Kenston Henderson, Sr.

Kenston Henderson delivered an exceptional and impactful presentation at the Cleveland SHRM 2026 Annual Conference (NOHRC) with his "Game Changer" motivational speech. Demonstrating the highest level of professionalism, and a dose of humor, Kenston captivated an audience of over 250 HR professionals, leaving a lasting impression on every attendee. His message was both inspiring and actionable, guiding individuals to elevate their mindset and embrace their potential to drive meaningful change within their organizations. Kenston's engaging delivery, authenticity, and ability to connect with the audience created an energizing atmosphere that encouraged reflection and growth. Attendees walked away motivated and empowered, equipped with a renewed sense of purpose and practical insights to become true "game changers" in their respective roles. Kenston Henderson is a dynamic speaker whose influence extends well beyond the stage, making him a valuable asset to any conference or organization seeking to inspire excellence and transformation.

Kenston Henderson delivered an energizing and inspiring keynote at the OHIMA26 conference with his I Am A Game Changer: 4 Keys to Igniting the HI Game Changer Within presentation. His engaging storytelling, humor, and interactive approach quickly captivated the audience, with many attendees calling it their favorite part of the conference and one of the best keynotes in OHIMA history. Kenston’s message around self-leadership, resilience, and community resonated deeply, leaving attendees feeling motivated and empowered to create meaningful change within their organizations. From a meeting planner perspective, Kenston was also fantastic to work with—professional, collaborative, and truly embodying the “Game Changer” mindset both on and off the stage.

As an event organizer, you are always looking for a speaker who is more than just a 'great presenter'—you want a partner who is as invested in the success of the event as you are. From our very first pre-booking call, Kenston demonstrated a high level of intentionality. He didn't just ask about the logistics; he did a deep dive into our specific audience, our overarching event goals, and the unique challenges our audience (college students) face. This preparation was evident the moment he took the stage. It wasn't a 'canned' presentation; it was a tailored experience that spoke directly to the IMA student community. The energy Kenston brought to the room was infectious. He has a unique ability to bridge the gap between the stage and the seats, keeping our students fully engaged. Seeing a room full of future leaders so captivated and inspired is the ultimate win for any conference director. If you are looking for a speaker who is low-maintenance behind the scenes but high-impact on the platform, I cannot recommend Kenston highly enough. He made my job easier and our conference better."

As the keynote speaker of #BSHRMConference2024, Kenston truly delivered an impactful and engaging presentation. He curated a 60-minute session for over 150 HR leaders, giving us the tools to take charge of our HR career and shared his game-changing recipe for success. Kenston's energy resonated with us all and we left ready to lean in! I highly recommend him to anyone looking to add a spark to your next event.

I’m thrilled to recommend Kenston Henderson Sr. as an exceptional speaker and collaborator for any HR or leadership event. Kenston recently spoke at our BSHRM Annual Conference 2024, themed “Reset, Lean In,” and he was outstanding to work with from start to finish. Kenston’s flexibility, responsiveness, and keen attention to detail made the entire process seamless. Right from our first video call—scheduled at a time that worked best for me—Kenston prioritized building a strong working relationship. He took the time to ask insightful questions about our group’s culture and provided thoughtful recommendations to ensure his presentation resonated deeply with our audience. This tailored approach was incredibly well received and added a personal touch that truly set him apart. During his presentation, Kenston engaged and inspired our audience, offering valuable food for thought and challenging leaders to rise up, reminding each person of their impact and worth. His message left a lasting impression, encouraging everyone to “lean in” to their roles and responsibilities with renewed purpose. Beyond the presentation itself, Kenston’s commitment to connecting with our attendees was evident—he made himself available to answer questions and have conversations, which added a special level of interaction that our participants appreciated. Overall, I cannot recommend Kenston highly enough. He’s inspiring, engaging, and an absolute professional who will bring tremendous value to any HR event or leadership meeting. Kenston will not disappoint!

Kenston was amazing! I have a tough crowd of Supervisors with little to no proper communication and leadership training. Kenston came to our facility and had every single one of them engaged! My team was asking for more training and if you knew my team, THAT IS A HUGE WIN! Kenston is very well versed, uses everyday analogies and is very comfortable with a diverse group. The experience was great! I hope some of our other offices contact you! Well worth the time!

I am delighted to recommend Kenston Henderson Sr. Kenston is a dynamic and engaging speaker with considerable expertise in the DEI field.. His pragmatic approach and transparency create a powerful and impactful training experience

I wholeheartedly recommend Kenston! As President of the GMA SHRM board, we were honored to have him speak at our annual conference, inspiring and impressing over 250 HR professionals on how to be true game changers and make a difference in their daily lives. I first heard Kenston in Washington, D.C., at a national SHRM event, and I knew he would be a perfect addition to our lineup. He was a huge success here, motivating and energizing everyone in the room. We would be thrilled to welcome him back, and I highly recommend that others bring him to their events as well!

