Are you inherently a “yes” person or a “no” person? That’s the question my dear friend Shonda Rhimes, (you know, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator and producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and owner of all things Thursday night) has me thinking about lately. Now she doesn’t know she’s my dear friend, but I’m reading her 2015 New York Times bestseller Year of YES, and since she’s dared to write a book in such an authentic, relatable, girl-next-door way, she is unwittingly, but most definitely my new best friend. In 2013 when her sister muttered the words “You never say yes to anything,” introverted Shonda woke up and began to consciously say yes to scary things that she otherwise avoided—a commencement speech at Dartmouth, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, her health, and playing with her children any time they asked to name a few. Making a conscious choice to say yes to things she’d routinely said no to created breakthrough after breakthrough for Shonda and those around her. So, on this January morning as I packed my bags to leave icy Pennsylvania for equally-cold Chicago (where my new best friend Shonda just so happened to be raised), I gave myself a challenge. To say YES to things I’d typically avoid. I said yes to getting up earlier than I had to for my trip to the airport—and had time to catch a great podcast on life purpose. I said yes to actually holding a conversation with my shuttle driver. (Morning conversation is not my thing.) In return, I got his compelling life’s story, worthy of being featured in my next book. In gratitude he gifted me his umbrella when he learned I hadn’t brought one and might need one. I said yes to listening instead of talking-- and got my Uber driver’s fascinating life story about the war-torn life he left behind to make roots in Chicago and what it was like to move to a country where you didn’t speak the language. I said yes to spontaneity over hibernating in my hotel room and scored a last minute ticket to Hamilton at the box office! Here in 2018, I’ve decided to pause before taking action and rethink my typical “no” reflex. Where is “no” a reflex for you? Join me and others in saying yes to things that don’t come easy. My airplane seatmate told me she says yes to guilt-free in-flight naps. My friend is saying yes to tackling cluttered spaces in her home—closets, kitchen cabinets, the pantry. My client is saying yes to fewer meetings on her calendar, making room for more think time and time out of the office. An exec I know is even saying yes to scary green kale breakfast drinks to boost her health! I’m saying yes to me more this year. My empty nest is a luxury to treat myself to things I need or want. Just yesterday I started by saying yes to some new throw pillows and a sponge holder for my kitchen sink (yep, call me crazy!) Saying yes can be our own personal 3-lettered superpower. Shonda’s online network encouraged her to “power pose like superwoman” when she needed courage. “Power posing like Wonder Woman is when you stand up like a badass—legs in a wide stance, chin up, hands on your hips. Like you own the place. Like you have on magical silver bracelets and know how to use them. Like your superhero cape is flapping in the wind behind you.” Go ahead. Assume your power pose and complete this sentence… This year I will say yes to__________________________. According to my new BFF, “every yes will change something in you. Every yes is a transformation. Every yes sparks some new phase of evolution. “ I’d love to hear what happens for you!!

“How did it go?” everyone asks. Truth is, I’m not sure. It was somewhat an outer body experience to take the red carpet on November 2 in front of a sold out theater and live streamed worldwide audience. Cameras poised to capture these 8 minutes that could live on forever. What I do know for sure is it didn’t go as expected or planned--from issues uploading my demo video, fog machine controversy, an unexpected flurry of competing priorities, and 2 disorienting weeks leading up to the talk. Instead of practicing my talk, I found myself sitting quietly by my 97-year-old grandma’s bedside for a week as she made her peaceful transition “home.” Instead of nailing down what I’d wear on the TEDx stage, I was dressing for the service to mark this inspirational lady’s life. Instead of practicing my talk in front of my TEDx notes wall at home, I was delivering a eulogy. My preparation time and plans were being disrupted at every turn. So, you could say I was living the topic of my talk—uncertainty and a whole lot of a fog. I was also experiencing the emotions that come with it—fear, worry, and anxiety. But it reminded me why I wanted to give this talk in the first place—because life is uncertain, and we have no choice but to navigate it. At the dry run, one impressive, experienced speaker after another took that stage. We took turns struggling through our talks and supporting each other. We were strangers sharing 2 common bonds—a major case of nervous energy and important messages to share. And the next day, we did. We prevailed. So, back to my original question, how did it go? Well, the first person to greet me when I left the stage asked if she could hug me. I panicked. Was it that bad? Then she whispered in my ear, “I’m in the midst a big life transition, and your message was just what I needed to hear right now.” And with that, I hugged her back and smiled at the red carpet for giving me the space to help others find their way in uncertainty and fog, while navigating my own.

