ALL THINGS RENÉ GODEFROY

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Haitian-Born Keynote Speaker. Resilience & Mindset Strategist. Champion of Purpose, Possibility, and Belonging.

René Godefroy equips today’s teams to thrive under pressure—helping leaders build resilient, people-first cultures rooted in belonging, emotional agility, and purpose-driven action.

René Godefroy is a Haitian-born keynote speaker and workplace culture strategist who helps leaders and teams create resilient, people-first environments where appreciation, belonging, and belief take center stage. From arriving in the U.S. with five dollars to becoming a trusted voice for Fortune 500 companies, René delivers lived wisdom and powerful storytelling that move audiences from burnout to buy-in. Rooted in his “Village Hero” philosophy, his keynotes offer practical tools to lead through uncertainty, boost morale, and build cultures where people don’t just survive—they thrive.

René Godefroy is a Haitian-born keynote speaker and workplace culture strategist on a mission to help leaders and teams build resilient, people-first workplaces grounded in appreciation, belonging, and belief.

Arriving in the U.S. as a refugee with five dollars and no English, Rene overcame extraordinary adversity - janitorial jobs, sleeping in cars—to become a trusted voice for Fortune 500 companies seeking to transform how their people lead, connect, and thrive.

He draws from his early life in a remote Haitian village, where resilience wasn’t a concept—it was a necessity. That lived wisdom powers René’s message today: a practical, uplifting approach to navigating change and elevating workplace culture from the inside out.

Through unforgettable storytelling, high-impact audience engagement, and tools leaders can use immediately, Rene helps organizations increase engagement, boost morale, and lead with clarity and compassion—especially during times of uncertainty.

He is best known for his “Village Hero” philosophy, which reframes leadership as a daily opportunity to uplift others and build belonging through simple, intentional acts. His keynotes are both soul-stirring and strategic—grounded in humanity, delivered with humor, and designed for action.

Whether speaking to front-line teams or C-suite executives, Rene equips audiences with the mindset and methods to inspire loyalty, foster resilience, and lead with purpose—leaving them energized, empowered, and ready to build cultures where people thrive.

René Godefroy’s speaking fee is $20,000 for in-person keynotes, plus a $1,500 travel buyout. For virtual presentations, the fee is $15,000. See Agency pays a 25% commission to speakers bureaus. 

ATLANTA, GA

• Delivering keynotes on resilient leadership, belonging, and purpose-driven workplace culture
• Inspiring leaders and teams to navigate uncertainty, overcome adversity, and elevate morale
• Driving performance through people-first leadership and appreciation-based strategy
• Helping teams thrive through recognition, cultural connection, and shared purpose

 "Unshakable Resilience: Leading with Purpose During Times of Uncertainty" 

When the tides of change rise like a storm, most leaders reach for what’s familiar. The ones who thrive build resilience that anchors them – even when everything else feels like it’s breaking apart.

In this unforgettable keynote, René Godefroy pulls back the curtain on what real resilience looks like. Not from a textbook. But from the insights he gained while fighting for survival in a small Haitian village.

Against all odds, Rene charted a path few could imagine. Today, he equips leaders with a rare blend of clarity, compassion, and courage. He shares the exact tools they need to lead through change without losing themselves or their teams.

Built for leaders facing real-world storms, this keynote delivers:

1. The critical mindset shift leaders must make when change strikes fast and hard
2. How to hold on to hope when the odds are stacked sky-high
3. How to lead from meaning and purpose instead of metrics
4. The surprising way adversity can launch leaders into their greatest breakthroughs

When you lead from meaning and purpose instead of chasing metrics, you build a team that performs not because they have to, but because they want to. You become an unshakable leader.

This keynote is beyond inspiration. Rene Godefroy delivers it with heart, humor, and unforgettable stories.

Best for:

• Leadership Conferences (General leadership summits, executive offsites)
• Change Management Events
• Healthcare Leadership Conferences
• Financial Services Conferences (where uncertainty is constant)
• Government, Public Sector, and Education Leadership Events
• Tech & Innovation Summits (constant disruption, fast-paced change)
• Entrepreneurship and Startup Events
• Corporate Annual Meetings and Kickoffs (especially post-reorgs, mergers, layoffs)
• Nonprofit and Social Impact Leadership Events 

"Unshakable Teams: Built to Bounce, Ready for Anything"

When pressure hits, most teams crumble. Stress breaks trust, turnover soars, and morale plummets. But the most resilient teams bounce back, get stronger, and turn challenges into momentum.

In this impactful keynote, Rene Godefroy teaches leaders and teams how to develop resilience to overcome adversity and succeed. Drawing from real-world experience and leadership principles, Rene provides a roadmap for creating teams that are unbreakable, unshakable, and unstoppable.

This is not about working harder. It is about building teams wired to bounce higher, move faster, and stay stronger when it matters most.

