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Sally Thornton
Strategy and Growth

Sally Thornton Listed

Making great teams and making teams great through executive search, culture, and AI strategy.

Keynote speaker, workshop leader, coach, and moderator and emcee

Strategy and GrowthLeadership and CultureAI and Technology
+2 moreInnovation and the FutureCommunication and Negotiation

Sending an inquiry is free. You confirm the date, fee, and terms with Sally before anything is booked.

Speaking fees
Custom quote
3 sessions below
Formats
Keynote, Workshop
In person or virtual
Based in
Sonoma, CA
Based in Sonoma, CA, and happy to travel nationally, abroad, or virtually.
Organizer feedback
None collected yet
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Sessions and fees

Every fee below is published by Sally. Custom quote means Sally prices that session for your event.

The Future of High-Performing Teams: What Will Remain True/Important

Custom quote
Keynote1 to 2 hoursIn person or virtual
For entrepreneurs and business owners, CEOs and senior executives, executive peer groups, next-generation leaders, general corporate audiences, and boards and nonprofit leaders.

This talk reveals new frameworks in considering how to not just adapt, but thrive. We draw on the science behind work (both neuroscience and behavioral science) to tease out what will remain true and important to do our best work both individually and as a high-performing team member.

The future of teams includes:

*Creativity – what are the levers to keep your ideas flowing under pressure

*Energy / Wellbeing – practical, research-backed ways to sustain your power as both an individual and team

*Belonging – key strategies using behavioral science to strengthen team collaboration

*Adapting – harnessing a learning mindset with clear communication and prioritization (and re-prioritization!) skills

Can curate a talk, lead exercises, or facilitate a group discussion.

  • Levers for keeping ideas flowing under pressure, to try in their next brainstorm or crunch week
  • A personal and team energy plan built on research-backed habits, ready to start Monday
  • A simple reprioritization check-in and communication script to reset team focus when plans change
Session details and terms
Promotion: None proposed. Required purchases: None. Attendee follow-up: Only with attendees who choose to hear from Sally. A sign up sheet for my newsletter.

The Science of Work/Life Blend

Custom quote
Workshop1 to 2 hoursIn person or virtual
For entrepreneurs and business owners, CEOs and senior executives, and general corporate audiences.

This workshop takes the science of high-performing teams and blends in more time for how individuals can do their best work without burnout. If desired, the science of how gender differences show up in the workplace with specific tools to navigate them is available for audiences of women leaders.

Can curate a talk, lead exercises, or facilitate a group discussion.

  • A personal energy plan built on research-backed habits to do their best work without burnout
  • A team playbook of behavioral-science strategies to build belonging and collaboration in meetings
  • A simple routine to prioritize, reprioritize, and communicate clearly when plans change
Session details and terms
Promotion: None proposed. Required purchases: None. Attendee follow-up: Only with attendees who choose to hear from Sally. A sign-up sheet for anyone who wants my newsletter.

The Power of Storytelling: Moving People to Action

Custom quote
Workshop1 to 2 hoursIn person or virtual
For entrepreneurs and business owners, CEOs and senior executives, and general corporate audiences.

This workshop shows why the leaders who move ideas and organizations forward are often the best storytellers, not the ones with the best data. Drawing on neuroscience and behavioral science, we work through four signature story types that move people from resistance to action, then practice using vulnerability strategically (courage, not TMI). Through short exercises and partner practice, each participant builds a personal story bank and leaves with at least one story ready for their next crucial conversation.

Can curate a talk, lead exercises, or facilitate a group discussion.

  • A framework of four story types to move people from resistance to action
  • A personal story bank, with at least one story ready for their next crucial conversation
  • A clear sense of how to use vulnerability strategically, without oversharing
Session details and terms
Promotion: None proposed. Required purchases: None. Attendee follow-up: Only with attendees who choose to hear from Sally. A sign-up sheet for anyone who wants my newsletter.

About Sally

I’m Sally Thornton, CEO and Founder of Forshay, a San Francisco firm that helps organizations make great teams through executive search and interim leadership, and make teams great through culture, AI strategy for people, and organizational design.

I’m fascinated by what makes people perform at their best. I speak on the neuroscience of peak performance, humor in leadership, storytelling that drives action, and work/life blend without burnout. I’ve given two TEDx talks, and my work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, BBC, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes.

I lecture at Stanford GSB and Berkeley Haas, and Forshay has twice made Inc’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies list.

Media and books

Related books, services, and programs
Consulting or advisoryCoaching

Team Performance - We pair AI transformation with leadership development, because people, leadership, and systems challenges are more connected than most realize. Whether you come for search, interim support, or team performance work, you get a partner who sees the whole picture. AI Transformation - We turn AI into system-wide impact by redesigning workflows and talent operations, building governance and guardrails, and developing human-AI collaboration that lasts.

Learn more at forshay.com (opens in a new tab)

Organizer feedback

No organizer feedback collected yet. Reviews appear on Verified profiles, collected by Short List Speakers from organizers who booked the speaker and published regardless of sentiment. How we collect feedback