Diane Jackson Schnoor
Looking to energize your next event with a keynote that delivers transformation and joy? With 30 years of experience, Dr Diane Jackson Schnoor helps organizations build thriving cultures through playful leadership, empathy-driven innovation, and story-powered connection. Her talks are packed with actionable insights on using the power of play to enhance collaboration and creativity.
An acclaimed educator, consultant, speaker, and podcast host, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor brings three decades of experience igniting wonder, curiosity, and fearless joy in learners and leaders alike. From classrooms to boardrooms, she is on a mission to prove that play is serious business—a vital lever for creative problem-solving, collaboration, mental health, and executive function.
“Dr. Diane takes it to the next level,” says science personality Steve Spangler, who has witnessed her powerful impact firsthand. “When I watch teachers engage with her and get fired up... Truly a transformational moment for teachers”.
Known for her high-energy keynotes, interactive workshops, and transformative storytelling, Dr. Diane weaves empathy, literacy, STEM/STEAM, and nature-inspired insights into each message. Whether guiding organizations to embed play into their culture or helping educators grow tomorrow’s problem solvers, her work is rooted in deep expertise and contagious enthusiasm.
Dr. Diane has graced national stages including NAEYC, SECA, CAST, and the Association of Children’s Museums. She is also the host of the Adventures in Learning podcast, where she amplifies the voices of creative problem solvers across the globe. Dr. Diane's work is grounded by 30+ years of practical knowledge from her work in the classroom, as founder of an award-winning preschool, as a museum educator, and as a college professor.
Her signature talks include:
• From Preschool to the Boardroom: Playful Leadership Transforms Lives
• It Starts with a Seed: Growing the Problem Solvers Our Planet Needs
• Weaving Empathy Through Wonder, Curiosity, Connection, and Play
"Diane Schnoor is one of those speakers who makes you feel warm inside while also empowered to take action," says Tricia Brouk, award winning director and founder of The Big Talk. "She is commanding and relatable. She's charismatic and precise. I cannot recommend Diane more highly for your event. If you want to understand how to incorporate play into your organization to increase your bottom line and support a company culture, she's the speaker you need to hire."
An acclaimed educator, consultant, speaker, and podcast host, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor brings three decades of experience igniting wonder, curiosity, and fearless joy in learners and leaders alike. From classrooms to boardrooms, she is on a mission to prove that play is serious business—a vital lever for creative problem-solving, collaboration, mental health, and executive function.
“Dr. Diane takes it to the next level,” says science personality Steve Spangler, who has witnessed her powerful impact firsthand. “When I watch teachers engage with her and get fired up... Truly a transformational moment for teachers”.
Known for her high-energy keynotes, interactive workshops, and transformative storytelling, Dr. Diane weaves empathy, literacy, STEM/STEAM, and nature-inspired insights into each message. Whether guiding organizations to embed play into their culture or helping educators grow tomorrow’s problem solvers, her work is rooted in deep expertise and contagious enthusiasm.
Dr. Diane has graced national stages including NAEYC, SECA, CAST, and the Association of Children’s Museums. She is also the host of the Adventures in Learning podcast, where she amplifies the voices of creative problem solvers across the globe. Dr. Diane's work is grounded by 30+ years of practical knowledge from her work in the classroom, as founder of an award-winning preschool, as a museum educator, and as a college professor.
Her signature talks include:
• From Preschool to the Boardroom: Playful Leadership Transforms Lives
• It Starts with a Seed: Growing the Problem Solvers Our Planet Needs
• Weaving Empathy Through Wonder, Curiosity, Connection, and Play
"Diane Schnoor is one of those speakers who makes you feel warm inside while also empowered to take action," says Tricia Brouk, award winning director and founder of The Big Talk. "She is commanding and relatable. She's charismatic and precise. I cannot recommend Diane more highly for your event. If you want to understand how to incorporate play into your organization to increase your bottom line and support a company culture, she's the speaker you need to hire."
FROM PRESCHOOL TO THE BOARD ROOM-- PLAYFUL LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMS LIVES
Format: 1 hour keynote plus 30-60 minute breakout workshops for hands-on applications; Also available as a full or half day retreat
This program is perfect for:
- Leaders seeking to develop innovative, creative problem solving teams
- Teams looking to problem solve and innovate with greater joy, collaboration, and creativity
The audience will leave...
IT STARTS WITH A SEED – GROWING THE PROBLEM-SOLVERS OUR PLANET NEEDS
Format: 45-60 minute keynote. Can also include breakout workshops or full and half day retreats.
This program is perfect for:
- organizations looking to transform their cultures to support creative problem solving
- leaders seeking to build more connected, rooted teams
The audience will leave with:
- Strategies to adjust the learning ecosystem to support problem...
WONDER, CURIOSITY, CONNECTION, PLAY -- WEAVING THE COLORS OF EMPATHY INTO A COAT TO HELP YOU WEATHER LIFE’S STORMS
Format: 45 minute keynote
This program is perfect for:
- people feeling stuck or overwhelmed
- people caught in the same way of doing things
- groups facing challenges in building collaborative teams
The audience will leave with:
- Strategies to use empathy as a tool for building connections.
- The ability to tap into wonder, curiosity, connection,...
Beyond Ever After: Unlocking Connections Between STEM and Literacy for Engaged Learning
Format: 1 hour keynote, breakout workshops, full and half day professional development workshops
This program is perfect for:
- Early childhood and K-8 educators seeking to build connections between science and literacy
- Early childhood and K-8 administrators and teachers seeking to increase student engagement and learning
The audience will leave...