I highly recommend Kenston Henderson as a keynote speaker for any organization. As an event planner, it can be challenging to find someone who not only delivers a powerful, motivational message but also truly connects with our audience—and Kenston exceeds all expectations. He’s a seasoned professional who understands exactly what’s needed, often anticipating our needs before we even voice them. Working with him has been an absolute pleasure, and his impact on our event has been invaluable. We would love to have him back, and I can’t recommend him highly enough!

Kenston opened for our OHPELRA 2025 ATC, and he was phenomenal. I was promised a game changing session, and he absolutely delivered. Motivational, high energy & inspirational are just a few words that I could use to describe his Game Changer session. He delivered everything as promised, and then some. Easy to work with, and he will absolutely steal the show at your next event. Strong recommend!

Kenston spoke at our 2025 MLK breakfast. Kenston put a lot of time and effort into preparing his presentation and it showed. He did a an excellent job tying in Dr Kings message to our theme of ‘Creating the Beloved Community, Even When We Don’t Agree. He was engaging, prepared, enthusiastic, and inspiring. We have received great feedback from event attendees as well! Would highly recommend Kenston as a speaker

I met Kenston, via my role at the Society of Actuaries, when he spoke as our DEI Keynote Luncheons speaker on October 23rd. I appreciated his perspective on being a Game Changer in DEI. Kenston Henderson brings a a lot positive energy and his unique perspective is purposeful. His dynamic presence and winning attitude can uplift any attendee and he created an engaging learning environment. I appreciate the opportunity to be in community with him and get to know him on a personal level.

Kenston facilitated our communications workshop in October. He did an amazing job. The workshop was very engaging, my entire team enjoyed it and nothing but great things to say about it.

I attended Kenston Henderson's presentation on Cultural Transformation at PHRMA in May 2023. As a professional speaker and group coach, Kenston's expertise in HR, leadership, DEI, and workplace culture transformation was evident. His adept handling of complex issues like bias and conflict underscores his commitment to meaningful organizational change. I confidently recommend Kenston for his valuable insight and contributions to creating inclusive and resilient workplaces.

Great Presentation at the OPRA conference. Love your insight and awarness on bias! Kentson is a fantastic speaker and can capture our attention right from the start to the end. I strongly urge companies and organizations to seek out Kenston for thier next speaker event!

Kenston skillfully led our team through a crucial conversation on cultivating a thriving culture, highlighting our individual roles and shedding light on the impact of implicit biases on our actions. For those seeking to inspire positive change within their team, I strongly suggest inviting Kenston as a collaborative partner to the table.

Kenston is incredible and an impactful speaker. I had the privilege to attend his session on Winning Conversations during the SHRM Inclusion conference, where he spoke on communicating successfully and courageously about race. Kenston was HIGH energy and his engagement with the audience was excellent. Thank you, Kenston for creating a safe space! I highly recommend having Kenston as a speaker at your next event.

Kenston is one of my top diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioners. His ability to engage an audience through an interactive experience, while learning key values and principles such as unconscious bias, microaggressions, belonging, identity, and story telling, allows for participants to leave with golden nuggets of wisdom and awareness. Kenston is a trusted partner that will consistently deliver quality, meaningful, and impactful DEIB experiences.

Kenston's appearance on my LinkedIn live show, "Catherine's Corner," was truly exceptional as he shared profound insights on his course, Cultural Transformation in the Workplace and the crucial keys to creating and cultivating racial equity. The depth of his understanding and the clarity with which he communicated these important topics left a lasting impact on our audience. The overwhelming positive comments we received highlight the significance of Kenston's expertise and the value of his message. I wholeheartedly recommend Kenston as a speaker for any event seeking to benefit from his remarkable insights and passion for driving positive change in organizational culture!

I would like to thank Kenston Henderson Sr. for teaching me what a game changer really is and how powerful that can be. He disrupted my comfort level and it has been one of the best takeaways from any conference I have been to. I highly recommend, no, I challenge you to find out if you are a game changer and what your comfort level is costing you.

Some of today's issues for HR leaders can be hard to tackle including how to have open and honest dialogue around race; how companies can support team members; creating safe spaces for dialogue; and ensuring company practices and policies are inclusive and supportive. Kenston's "Winning Conversations" workshop provides honest and practical answers for HR leaders. His high energy and passionate approach creates a safe space for all attendees to ask questions and get practical advice.

