Deeply Human. Wildly Effective.
Katie infuses science, story, soul, and skills into every experience. She teaches how to unlock your best thinking, communicate with clarity, and fly further together.
Why work with
Client Experiences
“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.”
Kathy Les, Journalist and Slow Food Movement Guru
“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.”
Mackenzie Wieser, CEO, Sacramento Splash
“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.”
Juliet Swinger, SMUD
“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.”
Becky Johnson
“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.”
Stacey Powell
“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.”
Evan Schmidt CEO, Valley Vision
“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.”
Nita Patel, Chief of Staff, CalHR
“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.”
Stella Premo, Sacramento State University
“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.”
Scot Siden Chief Operations Officer, Nehemiah Leaders Programs Director, Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program
“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.”
Bill Lowman, CEO, American Pacific Mortgage
“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.”
Marssie Versola, Founder and CEO of The Impact Table
“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.”
Dr. Michael Marion, Jr., Director U.S. Department of Education | Federal Student Aid
“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!“
Kerry Wood, CEO
No Fluff. Just Impact.
Everything we teach is practical, repeatable, and immediately applicable — helping leaders and teams go from breakdowns to breakthroughs.
Proven Results Across Industries
Rooted in Science, Built for Action
Engaging Keynotes
Beyond Inspiration — Creating a Room That Changes Everything
Katie’s keynotes don’t just spark ideas — they rewire how people think, lead, and imagine what’s possible. Every experience is science-backed, soul-forward, and utterly unforgettable.
If Dinosaurs Can Fly, So Can We!
Leadership is evolving. Like the dinosaurs that became birds, the leaders who thrive aren’t the strongest — they’re the most adaptive. This keynote teaches audiences to harness curiosity, agility, and the imagination to fly further than they ever thought possible.
Meet Your Mind: Think on the Page First
Your brain is the most powerful tool you own — and most people have never been properly introduced to it. Drawing on the neuroscience of handwriting and Katie’s viral TEDx talk, this keynote teaches professionals how to use pen and paper to unlock higher-quality thinking, access their own wisdom, and turn the noise of a changing world into clarity, creativity, and conscious action.
Unshakeable: The Joy and Trust Keynote
Joy and trust aren’t soft skills — they’re the foundation of every high-performing team, every courageous conversation, and every culture worth belonging to. This keynote teaches leaders and teams the science of psychological safety, the practice of radical joy, and the human skills that make trust not just possible but unshakeable.
Fireside Chats
Intimate, Unscripted, and Refreshingly Real
Topics include:
The Longing to Be on the Page
From incarcerated teens to CEOs, Katie has watched the same thing happen 15,000 times: a person sees themselves in their own handwriting — and something changes. A conversation about writing, worth, and being witnessed.
From Prisons to Boardrooms — A Founder’s Story
Two organizations built from a blank page, and what 22 years of rooms taught Katie about voice, grit, and starting anyway.
Fundraising, Female Entrepreneurship, and Finding Your Voice
The unvarnished version — money, doubt, and daring — from a founder who’s asked for it, raised it, and taught others to.
What Birds Teach Us About Leadership
Evolution, adaptation, and the strange wisdom of the natural world — with a guest appearance (in spirit) by an opinionated parrot named Milo.
The Conversations We’re Not Having
Drawn from Bridge the Gap: why the hardest conversations are the ones that change everything — and how to finally have them.
Breakout Workshops
Hands-On, High-Impact, and Built to Stick
Small groups. Big breakthroughs. Katie’s breakout sessions give teams the tools, language, and lived experience to think better, collaborate deeper, and leave different than they arrived. Every session is tailored, every takeaway is real, and every participant leaves with something they can use before they even get back to their desk.
Think on Paper: The Workshop
Lost in Translation — Not Anymore
Every team has them — the feedback that lands wrong, the vision nobody’s buying, the conversation that goes sideways before it even starts. The truth is, we don’t all speak the same language. Based on Bridge the Gap (McGraw Hill), named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 3 Business Books of 2022, this session gives teams the conversation roadmaps to decode what’s really being said, navigate the toughest breakdowns, and finally speak their truth — and have it actually land.
Story as Strategy
Your story is your most powerful leadership tool — and most people have never learned how to use it. In this one-of-a-kind writing experience, Katie opens the orange suitcase — featured in her TED-curated talk on the benefits of writing by hand — and guides professionals through a science-backed, surprisingly emotional process to uncover their origin story, shape it with intention, and deploy it to lead, connect, and inspire. Because if people know your story, they can’t deny your humanity.
The Imagination Lab
trusted by top leaders and organizations
America
Give your people the experience that changes their work, their team, and their lives.
Let's Fly Together.
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