Veronica Llorca-Smith 🍋

Want to find a speaker for your next leadership event?

I design customized keynotes and workshops to motivate and build high-performing teams and help develop new leadership skills.

Blending my 20-year corporate experience (Apple, Estée Lauder), my personal experience living in 9 countries and my journey as an amateur triathlete, I create engaging sessions that bring both inspiration and actionable frameworks. 

Topics:

Inclusive leadership
Unconscious Bias
Cultural Agility
Inclusive Language
Allyship

Growth Mindset: 
An Athlete's Mindset
Becoming Your Best Ambassador

Previous clients: UBS, AIA, ManpowerGroup, BioRad, Native Union, UK Cabinet, Michael Page, DASH...

Motivational Speaker & Author: DEI & growth mindset

🎙Public Speaking: I create customized presentations and workshops for organizations and events. My content leverages my 15-year corporate experience (Apple, Estée Lauder) as well as my personal experience as a triathlete and an author. 

🎓 Topics:

- Cultural agility as a competitive advantage in the workplace

- Inclusive leadership: mindset, behavior and processes

- Inclusive language as a catalyst for inclusion 

- An athlete's mindset: mental frameworks to get results 
  
- Thriving as a woman in the workplace

- Maximizing your influence with a personal brand

Languages available: English, Spanish, French, Italian & Portuguese

Veronica Llorca-Smith 💎

At 40, I was unemployed.

At 41, I started writing.

At 42, I published my first book.

At 43, I got a publisher deal with Penguin for book #4 and became a Substack Bestseller.

At 44, I spoke for the EU, and traveled overseas (India, Australia, Singapore) as a keynote speaker and author.

This is 45. 

Next month I have a packed agenda with speaking engagements for International Women’s Day.

And I’m doing an Ironman 70.3 in China.

I’m just getting to started. 

And I’m taking my community with me.

Buckle up.

13,000 writers, authors and solopreneurs are already on board turning their creativity into their lifestyle.

Let’s take off.

The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋

https://lnkd.in/gpkMixx6

Veronica Llorca-Smith🎤

Your speaker for International Women’s Day | Inclusive Leadership, DEI, Communication & Cultural Agility (ex Apple, Estée Lauder) | 6 languages Penguin Author | Ironman Triathlete | CEM (Chief Executive Mom)

Woman at a plane smiling. Blue top and sunnies.

There are 4 generations in this picture.

But it'll take more than that to bridge the gender gap:

123 years.

As a mom of two young daughters, I get goosebumps because they won't get to see a world with full equity. 

123 years to reach full equity across pay, leadership representaiton, political empowerment and education according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025.

What does this mean?

Women's workforce participation globally is 44% (men is 74%)

Women earn 83 cents for every dollar men earn (globally)

Women hold 28% of senior leadership roles worldwide and 35.5% of local government position. 

The top countries leading gender equity:

🇮🇸 Iceland 
🇫🇮 Finland 
🇳🇴 Norway
🇬🇧 United Kingdom 
🇳🇿 New Zealand

Not a single one has reached it. 

This month I'm delivering several workshops, keynotes and webinars on International Women's Day.

The topic is "Give To Gain: Empowering Women for a Win-Win Culture."
 
Because yes, we ALL win with a more equitable society (not talking just gender here). 

And I get it:

Celebrating women one day isn't going to change this picture BUT...

it’s an OPPORTUNITY to challenge the status quo:

🎓 AWARENESS: learning about the issue
🏆 CELEBRATION: of change-makers & trailblazers
🫶🏻 ALLYSHIP: bringing men on board
💪🏼 ADVOCACY: amplifying women's voices
🔥 ACTION: taking measures to drive change

We need International Women's Day so that one day,
the new women on these stairs no longer need it.

PS: I publish this picture every single year since 2018. Grandma is 92 and still ticking along strong ❤️

PSS: sources in comments ↓

Photo of 9 women, ranging from a grandma to mums and babies. all wearing white on stairs. 

Every single day, leadership gets lost in translation. 

I just spoke at the Mumbai HRD Congress (the largest event I’ve ever spoken at). 

The topic was "The Future of Work" and my keynote was about Cultural Agility for future-proof leadership. 

The workplace has never been more multicultural. Think about it:

Leading Teams across 4 continents 
5 generations working side by side 
Managing 10 time zones without burning out
Creating an efficient communication system (hint: Asia always gets the bad end of the stick)
Different languages, cultures, traditions.

Yet no one prepares employees for that level of diversity. It's just expected with the promotion, the international assignment and the job title. 

Most companies expect their employees to manage international teams, work overseas and be fluent across cultures yet they provide zero training and development tools. 

But expectation without guidance is not a strategy: it's a gap. 

