Available to book
Elise Schuster
Learn to create truly affirming workplaces for LGBTQ+ employees with Elise Schuster, founder and executive director at OkaySo and sexuality educator.
Elise (they/them) believes that safe spaces are the most important element in helping people grow and change. During their 20 years in the public health and sexuality education sector, Elise has helped countless companies and organizations build safer communities for LGBTQ folks, develop empathetic leadership skills, manage volunteers, and more.
Elise is currently the Co-Founder and Executive Director of a tech non-profit called OkaySo that connects young people with questions about sex, relationships, and identity to vetted experts who provide personalized support and information. In this role, Elise oversees all aspects of the organization, which has answered over 13,000 questions on a wide variety of topics from folks across the United States.
Prior to founding OkaySo, Elise worked at The Door, running professional development and building a training institute for people working with marginalized youth. Elise also holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University.
Topics, sessions and talks
Join educator Elise Schuster as they explore the evolving landscape of gender and sexuality, highlighting that over 15% of Generation Z identifies as LGBTQ+. As this generation enters the workforce, understanding these dynamics is crucial for employers and colleagues. Participants will examine their assumptions about LGBTQ+ history, learn terminology beyond LGBT, and reflect on their own relationships to these issues. Attendees will leave with the knowledge to foster empathy and contribute to a more equitable future.
In this interactive session, Elise Schuster will reveal the secrets that social workers and therapists use to foster deep listening and validation. Attendees will explore common pitfalls in leadership communication and understand the effectiveness of deep listening. They will learn practical skills such as active listening and reflection, and engage in hands-on practice to ensure they can apply these techniques right away. Participants will leave equipped to transform their relationships through improved communication skills.
To attract top talent, employers must foster safe and affirming environments that encompass hiring, training, policies, and physical spaces. Building on their previous Gender and Sexuality 101 session, Elise shares practical best practices for creating inclusive workplaces. Attendees will learn the significance of supportive spaces and how to assess and improve their current policies and onboarding procedures for LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
Elise Schuster will guide attendees in transforming their meetings and training sessions from mundane to engaging. In this interactive session, participants will learn essential facilitation skills that foster psychological safety, maintain momentum, and enhance engagement. Key takeaways include understanding adult learning principles, creating a successful meeting framework, and practicing techniques to manage challenging situations. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with practical tools to elevate their events and ensure a dynamic experience for all.
Elise brings over two decades of expertise in public health and sexuality education, specializing in creating inclusive environments and fostering empathetic leadership. By booking Elise, your team will gain invaluable insights into building safer, more supportive communities for LGBTQ individuals and beyond. Their proven track record, including the impactful work at OkaySo, demonstrates a unique ability to connect with and educate diverse audiences on sensitive topics.
Testimonials
often considered together
Tammy Smith
Diversity and Inclusion
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email elise.schuster@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Elise's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Elise Schuster structures sessions around assumption-examination exercises and hands-on skills practice, drawing on 20 years of public health and sexuality education experience to move attendees from conceptual understanding to applied technique.
Elise Schuster's sessions address gender and sexuality education, creating affirming workplaces for LGBTQ+ employees, and deep listening as a leadership communication skill. They are Co-Founder and Executive Director of OkaySo, a tech non-profit that has answered over 13,000 questions on sex, relationships, and identity from people across the United States.
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Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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