A Life Spent in the Human Mind

“Katie’s teaching is inspiring and infectious. She teaches from the point of view of her own good grounding in writing and reading and brings a lot of creativity to how she approaches each class.”

“Paper Wings brings deep expertise in strategic planning, program development, and community building. She has made our organization stronger and our impact greater all while bringing in board members and critical financial resources.”

“Katie doesn’t just present, she truly connects. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend several of her speaking engagements across multiple platforms, and every time she brings an authentic, engaging presence that draws people in immediately. She’s smart, insightful, and naturally funny, which makes even complex ideas feel accessible and relevant. I had the pleasure of bringing Katie in as a keynote speaker for my ATD Learning and Development conference, and she absolutely delivered. Her session was a standout, thought provoking, energizing, and incredibly well received by attendees. I find myself actively seeking out events where she’s speaking, knowing the experience will always be meaningful. She doesn’t just inspire in the moment, she shifts perspectives, sparks meaningful conversations, and drives real change in how people think and lead.”

“Katie took on the challenge of developing and implementing a leadership and personal growth program for a population that spanned multiple generations, organizational roles, life experiences, and levels of professional development. Many participants had never been exposed to this type of self-reflection or leadership work before, yet Katie had a remarkable ability to connect with people where they were, earn their trust, and create meaningful opportunities for growth and dialogue. Her thoughtful facilitation, keen awareness of group dynamics, and willingness to continually refine the program as our understanding evolved resulted in an experience that broke down barriers, strengthened relationships, and helped the group dynamic evolve.”

“Every time we’ve worked with Katie, she has challenged our team to think more deeply, communicate more intentionally, and approach our work with fresh perspective. Her ability to bridge different personalities, work styles, and ways of thinking makes her an exceptional facilitator and trusted thought partner.”

“Katie was an exceptional keynote speaker for our Livability Summit, engaging more than 300 attendees with a thoughtful, inspiring, and highly interactive session on the power of collaboration. Through compelling storytelling and practical insights, she helped participants better understand why collaboration matters, what it can achieve, and how to navigate common challenges. Beyond the stage, Katie was a true partner—professional, prepared, adaptable, and deeply collaborative in shaping content that resonated with our audience.”

“Katie was an exceptional keynote speaker—engaging, motivating, and inspiring. She has a remarkable ability to spark meaningful listening and connection while offering practical tools and resources participants can immediately apply.”

“I have seen Katie present at numerous events and venues and every time, I love the way she can share complex topics with such candor, clarity, and humor. She not only is a fabulous speaker, she is also an engaging storyteller and teacher.”

“Bringing Katie McCleary to speak to our emerging leaders was a masterclass in professional growth. As a presenter, Katie is incredibly dynamic, engaging, and possesses a rare ability to connect deeply with an audience, making complex interpersonal dynamics feel entirely navigable. Her book, Bridge the Gap, provides exactly the kind of essential, actionable blueprint that next-generation leaders need to cultivate empathy, foster collaboration, and build trust across diverse teams. If you want to equip your leaders with the communication tools to drive real impact, Katie is an absolute must-invite.”

“As a people-first company, we know that how we communicate and build relationships matters. . . especially in tough times. People need straight talk and dependable leaders. In our work with Katie, we’ve been able to deepen our values and have meaningful conversations that move the needle.”

“Katie brings a heart-centered, humble poise earned from a lifetime of courageous choices, a demonstrable confidence found from consistently living into her own potential, and a magnetism born solely of her commitment to helping others live into theirs.”

“Katie has been truly a magical outlet for me… a journey of empathy, creativity, and stillness. The compassion and commitment I’ve received has been top of the line and perfect for my unforgiving schedule.”

“Sacramento Region Community Foundation chose Katie to serve as our keynote speaker for the 2025 Philanthropy Summit. Her energy and experience in the nonprofit space energized and resonated with our large audience of nonprofit professionals and community supporters. The time Katie spent working with our team to build out her presentation, not only met our conference needs, but also felt curated just for us!“