Gabriella van Rij
Undeniable authority on social issues such as anti-bullying, communication, diversity, kindness, team-building, tolerance, women’s empowerment, and workplace harassment
Topic Categories:
- Speaker
- Author
- Kindness Expert
*Fee ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact your Speaker Exchange Agency representative.
Gabriella is an in-demand Speaker and undeniable authority on social issues such as anti-bullying, communication, diversity, kindness, team-building, tolerance, women’s empowerment, and workplace harassment.
Gabriella delivers talks that provide the groundwork for lasting change. Drawing from groundbreaking science, her immense cross-cultural experience, and her signature wit, Gabriella inspires organizations to tap into the power of Kindness—the most underutilized skill in today’s world.
Gabriella van Rij (pronounced “ray”) was plucked from a Pakistani orphanage at three, and grew up in Holland. She learned about bullies and racism the hard way, but she refused to remain a victim. Instead, she used understanding and empathy to defeat fear and mistrust. The techniques she pioneered are even more relevant in a country-and economy-that is increasingly global and multicultural.
Gabriella is an acclaimed author of three books. With All My Might is her mesmerizing memoir of one of the first cross-cultural adoptions. I Can Find My Might is part self-help, part practical resource for students, parents, and educators. Gabriella’s personal experience creates a boots-on-the-ground approach to bullying and self-acceptance that is nothing short of magical. Watch Your Delivery is Gabriella’s third and latest book. She also writes for the Huffington Post and the NY Daily News. Gabriella’s documentary, Our Silence Is Complicity, was released in the fall of 2014.
Today, Gabriella is a Speaker, author and Kindness expert who speaks to thousands every month. For the last three years, Gabriella has been seen by millions on Dr. Phil, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.
Tolerance is one of the most misunderstood and intolerant notions that exists in the workplace today. In this immersive keynote, Gabriella helps organizations:
- Understand the immense, concrete benefits of diversity in the workplace
- Identify the difference between “tolerance” and “acceptance”
- Discover the power of kindness to foster diversity and acceptance
- Implement a simple, proven system for measuring success in kindness and acceptance
Optimize your communication for success by developing the habits of top communicators.
Workplace culture and communication has become a crucial aspect of business sustainability, staff satisfaction and retention. Drawing from her popular book Watch Your Delivery, Gabriella delivers an engrossing keynote that empowers organizations to:
- Understand the difference between opinions and judgments
- Improve communication at all levels
- Create a transparent and respectful environment
- Develop and implement an action plan for preventing workplace harassment
Workplace harassment comes with a dire consequence to not only staff but to the company’s culture and its productivity. Drawing from her experience, Gabriella empowers organizations to:
- Understand the root cause of harassment
- Improve communication between colleagues
- Create a safe and respectful workplace
- Implement an action plan for preventing workplace harassment
This keynote focuses on the different methods to develop kindness in the workplace by becoming an active witness, by owning your uniqueness, and by becoming a kindness instigator through addressing the following:
- The role kindness plays in creating a community and work environment where all feel safe and accepted by others
- Hindrances to kindness in the workplace
- What kindness looks like in the workplace, practical applications
- Empathy and learning to shift your perception to see the other’s perspective
- How making it about them, not about you, will help you be a better communicator
Women have developed an uncanny fortitude through their long struggle against workplace biases and the lingering gender gap. Yet the biases that continue to exist within office walls have negative consequences for growth and success at every level. Gabriella breaks through gender barriers with this inspiring keynote, empowering organizations to:
- Identify and incorporate the special skills women bring to the team
- Foster respect and appreciation for diverse cultures
- Empower women to maintain their own culture to help the company thrive
- Take action to prevent harassment in the workplace
Learn how dealing with racism and intolerance led to one woman finding her passion and how you, too, can use your pain to find your life’s purpose. Gabriella’s unique story will resonate with many. It will empower and show those struggling a path to finding their own might through:
- Embracing your adversity
- Discovering how we disengage
- Learning how to conform without losing self
- Taking ownership of one’s uniqueness
- How your pain can become your greatest strength
Nearly 49% of 4th to 12th grade students report being victimized by bullying. Gabriella helps students and institutions recognize the often-silent signs of harassment; develop a safe environment of open, honest communication; create a game plan to eliminate and prevent future bullying; showcase how the bully and the victim are mirror images of each other; target bullying and cyber torment with kindness, respect, and etiquette
Want to bring Gabriella van Rij to your next event? Please tell us a little about your event, and we will get back to you shortly!