I’m honored to announce that I will be the keynote speaker for the Michigan Organization of Nurse Leaders (MONL) Fall Conference & Annual Meeting on October 24th in East Lansing, MI. This is an incredible opportunity to stand alongside nurse leaders from across the state—leaders who carry the responsibility of shaping not only their teams but also the future of healthcare.
The Message: Why Your Story Matters
My keynote, “12 Seconds Changed Everything – Why Your Story Matters,” is rooted in one moment that altered my life forever. It’s the story of Clark Beaty, a fellow Marine, and the promise I made to him that his story would never stop being told.
From that tragedy, I learned a lesson that applies far beyond the battlefield: stories have the power to teach, to lead, and to save lives.
For nurse leaders, this truth is vital. You carry stories of:
- Passion and empathy in moments where nurses go above and beyond.
- Life-saving experiences where quick decisions made the difference.
- Regrets and mistakes that can prevent others from repeating them.
Your experiences are more than memories—they are leadership tools that shape the growth of the nurses you lead and the culture of the hospitals you serve.
What Attendees Can Expect During this keynote, I will:
- Share deeply personal stories of love, tragedy, trauma, and hope.
- Explore leadership lessons learned as a Marine Corps pilot, Air Medical pilot, and trauma survivor.
- Show how communication and storytelling are the most powerful tools leaders have to inspire, protect, and prepare their teams.
- Leave you with a call to action: share your story this week—because it could be someone’s survival guide.
This will not just be a speech—it will be a journey of emotion, reflection, and inspiration.
Why This Matters Now
Healthcare leadership is about more than policies, procedures, and protocols. It’s about human connection. It’s about remembering that behind every chart, every room, every shift, and every code blue—there is a person, a family, and a story.
By sharing our stories, we remind ourselves and our teams why this work matters and how we can continue to grow together. It also gives us, as leaders, the opportunity to guide the next generations of nurses through our collective experiences. The lessons we carry—whether from moments of triumph, compassion, or regret—become the foundation on which new leaders are built. When we pass along our stories, we don’t just strengthen today’s workforce, we prepare tomorrow’s nurses to lead with wisdom, empathy, and resilience.
“Twelve seconds changed my life forever. Clark Beaty’s story will never stop, because I promised him it wouldn’t. As leaders, we carry the same responsibility—to tell our stories so that others may live, lead, and learn from them.” – Matthew Currin