Audiences will leave ready to:

1. Build a culture where resilience is the rule, not the exception
2. Strengthen morale and retention even in high-pressure environments
3. Turn setbacks into the fuel for loyalty, innovation, and breakthrough performance
4. Lead with clarity, care, and a mindset that transforms challenges into victories

Best for:

• Corporate Leadership Conferences
• Team-Building Retreats
• Sales Kickoffs and Sales Summits
• Annual Company Meetings
• Human Resources and Talent Development Conferences
• Healthcare Leadership Summits
• Tech and Innovation Conferences (because change and stress are so high)
• Manufacturing, Logistics, and Operations Conferences (high pressure, fast-changing fields)
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Summits 

"Unshakable Belonging: Thriving in Spaces That Weren’t Built for You"

When you are judged by how you look or how you sound, you have two choices: shrink back or use it to your advantage. Rene Godefroy knows this battle firsthand. His accent, his background, even his very presence often made people question whether he belonged.

In this impactful keynote, René shows that true leadership is not about fitting in. It is about standing firm when the world questions you the most.

He pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to rise above rejection, bias, and doubt.

Through mindset shifts, unshakable resilience, and authentic leadership, René shares how he claimed his seat at the table — and how your audience can too.

This is not just a story about overcoming obstacles. It is a blueprint for thriving, leading, and transforming in spaces that were never designed to include you.

Audiences will leave ready to:

1. Build unshakable self-leadership even when everything says they shouldn’t
2. Turn obstacles and judgments into fuel for massive growth
3. Lead with courage, authenticity, and undeniable purpose
4. Create cultures where belonging becomes the ultimate advantage

Best for:

• DEI Conferences (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion events)
• Employee Resource Group (ERG) Summits
• Leadership Development Conferences
• Women’s Leadership Conferences
• Employee Engagement or Culture Conferences
• Affinity Group Events (e.g., Black Employee Network, Latino Employee Network)
• Social Impact and Nonprofit Conferences
• Higher Education Conferences (especially those focused on first-gen students, diversity, or inclusion)

• Seth Mattison
• John O’Leary
• Jon Gordon
• Cassandra Worthy

“Your fascinating story was not only inspiring, it provided a great foundation for our mentors and mentees as they begin setting goals and establishing expectations for their new partnerships.”
– Jerry S. Wilson, Vice President, Coca-Cola

“Your presentation was a masterpiece of motivation. It is so easy in a service profession to get into a rut and to take for granted all the things we ‘are’ and ‘have.’ Our staff tend to get burn out and need someone to give them the boost to start fresh and to ‘feel’ again. You have accomplished that for them and I am truly grateful.”
– Donna K Wilson, Vice President, DHS

“Our conference evaluations suggest that this might have been the best event we have ever offered… I believe that this is more than a statement about the overall depth and substance of our program; it’s a direct reflection of your individual talent… NAPT members have seen and heard some terrific speakers–like Roger Crawford, Charlie Plumb, Jeanne Robertson–so it’s high praise when they give a standing ovation, much less for two!”
– Michael J. Martin, Executive Director, National Association For Pupil Transportation

“Your presentation was a masterpiece of motivation. It is so easy in a service professional to get into a rut and to take for granted all the things we ‘are’ and ‘have.’ Our staff tends to get burn out and need someone to give them the boost to start fresh and to ‘feel’ again. You have accomplished that for them and I am truly grateful.”
– Donna K. Wilson, Transition/Career Development Specialist, Family Resource Agency of North Georgia

“Rene Godefroy was our keynote speaker last week at our Aflac Kick-off meeting in Tennessee. He was a big hit. He was motivational, entertaining and kept the audience engaged the entire time, which is rare for a speaker. People are still talking about his performance. I would highly recommend Rene to speak at your next event.”
– Alan Martin, State Training Coordinator, Aflac

“Based on comments from our team, Rene was encouraging, inspirational and thought-provoking. He clearly shows the positive impact we can all have on the lives of others if we have the right attitude and demeanor!”
– Ken Ray, Vice President, AT&T

“Rene Godefroy’s presentation was the highlight of our annual provider conference. His inspirational message, warmth, and wit are unsurpassed. Rene is the best keynote presenter in our 35 years of sponsoring conferences.”
– Robert L. Stein, General Counsel, Michigan Assisted Living Association

“Everyone is still talking about the outstanding presentation, the personal passion and compassion shown, and the inspiration shown throughout the entire presentation. Your charm just overflowed and oozed through the hearts of even our most critical co-workers to a point that they had no choice but to give outstanding evaluation scores and complimentary comments for your performance.”
– Pearl Gibson, Quality and Professional Development, City of Memphis

• Kick Your Excuses Goodbye: No Condition is Permanent

• Rene Godefroy - Ignite Advisory Group: Living The American Dream
• René Godefroy | Resilience & Workplace Culture Speaker - Just Great Speakers
• Introverted Leaders Around the World 007 - Haiti - YouTube Interview
• Rene Godefroy's Post - LinkedIn (2025 Demo Video Announcement)
• Rene Godefroy's Bio - Inspirational Speaker | Village Hero