Relentlessly Engaging. Relentlessly Empowering. Relentlessly Optimistic.
Book Rya Hazelwood for a keynote or workshop that brings the power of Relentless Optimism to life.
Inspiring. Actionable. Transformative.
Keynotes & Workshops
Mindset shapes everything – from how leaders lead to how teams navigate challenge, change and uncertainty.
Whether your audience needs a fresh perspective on resilience, practical tools for navigating adversity, or powerful stories that spark meaningful change, Rya Hazelwood delivers keynotes that move audiences to think differently, lead differently and take action.
Through a dynamic blend of storytelling, leadership insight and practical strategy, Rya equips audiences with the mindset shifts and tools needed to turn obstacles into momentum.
Explore Rya’s signature keynote topics below to find the message that will resonate most with your audience.
Relentless Optimism™ for Life & Leadership
What if optimism wasn’t naïve – but strategic?
In this inspiring keynote, Rya Hazelwood explores the powerful connection between mindset, leadership and personal resilience.
Drawing from both professional leadership experience and deeply personal life lessons, she invites audiences to consider how the way we think shapes the way we lead, perform and show up in the moments that matter most – from the breakfast table to the boardroom.
Through powerful storytelling and real-world insights, audiences explore how to:
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Turn obstacles into opportunities
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Set boundaries that protect energy and focus
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Quiet imposter syndrome and self-doubt
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Lead with clarity, confidence and purpose
Participants leave energized, grounded and equipped to live – and lead – with confidence, intention and Relentless Optimism.
Relentless Optimism™: The Leader’s Edge
Leadership isn’t about having the map.
It’s about how you lead when the map disappears.
In this compelling keynote, Rya Hazelwood reframes optimism as a strategic leadership advantage.
In today’s rapidly changing business environment, leaders are expected to navigate uncertainty while maintaining clarity, confidence and trust. This talk explores how mindset quietly shapes culture, performance and credibility across organizations.
Through candid storytelling, leadership insights and practical strategies, Rya shows how intentional optimism becomes a powerful force multiplier for engagement, alignment and momentum.
Audiences will learn how to:
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Lead with calm and clarity under pressure
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Build trust through consistency and authenticity
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Set boundaries that protect focus and energy
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Create cultures that thrive through change
This session equips leaders to navigate uncertainty with resilience, confidence and forward momentum.
Relentless Optimism™ & Other Life Goals
What if the life you’re waiting for begins the moment you decide to choose it?
In this deeply inspiring keynote based on her book, Rya Hazelwood invites audiences to examine the moments when life feels uncertain, stuck or off-course – and what it takes to move forward anyway.
Through candid storytelling, humor and hard-earned perspective, she explores how small mindset shifts unlock courage, clarity and meaningful change.
This talk challenges the seductive pull of magical thinking and replaces it with something far more powerful: agency.
Audiences explore how to:
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Reframe adversity into opportunity
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Quiet self-doubt and limiting beliefs
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Recognize where they’re waiting instead of choosing
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Build a life fueled by resilience, purpose and forward motion
Participants leave energized, empowered and reminded that transformation begins the moment we choose momentum.
Relentless Optimism™ in Action
Life Happens FOR You
In today’s fast-moving, high-pressure world, resilience isn’t optional – it’s essential.
Organizations that cultivate practical optimism and a solutions-focused mindset don’t just weather change … they gain a competitive advantage.
In this energizing keynote, Rya Hazelwood reframes mindset as strategy, not magic. She challenges the misconception that optimism is simply positive thinking and instead demonstrates how intentional perspective shifts drive engagement, performance and resilience.
Through relatable storytelling and practical insights, audiences discover how the way we respond to challenges shapes outcomes.
Participants learn how to:
• Reframe setbacks into steppingstones
• Stay grounded and focused under pressure
• Turn adversity into strategic advantage
• Create forward momentum even during uncertainty
Audiences leave inspired and equipped with tools to lead with resilience, clarity and Relentless Optimism™.
Why Event Planners Book Rya
• Engaging storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences
• Actionable leadership and mindset strategies
• A powerful blend of professional insight and lived experience
• Keynotes that inspire and equip audiences to take action
Rya’s presentations are known for creating moments of clarity, inspiration and meaningful perspective shifts that audiences carry long after the event ends.
Ready to bring Relentless Optimism to your next event?
Let’s talk about a keynote, workshop or leadership session designed for your audience.
I have known and worked with Rya for over 16 years and deeply value our professional relationship and more importantly, our friendship. Rya's determination and loyalty is second to none. She is passionate about her work, helps companies thrive and does it all from a place of service.
- Ashley Snyder
Principal at Cresa
In my line of work, I have the opportunity to work with many fabulous professionals. Without question though, Rya is in a class of her own. Besides being freakishly smart, Rya is kind, incredibly organized, thoughtful, supportive, responsive and everything that you could ever hope for ... To say that I loved my time working with her would be the understatement of the century. If you have the honor of working with Rya, you are in for a world-class experience.
- Shola Richards,
International Keynote and TEDx Speaker, Author of Civil Unity
Rya is one of those rare professionals who also naturally serves as an inspiring mentor. She exhibits strong interpersonal skills and a unique capacity for empathy. These qualities most notably translate into her ability to motivate a team to care about its project and be invested in the project’s success.
- Michelle Roy
Office Manager of Heritage Distribution Holdings