service. Thanks Mary!
Mary conducted a brilliant 90 minute session for the Black Chamber of Commerce on Social Media for Business. People called me the next day to rave about how much they learned, and how dynamic Mary is. She truly cares about her audiences, is committed to helping them grow their business, and delivers her program in an entertaining and approachable manner. We are looking forward to the next opportunity to engage Mary in our work.
I attended Mary’s Social Media class this past week and can heartily recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to harness the power of these sites to make their business thrive. Mary is an incredible presenter, speaker and leader. She teaches by example and makes you strive to be better by equipping you with the tools you need and some you didn’t even know existed. If you want to take your business to the next level, Mary is the person to help you get there.
Mary Kelly, CDR, United States Navy, retired, has been practicing leadership and motivational speaking worldwide for over 20 years. From Annapolis to the Philippines and Korea to Key West, Mary has been getting Sailors and Marines to willingly give their best. She can facilitate the same results in any corporation, large or small. Couple her abilities with the sense of humor cultivated by a military career and the results are a dynamic, engaging experience not soon forgotten.
As (Mary’s) VA, I have been so fortunate to see Mary’s work, including her speeches, Organize Your Life Workbook, and more. She is absolutely amazing! Mary is not only super-intelligent, but also deeply inspiring and compassionate. I’ve also come to know that she is surrounded by people who just adore her. If you get a chance to meet her or listen to her speech, you’ll know why! As a leadership and communications expert, Mary also gives me a big freedom to do the best I can without micro-managing me. I’m truly thankful that I met her.
Mary Kelly has the gift of being able to share a lot of quality information and hard data in a light hearted, fun style that ensures her audiences remain engaged and interested in what she has to say. She is both personable and professional at every presentation. Mary loves her topic and it shows; her enthusiasm in contagious. I’ve been privileged to hear her speak on a variety of topics and each presentation was so genuine and well designed that it easily held my attention. She doesn’t just train on leadership, she demonstrates it in everything she does.
Mary presented a content-rich social media session in March 2010. I enjoyed the small group setting and the information to help me grow my business. Mary is awesome!
Mary conducted a social media session for my company and it was exactly what we needed! She is very patient with beginning users, and we all gained from her vast experience. We already signed up for another session!
Prior to the conference, Mary was prepared with questions to obtain a thorough understanding of the event as well as her audience. She also made a commitment to really take the time to get to know the women participants, which demonstrates who Mary is as a person.
Mary is an expert in her field. She has such a positive outlook in life that will truly move and motivate you. She is a wonderful businesswoman and an asset in her field.
Mary is a people oriented person that delivers great content. Her level of knowledge and expertise allows her to effortlessly communicate with those who attend her seminars. I recommend Mary to anyone that is interested in having a first-class presentation made with an emphasis on connecting with attendees, while providing quality content.
I met Mary several years ago and attended several seminars she presented. I introduced her to the South Metro Chamber Cultural Business Alliance. She presented for them in September 2012. I received several calls from attendees and the coordinator on what a great job she did. The event lasted until 5:00 PM, but the line to meet Mary and talk with her went on until 6:30 PM. A super event we have her to thank. I then hired Mary to talk about the U S Economy to my American Business Women’s Association Group. Different topic from before, but extremely well presented and again I received great feedback on her. You cannot go wrong asking Mary to speak at one of your events. She is an expert in economics and speaks often on growing your business.
Mary is an expert leader in communications, organization, management, economics, and finance. She is also fantastic speaker who can share her knowledge in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way. She truly engages with her audience and exceeds expectations every time she presents. She can speak to large and small groups and you feel she is in tune with her audience the entire time. It is a pleasure to work with Mary and I highly recommend her for your keynote or training session.
Mary’s presentation at the Fort Worth/Mid-Cities American Society for Training and Development’s Christmas program was exceptional. Her presentation skills, power-point, and hand-outs were impressive and highly tailored to fit her audience. Her leadership experience combined with her personal charisma and sense of humor made the evening one of the best we have had this year. Thank you, Mary.
