Speaking Engagements
Patricia A. (Pat) Clary
SPEAKING & ENGAGEMENTS
Patricia Clary is a force on the frontlines of leadership transformation—recognized globally for her ability to connect, challenge, and catalyze change across sectors, generations, and cultures. She is a sought-after speaker whose insights stir action and spark momentum in rooms filled with executives, community leaders, students, scholars, and volunteers alike.
Raised in the wilderness of Alaska, Pat learned early how to navigate uncharted territory—a life lesson that became the foundation of her leadership journey. Today, she draws on that resilience to inspire others to chart their course with courage and conviction. With decades of experience across business, higher education, nonprofits, faith-based initiatives, and community development, she equips leaders with more than strategies—she instills in them the confidence to believe in themselves, the discipline to pursue excellence, and the tools to succeed with integrity and purpose.
A life-long learner, Patricia Clary was conferred with her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. Her work is deeply rooted in research-informed practice and shaped by a lifelong commitment to transformational impact. Her academic pursuits further strengthened her ability to bridge theory and action, helping leaders reflect, grow, and lead with clarity across dynamic and complex environments.
Patricia is a multi-year contributor to the International Leadership Association (ILA), where she has presented at global conferences in Geneva, Vancouver, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Prague, and facilitated virtual communities with international scholars and practitioners. Her presentations explore topics like:
- Transforming Flawed Systems through Collaborative Synergy
- Burnout in Public Leadership
- Mentorship to Sponsorship in Women’s Leadership
- Convening Leadership for Strategic Change
- The Global Nonprofit Sector’s Role in Social Change
She is also the organizer and moderator of regional convenings, such as the 2024 Tri-County Nonprofit Roundtable in Arkansas, where she fosters practical partnerships and community innovation.
A consultant and founder of Patricia Clary & Associates, Pat is known for cutting through complexity and helping leaders design cultures of resilience, alignment, and lasting impact. She has equipped more than 10,000 women in building purpose-driven ministries and organizational outreach, and has worked alongside economic councils, state commissions, chambers, and university partners to advance collaborative change.
Areas of Focus for Keynote Presentations
Inspiring Leadership. Transforming Organizations. Empowering Women.
Dr. Clary offers keynote presentations, conference sessions, and team facilitation designed to elevate your organization and its leaders. Her focus areas include:
- Board Trainings & Organizational Retreats
- Faith-Based Leadership Events
- NGO & Community Development Forums
- Women’s Leadership Conferences
Select from our suggested session topics—or let Dr. Clary create a customized experience that energizes your team and advances your organization’s mission.
Women’s Leadership & Mentorship
- Be Who? Be YOU!
- From Mentorship to Sponsorship: Advancing Women in Leadership
- Survival Tips for Women in Leadership: Thriving in Demanding Environments
- The Impact of COVID-19: The Phenomenological Effect of Burnout on Women in the Nonprofit Sector and Implications for the Post-Pandemic Work World
- Unlocking Women’s Collective Power for Transformational Change
Community Development & Social Change
- From Local to Global: Leadership Lessons for Community Development
- Innovation at the Intersection: Business, Nonprofits, and Public Leadership
- The Global Nonprofit Sector’s Role in Shaping Social Change
Faith-Based & Values-Driven Leadership
- Equipping Purpose-Driven Ministries for Global Impact
- Henrietta Mears: The Legacy, Life, and Leadership of a Woman Who Shaped Mid-20th-Century Evangelical Thought and Practice
- Leading with Faith, Integrity, and Purpose in Complex Times
- The Role of Faith-Based Leadership in Community Transformation
Leadership Transformation & Systems Change
- Convening Leadership: Harnessing Collective Power for Strategic Impact
- Leading with Courage in Uncharted TerritoryTransforming Flawed Systems: Building Collaborative Synergy for Lasting Change
Motivational & Growth Leadership
- Be Excellent: Building a Life and Leadership of Impact
- Lessons to Grow On: Turning Setbacks into Setups for Success
- The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Courage, Creativity, and Grit
- You Can Do It: Unlocking Your Inner Go-Getter
Resilience, Burnout & Well-Being
- Burnout in Public Leadership: From Breakdown to Breakthrough
- Functionally, Dysfunctional—Hey, Let’s Work on That!
- The Resilient Leader: Lessons from the Wilderness for Today’s Challenges
Whether sharing Survival Tips for Women in Leadership or unpacking Leading With Courage Through Uncharted Territory, Patricia brings energy, insight, and authenticity to every stage.
Her sessions are grounded in lived experience and elevated by scholarship, leaving audiences inspired, equipped, and ready to act through customized, real-world, transformative presentations.
YouTube Videos
Reimagining Leadership on the Commons: Reimagining Leadership on the Commons: Shifting the Paradigm for a More Ethical, Equitable, and Just World
Convening Leadership: Elevating Strategic Collaboration Through Diversity ASP 2022 Global Conference: Strategy in a ‘Right Now’ World
Collaborative Community Strategic Planning: Fostering Diverse Collaboration Through Convening Leadership Presentation: Twenty-Second International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations
Lets Do it Together
If you’re looking for a speaker who understands your audience, aligns with your mission, and delivers with insight and energy—Patricia Clary delivers.
Click here to explore how Pat can support your next event.