And that gap leads to miscommunication, stereotypes, cultural missteps and micro-aggressions that hinder innovation, inclusion and ultimately performance. 

Because cultural diversity is hard before it becomes easy.

If you'd like to equip your teams with training, tools and a framework to develop cultural agility, let's talk.

Woman speaking at an event with a white jacket and a mic 

This is why I have Chief Executive Mum on my LinkedIn profile:

When I became a mum and went back to work, I had to pretend nothing had changed, even though my body (and life) had experienced the biggest transformation ever. I had just made a human being!! 

Because while I had changed, the system hadn't and that creates a lot of guilt and pressure for both moms and dads.

Guilt for asking for a day off to look after a sick child.
Guilt for saying no to after-work drinks because we want to tuck the little one in bed.
Guilt for going for a promotion or saying yes to a business trip because that makes you a "selfish mom."

It's time we normalize parenting in the workplace so that we can make it more inclusive and make room for people to bring their full selves to work (not just the convenient part) and thrive. 

When we design for parents, we design for humanity. 

***

PS: I deliver keynotes and corporate training on inclusive leadership and cultural agility for global organizations. If you are looking for a speaker for your next event or training, let' talk..

Signed, CEM Veronica.

Woman on a beach with a girl running towards her.

8 Things I NEVER do before speaking in public (and maybe you shouldn’t either)

1. Last-minute changes: You never wear new shoes on race day 

2. Have a huge meal: I love croissants but make sure you have time to digest 

3. Have cold drinks: Warm water helps you moisten your vocal cords and smooth your throat 

4. Spend time on screens: go outside, get some fresh air, exercise, be present 

5. Fight with the clicker: that thing has a life of its own. Let it be.

6. Obsessing over every detail: focus on what you can control 

7. Chitchatting: Find some me-time to focus, do a visualization exercise and some positive self-talk (Let's rock it!) 

8. Copy other speakers: It might be tempting to adopt the previous speakers’ style but stick to your personality. 

Master being yourself because no one can beat you at that. 

What tips help you when you speak in meetings or in public?

-----------

 Hi, I'm Veronica and I deliver keynotes and masterclasses for global organizations on inclusive leadership, communication and cultural agility. My sessions have the energy of a triathlete, the experience of a former F500 leader (Apple and Estée Lauder) and the care of a CEM (Chief Executive Mom). 

If you are still looking for a speaker for IWD or your next event, visit my website to see my portfolio and let's talk.

https://lnkd.in/gjJBiFq7

Woman on stage with a white jacket and black pants

This is what publishing with a “Big Five” did for my book:


Honestly, not much (although I’m very grateful).

This is what moved the needle instead:

Showing up.

Earning reviews.

Speaking in events.

Speaking on podcasts.

Pitching to literary festivals. 

Creating a book launch club.

Promoting it on social media. 

Turning your book into a keynote. 

Partnering with your local bookstores.

Building your book squad team (this is mine ❤️)

Remember this: It’s your book.

It doesn’t matter how you publish it. It’s up to you to make it a success and find your readers.

From author to author, you’ve got it.

📍The Anti-Procrastinator

PS: If you want to join a community of 13,000 writers, creators and solopreneurs to grow, collaborate and turn your hobby into your lifestyle, check out The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋

https://lnkd.in/guuE6ggr

If you think 1:1 coaching is not scalable:


You are 99% correct.

Because scaling is not always about volume and profit.

Sometimes it’s about supporting someone’s vision and being a (tiny) part of something bigger.

My new coaching client Jonathan Tonkin built a community to advocate for the planet. 

And he’s turning that community into a movement.

16,000 subscribers and counting (I’m one of them!).

In our strategy session, we talked about how to reach many more and get members involved through the power of:

Writing
Public speaking and
Human connection 

Scaling can take different shapes. It can be less about money and more about impact and purpose. 

Check out his newsletter Predirections, where you become part of the solution 🌎 

PS: If you want to scale the right way, let's talk. 

10,800+ solopreneurs have already joined my community The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋 to turn their creativity into their lifestyle.
 
Join for FREE today 👇🏽

Zoom session of a man and a woman. Both smiling. 

Everybody knows Netflix but not everybody knows its origin story…

It actually started as a DVD-by-mail service back in 1998, delivering movies in red envelopes before it started streaming and disrupting an entire industry. 

They were brave, bold and took risks. 

The rest is history.

What are you doing to stay ahead?

PS: This post is not about movies.

I identified 6 types of procrastinators while researching for my book…here is one:

Some people would rather die than go LIVE. I used to be one of them.

I was TERRIFIED of what people would think, so I procrastinated on taking the step. 

But now I go live every week in English and Spanish, sometimes in front of 100+ strangers.

