Courtney O'Connell is a thought leader on disruptive innovation and education. She has extensive experience building digital capabilities for organizations. O'Connell has published books and blogs on topics like innovation, marketing, and leadership. Currently, she works as the Director of Business Design, developing digital leadership content. O'Connell is an engaging keynote speaker who provides audiences with new perspectives and tangible ideas to implement.

1. Courtney O’Connell is a rising thought leader on the topic
of disruptive innovation. Her TEDx talk “Go All In on
Education,” and blogs on The Huffington Post are
provoking a national conversation about innovation in
education. She has extensive experience building the
digital capabilities of organizations, and serves as a leader
on the American College Personnel
Association’s Presidential Task Force on Digital Technology
in Higher Education.
O’Connell helped develop & publish the student focused
book What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube. She also
serves as Editor to Socialnomics.com, ranked as a Top 10
Blog by PC Magazine. In 2014, Courtney published her first
book Slide Design for Non-Designers which is currently for
sale on the iBookstore.
She has been featured in MeetingsNet Magazine, The
Huffington Post, and RuleBreaker Magazine for her role as a
change agent in the U.S. education system. Courtney
served as a professor of leadership at Rutgers University
and has guest lectured in a variety of graduate courses.
She approaches each speaking engagement as an
opportunity to give the audience a new perspective or new
way of thinking about their work, as well as an opportunity
to give them tangible ideas they can begin implementing
immediately.
Currently, she is working alongside best-selling author Erik
Qualman as the Director of Business Design where she is
developing and distributing digital leadership content that
is educating the world.
Courtney O’Connell
TEDx Speaker & Disruption Expert
Speaking Topics
Disruptive Innovation: Are you being disrupted or are you leading the change? We often assume that innovators
possess some creative super-power, but the truth is that our ability to serve as an agent of change is within each and
every one of us. The habits of innovation can be learned, and this presentation will begin to uncover them in a highly
engaging and visual presentation. Gain new perspectives on disruption, as well as practical approaches to innovation
you and your team can start utilizing immediately in your work.
The Marketing Disruption: The basic principals of marketing are not enough for companies and organizations in the
digital age. Digital technology has disrupted the way we do business and this presentation outlines the “four
C’s” (creating, curating, culture and connecting). Courtney delivers these messages with industry specific examples so
that any organization can begin to infuse these new concepts into a marketing strategy that will thrive in the digital age.
Making Your Mark: The rules of leadership have changed. You no longer have to be a in a position of leadership to
make your mark on the world. In this presentation, Courtney tells the stories of “mark makers” and reveals the new
rules for leadership in the digital age.
Testimonials
Courtney creates the dialogue central to making change in our lives. - Executive Director, ACPA College Educators
International
Courtney O’Connell’s visit to IU Southeast generated energy and much thoughtful discussion about social media and
digital responsibility. - Vice Chancellor, Indiana University Southeast
LinkedIn Profile
Keynote Speaking Reel
Huffington Post Blogs
Socialnomics Blogs
Courtney’s Twitter
TEDx Talk (All in on EDU)
TEDx Talk (Motivation)
Courtney’s Website
Courtney’s Digital Footprint

2. What People are Saying about Courtney
Featured
Clients
TEDx . American College Personnel Association . DECA Inc. . New York Institute of
Technology . Goodwill Industries International . Penn State University . NCAA
What makes Courtney unique?
Presentation Design: Courtney designs every presentation with two
specific goals in mind. 1.) She wants her audience to leave the
presentation with a new perspective or new way of thinking about the
issue being discussed. 2.) Audience members will leave with tangible
items they can start implementing in their work immediately following
the presentation. Her presentations offer a balanced combination of
big picture thinking and practical takeaways. In addition, Courtney’s
experience as a graphic designer ensures that all presentations are
designed in a way that is highly visual and therefor memorable.
Extensive training and facilitator experience: Courtney worked for
seven years in higher education, specializing in training and teaching.
She taught a course on Unconventional Leadership at Rutgers
University, and has facilitated hundreds of workshops and trainings for
a wide range of audiences with varying levels of engagement and
attention spans. This experience has prepared Courtney to be an
excellent facilitator and trainer, in addition to a thought provoking
keynote speaker.
“Courtney created an incredible presentation for my Women’s Leadership Symposium. My college
students were able to connect with her presentation through her engaging style and her creative
slides. She is a visionary with an inspiring message who charges her audience to achieve greatness. It
was a pleasure to work with such a dedicated presenter!” - Michelle Brisson, Director of Student Life at
Drew University
“Courtney’s presentation on the 5 Habits for Innovative Educators was very motivating. She gave a clear
picture of the challenges to promoting innovation in education along with five informative, practical, and
exciting practices for changing the educational landscape to one that fosters student engagement and
creativity. She is a thoughtful, energetic, and inspiring presenter!” -Francy Magee, Dean of Campus Life at
New York Institute of Technology