This phase of the process finds me juggling uncertainty. Someone should really write a book about that or do a talk on that topic. Ah, ironically, I am! I had a plan. I had lined up days to work on shortening my talk, writing this blog and doing a video run-through. But the phone rang several times, and instead, I found myself heading back home to help my parents arrange hospice for my 97-year-old grandmother, working out kinks in my book production, and throwing plans out the window. You might say some fog rolled in. Since then, I’ve gotten busy whittling away at my talk content. It had to be shortened. So, I told myself I was a sculptor, taking away pieces of clay to unveil a work of art yet to be revealed. I tried portions of it out on a life audience and learned what didn’t work. I crossed out, moved content, and morphed it into a very different version of itself. I recorded this new version on my phone to see what didn’t feel natural or where I stumbled. I made more adjustments. And I began to relax a bit. No doubt, refining will continue as I try to dance this talk in under the 8-minute limbo bar. I also attended the PA Women’s Conference in Philadelphia and had the thrill of hearing Brene Brown, Michelle Obama, Shawn Achor, and Shonda Rhimes speak. I paid attention differently. Why did I really connect with Brene? How did a former First Lady manage to be so credible and yet feel like my BFF at the same time? How did Shawn infuse humor so beautifully into his speech? And where did Shonda get that dress? I came home both daunted and inspired. It was time to practice. So, I divided my speech into segments. I then increased the font size on my Word document and printed each segment. I taped them to the wall because I’m very visual and will benefit from this visual roadmap, especially since I’m not using Powerpoints to guide me. I then dragged a round brown carpet into my living room and rolled video—realizing that in less than a month, that carpet will be red!

AS SEEN BY SIZZLE REEL SIZZLE REEL PODCASTS SPEAKER KIT TESTIMONIALS ADMIRABLE Brenda's ability to get people to open up, listen and learn is admirable. Her knowledge of human behavior and business interactions is credible and beneficial. - Executive Sherwin Williams SPEAKER BIO SIZZLE REEL PRESS KIT PODCASTS CONTACT Keynote Topics Navigate Change, Boost Resilience, Develop Your Leadership Navigating Transition Fog–The Road from "Now What?" to " Why Not?!" We’re living through one of the biggest "Now What?" moments in history—a pandemic and the unprecedented ripples and changes that have resulted. We have experienced negative impacts and silver linings simultaneously. The rate of change in our professional and personal lives has us in a fog and questioning what to make of it all and how to remain steadfast and resilient. Based on her TEDx talk, in this signature keynote, Brenda introduces her transformative concept of Transition Fog. Transition Fog is the result of change showing up in your workplace or life space. It triggers feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry and you can’t see a clear path forward. The question we face is "Now What?" Using the metaphor of driving in the fog, Brenda shares highly practical, immediately applicable, and powerful strategies for cutting through the complexity! Audience members create a Resilience Roadmap for navigating a professional or personal transition in real-time to ensure clarity and confidence in moving forward. This keynote inspires audiences to unleash their "Why Not?!" This keynote is ideal for individuals, leaders, and teams who are: ​ ​Feeling overwhelmed with the simultaneous changes coming their way that are draining them mentally and emotionally.​ Having to adapt personally to change while also leading others through it Experiencing the fogginess and lack of clarity that comes with change Dealing with their own or their teams’ high emotions during change Unsure of how to navigate complex times. ​ The audience will leave with: ​ An understanding of the emotional transition journey that accompanies any change. Practical strategies and tools for navigating change and transition (personally or professionally). A personalized Resilience Roadmap for navigating whatever change they may be facing. Much needed clarity in the face of uncertainty. The inspiration to convert any "Now What?" into a "Why Not?!" How do we stay strong during a disorienting life or work event? It could be a change you elected or one that was imposed on you. Life is nothing but one uncertain experience after another. And life’s disorienting events can rock our professional and personal lives! But ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. Leveraging Brenda’s 5 FROGS ® frame work and rich experiences, this impactful keynote inspires the audience to explore the unshakeable strength that lives within themselves and their teams. FROGS is an acronym for the spaces we move between when big change or a work/life disorienting event hits. Learn about the transformation journey that begins with everything seeming to fall apart to becoming a new stronger , more resilient , and unstoppable version of yourself, team or organization! This keynote is ideal for individuals, leaders, and teams who are: ​ Feeling overwhelmed with the simultaneous changes coming their way that are draining them mentally and emotionally. Having to adapt personally to change while also leading others through it. Experiencing the fogginess and lack of clarity that comes with change. Dealing with their own or their teams’ high emotions during change. Unsure of how to navigate complex times. ​ The audience will leave with: ​ An understanding of the 5 FROGS ® model of transformation. Practical strategies and tools for remaining resilient during disorienting times—of welcome or unwelcome change (personally or professionally) The keys to creating a resilient mindset, regardless of the circumstances. Resources like the 5 FROGS ® Reflections on the Road to Resilience Guided Journal The inspiration to convert any "Now What?" into a "Why Not?!" 5 FROGS®: Radical Realities on the Road to Resilience Ready to Transform? Book Brenda! REQUEST A KEYNOTE PODCASTS / RADIO CONTACT BRENDA

