Cynthia Lockrey

Cynthia Lockrey is a change maker + communications expert. She shifts people, teams, organizations and cultures to go from overwhelmed to clear and activated. She does this through her writing, speaking, training and coaching. Having started her career as a reporter and newspaper editor, she draws upon storytelling to get people to tune-in and be engaged with the content she’s sharing. 

As a seasoned conference speaker and corporate trainer, she’s worked with non-profits, corporations, conferences, and organizations across North America. She’s comfortable speaking to crowds from a few dozen to a few hundred people and is consistently ranked as a top speaker as she customizes her presentations to meet the needs of the audience. 

Cynthia is skilled at breaking down communications fundamentals into bite size and easy to implement pieces. 

Combining her 28+ years of public relations experience with her lived experience of being a mom and sister of autistic individuals, Cynthia delivers presentations for professional development as well as personal growth. She shares practical advice on how people can improve their communications skills and advocate for change. In her role as author of two patient advocacy books and mom, she’s a regular contributor on regional and national media, as well as presenter in the BC legislature, advocating for kids with disabilities.  

Cynthia’s proud of how she’s combined her passion for helping others with her professional experience working in public relations and journalism. As a skilled storyteller, she weaves in practical examples and real-life experience while helping others become strong communicators and advocates. Participants leave with practical tools, techniques and the inspiration to implement what they’ve learned. 

Over her 28+ career, Cynthia has worked as a post-secondary instructor developing and delivering communications and strategic planning courses, media and crisis communications lead for a Venue City for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, emergency/public information officer for local governments with extensive emergency management training and on-the ground experience, communications manager and consultant working with non-profit, corporate and government clients as well as a leadership coach, helping individuals find their voice and be clear on their path. Hailing from Ontario, she’s now proud to call beautiful Vancouver Island home with her husband, two kids, two dogs and five ducks. 

Talks/Workshops

How to Harness the Power of Storytelling to Make a Personal Connection

We now have countless technologies and ways to share information, yet the age-old tool of storytelling is still the best way to make a personal connection so people will tune in and understand what you’re saying. Storytelling is a powerful tool to use in presentations, meetings, one-on-one conversations and other communications.

Too often we focus on what I think is important, what I want people to know instead of taking the time to understand the other person’s needs and interests, and craft messaging that connects to them, not you. 

Cynthia draws upon her 25+ years of public relations experience to help people use storytelling to breakdown walls, make a personal connection and be heard. She has given this presentation to organizations across North America, ranging from healthcare, education, non-profit, government and corporate clients, adapting the presentation to meet the unique needs of the audience. 

Key Takeaways:

  • How storytelling changes the way our brain processes and connects with information; 
  • The elements of an impactful story; 
  • The role of emotions and facts to help ensure different personality types make a connection; and 
  • How to integrate storytelling to improve your communications style (in both your professional and personal life).
How to Communicate for Success

We all want to have our voice heard and create a positive connection with others. In this keynote, we’ll explore practical ways to strengthen your communications skills at work as well as with friends and family.
 
It starts with understanding how to adjust your communications style to meet the needs of your audience (based on their personality, interest and ability to process what you’re saying). From there, we’ll look at how to clear on your message, understand the role of emotions and facts, have a clear call to action and finally, the importance of body language.

Key Takeaways:

  • The different personality types (yours and others)
  • Importance of having a curiosity mindset to avoid judgement or assumptions 
  • How to prepare for a conversation, being clear on your message
  • Practical tips and resources while gaining the clarity and confidence to communicate for success 
How to Present Like a Pro

With over 75% of people having a fear of public speaking, it’s no wonder many struggle to create engaging presentations. Reading from slides filled with lots of information is more comfortable for many people. The problem – it results in boring presentations with a tuned-out audience. 

This presentation will help participants feel more confident, prepared and focused when presenting – formally and informally. We’ll discuss how to create presentations that connect with your audience, how much information is too much and the role of storytelling. Other areas covered include an understanding of body language, best use of Power Point, as well as active listening skills. 

Cynthia draws upon her 25+ years of experience presenting to governments, non-profits, corporations, post-secondary students and peers. As a communications manager and consultant, she’s watched countless people struggle through presentations. Her goal is to help increase people’s confidence and decrease the number of dreadful presentations.   

Key Takeaways:

  • A deeper understanding of how to develop impactful presentations 
  • Awareness of their personal presentation style and challenges
  • How to feel more confident, prepared and focused when presenting. 
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Cynthia is a fantastic speaker. She has been speaking for SummersDirect events for 18 years and has been able to do so because she always delivers, comes back with fresh and engaging content and always rates as a top speaker. Cynthia knows her stuff. She delivers her content with real-life case studies in a storytelling format with clear takeaways that delegates can walk away with and put into practice in their own work. Attendees at Cynthia’s sessions always learn something, and when you see her name, you know you are getting a quality session.
Renee Summers, Founder SummersDirect Conferences
After collaborating with Cynthia for the past three years, I cannot emphasize enough the positive impact she has had on our Emerging Advocate Program. Her authentic approach and effective coaching style empower our advocates to communicate their stories effectively to diverse audiences. Cynthia has mastered the art of storytelling and generously shares her own experiences to illustrate the essential techniques for authentically and powerfully conveying one's narrative to achieve desired goals. With Cynthia as part of our faculty, our program stands out among others in its field.
Heather Moran Phillips, Former Director Advocacy and Programs, American Migraine Foundation
Cynthia is a gifted facilitator. Her information flows directly from her experiences as a professional and a parent. This makes her most credible. Community Living Chatham-Kent relied on Cynthia's expertise in communications as we navigated the pandemic. Her advice was rooted in transparency and empathy.
Ron Coristine, Executive Director, Community Living Chatham-Kent
We recently presented to a local group, and your techniques work! We have so much information to share that it’s impossible to remain focused, but sharing your strategies helped. We used and stuck to the three key messages that we wanted to convey. This helped us transform our presentation, stay focused on our agenda items and refer people to follow us to learn about all the things that we do. So thank you, and please keep up the great work!
Barb Lovell, Executive Director, Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village
Before working with Cynthia, I had no idea how to effectively communicate with the public. I was winging it, and my approach was not connecting. She gave me easy-to-remember tips that I return to time and time again. Her ability to speak in plain language and use real-world stories helped me understand the ‘Why’ of her communications strategies. Cynthia’s range of experiences in the communications world sets her apart from other professionals. And as an added bonus, Cynthia was fun to work with and brought humour to the process. I would highly recommend Cynthia’s services to anyone looking to strengthen their personal or business communications.
Lindsey Haist, Alder Environmental Services