Step into Visibility and Leadership

The Claim the Stage Keynote

An inspiring keynote that helps leaders step out of the wings, share their ideas with confidence, and lead with greater visibility and impact.

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Inside the Claim the Stage Keynote

Step Into the Spotlight and Maximize Your Leadership Impact

Too often talented women stay stuck in the wings—unnoticed, unexpressed, and unfulfilled. They decline offers to speak at key events, stay silent in critical conversations, and avoid applying for positions of greater leadership and influence. As a result, they diminish their impact and the world loses out on their unique talents and perspectives.

In this interactive, entertaining presentation, Eleni Kelakos reveals the seven-step process that propelled her shift from waiting in the wings as a frustrated actress to taking center stage as a touring singer-songwriter, presentation skills expert, author, and motivational speaker. She’ll inspire leaders and emerging leaders alike to drop their coat of invisibility and boldly take the stage in their life and work, so they can share their valuable wisdom and big ideas with the people and audiences who need to hear them.

CLAIM THE STAGE is always customized to reflect your organization’s needs and focus.

This keynote for women in leadership is a great way to open or close a professional conference.

Download a one-page overview of this keynote →

See the book that inspired this keynote →

Want to go deeper than the keynote?

This keynote is also available as a deeper coaching experience for women leaders ready to expand their impact. Learn more about Claim the Stage coaching →

This Program is Perfect For:

Senior-level women leaders who want to maximize their potential

Middle managers and emerging leaders who aspire to positions of higher leadership and influence

Authors, consultants/coaches and thought leaders who want to increase their visibility and impact

Women’s Organizations/Associations and Women’s Advocacy Groups within corporations who want to encourage their membership to LEAP in—not just lean in—to leadership

Your Audience Will:

Learn the Claim the Stage Success Cycle, a repeatable 7-step process to maximize confidence, impact and visibility on public platforms and in the greater world

Consider and examine the limiting beliefs that keep them from realizing their potential

Pinpoint the next stage of their leadership development and what they need to do to step up and shine

Re-kindle the passionate purpose that drives and defines them as a leader and person

Increase their commitment and ability to fulfill their highest potential as leaders and human beings

Trusted by leading organizations

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"More Eleni!"

“As the Keynote Speaker for our leadership conference, Eleni was engaging and energetic. She conveyed leadership concepts seamlessly, offering concrete skills to enhance presentation and presence. Her insight, experience, and knowledge were an inspiration to our attendees and key to the success of our conference. When surveyed about what future leadership offering they’d like to see, one audience member wrote ‘More Eleni!’”

Michelle Donnelly
University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center

Best Keynote in Years

“Eleni was perfect speaker to kick off our conference. People were commenting throughout the conference on what a great presentation it was.

We heard remarks like "Best keynote in years! Fun, lively, uplifting, a riot...bring her back next year!'"

Lisa Ashley
President and CEO, Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care

Resources for Meeting Professionals

Visit the Meeting Professional Resources page to access my bio, photos, and other materials to support your event planning.

Meeting Professional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your process for booking a keynote?

Once you contact me through my website inquiry form or a referral from a past client, we’ll schedule an introductory conversation by Zoom or phone. During that call, I’ll learn about your audience, event goals, and desired outcomes, then recommend the keynote programs that may be the best fit and share a general fee range.

If we determine that I’m available and the engagement is a good fit, I’ll prepare a working proposal based on our conversation. The proposal includes a program description, expected outcomes, investment details such as the speaker fee, travel, lodging, bulk book purchases, and any A/V needs.

Once you approve the proposal, I’ll send a brief contract for your signature. I’ll also provide a headshot, bio, and short teaser video you can use to promote the keynote on social media or your event website. Within ten days of the event, I like to schedule a brief logistics check-in to help ensure everything runs smoothly. NOTE: If you are a meeting professional interested in booking me, please visit the For Meeting Professionals page for more specific details.

How engaging are your keynotes?

I pride myself on providing highly energized and engaging keynotes, with audience interaction whenever possible. I am known for telling compelling stories to illustrate my points, which move people to tears, laughter, and greater understanding. I often fire up and unify the audience with a shared activity and have been known to step off the stage with a handheld mic to “play Oprah” with my audience.

Do you do hybrid or virtual keynotes?

Do you customize your keynote programs for the audience and event theme?

Yes. I tailor my existing keynotes to make them as relevant and relatable as possible for each audience as well as the theme of your event. In the weeks and months leading up to the event, I confer with or other selected team members with questions that help me understand your audience’s unique challenges and the outcomes you want the keynote to support. I see myself as a partner to you, the event host, and the meeting professionals booking the event, and I customize each presentation to maximize relevance and retention.

What resources do you provide for audience members?

Depending on the keynote, I provide simple, supportive worksheets and fun, branded swag. Attendees can access one of my three keynote-related books by purchasing it at a nearby product table after the keynote or receiving it as a value-added gift from you, the host. If you choose the gift option, we can negotiate a bulk rate for your event. I also typically provide a post-event download, such as a workbook or video, to reinforce the keynote’s key themes.

Are you willing to travel out of state or internationally?

What’s your fee? Does that include travel and lodging?

How much music is included in your Touch the Sky musical motivational keynote? Do your other keynotes include music?

Drawing on my background as a professional performer and recording singer-songwriter, my signature Touch the Sky keynote begins and ends with original songs that I perform on guitar. Music is a small but meaningful part of the experience, designed to deepen the emotional impact. I do not usually include songs in my other keynotes, except for a brief musical moment that’s part of a story in Perform at Your Peak or, when appropriate and time allows, to underscore a pivotal point in my Claim the Stage keynote for women in leadership.

Would you be willing to do a keynote and breakout session combo?

What kind of venue or room requirements are needed for your training or workshop?

Ready to set the tone for your event?

Let’s talk about your conference, retreat, or leadership gathering and how we can create an inspiring keynote your audience will remember.

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