Nora Burns
Your secret weapon to attract top talent, build a thriving workplace culture, and retain the right people. What do employees tell each other, but don't tell you? Nora, The Undercover Employee, knows.
Nora Burns is anything but ordinary. As the founder and Chief Curiosity Officer of The Leadership Experts, she’s redefined what it means to understand workplace culture from the inside out. A former Fortune 200 executive, Nora has led teams through complex challenges, transforming companies from the boardroom to the front lines. She didn’t just study leadership—she lived it, navigating the dynamics of blue, white, and pink-collar employees with an unrivaled knack for creating thriving teams.
But Nora’s true game-changer? The Undercover Project™. She went incognito, applying for over 350 jobs and working frontline roles at Fortune 500 companies as The Undercover Employee™. Nora didn’t rely on titles or boardroom credentials—she got down in the trenches to experience firsthand what employees really think about hiring, culture, and retention. She’s heard the raw, unfiltered truth that frontline workers won’t tell their managers.
Now, Nora is on a mission to help organizations connect the dots—bridging the gap between leadership strategies and real-world employee experiences. If you want to attract top talent, build a thriving workplace culture, and retain the right people, Nora’s your secret weapon.
A Past President of the National Speakers Association-Colorado, Nora travels from Denver to bring her unique, entertaining, and insightful perspective on business to audiences across the United States.
Learn more about Nora's work via her podcast "Stories From The Breakroom": https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MWkyw4Uoah7D9cZpeOdy5
Nora Burns is anything but ordinary. As the founder and Chief Curiosity Officer of The Leadership Experts, she’s redefined what it means to understand workplace culture from the inside out. A former Fortune 200 executive, Nora has led teams through complex challenges, transforming companies from the boardroom to the front lines. She didn’t just study leadership—she lived it, navigating the dynamics of blue, white, and pink-collar employees with an unrivaled knack for creating thriving teams.
But Nora’s true game-changer? The Undercover Project™. She went incognito, applying for over 350 jobs and working frontline roles at Fortune 500 companies as The Undercover Employee™. Nora didn’t rely on titles or boardroom credentials—she got down in the trenches to experience firsthand what employees really think about hiring, culture, and retention. She’s heard the raw, unfiltered truth that frontline workers won’t tell their managers.
Now, Nora is on a mission to help organizations connect the dots—bridging the gap between leadership strategies and real-world employee experiences. If you want to attract top talent, build a thriving workplace culture, and retain the right people, Nora’s your secret weapon.
A Past President of the National Speakers Association-Colorado, Nora travels from Denver to bring her unique, entertaining, and insightful perspective on business to audiences across the United States.
Learn more about Nora's work via her podcast "Stories From The Breakroom": https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MWkyw4Uoah7D9cZpeOdy5
Stories From The Breakroom: What Employees Tell Each Other But Don’t Tell You
In this interactive keynote, Nora Burns, known as The Undercover Employee™ shares a firsthand account of workplace realities from the front lines. Nora invested 15 months behind the scenes at prominent organizations. She traded her leadership role for a polyester uniform to stock shelves, ring up orders, and clean bathrooms. More importantly, she listened closely to employees as they discussed the unfiltered truths about their work environment, leadership, and organizational culture....
Humanizing Talent: Strategies to Combat Double-Digit Turnover
This program is perfect for:
- Associations
 - Leaders/Directors
 - Hiring Managers
 
No doubt you’ve read or heard that leaders need to “humanize employees” in order to stop double-digit turnover. “Humanize” how we hire, train, and develop top talent in this new era of work.
Okay – let’s do that. Wait.
What does that mean, exactly? What does it mean to candidates, new hires, and...
Next-Gen Talent Blueprint: Unlocking the Secrets to Attract, Inspire, and Keep Young People Engaged
This interactive workshop dives into the insights and strategies needed to successfully recruit and retain younger talent in today’s competitive job market. Led by Nora Burns, founder of The Undercover Project™, this program leverages proprietary research conducted as both The Undercover Candidate™ and The Undercover Employee™. Backed by authentic, on-the-ground experiences, as well as survey data from young employees, the workshop explores what our youngest workers truly value in their...
Intersection of AI and Hiring: Cutting Through the Noise & Spotting AI-Enhanced Candidates
Timing: 50-75 Minute Breakout or Concurrent
Style: Highly Interactive, Real-World Examples, Action Items
Key Takeaways:
- The telltale signs of an AI-enhanced candidate—and how to get a clearer picture of their actual skills.
- Practical ways to dig deeper and assess qualifications beyond a polished, AI-assisted application.
- How to keep AI as a helpful hiring tool...
The Cost of Culture: ECHOs of Leadership
Format: 
45-60 minute Keynote
This program is perfect for: 
- Senior Leadership
 - Franchise Owners
 - Managers working with a high percentage of customer-facing employees
 
What would you learn about reflective leadership if you mopped the floors, stocked the shelves, or made the deliveries?
For many, we bear titles such as Leader, Manager, Director, Vice President,...
Custom Program Example - Nightmare on HR Street
Format: Customize Programs Designed To Fit Your Needs. This program was 30 minutes followed by a Q&A
This program was designed for:
- SHRM Chapter
 - Human Resource Professionals
 
The audience left with:
- Examples of real-world hiring fiascos
 - Three elements of hiring to easily audit and adjust within a week
 - Data on what trends are...
 
