Saya Hillman
Saya's everyday’ness and transparency make for witty, inspiring reflections that’ll have you murmuring "Me too!" She lessens overwhelm and isolation, and creates action-oriented light-bulb moments.
You know all those things that are THE WORST? Networking. Sales. Self-Promotion. Public speaking. Pricing. Saying no. Setting boundaries. Making asks. Working with frustrating people. Dating. Cleaning. To Do Lists. Doing things that scare you. Doing things you're not good at. Doing things you have no business doing. Doing things you don't want to do but have to. Death. Reply All misuse.
Saya (Sigh-Uh) Hillman makes adulthood less worse; enjoyable even.
You could bring in a consultant, a cheerleader, a therapist, a motivational speaker, and a camp counselor; or you could bring in Saya. She’s the perfect blend of professor, peer, and bestie. The poster child for living an idyllic, perfect fitting-life, Saya inspires groups and individuals to take charge of their lives and to learn, grow, and become even more delicious versions of themselves
Her natural fit and most requested speaking role is opening keynote. But she easily slides into most speaker-adjacent roles.
Clients include Eventbrite, Microsoft, CDWG, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Groupon. Past engagements have brought her to Palm Springs, Park City, South Dakota, New York, and Charleston.
An Evanston, Illinois native, Boston College graduate, and Chicago resident, Saya’s a sad, mute wallflower turned joyful, self-assured wildflower who spent 10 months in the womb, was born at home alone (on purpose), and was raised by an entrepreneurial odd duck single mom. She was one of Brazen Careerist’s Top Twenty Young Professionals to Watch, has been featured in Forbes and The New York Times, and is a TEDx speaker and an in-progress, fingers-crossed memoirist.
Nicknamed “Chicago’s Fairy Godmother” and “Accessible Oprah,” Saya has run Mac & Cheese Productions℠ since 2004, a lifestyle business that models and offers positive adulting and increases life fulfillment and ease through building connection: to others, to opportunities, and to self.
Think adult recitals, adult kindergarten, adult summer camp...
She’s a Certified Minority Owned Business and staunch supporter of diversifying the stage, which includes a speaker referral initiative she created.
You know all those things that are THE WORST? Networking. Sales. Self-Promotion. Public speaking. Pricing. Saying no. Setting boundaries. Making asks. Working with frustrating people. Dating. Cleaning. To Do Lists. Doing things that scare you. Doing things you're not good at. Doing things you have no business doing. Doing things you don't want to do but have to. Death. Reply All misuse.
Saya (Sigh-Uh) Hillman makes adulthood less worse; enjoyable even.
You could bring in a consultant, a cheerleader, a therapist, a motivational speaker, and a camp counselor; or you could bring in Saya. She’s the perfect blend of professor, peer, and bestie. The poster child for living an idyllic, perfect fitting-life, Saya inspires groups and individuals to take charge of their lives and to learn, grow, and become even more delicious versions of themselves
Her natural fit and most requested speaking role is opening keynote. But she easily slides into most speaker-adjacent roles.
Clients include Eventbrite, Microsoft, CDWG, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Groupon. Past engagements have brought her to Palm Springs, Park City, South Dakota, New York, and Charleston.
An Evanston, Illinois native, Boston College graduate, and Chicago resident, Saya’s a sad, mute wallflower turned joyful, self-assured wildflower who spent 10 months in the womb, was born at home alone (on purpose), and was raised by an entrepreneurial odd duck single mom. She was one of Brazen Careerist’s Top Twenty Young Professionals to Watch, has been featured in Forbes and The New York Times, and is a TEDx speaker and an in-progress, fingers-crossed memoirist.
Nicknamed “Chicago’s Fairy Godmother” and “Accessible Oprah,” Saya has run Mac & Cheese Productions℠ since 2004, a lifestyle business that models and offers positive adulting and increases life fulfillment and ease through building connection: to others, to opportunities, and to self.
Think adult recitals, adult kindergarten, adult summer camp...
She’s a Certified Minority Owned Business and staunch supporter of diversifying the stage, which includes a speaker referral initiative she created.
Life of Yes℠: How To Design & Attain a Fulfilling Life That Fits YOU
Format: 30 to 60 minute keynote
This program is perfect for:
- opening keynote at a conference
- staff retreat
Learn simple, actionable steps to create a fulfilled life that fits YOU — YOUR definition of success, YOUR values, boundaries, and wants, YOUR ideal lifestyle — framed through Saya Hillman’s relatable philosophies and experiences.
The poster child of...
Lifestyle Audit & Redesign: Simple & Impactful Ways to Make Adulting Easier
Format: 60 to 90 minute workshop
If you’ve ever felt “There has to be a better way” or like a hamster in a hamster wheel, this session is for you. Saya Hillman shares big-picture philosophies as well as specific tools and tips to manage life — time management, goal setting and attainment, productivity, organization... From email and To Do Lists to shopping and travel, she makes life’s mundane yet necessary tasks easier and more enjoyable, and...
Impact & Empowerment Through Storytelling
Format: 90 - 120 minute workshop
The key to being memorable and impactful is stickiness — how can you stick with your audience? Enter storytelling — learn the recipe for how to be a gift to yourself and to others through personal narrative, resulting in an engaged, captivated audience who is 110% Team You.