Grow through Change. Build Resilience. Work, Lead, Live Intentionally. Embrace your "now what?” and unleash your “why not?!” Build the mindset, behaviors and strategies necessary! WATCH BRENDA Hi, I'm Brenda Consultant. International & TEDx Speaker. Author. Coach In foggy "Now What?" moments, I turn uncertainty into productivity, engagement, and resilience for clients. In 2008, the economy took a nosedive and so did my life. Things went sideways. And no part of my life was left unchanged. ​ Even as an expert in organizations, systems, and change, the universe simply didn’t care, nor spare me. ​ There I sat in my family room with my face in my hands uttering the words "Now W hat?" It was time to navigate some serious fog. Because there was one thing I believed… ​ On the other side of "Now What?" is a "Why Not?!" ready to be unleashed! ​ But I didn’t go it alone. ​As I embarked on unleashing all tha t was now possible in my newly forming work and personal life, I grew excited , more compassionate , and more committed than ever. I aimed to roll up my sleeves and bring my expertise and insights to help clients navigate times of complexity, uncertainty, and change, finding clarity, confidence, and new possibilities. ​ If you’re ready for a "Now What?" Transformation ® and to find greater resilience, I’m right here ready to meet you in your fog with the mindset, behaviors and tools to dr ive results. ​ After all, FOG is simply what I call a F reaking O pportunity for G rowth! ​ Let's unleash your "Why Not ?!" ABOUT ME TRUSTED BY TESTIMONIALS UPLIFTING Brenda has such natural poise and confidence. She is engaging and uplifting. When I watch people's faces when she speaks, it's like they are mesmerized by her. She delivers such impact in such a gentle way. got FOG? Are you a leader struggling with the complexity and responsibility you face in your job? Are you dealing with a troubled team? Are you dealing with some personal or professional transition and the "fog" that accompanies it? Is your organization facing a big change? NAVIGATE CHANGE CONFIDENCE with WATCH FULL TEDx WHEN NOTHING IS SURE EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE - Brenda K. Reynolds Let’s Embark on your " Now What?" Transformation ® WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER CONSULTANT SPEAKER AUTHOR BKR CONSULTING INC. HOW WE'LL WORK TOGETHER MAKE THE COMPLEX SIMPLE Working together to do what's right for you and to forge desired business results. EMBRACE CHANGE Every change can lead to something even better. We work to find possibilities and next right moves to navigate your challenge. FIND POWER IN CHOICE Intentional choices yield big results; I'm no expert in your field and you're not expert in mine...so let me help you more clearly define your next moves; to clearly see what's needed and bridge the gap. Choice is our ultimate superpower. COLLABORATE While I work with a deep body of knowledge, I believe in keeping it simple, using actionable tools. LET AUTHENTICITY RULE Integrity and trust are the magic in any organization. If you're asking yourself, "Now What?" then let's get busy converting it to a "Why Not?!" Together we'll connect the dots and create a shortcut to clarity. Get in Touch First name Last name Email Phone Message Submit

BRENDA K REYNOLDS AS SEEN BY OFFICIAL BIO Brenda K. Reynolds, M.S., is a change agent who provides organization development and leadership solutions to Fortune 500’s, non-profits, education, and individuals navigating complexity. Brenda draws on her own corporate leadership roles and extensive consulting experience to equip clients with easy-to-apply strategies and inspiration during their “now what?” moments. She has been trusted by a broad range of clients including Special Olympics, Delaware Hospice, Sherwin Williams, Moen, QVC, McDonalds, and Penn State University. ​ Brenda is author of Amazon best-seller TBD-To Be Determined: Leading with Clarity and Confidence in Uncertain Times (2017). She’s also the creator of the “Now What?” Transformation™ Clarity Card Deck and Kit . Brenda also hosts the COMING TOGETHER series, an online women's leadership experience. ​ Brenda has graced the TEDx stage as a speaker on Navigating Transition Fog. ​ Brenda has also delighted and inspired audiences in a variety of venues, including: Vistage International The International Organization Development and Change Conference, Beijing, China The Designed for Impact Bermuda Women’s Conference Association of the Junior Leagues International Conference She is a frequent radio and podcast guest, residing in the Greater Philadelphia area, and proud mom of two amazing sons! REQUEST INFO topics DEALING WITH CHANGE ADMIRABLE Brenda's ability to get people to open up, listen and learn is admirable. Her knowledge of human behavior and business interactions is credible and beneficial. - Executive Sherwin Williams APPROVED MEDIA DOWNLOAD ONESHEET EVENT REQUEST FORM PODCASTS INTERVIEWS CONTACT BRENDA