Emcee and Content Weaver - Virtual, On-Site, or Hybrid
As a former meeting planner, Nora has a unique appreciation for the importance of a skilled and responsive emcee. With Nora as part of your team, you can be assured that you have a partner who is committed to hosting an interactive, easy-flowing, on-time event.
Nora is the ultimate event host who connects with attendees, guides them through the meeting or conference, and reinforces key learnings along the way. Sponsors appreciate her as she seamlessly ties...
Partnership Power: Crafting Exceptional Events with Speaker and Planner Collaboration
Format: 60 minutes with the ability to flex 45 minutes to 120 minutes to accommodate your specific program needs and goals.
This program is perfect for:
·Meeting planners, event coordinators, and conference organizers
·Event professionals looking to maximize the value of event speakers
·Anyone seeking innovative approaches to creating exceptional event experiences
Meeting...
Benefit Auctioneer
Nora grew up with livestock, farm, and homestead auctions, but now works in the fundraising and benefit auction space as an emcee and auctioneer.
A quick-witted, humor-forward emcee and benefit auctioneer, Nora has helped nonprofits raise the expectations on their auctions. Paddleraisers, silent auctions, live auctions - Nora will partner with your planning team to maximize the experience and your fundraising efforts.
10 recommend Nora
Post your own verified review when you hire this speaker through eSpeakers.
Galloway & Company
On-Site
S.B., Director of People & Employee Experiences, Galloway & Company
VerifiedNora is an engaging speaker and just all around fun person! She captivated our audience at our Quarterly Education Event, "Nightmare on HR Street!" People were hanging on her every word and couldn't wait to hear what she was going to say next! Highly recommend and Mile High SHRM hopes to have her back!
BBSI
On-Site
M.S., HR Consultant, BBSI
VerifiedI had the privilege of experiencing Nora’s Keynote delivery last week at Disrupt HR and she was fantastic. She has a magical power of making you feel like she’s talking directly to you as you sit in the audience. I loved the knowledge and experiences she shared and look forward to the next opportunity I’m able to hear her present! Thank you Nora- for making HR a better place for the PEOPLE lovers!
Alliant Event Services
On-Site
M.M., Executive Producer, Alliant Event Services
VerifiedNora stepped in for us when we were in a bind. A mutual colleague of ours came down ill and Nora Boot Strapped up to help us meet a VOICE OVER deadline. She made the time to make sure I had what I needed to get into post. It was an absolute pleasure working with a pro who took direction well and kept going until we got it right. She even told me " Don't let me off the hook, if I need to do it again , let me know" ...so I said " One more time!" It is easy to tell the commitment she puts in to any project, don't let her off the hook, and she'll do amazing things for you. 5 stars highly recommend. Thank you Nora, looking forward to working with you again.
Volunteer at Mile High SHRM
On-Site
M.D., Meeting Planner - Volunteer, Volunteer at Mile High SHRM
VerifiedWhen we landed on the theme “Nightmare on HR Street” for Mile High SHRM's quarterly training, I knew we needed to book Nora! Her stories as the Undercover Candidate are filled with horror, humor, and hard-learned lessons she helps companies avoid. Our members were engaged from the beginning, adding their own experiences and thoughts along the way. The response from people afterwards was extremely positive. I’d definitely book Nora again!
Alight Solutions
On-Site
R.B., Sr Marketing Executive, Alight Solutions
VerifiedNora was the best keynote speaker I've seen in ages. Funny, relevant, and consistently engaging! Nora KNOWS the good, bad and the ugly of corporate America and hearing from her will change the way your team thinks about recruiting, managing and communicating with employees
HdL Companies – Denver, CO
On-Site
K.K., Strategic Account Executive, HdL Companies – Denver, CO
Verified @hdlcompanies.comI had the privilege of experiencing Nora's keynote speech at CCCMA and thought it was excellent. I was inspired, engaged, and she made me laugh! Nora's stories and insights made me think beyond what I thought I knew. Thanks for a great session, Nora. And yes, you should hire her for your event!
Jefferson County, Colorado
On-Site
D.P., Talent Acquisition Manager, Jefferson County, Colorado
Verified @jeffco.usI can't say enough good things about Nora's talk about leadership. The way she navigated through that whole piece on leadership and the things that we need to do to be successful as leaders and how to be more aware, it was fantastic. If you're ever thinking about bringing someone in to talk about leadership, I would definitely recommend that you bring her in.
City of Wheat Ridge, CO
On-Site
A.S., Administrative Services Director, City of Wheat Ridge, CO
Verified @ci.wheatridge.co.usI experienced Nora's Cost of Culture keynote at CCMA (Colorado City County Managers Association) and it was really something! I sat next to my boss and the whole time we were both saying "yes, that!" as we realized what we should be doing! She is right on. Nora's perspective as a former executive and from being The Undercover Employee™ is just so valuable. She's funny, she's friendly, she's extremely smart and we've all come away extremely inspired by her message.
Elbert County Colorado
On-Site
S.A., County Manager, Elbert County Colorado
Verified @elbertcounty-co.govNora just presented her keynote for us. What a great speaker! Her insights are absolutely valuable to me as a leader. I took away lots of information to implement to improve our organization and employee satisfaction!
CCCMA 2020 Annual Conference
On-Site
L., CCCMA 2020 Annual Conference
Verified @coloradoccma.orgNora was our keynote speaker for CCCMA's 2020 Annual Conference. She's extremely engaging the energy in the room was really great. We learned a lot. It was awesome. I particularly loved how she brought in quotes from the audience, too. It was really tailored to the group. Tremendous!























