Katie Keller Wood Keynote Speaker

  • Best Selling Author
  • Montessori Teacher for Adult Development
  • TEDx Speaker

Katie Keller Wood's Biography

Dr. Katie Keller Wood is a TEDx and international keynote speaker, USA Today Bestselling Author, and university professor recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on Montessori education for adolescents and adults. She blends a deep understanding of how people learn with expertise in adult development to help professionals stay engaged in meaningful work while living lives that feel whole.
As longtime director of CMStep, Katie has trained and mentored hundreds of middle and high school educators across the globe and is widely regarded as a pioneer in Montessori programming for both adolescents and adults. Invited to teach classes at the University of Virginia—where she also earned both her bachelor’s and doctorate—her thought leadership has reached tens of thousands worldwide.

Beyond the classroom, Katie brings her insights on learning and human development to diverse audiences: from graduate students at Purdue Fort Wayne and the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, to entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers seeking new ways to flourish in work and life. Her bestselling book Alignment: A Montessori Approach to Reimagining Work-Life Balance builds on this work, helping professionals discover that work and life don’t have to feel like opposing forces.
Known for making complex ideas simple and actionable, Katie weaves Montessori principles, psychology, and personal experience into practical strategies that empower individuals and organizations to create a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world—one aligned life at a time.

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Katie Keller Wood's Speaking Topics

  • Rethinking work-life balance (Also described as burnout-prevention and resilience/retention strategies, especially for mission-driven professionals)

  • Applying Montessori principles to adult work

  • Adult learning and development

  • Supporting healthy adolescent development

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Videos of Katie Keller Wood

Work-Life Balance is a Lie: Finding Alignment | Kathryn Keller Wood | TEDxRockville

Books by Katie Keller Wood

Alignment: A Montessori Approach to Reimagining Work-Life Balance

Comments & Testimonials

“Every time I hear Katie Keller Wood, I come away with actionable insights. She's a captivating speaker who brings curiosity, compassion, and deep expertise.”
Rebekah Berlin Ph.D. Senior Program Director Deans for Impact
“Katie was consistently named in our post-conference survey as the highlight of the day. Katie’s insights are useful to any person who aspires to find joy and peace as they build a life of work, family, friends, and self.”
Dr. Corey Borgman Director of Education and Outreach for Montessori Science Program, University of Virginia

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