“I am forever
changed.”
—CEO Member, Vistage
booking@mollykawahata.com
THE TRANSFORMATIVE
P O W E R O F H O P E
Leading a new narrative
We’re not just facing a mental health crisis—we’re facing a crisis of hope. In a world where burnout is high and belief in the future is low, Molly brings something rare: a science-backed, radically practical framework for turning overwhelm into momentum. Grounded in decades of research in the Science of Hope, her keynotes teach Hope as a learnable cognitive skill—proven to outperform raw talent, optimism, and intelligence. Known for translating research into real-world strategies, Molly works with everyone from Fortune 500 companies to schools, advocates to executives. Her sessions are known for improving mental health, energizing teams, & sparking cultural shifts that continue long after she’s left the room.
Over 70% of leaders said they believed Molly’s presentation would lead to improvements in the mental health of their employees.
(Based on post-event surveys from over 75 leaders who brought Molly in to speak)
The Go-To Speaker for Industry Leaders
Insights from 75+ leaders who brought Molly in to speak:
100% said they would recommend Molly to event organizers
97% said she increased the value of their event for attendees
Every single one said Molly’s presentation will leave a lasting impact on their organization
Keynotes & Workshops
Rooted in the Science of Hope
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Unlocking the Transformative Power of Hope
This is the keynote that changes how people think about possibility, performance, and leadership. Drawing from the science of Hope, this session introduces a practical, research-backed framework for navigating complexity, building resilience, and leading with vision—even in high-pressure environments.
Blending real-world stories with cutting-edge insights, we cover the core pillars of Collective Hope, Hope-Based Leadership, and Hope-Based Communication. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how Hope works—not just as a feeling, but as a powerful cognitive skill that drives clarity, motivation, and momentum.
Whether you're leading a team, driving culture, or simply trying to move forward with purpose, this session offers the mindset and tools to turn challenge into opportunity—and help others do the same.
Ideal for: Corporate teams, leadership summits, all-hands meetings, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, wellness programs, public audiences, retreats, and any group looking to deepen resilience, strengthen connection, and build a more hopeful, future-focused culture.
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The Science Behind Visionary, Transformational Leadership
The most powerful leaders don’t just manage teams—they create collective hope within groups. This session unpacks the science of Hope as a cognitive framework that fuels visionary thinking, resilience in uncertainty, and the kind of leadership people actually want to follow.
Whether you're driving innovation, building movements, scaling an organization, or shaping culture, Hope-Based Leadership gives you the tools to inspire action—not by pushing harder, but by creating the conditions where people believe a better future is possible—and that they have a role in making it real.
Ideal for: Executives, founders, elected officials, military and community leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, managers, team leads, and anyone seeking to inspire and lead teams, organizations, medical schools, groups, or movements with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.
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Collective Hope: Cultivating a Hope-Driven Organizational Culture
In times of rapid change and growing uncertainty, it's easy for people to feel overwhelmed or checked out. This keynote brings the science of Hope to life—showing employees how to build mental resilience, reconnect with their goals, and feel more in control of their work and future. Organizations that create hope-based work cultures see increases in retention, productivity, engagement, job satisfaction—and significant improvements in team dynamics.
It’s not about blind optimism. It’s about giving people a tangible, evidence-based framework they can use to navigate challenges, adapt faster, and stay energized in the face of pressure. Hope has been proven to be a protective force against burnout. When people feel more hopeful, they’re more likely to believe their work matters.
Ideal for: Company-wide keynotes, all-hands meetings, culture initiatives, hospitals and healthcare professionals employee wellness programs, company retreats, and any organization looking to build collective hope, bolster resilience, and foster a more connected, future-focused culture.
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Unlocking Creative Potential and Reimagining What’s Possible
This session explores how the Science of Hope can supercharge innovation—giving teams the mindset and tools to think boldly, adapt quickly, and solve complex problems under pressure. At the core is the Hope Framework’s Pathways Thinking, which helps teams re-route, reframe, and re-strategize when original plans hit roadblocks.