Kenston was the keynote for our Nationwide Children's Hospital YOU Matter Staff Support Program Celebration week. He spoke on "The Power of Connection, Curiosity and Winning Conversations. He balanced the stressors of 2020 with the perfect amount of honesty and lightheartedness. He interacted with the group utilizing his energy and the chat box to keep people engaged and connected. Working with Kenston was wonderful. He was clear in how he approaches speaking engagements, modified for a virtual event and knocked the ball out of the park. Given the opportunity I would work with Kenston again without any reservations! Well done Kenston!

The Minnesota Public Health Association had the honor of Kenston Henderson, Sr. as a plenary speaker at our 2021 Annual Conference, "Bold and Humble - Engaging in Anti-Racist Public Health", a statewide conference for public health professionals and interested community members from a variety of sectors. Kenston's address on the opening of day 2 of our virtual conference could not have been a better start to the day! His energy, passion, and practical knowledge quickly captured, and held, our attendees' attention. Having discussions virtually is a challenge and he prompted some good responses and audience engagement. Kenston delivered a thoughtful presentation with solid action items, resulting in conference attendees feeling empowered to address racism in their professional and personal lives. We would welcome the opportunity to work with Kenston again for future professional development.

I recently attended a virtual session of the annual conference of the Government Finance Officer's Association on implicit bias presented by Kenston. Kenston did a wonderful job discussing this subject. This is certainly a topic that our entire administrative team needs to discuss on a regular basis. I am hoping that we will engage Kenston with our entire group so they can all take a look at themselves as it relates to implicit bias. I would highly recommend Kenston for any presentation/work as it relates to these topics.

I am a member of a networking group for wedding professionals. I had Kenston speak at one of our recent meetings regarding diversity and implicit bias. I knew it'd be a different and potentially uncomfortable subject matter for the attendees; yet I also knew it was necessary in order for our local wedding community to think outside of their boxes and what they're used to. I have gotten so many positive comments on Kenston and his presentation. He did a wonderful job, was very professional, and knew his subject matter. He was very engaging with the audience and got people thinking. Excellent job!

Kenston Henderson Sr. and the Live with Lyfe team were a pleasure to work with. Kenston took the time to understand our group dynamics in order to incorporate into the event. He worked with us by creating a promotional video to share to garner excitement. Kenston was flexible when our event date and format needed to change. He was prepared and always prompt for our pre-planning calls and the day of the event. His presentation was high energy, relevant, and informative. He kept the group engaged and was able to showcase, through stories and examples, how an attended could take his insight back to 'real-life'. We had one attendee share that our session was her third webinar of the day and it was the very best one. We would highly recommend Kenston for your next event. Will Engle President, PCMA POWER Chapter Denise Farrell Education Chair, PCMA POWER Chapter

During SHRM INCLUSION 2021 I had the privilege of listening to Kenston's talk "Winning Conversations: Keys to Becoming a Successful and Courageous Advocate and Ally." I'm striving to be an advocate and ally not just in the workplace, but in my everyday life and interactions. Kenston's knowledge and passion about this topic left me feeling motivated and inspired. If you have the opportunity to hear Kenston speak, you will be better for it!

It is an honor to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Kenston Henderson, Founder and CEO of Live with Lyfe, LLC, author, and TedxDayton Speaker. I have known Kenston for over 2 years, and watched his career evolve from cooperate trainer to motivational speaker. Kenston is a dynamic and engaging speaker who is always able to inspire and lead from the heart. He has a dynamic way of sharing messages that connect to the spirit of all listeners, and he utilizes this strength to make meaningful differences in those who hear him. To see him in action, everyone must check out his TEDxDayton Talk entitled "Can We Talk?" https://youtu.be/RMgCpdnjldc On Monday, February 10, 2020, I had the privilege of having Kenston Henderson present to the student athletes at Ohio Dominican University on the topic of "Stand Up and Lead Yourself". I was able to witness our student athletes become actively engaged in his presentation while becoming inspired by his message of empowerment through taking ownerships of their individual lives. The students left this presentation energized, motivated, and inspired. Check out the video: https://youtu.be/XSlt_4RMIy8 I would highly recommend any company, community organization, college/university or school district who is looking for a motivational speaker to inspire, motivate, and ignite positive changes to invite Kenston Henderson to come and present to your employees, community members, faculty and staff, and students. Kenston will help everyone to create their own best version of themselves.

Our association hosted its first conference since the shelter-at-home order was issued.  And since things are still "hot" across the country, we decided that it would be a VIRTUAL conference.  I had a lot of angst around this decision. "Would our attendees feel connected and engaged after so many hours in front of their computers?"  In hindsight, my worries seem silly now. Kenston marvelously used the virtual platform to interact with our 100+ group.  His energy and humor maintained the day's momentum and was an integral part of the conference's success.  Well-informed on the subject matter, Kenston spoke candidly and yet respectfully about the touchy issues.  He did this while simultaneously validating our humanness and vulnerability to err.  When you know better, then you can do better.  Thank you, Kenston… because now we know…better.

