Sara Ross is an international keynote speaker, author, and the founder and Chief Vitality Officer at BrainAmped, a leadership research firm specializing in human behavior and performance. Sara is on a mission to help organizations and their leaders reignite a sense of aliveness both at work and at home by using brain science-based strategies to amplify emotional intelligence, resilience, and overall well-being.
With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of organizational psychology, emotional intelligence, and energy management, Sara has earned a reputation as a fresh and thought-provoking voice in leadership and workplace culture. Her pioneering research on the science of workplace vitality—along with her bestselling book, Dear Work: Something Has to Change—has led her to work with a diverse range of clients, including Microsoft, PepsiCo, Cisco, Wells Fargo, T-Mobile, Allstate, United Health, BMO, and Stanford University, as well as military organizations like the U.S. Navy SEALs and the leadership team of the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
Sara’s leadership expertise, combined with her cutting-edge insights, has made her a sought-after consultant and speaker, especially for senior, technically sophisticated, and often skeptical audiences. In her high-energy keynotes, Sara integrates relevant science, relatable stories, and actionable strategies to challenge the status quo and inspire lasting change. Whether leading a team through complex challenges or helping individuals develop high performance under stress, Sara’s approach is guaranteed to leave audiences with new perspectives and tangible tools they can apply immediately.
Before founding BrainAmped, Sara served as Vice President and Global Head of Leadership Innovation at a leadership development company, where she and her team created award-winning leadership programs, assessments, and coaching services. Her academic background includes a Master of Science (MSc) from the University of Waterloo, and she has guest lectured in the executive leadership program at Smith College.
Outside of work, Sara is a coffee lover, a meditation rookie, and an occasional user of the Canadian “eh.” As she humorously puts it, her career is all about professional eavesdropping and people-watching, though she’d argue it’s just dedicated street science to better understand why people do what they do (and why they don’t do what they know they should). In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Sara was named a 2024 Women of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine and 2025 Top 30 Worldwide Motivational Speaker by Global Gurus.
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Testimonials
“Sara was FANTASTIC even more so in person than on our earlier engagement for the Managers Call in December. Her content was super relatable, and we received a lot of positive feedback from the audience. We hosted a networking lunch right after the Town Hall and Sara was graceful with her time and joined us during lunch which allowed with follow on conversations with many of our team members. Overall fantastic engagement and we are very happy with the outcome.”
Director, Customer Engagement and Communications / Microsoft
“Sara Ross was a pleasure to work with. She brought amazing energy to her sessions and really connected with the audience. She took the opportunity to observe our group before her keynote and customized her approach based on our mission and our audience. Her message left our audience with actionable takeaways they can use in business and in their personal lives. Thank you, Sara!!”
Director, Education & Talent / International Fresh Produce Association
“Sara hit the mark! We’ve heard nothing but supremely positive remarks. Our Managing Director said from stage during our closing session that he felt like Sara was speaking directly to him, as it was exactly what he needed to hear. We’ll take that! Super pleased and excited for what her messages will help our teams to do.”
Management Associate / Cargill Animal Nutrition
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