Let’s Talk… 79% Disengaged: The Leadership Wake-Up Call
Engagement isn’t just an HR issue—it’s your competitive advantage Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report reveals a stark reality: 79% of employees globally are disengaged.
Connection-Driven Leadership
Keynote Speaker
Where connection drives culture and performance
Kirryn Zerna CSP | LinkedIn Top Voice | Trusted by global brands
PHONE: 1300 751 883
Kirryn Zerna
Rethink Connection
Communication & Connection Keynote Speaker
High-Energy Keynotes
That Spark Connection — and Drive Performance
In a disconnected world, connection is a leadership advantage.
Kirryn Zerna’s high-energy keynotes show leaders and teams how to build trust, align people, and create cultures that perform — from inside teams to customer-facing moments.
Built on The Connect Effect — Trust → Tribe → Thrive — her keynotes give audiences a practical framework for turning connection into momentum.
Ready to plan your next event?
Keynote Topics
Designed for leadership, team, and customer-focused events
Why book
Kirryn Zerna
Kirryn Zerna brings more than 20 years of experience across corporate communications, leadership, and the professional speaking stage — combining commercial depth with human insight.
She has advised CEOs, led teams through change, and delivered keynotes across leadership, sales, and customer-focused organisations.
What sets her apart isn’t just energy in the room — it’s perspective.
She understands the pressure behind the brief and translates it into clarity leaders and teams can act on.
Clients include Westpac, Wella, Carsales, Thermomix, John Holland, REIWA and more.
Trusted by Leaders Across Industries
Thank you for delivering such an impactful and engaging session. We’ve had wonderful feedback from our salons, with many already talking about how they’ll action your insights back in their businesses. I also appreciated the time and care you put into customising the presentation — it felt practical, relevant and tailored to our group. You were a joy to work with and a trusted speaker for our event.
APAC Marketing Director | Wella Company
Kirryn was the opening speaker at our Calvary Leadership Connect Conference and delivered not just a keynote, but an experience. She created genuine connection with our leaders and their teams — bringing insight, energy and inspiration. Her message set the tone for the entire event and echoed throughout the conversations that followed.
Director | Calvary Healthcare
Thank you Kirryn — it’s been amazing working with you on our Springboard Sales Kickoff for 2026. What a great session to open the event, getting everyone inspired, connected and energised through Trust, Tribe, Thrive. It really helped set the tone as two organisations recently merged together. ❤️
Senior B2B SaaS Marketing Leader, Crayon SoftwareOne
Her energy lit up the room, her stories made us lean in, and her message on connection landed with real clarity. Delegates walked away inspired and equipped, with practical takeaways tailored to the realities of real estate — ready to bring back to their teams.
Event Manager | Real Estate Institute of WA
About
The Connect Effect
Trust → Tribe → Thrive
A practical framework for turning connection into performance — helping leaders and teams build trust, strengthen alignment, and create cultures that deliver results for both people and customers.
Trust
Build credibility and psychological safety — strengthening leadership, team confidence, and the foundations of customer trust.
Tribe
Create alignment, belonging, and shared momentum so teams collaborate effectively and deliver consistent customer experiences.
Thrive
Turn connection into performance — enabling teams to adapt, respond to change, and deliver results across leadership, culture, and customer outcomes.
Built into every keynote, The Connect Effect gives leaders and teams a clear, practical way to create connection that lasts beyond the room — and translates into real performance.
For organisations looking to go further, Kirryn also delivers workshops and ongoing programs that embed The Connect Effect into leadership, teams, and customer experience — turning insight into sustained performance.
What’s trending
Read Kirryn's Recent Posts
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Let’s Talk: The Leadership Mask—When to Wear It, When to Take It Off
Are you wearing a mask at work?
We all do it—whether it’s maintaining professionalism, avoiding conflict, […]
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Let’s Talk … The Connect Effect Concept
Welcome to this special edition of The Connect Effect Conversations! Today, I’d love to take […]
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Let’s Talk… Is Working-From-Home Over for Good?
Welcome to “The Connect Effect Conversations,” where we explore innovative ways to relearn the art […]
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Let’s Talk About… Yapping
Welcome to “The Connect Effect Conversations,” where we explore innovative ways to relearn the art […]
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Let’s Talk … Has Technology Replaced Human Connection?
Welcome to “The Connect Effect Conversations,” where we explore innovative ways to relearn the art […]
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Introducing The Connect Effect
Relearn the art of deeper connection in a digital world
Do you want to unlock the […]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Connection-Driven Leadership keynote speaker?
A Connection-Driven Leadership keynote speaker focuses on helping leaders and teams build trust, strengthen connection, and create high-performing cultures. Kirryn Zerna is known for this approach and delivers keynotes that turn connection into measurable performance.
What types of events is Kirryn Zerna booked for?
Kirryn Zerna is booked for leadership conferences, sales kickoffs, team offsites, customer experience events, and organisational transformation programs.
What outcomes does Kirryn Zerna’s keynote deliver?
Kirryn’s keynotes help organisations build trust, strengthen team connection, improve communication, and create high-performing cultures that drive customer and business results.
What makes Kirryn Zerna different from other keynote speakers?
Kirryn combines 20+ years of corporate experience with a clear framework — The Connect Effect (Trust → Tribe → Thrive) — delivering practical, actionable insights that extend beyond the keynote.
Can Kirryn Zerna customise her keynote?
Yes. Each keynote is tailored to the audience, industry, and event objectives, ensuring relevance and practical impact for leaders and teams.
Does Kirryn Zerna speak internationally?
Yes. Kirryn delivers keynote presentations both across Australia and internationally for leadership, sales, and customer-focused events.
Does Kirryn Zerna offer workshops or programs?
Yes. In addition to keynote presentations, Kirryn offers workshops and ongoing programs based on The Connect Effect to help organisations embed connection into leadership, teams, and customer experience.