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Michelle Thompson – Speaker, Storyteller, Commentator

Helping People Reconnect to Themselves and Each Other Through Play

Michelle Thompson, PhD(c), is a commentator with the American Cornhole League and founder of the HUMAN Workplace™ framework. With over 15 years of coaching experience, she is known for blending psychology, storytelling, and play to create lasting cultural change.

Her work is shaped by both research and lived experience: her doctoral dissertation examines social connectedness, and her personal story shows how communities can heal through simple, approachable play. Today she speaks at conferences, schools, and organizations to solve one of the greatest hidden costs in the modern world: disconnection.

Bring Humanity Back to Every Arena

Whether in a boardroom, a classroom, or a conference stage, people want the same thing: to feel HUMAN.

When people feel Heard, Uplifted, Meaningful, Autonomous, and Nurtured, they show up with energy, collaboration, and creativity. When they don’t, organizations pay the price in burnout, turnover, and communication breakdowns.

The HUMAN Workplace (and Beyond): How to Turn Disconnection Into Belonging, Collaboration, and Performance

Disconnection is one of the biggest hidden costs in today’s world. It keeps employees from engaging, students from thriving, and communities from sticking together.

Michelle Thompson, PhD(c), is known for uncovering the story behind the symptom. After the Camp Fire devastated her hometown, she saw how a simple, approachable game — cornhole — rebuilt community. No special training, no fancy gear. Just people, together, being human. That experience reshaped her life’s work: helping groups reconnect to themselves and each other through psychology, story, and play.

Her HUMAN™ Formula — Heard, Uplifted, Meaning, Autonomy, Nurtured — is a practical, science-backed framework that transforms how we connect, communicate, and perform. This keynote blends storytelling, approachable exercises, and memorable metaphors so audiences don’t just hear about connection — they experience it.

Who This Talk Is For

This keynote is a powerful fit for:

  • Conferences & Associations – leadership, HR, wellness, psychology, education, sports, and community development.

  • Organizations & Workplaces – CEOs, executives, and HR leaders seeking stronger culture, retention, and engagement.

  • Schools & Universities – student leadership, resilience programs, and faculty/staff development.

  • Community Groups & Nonprofits – organizations working to strengthen belonging and reduce “us vs. them” divides.

The Problems We Solve

  • Communication Breakdown: When teams talk but don’t connect, mistakes and conflict multiply.

  • Burnout & Turnover: Disconnection drives people out faster than compensation.

  • Low Engagement: Employees and students stop caring when they don’t feel like they matter.

  • Silos & “Us vs. Them”: Departments, cliques, or groups lose sight of the shared mission.

Why HUMAN is the Solution

  • Approachable: Cornhole shows that connection doesn’t require skill or training — anyone can step in.

  • Practical: Participants leave with simple rituals they can use tomorrow (reset tools, meeting check-ins, recognition practices).

  • Transformative: By uncovering the story behind the symptom, HUMAN goes deeper than generic “communication workshops.”

  • Sustainable: With options like the Cornhole Connection Lane™, connection becomes a daily ritual, not a one-off event.

Participants Will Leave With

  • A deeper understanding of why disconnection happens and how to heal it.

  • Repeatable connection rituals (like one-word check-ins, anonymous vulnerability circles, recognition prompts).

  • A simple framework (HUMAN™) they can use to check in with themselves and others.

  • Renewed energy, empathy, and hope for what’s possible when people feel HUMAN.

Format Options

  • 45–90 minute keynote (in-person or virtual).

  • HUMAN Breakout Circles (small group coaching to humanize teams).

  • Cornhole Connection Lane™ installation & tournament (full immersion experience).

Practical Takeaways From the HUMAN™ Keynote

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Run quick connection rituals (like one-word check-ins and peer recognition prompts) that improve meeting effectiveness and reduce misunderstandings.

  • Spot the “story behind the symptom” so leaders and teammates can address root causes of conflict, not just surface complaints.

  • Use the HUMAN™ Formula as a diagnostic tool to assess team health (Are people being heard? Do they feel uplifted? Do they have autonomy?).

  • Apply stress-reset techniques that build resilience and keep focus under pressure — tools they can use before a meeting, presentation, or performance moment.

  • Foster cross-team collaboration with simple, approachable activities (like the Cornhole Connection Lane™) that dissolve silos and humanize coworkers.

  • Build a culture of recognition and meaning so employees and students feel tied to the mission, not just their tasks.

Group Keynotes, Workshops, & Experiences

Level 1: Keynote + HUMAN Formula
Learn the Formula for Connection 

  •  60–90 min keynote (virtual or in-person) introducing the HUMAN™ framework: Heard, Uplifted, Meaning, Autonomy, Nurtured.
  • Interactive polls & reset tools that employees can use immediately.
  • Introduction to the Cornhole Connection Lane™ – a simple, ongoing way to keep connection alive.
  • Includes the Cornhole Connection Lane™ Playbook

Attendees leave inspired with a shared language of connection and practical resets for communication and focus.

Best for: All-hands meetings, conferences, leadership kickoffs.

 

Level 2: Keynote + HUMAN Breakout Coaching
Experience HUMAN in Depth

  •  Everything in Level 1.
  • PLUS: Follow-up group coaching sessions facilitated by me.
  • Delivered by department (large orgs) or as full-company circles (smaller orgs).
  • Guided story-sharing and coaching exercises so employees humanize one another and uncover the “story behind the symptom.”
  • Each group gets space to be Heard, Uplifted, and Nurtured in a safe container.

Attendees don’t just hear about HUMAN, they practice it. Silos break down, empathy grows, and connection rituals start to spread across the organization.

Best for: Culture-change initiatives, leadership development, team retreats.

 

Level 3: Full Immersion + Tournament Experience
Live HUMAN Through Play

  •  Everything in Levels 1 & 2.
  • On-site installation of a Cornhole Connection Tournament (board, bags, signage, leaderboard).
  • Kickoff keynote + follow-up coaching sessions.
  • A facilitated company-wide tournament that models HUMAN connection in action.
  • Post-event leadership call to lock in next steps for sustaining HUMAN.
  • Each group gets space to be Heard, Uplifted, and Nurtured in a safe container.

Attendees don’t just learn or practice HUMAN — they embody it. Teams build cross-departmental bonds, morale rises, and your company gains an ongoing, low-cost, high-impact culture ritual.

Best for: Annual conferences, culture launches, all-company events.

 

Want to sponsor HUMAN?

Organizations often partner with sponsors who want to provide added value for their clients or members. Sponsoring a HUMAN keynote or workshop is a memorable way to strengthen relationships and align your brand with connection, resilience, and performance. Just use the booking button below to learn more!

Booking Michelle

Michelle delivers her message through three proven experiences — from a keynote on the HUMAN Formula, to facilitated breakout coaching circles, to a full-immersion Cornhole Connection Tournament.

Inquire About Booking