For anyone serious about active inclusion
My Superpower is Privilege
Privilege is a tool. This keynote shows you how to use it.
Privilege might be the most loaded word in this whole conversation, and also one of the most genuinely useful. It is not just about being white or male. It shows up financially, educationally, geographically, generationally. This keynote takes the charge out of the word and puts the actual tool back in your hands.
If you’d like to build on this topic beyond the keynote, you can learn more about how I work with organizations on consulting engagements.
Trailer
See it in ninety seconds
Overview
What privilege is, what it is not, and what to do with it
Few words shut down a room faster than privilege. Defensiveness spikes, the conversation stalls, and the actual work, using whatever you have to widen the room for someone else, never gets started.
This keynote walks through the concept with care: what privilege actually is, the many forms it takes beyond the obvious ones, and how it shapes everyday decisions at work. The point is not guilt. The point is leverage, used deliberately on behalf of people who do not have the same access.
I name my own privilege out loud, then show what it looks like to put it to work. Audiences leave with a clear way to think about their own, and a few specific places to spend it.
What clients say
From the organizations that booked this talk
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Michael recently gave a powerful presentation to our organization unpacking Privilege as well as 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion and how those with privilege can take meaningful actions to better our colleagues experiences. The feedback we’ve heard from up and down our organization has been overwhelmingly positive, some have said “eye-opening”. It is without question that this presentation had the desired impact that we sought when booking Michael for this talk.
Josie Porto Vice President, Ontario Region The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
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Michael’s presentations on Unconscious Bias and Privilege were outstanding. He engages immediately with the audience in a genuine way, which puts everyone at ease. He is passionate about the topics and it shows. These presentations have empowered attendees to affect change in their own organizations.
Kelly Henderson Executive Director Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic
Verified attendee feedback
What audiences leave with
Every keynote I deliver collects attendee feedback independently through Talkadot. The numbers below are the verified scores from my full speaking record.
What audiences walk out with
- Participants left with a working vocabulary they could use the next day, without jargon or guilt.
- Attendees gained a clearer understanding of where DEIA actually shows up in everyday work decisions.
- Leaders left equipped to defend, fund, and scale the work in language their leadership team will recognize.
- Audiences felt inspired and prepared to take action, with specific moves to make in the week that followed.
- Michael is a phenomenal speaker. Engaging, knowledgeable, and able to make a complex topic feel approachable. Attendee
- Thoughtful, generous with humour, and the practical examples landed for me. I left with a list of things I can do on Monday. Attendee
- Honest and direct without being preachy. That is rare in this work and exactly why it lands. Attendee
Ten-minute speaking sample
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Frequently asked
Quick answers before you reach out
How long is this keynote?
Sixty minutes is the standard, and it is adjustable in either direction. Tell me the slot and I will make it work.
Can it be delivered virtually?
Yes. The structure and the audience interaction are the same in both formats. Virtual delivery works on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or whatever platform your team is already using.
Who is this talk for?
Built for all-staff sessions, leadership groups, and learning weeks. It also lands well with broader leadership audiences and anyone who wants a less charged way into the privilege conversation.
Can the content be customized for our audience?
Yes. Every booking starts with a prep call to tailor the examples, language, and case studies to your sector, your audience, and the moment your organization is in. Customization is part of the speaking fee, not an add-on.
How do we book Michael for this talk?
Send a note through the contact page with your event date, audience, format, and budget range. You will hear back within two business days with availability, a fee, and a short note on fit.
Bring me to your stage
Tell me about the event, the audience, and what you want people to leave thinking about. I will come back with a short note on fit, format, and what a strong version of this looks like for your room.