I had the pleasure of seeing Kenston speak at the SHRM Inclusion conference and he is just someone who has a way of commanding a room with his positive energy and sense of humor while still getting the important messages across. This work in the DEI space is not easy and Kenston really pushes people to lean in and just do more with where they are right now in their DEI journey. When you attend one of Kenston's sessions be prepared to feel like you belong and are welcomed as he puts in the extra effort to greet everyone and introduce himself to ensure there is a safe space created before diving in to the more difficult conversations. I found that to be special and that is what makes him so personable and a stand out speaker.

Kenston was a speaker at the CASHRM Expo and Conference in Charlotte NC. He is a dynamic motivator that ignites the fire to have necessary conversations! I highly recommend him to break the ice for DE&I conversations at your organization!

Kenston is a POWERFUL speaker that brings energy to the largest of crowds! Are you tired of boring seminars or speakers that do not engage with the audience? If so, Kenston is the man to book to speak to your team or group! His presence in Tallahassee, Florida plus his warm and welcoming demeanor to our team and the members of the Capital City Chamber of Commerce was appreciated and well noticed!!

I engaged Kenston to be a Keynote Speaker at our Annual Vice President Leadership Retreat in Orlando, Florida in November of 2021. His presentation was titled " Conscious Decision- Making, Becoming Aware of Your Inner Storyteller". He presented to a group of over 30 Executives who had very little exposure the the topic of Implicit Bias (Unconscious Bias). Kenston provide a high energy high impact presentation that was the highlight of our retreat. He was able to engage the group and get us all to participate is his interactive style of presenting. That was amazing to watch because the majority of leaders are engineers and somewhat introverted but he had a way of getting them to become active in his presentation. Kentson spent the time to get to know and understand our company culture and tailored is presentation accordingly. The team was able to immediately take several tools and techniques from the presentation that could be used in the day to day management of our business. With the positive feedback I received from the leaders I will be engaging Kenston to provide additional consulting services throughout 2022. If your looking for a knowledgeable and passionate consultant to help drive results as it relates to your DEI strategy or just need a good keynote speaker for an event I 100% recommend Kentson!

“Kenston Henderson is an exceptional speaker and trainer. I’ve watched him lead a group of teenagers through a phenomenal training experience that I know prepared them for public speaking, interviews and to have relevant dialogue given life’s most amazing opportunities. I’ll certainly invite him back for another occurrence and recommend his services to your professional audiences. The experience is well worth the investment! “

I had the pleasure of being a speaker at the Kansas DEI Summit with Kenston. He opened the conference with his presentation and set the tone for the rest of the day. His energy was high and his engagement with the audience was excellent. Inclusion was one of the focuses of the conference and he made sure to include the audience during his presentation. I highly recommend having Kenston be a speaker at your next event.

Kenston is an amazing talent in the training and development space especially in DEI. He is an inspiring, energetic, and knowledgeable partner and facilitator. He brings insight and challenges people to critically and epathetically seek understanding and conversation that leads to growth and equity in the workplace. At Community Housing Network we have been so fortunate to embark on a year's long journey with Kenston seeking to recognize and mitigate implicit bias while building connection within our teams and throughout the organization.

I witnessed Kenston speaking at the Live Your Best Life Event here in Nairobi Kenya. He inspired me to know who I am and not allow anyone to change me. He taught me the new acronym for F.E.A.R Face Everything And Rejoice and that I should work with others because to hands are better than one. Thank you Kenston for your inspiration.

I had the honor of hearing Kenston speak while in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenston's ability to transform and impact his audience with his words; all while giving real world examples to help you implement and put into practice. I highly suggest you put Kenston in your current and future budget. It's time to transform and impact!

Live your best life Nairobi in November 2021 the most educative and informative leadership summit ever attended. Not only gave me the opportunity to be in the midst of wonderful men and women but also gave me the chance to listen and interact with the best speaker ever was Kenston Henderson. He not only spoke from his heart and experience but was also very articulate, well organized and composed in every sense of the word. Apart from being an excellent speaker, he is a spirit lifter, graceful and a positive man. He touched my life. He is a game changer. You can do no better than Kenston Henderson.

Kenston is such a thoughtful and passionate person, with a special way of teaching and speaking to the group that allows for growth and learning as well as change navigating the DE&I landscape. He always brings new ways of learning to the table which pushes the boundaries on the content you think you know about this space.

Kenston came well equipped with knowledge around various DE&I topics. From the first session to the last, I learned valuable skills that will help me navigate through various topics regarding DE&I. The skills presented have equipped me to be a little more comfortable having uncomfortable conversations.