Laura Varnell, leadership keynote speaker and Director of Certification Programs at Reality-Based Leadership

Meet
Laura Varnell, M.Ed.

Director of Certification Programs, and Keynote Speaker

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 brings 25+ years of real-world experience, including leading training and leadership development across 550+ locations nationwide.

She brings humor and energy to complex leadership challenges and gives leaders practical tools they can use the moment they walk back into work. Through Reality-Based Leadership principles, Laura helps people ditch the drama, build personal accountability, and focus their energy on what they can actually influence.
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Laura has spent her career working with leaders and teams in the real world, not just teaching leadership from the sidelines. Before joining Reality-Based Leadership, she led the training function for a national franchising education organization, where she helped scale training and leadership development across 550+ locations nationwide.

Her sessions are practical, engaging, and designed to turn insight into action leaders can use immediately.
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Her innovative programming earned an International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Innovation of the Year Award nomination, recognizing her work among the “best of the best” in adult learning.
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Laura holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training and has extensive experience designing and delivering leadership development, train-the-trainer programs, and learning experiences that people can actually put to use.
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Today, Laura serves as Director of Certification Programs at Reality-Based Leadership, where she leads certification experiences and works directly with leaders and organizations bringing Reality-Based Leadership tools into their teams and workplaces.

Laura Varnell delivering a leadership keynote to a live audience

Conference keynote and breakout session with Laura Varnell

Rave reviews

Don't take our word for it,  
here's what clients are saying.

"Thank you so much for the amazing training. Our staff was so uplifted, and in such a good mood after you left!! It was pure joy, and I credit a lot of that to you! Your joy and enthusiasm is contagious!"

Lori Carden, Director

National Franchise

"Thank you again for such an impactful keynote! The content really landed with our team and I’ve already heard from several people about how practical and relevant it felt to their day-to-day work.The focus on self-reflection, accountability, and asking “what would great look like?” was especially powerful and something we’ll continue to build on as a team."

Kristie Koch, Founder & CEO

School Based Behavior Consultation

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! It was absolutely wonderful and I am so glad we got to have you come and share all of that with our staff. It was such a gift having you there!"

Kelli Miller, Owner

Early Education Franchise

"Laura's presentation was both meaningful and impactful, providing great content to the team. This morning someone stated the BMW driving was a favorite take-aways."

Ramona Davis, CEO

Non-Profit Organization

Meet Laura Varnell, M.Ed.

Don't take our word for it, here's what clients are saying.

Hire RBL for your next event!

Meet
Laura Varnell, M.Ed.

Don't take our word for it,  
here's what clients are saying.