Keynote & Interactive Session – Bendigo Bank Managers Conference
In August 2025, Renee presented a keynote and workshop session to more than 300 leaders at the Bendigo Bank Managers Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Focused on the theme Coaching for Growth.
Renee concluded by highlighting how time saved through AI can be reinvested into deeper, more meaningful coaching and leadership, ultimately elevating both performance and workplace culture.
Ramp Up EQ in a World of AI
As AI continues to automate routine tasks and streamline workflows, the real competitive edge lies in what it can’t replicate—emotional intelligence (EQ). In this impactful keynote, Renée Giarrusso asks:
“What are you doing with the time AI gives back—to connect, lead, and influence?”
This session explores the increasing need for human-centered leadership in a world shaped by technology. While AI boosts efficiency, it can also create disconnection, reduce empathy, and dampen collaboration if not balanced by strong emotional skills.
Renée unpacks the key EQ competencies and shares how to embed them into leadership and team culture. Audiences walk away with practical tools to reconnect, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater presence and impact.
Key takeaways:
- Understand the growing importance of emotional intelligence as AI takes on more functional tasks
- Recognise how AI can unintentionally lead to emotional disconnection within teams and organisations
- Learn the top EQ skills of high-performing leaders—empathy, optimism, self-awareness, and relationship management
- Discover why 90% of top performers have high EQ and how it contributes to 63% of overall workplace performanc
- Gain practical tools to apply EQ in everyday interactions, conflict resolution, decision-making, and feedback
- Build deeper trust, rapport, and collaboration across hybrid and in-person teams
- Humanise leadership and create stronger, more connected cultures in the digital era
This keynote is ideal for future-focused organisations wanting to build emotionally intelligent leaders who can drive performance, engagement, and meaningful connection—alongside technology.
Working Through Adversity
A Personal Journey of Strenth, Mindset & Meaningful Lessons
In 2024, Renée Giarrusso was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, discovered by trusting her intuition. What followed was a 12-month journey of over 60 rigorous treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Despite the toll, Renée continued to lead her business and deliver meaningful work to clients and audiences.
This raw, inspiring keynote takes you inside her experience and the powerful mindset tools that helped her not just endure but evolve.
Renée shares how adopting a Gift Mindset, amplifying optimism, and staying deeply grounded in gratitude became the foundation of her resilience. She reveals how one key mental shift, changing “this is happening to me” into “this is happening for me”—transformed her approach to life, leadership, and purpose.
Renée also explores how adversity can serve as a wake-up call, an invitation to reflect, reset, and rise. Her story and strategies resonate with anyone navigating professional change, personal hardship, or unexpected disruption.
Key takeaways:
- How intuition, mindset, and gratitude became the pillars of personal and professional resilience
- The emotional shifts and disciplines that helped her stay grounded and focused through treatment and recovery
- The power of reframing adversity as a gift, with the mantra “this is happening for me”
- Insights on how to maintain performance, purpose, and presence in the face of challenge
- The role of support networks and connection during uncertain and confronting times
- Tools to face your own adversity with clarity, compassion, and strength
- How lessons from adversity can elevate leadership, wellbeing, and self-awareness
This keynote will leave your audience feeling deeply moved, uplifted, and equipped with practical tools to turn even the toughest challenges into powerful catalysts for growth.
2023 L&D Leadership Summit Feedback
Possibly my favourite presentation of the bunch – well delivered, very engaging and informative content ~ HR Manager
Renee has a great energy. I liked that the presentation was more interactive than others. Left feeling very inspired. Thanks Renee. Top speaker for the event. ~ Head of People & Culture
I loved how real Renee was this was the type of presenter I was looking for during the whole L&D conference. I wanted to walk away with models and stories of how and why and I got that and more. She gave so much more than just a sales pitch – thank you! ~ Learning & Development Manager
Absolutely brilliant. So generous with her shares. High energy and practical. Thanks so much. ~ Learning & Development Manager
Australian Foodservice Advocacy Board (AFAB)
Brand You session run by Renée Giarrusso
The things we learnt today to better ourselves within our jobs it was unbelievable. ~ Client Manager
Amazing event; learned so much about what we can do to be the best version of ourselves; it was very motivational ~ Director
It was wonderful to hear Renée’s presentation. It was a really valuable experience; I really enjoyed it and recommend Reneé’s presentation to anyone who is interested in self development. ~ Marketing Consulter and Copywriter
WCC Global Summit
Boosting Communication Keynote Session – by Renée Giarrusso
I'm delighted to recommend Renee who brilliantly led a Communications Workshop at our WorldCC APAC Summit in Melbourne in August 2023. She practices what she preaches, masterfully communicating with her audience, presenting relevant and engaging content in a really interactive way.Renee shared invaluable insights, she created an environment of trust in her knowledge and expertise and lots of fun in the interactive game that she shared with the participants. Our post-conference feedback overwhelmingly praised her session, with many eager to implement the strategies learned and hear from Renee again.
We look forward to our continued collaborations with Renee and to continuing to share her expertise with our global membership.
Audiences describe Renée as incredibly engaging, thought-provoking and contagiously energetic. She uniquely crafts her message to make it relevant, relatable and actionable. She captivates you the moment she steps onto a stage where she passionately gives her all to be in service to the audience.
Renée is highly sought after as a leading communication, leadership and mindset expert. She helps leaders, teams and organisations realise and achieve what possible to be Limitless. By energising mindset and accelerating leadership, communication and collaboration, this lifts culture and performance across organisations.
In 2006, Renée founded RG Dynamics and had worked with hundreds of organisations in over 24 industries at all levels. Her clients' diversity and the work she has done have resulted in her profound ability to share stories and experiences that are not only relatable but thought-provoking and real. With over 25 years leadership, marketing and sales experience in FMCG, retail and not for profit, Renée’s gift and point of difference is that whatever she educates her clients in, she lives and practices in her business and life.
As an author (Gift Mindset, Limitless leadership & Leaders of Influence), a media contributor, blogger and podcaster, your audience will find Renée easy to connect with and will leave with actionable insights and an experience to be remembered.
Keynotes and conference workshops to inform and inspire
Renée tailors her keynote presentations and conference/off-site workshops to your audience and needs. She covers a broad range of topics with a few signature presentations outlined below.
