Speaking & Training

Workplace psychology, leadership, and career insights

I’m an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, workplace consultant, and experienced speaker. I enjoy helping people make sense of the situations they encounter at work—from leadership and career decisions to inclusion, workplace behaviour, and the challenges that can make work more complicated than it looks.

My sessions bring together psychology, real workplace experience, and practical ideas. I want audiences to leave with something worth thinking about, a new way of looking at a familiar workplace issue, and practical ideas they can use when they return to work.

Who do I speak to?

After more than 25 years working across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with people in many different roles and workplaces. I tailor presentations and training for:

• Executives and senior leaders
• Managers and supervisors
• Emerging leaders
• Employee groups
• Professional associations
• Government organizations
• Conferences and professional events
• HR and organizational development teams

What can you expect from a presentation?

I tailor each presentation to the audience, the organization's goals, and the workplace issues people are facing. Depending on the event, I can provide:

• Keynote presentations
• Interactive workshops
• Leadership training
• Panel participation
• Customized organizational training
• Professional development sessions

My approach is practical and research-informed. I use workplace examples and discuss the psychology behind them to make complex issues easier to understand and discuss.

Why invite Dr. Helen Ofosu?

I bring a combination of psychology, workplace experience, leadership assessment, HR expertise, and career and executive advisory work to my speaking engagements.

My qualifications and experience include:

• PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• More than 25 years of professional experience
• Leadership and assessment expertise
• HR consulting experience
• Career and executive advisory services
• Experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors

I bring the science of Industrial and Organizational Psychology into engaging, practical conversations about the issues leaders and professionals face at work.

Selected speaking experience

My previous speaking and training work has included:

• Networking and career development
• Career transitions and entrepreneurship
• Applying psychology with HR in hiring decisions
• Systemic discrimination and barriers to inclusion
• Effective professional and workplace boundaries
• Workplace Scapegoats and the Glass Cliff for executives and organizational leaders
• A professional development series for Nature Canada’s Work to Grow program, supporting racialized youth
• An eight-part career development series for participants in Digital Nova Scotia’s Get Into IT Program
• Inclusive leadership sessions for Directors General and Assistant Deputy Ministers in several federal government departments

Featured speaking topics

The Psychology of Effective Leadership

Strong leadership requires more than technical expertise. This session explores self-awareness, trust, communication, difficult conversations, and the behaviours that help leaders respond effectively to people and situations.

Becoming a More Inclusive Leader

Inclusive leadership influences who gets heard, supported, developed, and given opportunities. This session examines practical approaches to inclusion, mentorship, sponsorship, allyship, and reducing barriers to advancement.

From Technical Expert to Effective Leader

Many professionals advance because they are excellent at what they do. Moving into leadership requires different skills, including delegation, influence, communication, relationship management, and leading through others.

Workplace Mistreatment, Microaggressions and Their Impact on Productivity

It’s easy to assume that workplace mistreatment (including bullying and harassment) and microaggressions are isolated behaviours that victims need to just “rise above.” Using credible evidence and a practical delivery, I show the profound risks to individuals and organizations.

Understanding Workplace Barriers and Career Progression

Career progression is shaped by individual skills and performance, as well as workplace practices, leadership decisions, culture, and access to opportunities. This session examines barriers to advancement and practical strategies for navigating challenging workplaces.

Using Psychology to Build Better Workplaces

Industrial and Organizational Psychology offers practical ways to understand workplace behaviour and improve how organizations function. This session can explore hiring and assessment, team effectiveness, organizational culture, employee experience, and workplace decision-making—including how organizations can adapt their selection processes as AI makes traditional application materials harder to evaluate.

Book Dr. Helen Ofosu to speak

If you’re planning a conference, organizational retreat, leadership event, professional development program, or organizational training session, I’d be pleased to discuss your audience, objectives, and the issues you want to address.

Contact me to discuss a keynote, workshop, panel, or customized training session.

Contact Dr. Helen