Speaking & Media
Good company. Honest conversations.
Invite Colleen to your podcast, event, or workplace conversation.
Stories about the human side of work, practical perspectives, and a little laughter. Something to think about—and something useful to carry with you.
Speaking & podcast guest conversations
A little levity. Something useful to take home.
I’m Colleen McDonald, SPHR—an HR professional, author, and the person behind Colleen Honestly. I bring over two decades of experience, along with workplace presentations and group facilitation, to conversations about work and the people doing it.
For HR groups, leaders, professional associations, and podcast audiences, here are three places we could start:
Difficult conversations: don’t react, don’t avoid, just talk.
The conversation usually doesn’t get easier while we’re avoiding it. A conversation about pausing, preparing, and finding words that are clear without being cruel.
For: leaders, HR professionals, and anyone navigating a conversation they would rather postpone.
The School Picture That Documented a Crime
A fifth-grade picture, an outfit borrowed without permission, and an unexpected starting point for talking about mentorship, giving credit, and letting good ideas travel.
For: podcast audiences, professional groups, and teams thinking about how people learn from one another.
An org chart has boxes. People have lives.
What does it look like to treat people with care when work is changing? A conversation about dignity, communication, and the work that continues after the announcement.
For: leaders, HR groups, and teams navigating organizational change.
These can be starting points for a podcast interview, a facilitated discussion, or an event conversation. We can talk through the format and what would be useful for your audience.
Tell me about your audience, topic, date, and format, including whether it’s virtual or in person. If you have a budget or a preferred length in mind, include that too. No perfectly polished brief required.
A little more conversation is in the works.
I’m developing a Colleen Honestly podcast about the human side of work—with honest stories, useful perspectives, and room for a little laughter.
What’s something you wish people talked about more? A workplace question, a confusing situation, or something nobody covered in orientation?
Please leave out names, employer details, and confidential information.
For hosts and event organizers
A bio, a headshot, and one less thing to chase.
Short host bio
Colleen J. McDonald, SPHR, is an HR professional, author, and creator of Colleen Honestly. With over two decades of experience, she writes and speaks about the human side of work: difficult conversations, learning from one another, and treating people with dignity through change. Her approach pairs practical perspective with warmth, candor, and a little laughter.
You’re welcome to use this bio and approved headshot when introducing Colleen or promoting an agreed appearance.
Download Colleen’s headshot (JPG)
For interview details or a different bio length, email hello@colleenhonestly.com.
Direct sponsorships
Your business has something useful to offer? Pull up a chair.
I’m seeking direct sponsors who appreciate practical advice, honest conversations, and the occasional lovingly raised eyebrow.
If your business or organization would like to support a Colleen Honestly letter series, a future app feature, or an event, I’d love to hear what you have in mind. Tell me what you do, why you think we’re a fit, and how a partnership could offer something useful to readers.
We can start with a quick email. No 47-slide presentation required. My calendar has suffered enough.
Exploring business sponsorships? Email sponsorship@colleenhonestly.com. Any paid partnership will be clearly labeled. Sponsors support the work; my editorial opinions remain my own.