Laura Varnell is a keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and coach with more than 25 years of experience helping leaders and teams cut through complexity and perform at a higher level. Her work is grounded in a simple belief: building strong, accountable teams doesn’t have to be complicated.
Laura founded and successfully sold her own business, and most recently led the training function at a national franchising education organization, supporting leadership development and organizational effectiveness across 550+ locations nationwide.
In that role, she partnered closely with leaders to strengthen accountability, build capability at scale, and translate learning into real-world results that drives results.
In her previous role, her innovative programming earned an International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Innovation of the Year
Award nomination, recognition that places her work among the “best of the best” in adult learning.
Laura is known for her practical, engaging style and her ability to meet leaders where they are. Through Reality-Based Leadership principles, she equips teams with tools to reduce workplace drama, take ownership, and respond more effectively to everyday challenges. Her sessions are rooted in lived experience, not theory, and focus on what leaders can do differently the moment
they walk back to work.
She holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training and has extensive experience designing and delivering high-impact learning experiences, including train-the-trainer programs and leadership development initiatives.
Whether on stage, in a workshop, or coaching leaders one-on-one, Laura brings warmth, humor, and actionable insight that drives lasting change.
Rave reviews
Don't take our word for it,
here's what clients are saying.
Hire RBL for your next event!
