Meet Carolyn

When what used to work no longer works, organizations call Carolyn Strauss.

Carolyn is a keynote speaker, emcee, and reinvention strategist who helps leaders and teams adapt, communicate more effectively, and succeed in rapidly changing environments. She works with leadership teams, sales organizations, and conference audiences to rethink how they connect with people, make decisions, and create results when the rules of business are constantly evolving.

Meeting professionals value Carolyn because she brings both real business credibility and dynamic stage presence. Before becoming a professional speaker, she spent 18 years building and leading her own apparel company and generated more than $160 million in live national television sales on the Home Shopping Network, where every minute required clarity, persuasion, and results.

Today she helps organizations increase their Dollars Per Minute™ by focusing time, energy, and attention on the conversations and actions that produce the greatest return.

Known for her humor, insight, and highly engaging delivery, Carolyn makes complex ideas easy to understand and practical to implement. She is also known for being a collaborative meeting partner and genuinely easy to work with before, during, and after an event.

A few things you may not know about Carolyn Strauss:

  • Carolyn was awarded “Top Impact Speaker 2026” by Real Leaders Magazine.
  • In April 2024, Carolyn keynoted the Professional Speakers Assn of South Africa conference in Johannesburg.
  • Carolyn spent 8 years as co-host of the “People Choice Nominated” podcast, “Another Day Above Ground”. Listen at www.anotherdayaboveground.com.
  • Carolyn is a Certified Reinvention Practitioner, a Certified Working Genius facilitator, and a Certified Exactly What to Say guide.
  • Carolyn co-created THE program to run successful hybrid meetings called Brilliant 100.
  • Graduated, B.F.A. from Emerson College in Boston (with a short stint at the University of Madrid!)
  • Is a member of SAG/AFTRA.
  • Spent a 20-year career as a top plus-size model with the Ford Modeling Agency, while living in NYC.
  • Worked with every major US Department Store training the Sales Associates and presenting fashion events for 20 years.
  • In 1997 Carolyn launched The Carolyn Strauss Collection on the Home Shopping Network and sold over $160 Million over an 18 years.
  • Carolyn is a top rated Vistage speaker.
  • Carolyn is the author of 5 books.
  • Carolyn has spent time in all 50 states in the U.S.
  • Carolyn loves hot yoga.
  • Carolyn believes that a good day contains chocolate.