Strategic Keynotes That Turn Engagement Into Action
Menna Riley is a sought-after conference speaker known for helping professional audiences move beyond inspiration and into clear, confident action – especially when connection, visibility, and business outcomes matter.
Menna is regularly invited to speak at conferences, leadership forums, and industry events where the goal is not just to energize a room, but to equip people with a practical way to build stronger relationships, use in-person opportunities more effectively, and translate engagement into real momentum.
Her talks are grounded in more than 25 years of experience designing high-impact events, partnerships, networking and engagement strategies across finance, professional services, associations, and growth-stage organizations.
“Menna delivered more than a presentation – she delivered a shift. Our audience entered the session curious and left with the confidence, clarity, and charisma to network strategically. It was smart, actionable, and seriously fun! The energy was electric and the impact immediate.”
– Halifax Chamber of Commerce (Wonder Women Conference)
“Menna’s humour, charm, and expertise made the event unforgettable. Her keynote struck the perfect balance – genuinely inspiring, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with advice we’ll carry into our careers. She doesn’t just talk about networking, she helps you build relationships on the spot.”
– Rowe Women in Business Association, Dalhousie University
“Menna’s energy, professionalism, and ability to keep the audience engaged truly elevated the entire event experience! Her presence and presentation played a key role in making our conference a success.”
– Engineers Nova Scotia
“Menna armed our audience with valuable, actionable advice on building stronger relationships and growing your brand through networking. She’s engaging, genuine, and made a lasting impression – we’ll gladly have her back.”
– International Association of Business Communicators Maritime Chapter
“Participants were blown away by the number of practical strategies they could use right away. Menna’s contribution was spotlighted in our federal reporting as a standout example of ecosystem leadership.”
– Julekha Nusrat, Business Counsellor & Trainer, ISANS / IWEN Program
“Clear, practical, and refreshingly strategic.”
“One of the most actionable sessions of the conference.”
“Changed how I think about and prioritize networking and follow-up.”
“One of the most actionable sessions of the conference.”
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Menna delivers networking strategies your audience can use immediately and makes the learning experience just as energizing and fun as it is practical
Canadian Women in Optometry National Conference July 2025
Stingray Maritime Sales Director’s Conference April 2025
Atlantic Business
Leadership Conference
March 2025
Engineers Nova Scotia
Spotlight on Women’s Innovation Event March 2025
Speaker for Saint Mary’s University Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre March 2025
Engineers Nova Scotia Professional Development Conference Speaker 2024
Halifax Chamber of Commerce Wonder Woman Conference Speaker 2024
The Canadian Public Relations Society Atlantic Chapter Professional Development Session 2024
ISANS Immigrant Women Entrepreneur Network Networking Training Presentation 2024
Host of International Sommelier & Author, Natalie MacLean’s Canadian Book Launch: Wine Witch on Fire 2023
4th Annual Atlantic Leadership Forum
by Fusion Halifax 2019
Keynote Speaker for the Rowe
Women in Business Association’s
Annual Conference 2019
IABC Maritimes: Intl Assoc. of Business
Communicators:
Guest Speaker 2018
Social Media Day Halifax Conference Session Speaker 2018
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Wonder Woman Conference Breakout
Session Speaker 2018
What Changes Because Menna is on Your Agenda
When Menna Riley speaks, audiences don’t just participate more… They contribute more meaningfully to the outcomes your event is meant to drive.
Event organizers consistently see:
-
More strategic engagement during networking, breakouts, and informal moments – conversations that are intentional, relevant, and worth following up on
-
Higher-quality interactions between attendees, sponsors, partners, and leadership
-
Clearer post-event follow-through, with attendees knowing who to reconnect with, why it matters, and what to do next
-
Stronger alignment between the stated goals of the event and how people actually use their time while they’re together
At the individual level, attendees leave with practical tools for:
-
Using limited in-person time deliberately
-
Guiding conversations that build trust, relevance, and opportunity
-
Turning visibility and proximity into relationships that move business forward
The result: an audience that engages with purpose and an event that delivers clearer value to organizers, sponsors, and stakeholders long after it ends.
Where This Work Creates the Greatest Impact
Menna Riley delivers the highest value in environments where in-person engagement is expected to support real business outcomes, not just energy or attendance.
Her sessions are particularly effective for:
-
Professional conferences and industry events where organizers want networking, engagement, and relationship-building to support business development, sponsorship value, and long-term relevance
-
Professional associations and member organizations supporting member retention, peer connection, and continued engagement beyond the annual event
-
Leadership teams, executive forums, and advisory groups where trust, alignment, and relationship capital directly influence decisions, growth, and organizational momentum
-
Corporate offsites, retreats, and internal leadership events designed to strengthen collaboration, internal connection, and meaningful dialogue beyond surface-level team building
Menna’s sessions are especially valuable for experienced professionals, founders, and senior leaders who already understand the fundamentals of networking and engagement, and are looking to translate in-person time into clearer business outcomes, stronger relationships, and sustained momentum.
Menna Riley is a Corporate Engagement Strategist and conference speaker with more than 25 years of experience designing and advising on in-person experiences where relationships, trust, and business outcomes matter.
Her work focuses on helping professional audiences use in-person engagement more intentionally – not just to meet people, (although that’s a poitive outcome) but to build credibility, influence decisions, and create momentum that continues after the event ends.
Menna’s perspective is grounded in decades of hands-on experience working with leadership teams, associations, and growth-stage organizations to design and produce high-impact conferences, leadership events, and engagement initiatives. This practical background allows her to speak with clarity and credibility about what actually works when people gather – and how those moments can be aligned with clear business objectives such as client attraction, relationship retention, internal alignment, and long-term growth.
In addition to her speaking work, Menna advises leadership teams on strategic event design and engagement strategy. That practitioner’s lens shapes every session she delivers, ensuring her talks are relevant, grounded, and immediately applicable.
Her sessions resonate most with experienced professionals who already understand the basics and want sharper outcomes from their time, relationships, and in-person interactions.