Participants will learn how to turn setbacks into new strategies, strengthen creative confidence, and take smarter risks with more clarity and momentum. By increasing Hope levels across key decision-makers and creatives, this session helps teams iterate faster, imagine bolder, and execute more effectively—even in fast-moving, high-stakes environments.
Ideal for: Founders, startup teams, innovation leads, creative directors, product and design teams, R&D departments, healthcare innovators, business schools, venture studios, and anyone pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in high-growth or rapidly changing sectors.
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Building a Culture of Collective Hope in Educational Communities
This interactive session brings the science of Hope into the heart of education—offering educators, faculty, and students powerful, research-backed strategies to cultivate agency, goal-setting, and resilience. Participants will explore how Hope is not just a soft sentiment, but a measurable, teachable cognitive skill that’s been proven to enhance academic achievement, mental health, engagement, and long-term success.
Educators and school leaders will learn how to create classroom and campus environments that support Collective Hope—a shared belief that the future can be better, and that we all have the power to shape it. Drawing from the Hope Framework, the session offers strategies to strengthen morale, decrease burnout, enhance school and university culture, and support students through challenges and transitions.
For students, the sessions delivers actionable tools to build their own Hope skills—proven to do everything from improve mental health to enhance academic achievement (the Science of Hope has been proven to do everything from increase GPAs and standardized test scores to college admissions rates). Students leave with new skills they can deploy to bolster resilience, zero in on their goals, increase their confidence in their ability to overcome setbacks, and a enhance their sense of agency in shaping their futures.
Session are available as both a faculty workshop and a keynote for student assemblies or leadership cohorts.
Ideal for: K–12 and higher education faculty, administrators, counselors, school boards, district leaders, university faculty and staff, medical schools, and organizations interested in building stronger, more hopeful learning communities.
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Framing Messages That Move People
This session focuses on the strategic side of hope—how to shape messages that inspire action, shift perception, and sustain belief. Grounded in narrative psychology, cognitive science, and decades of research around the science of hope, participants will learn how to craft communications that increase agency, build alignment, and create emotional resonance without resorting to fear, urgency, or other short-term tactics that can backfire.
Whether you're leading a movement, launching a product, managing a crisis, or motivating a team, Hope-Based Communication offers a science-backed toolkit to help your message land, stick, and mobilize.
Ideal for: Founders, campaign strategists, comms teams, marketers, brand leaders, healthcare professionals, fundraisers, and anyone tasked with crafting messages that need to not only inform—but inspire.
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Crafting Narratives That Inspire Action
This session explores how to build powerful, emotionally resonant stories using the science of Hope. Whether you're making films, pitching investors, building a brand, or launching a campaign, you’ll learn how to tell stories that don’t just highlight problems—but move people toward action.
Grounded in narrative psychology and real-world impact, this workshop gives you practical tools to structure stories based in our Hope-Based Storytelling Framework.
Integrating the science of Hope into your storytelling doesn't just uplift—it strategically positions your call to action as a pathway to a desirable and attainable future, thereby increasing the likelihood of audience engagement and action.
Ideal for: Content producers, founders, filmmakers, marketers, communications professionals, sales teams, entrepreneurs, campaigns, development professionals, brand strategists, and anyone who seeks to mobilize people around a call to action, develop a pitch, or tell a compelling, hope-driven story.
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How to Apply the Science of Hope to Drive Climate Action
This session introduces a powerful, research-backed approach to climate leadership—one that moves beyond fear-based messaging and taps into the science of Hope to mobilize meaningful change. Participants will learn how to craft more effective climate narratives, foster collective agency, and reframe climate action in ways that energize communities rather than overwhelm them.
Grounded in cognitive science and real-world strategy, this session equips leaders and communicators with actionable tools to inspire momentum, sustain engagement, and help people believe that change is still possible—and that they have a role to play.
Ideal for: Sustainability teams, NGOs, advocates, employee resource groups, policy and government leaders, academic institutions, healthcare professionals, social impact organizations, and anyone working to advance climate solutions and drive systemic change.
PROVEN IMPACT:
97% of audience members would recommend
Molly’s presentation to others in their industry.
(Based on post-event surveys from 150+ participants)
