Don't just wow the crowd.
Change them.
Want to book Tamsen for your event?
I change how people see. You can, too.
You’ve got a lot riding on your keynote speaker. They — their message, their style, their presence — all need to “fit” with you, your company, and the flow and feeling of your event.
I’ve been speaking professionally for close to 20 years. I’ve also been an event organizer, guiding the content and speakers for the high-stakes stage of the oldest independently organized TED talk event in the world. So I know how to tailor a message to achieve a business goal, because I’ve done it... over 3,000 times.
Whether in breakouts or ballrooms, over 3 minutes or 3 days, I know how to change how people see so they change what they do… and have fun while we’re at it.

Virtual Speaking Opportunities
While I can't wait to see you all in person again — I know that the hybrid world of speaking is here to stay.
Having a speaker who understands the unique challenges that come with virtual presentations — and can adapt to those challenges — is more important than ever. Visit my virtual speaking page here to find out how I can contribute to your virtual event.
TOPICS
Getting the Green Light: How to build messages people say YES to
No matter your role, you're often in the business of changing behavior. Often that means you need to change beliefs first. Or do you? What if some of the age-old wisdom around driving action actually works against creating real change?
By the end of this keynote, you'll be able to:
- Analyze your messages for the "red lights" that lead to "NO"
- Identify the three key concepts every message needs to get a “YES" (and know how to find them in your own)
- Tie those concepts to the "green lights" your brand is built on (and connect your audiences more tightly to them, too)
The Conversational Case: How to script the stories that sell ideas
As a result of this keynote you’ll be able to:
- Identify the most important elements of your core story and how they set you apart
- Turn those elements into a simple framework for a conversation that makes the case for your ideas, products, and services
- Adapt that framework to multiple audiences and applications
The Red Thread®: How to find and tell the story of your ideas
At the heart of business lies one seemingly elusive goal: how can we tell a story people actually want to hear? Thankfully, there’s a surprisingly simple answer, and it lies in how we come up with our ideas in the first place.
After this keynote you’ll be able to:
- Tailor your story to the audience and impact you want
- Identify the five building blocks of the “minimum viable message” (and how to find them in your own)
- Organize those building blocks so you can tell your story in any format, and at any length
VIDEOS
Getting the Green Light
The best content gets audiences to say "YES" to something, like a change in thinking or a new behavior. Too often, though, we get a whole lot of "NO." Why? Because we try to get a "YES" to the hardest things for people to say "yes" to. In this clip from Content Marketing World 2019, Tamsen Webster, Founder & Chief Idea Whisperer at Find the Red Thread explains how to make it easy for your audience to say YES to your content… and just as easy for you to build it.
The full keynote can be viewed on Content Marketing World's gated site here.
How to Make Your Ideas Irresistible
At the heart of marketing lies one seemingly elusive goal: how can we actually get people to love our stuff as much as we do? Thankfully, there’s a surprisingly simple answer, and it lies in how we come up with our products and services in the first place.
How to Build Your Audience's Case for Your Ideas
How to Bridge a Mental Gap
Tamsen Webster uses an ancient Greek myth (and modern science) to explain how to bridge the real-life mental gaps that keep us from achieving our goals. The answer lies in finding our "Red Threads," the combination of goals, problems, and beliefs that define who we are — and make inaction impossible.
PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

If I’m using slides (and I don’t always — we can decide on our planning call), I will use my own laptop to present. Right now, that’s a 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro with an HDMI port. I will also supply my own presentation remote and VGA dongle.
I will bring:
A MacBook Pro with VGA and HDMI connections.
A Logitech R800 wireless presentation remote
A desktop presentation using Keynote (if applicable) formatted for 16:9 aspect ratio
I need you to provide:
A wireless lavalier or headset microphone
AC power for her laptop
A small table or podium onstage to hold my laptop
A projector with VGA or HDMI input
A speaker system with a mini plug for audio output from the laptop
Contact for Speaking
The Red Thread® Newsletter
Stories, examples, images, and data you can use to help bring your ideas and messages to life.
The best ideas aren’t found — they’re built. Get a weekly dose of strategies, studies, and stories — direct to your inbox from me — to help you make your ideas strong enough to build change on.