And guess what...I have FUN while growing my business. 

It's helping me gain new clients. 

Nurture my community.

Scale my message faster. 

But more importantly, it's building my confidence and helping me grow as a speaker and a person. 

Because when something feels scary or daunting, it's often a sign to leave what feels comfortable and safe and stretch yourself. 

And look, you don't "win", or "lose." You just grow.

So if you are procrastinating on taking that step, I've got you. 

In this video, I share 6 types of procrastinators. Watch the full recording ↓

Which type are you? 

🎯 The Anti-Procrastinator
🐧 Penguin Random House 
📍 Available on Amazon

The Redneck Connecktor | Helping Business Owners Land Premium Clients Without Cold DMs or Pitchy Networking | Building Trust-First Businesses in a Low-Trust World | Founder of the Hounds of Business Community

Most business owners don’t fail because they’re lazy or clueless.
They fail because, in a low-trust world, they’ve been 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅.

Played by networking groups where everyone’s just waiting their turn to pitch.

Played by coaches who promise clients but never had to make payroll.

Played by “systems” that feel sleazy and suck the joy out of business.

That was me once too, all heart, no clue. Until I discovered a better way:

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝. 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭.

Because when trust becomes your strategy, clients stop hesitating, partnerships start compounding, and business finally feels right again.

Now we help entrepreneurs, coaches, and business owners:

🐺 𝐂𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞 on LinkedIn & YouTube without playing algorithm games.
🐺 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 without cold DMs, funnels, or fake engagement tactics.
🐺 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 & 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 that replace solo ad spend for good.

We do it through three layers:

 1️⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠- my 4 C’s framework (Clarity, Connections, Community, Conversion).
 2️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲- a vetted pack of professionals who actually care about each other’s success.
 3️⃣ 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 & 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦- visibility, partnerships, and introductions most people never get access to.

The Results

🐾 1.5M+ views in 90 days
 🐾 Members going from ignored to inbound, stalled to booked, and “coffee chats” to clients
 🐾 Partnerships with Level Up Academy, Kindness Worldwide, The Connector Community, Global Tea Break Network, and more

I’m not here to sell magic buttons.
I’m here to show you the game, the rules, and how to pick the 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

If you’re serious about growing your network & net worth without chasing, pitching, or selling your soul, we should talk.

👉 Grab the free 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: https://crm.houndsofbusiness.com/master-attractor
👉 Or pull up a chair at our next 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtduGurToqHdMRgxOel3B0ItmZOiU7dxkz

Because business grows at the speed of trust.
𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬.

Mike Ashabraner

Most entrepreneurs think they have an expertise problem, but in reality it is actually a visibility and authority issue.

They’re smart.
They’re qualified.
They’re creating content.

But it feels scattered.
Inconsistent.
Disconnected from real demand.

In this HOB Live conversation the one and only, Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge breaks down how to re-engineer your content, messaging, and actions so they stop feeling reactive and start working like an engine.
Not noise, trends, but a true engine that fits you and eventually works even when you are not.

This is not about posting more folks and it’s certainly not about performing on social media, or chasing algorithms.
It’s about clarity, positioning, systems, and knowing exactly:
What you want to be known for


Why it matters
How to show up consistently

And how to make your name synonymous with credibility

Dr. Roseann teaches that content shouldn’t feel like something you “keep up with.”

It should build authority.
Compound over time.
Create demand.
Move your business forward.

In this conversation, we’ll unpack:
-Why so many experts create content that goes nowhere

-The biggest mistakes people make when trying to build authority

-The difference between being visible and being recognized

-How to stop blending in without becoming performative

-What a real thought leadership engine looks like in practice

-The first step to move from expert to recognized leader

-Just how Dr. Roseann got to 2 million podcast downloads and created raving fans while building thought leadership

-How to use a book as the flywheel for your business 

If you’ve ever felt invisible despite doing “all the right things,” this is where you recalibrate.
Because influence on purpose isn’t louder. Rather, it's clearer, more intentional, and most importantly, designed to last.

The Redneck Connecktor | Helping leaders build trust first businesses that attract premium clients without cold outreach or performative networking | Founder of the HOB, a safe community for entrepreneurs

Jennifer Thompson, ~April Wyett~ and 3 other connections attending

Influence on Purpose: Building a Thought Leadership Engine

taplio

The Battle

Veronica Llorca-Smith 💎

Mike Ashabraner

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreVeronica Llorca-Smith 💎's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMike Ashabraner's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Veronica Llorca-Smith 💎

Mike Ashabraner

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Veronica Llorca-Smith 💎's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMike Ashabraner's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreVeronica Llorca-Smith 💎's LinkedIn Performance