The Senior Resource Council recently had Mary Kelly come and speak at our event. It was the first event, ever, that came back with an ‘outstanding’ review on the speaker from every single person who filled out a survey. I can’t say enough about Mary Kelly and the way she can speak to a huge audience of businesses with diverse backgrounds and still seem like she is speaking specifically to each person in the room! Not only would I recommend her, I would give you a 100% guarantee that you will love any presentation she gives! Mary Kelly is one-of-a-kind!
Mary was a guest speaker at the Southern Chapter of HSMAI. All attendees were inspired by Mary and we would love to have her come back and speak again in the near future.
True Leadership is not about a position of power. It is about influence, and the ability to enact positive change.” (Mary Kelly, PhD) If you are in fact looking for positive change in yourself and or your organization then look no further. Dr. Mary Kelly has the credentials and experience that will help individuals, entrepreneurs and Corporate Executives to become the leader they strive to be. Dr. Kelly has the ability to capture her audience through personnel experiences and connect with her target audience. Dr. Kelly will motivate you because of her people skills, warm personality and the professional approach she brings to every speaking engagement. I have had the honor of attending her presentations on two different occasions and walked away each time feeling more productive and motivated because of her fun engaging approach. I would encourage you to make Dr. Kelly a priority and invite her to your community, a conference or fundraiser so she can share her enthusiasm and expertise with you. Dr. Kelly will consult, coach and energize you to a different level and help you reach your greater potential.
Everyone needs a Dr. Mary Kelly! I have worked with Mary on various projects and boards. She is knowledgeable, personable, and energetic. Her speaking skills are impeccable. Despite her busy schedule, she has taken the time to meet with me personally for a discussion on economics. Mary is a rising star and I am glad I have gotten to know her over the past two years.
Mary Kelly is a well known speaker and author. I had the privilege to see her act as an Emcee at an event for the National Speakers Association in Denver. She was terrific! Energetic, great at situational humor, totally prepared. Trust me when I tell you that you won’t be disappointed if you decide to hire Mary as an Emcee at your next event!
Mary is a dynamic speaker, skilled at drawing the audience into her presentations to enhance their ability to not only grasp, but also retain, key leadership and management concepts that she presents. She makes a top-notch keynote speaker at any business or leadership training event.
Mary is a very astute and warm hearted woman. I wish everyone could get to know her as an example of sacrificing to reach your goals. It wasn’t until after I met Mary that I found her many accomplishments made my jaw drop! She doesn’t wear those on her sleeves.
I can’t say enough about how you can deliver the state of the economy (the good, bad, and the ugly, most of it being ugly), yet still make it enjoyable to listen to! Amazing!
I had the privilege of hearing Mary speak recently, and of visiting with her before and after. She is a phenomenal motivator who sees and thinks out of the box. Her energy is highly infectious.
I saw Mary speak at an NSA event. Not only is she a great motivational speaker that connects with her audience, she is truly a pay-it-forward person that is easy to work with and if she can’t help you she will recommend people who can. Thanks Mary.
Mary is energetic, creative and delivers on commitments. She manages to take any situation and make it a positive experience. Mary is an out of the box thinker and can make any subject interesting and can provoke thought. She is a leader and a take charger individual.
Commander Mary Kelly and I served together at Pearl Harbor in the mid-1990’s. The region was undergoing consolidation and leadership was key to making it happen successfully. Mary Kelly supplied much of that leadership. With many people wringing their hands in despair, Commander Kelly championed a ‘CAN DO’ attitude that was sorely needed. She inspired people to accept the coming changes and made them feel good about their efforts and roles. CDR Kelly has brought her winning ways into her civilian career. I would be delighted to work with her again.
Mary Kelly is one of the best facilitators and speakers I have heard in my career. She is tactful and professional and well received by all employees. I strongly recommend any organization use Mary’s talents when tackling tough presentation topics or your facilitation needs with senior managers and elected officials.
She is great!
Your proactive, deliberate approach to achieving goals and success is the breath of fresh air you get right before it was almost too late. Your positive attitude is contagious and enormously appreciated. Thank you, Mary.