DisruptHR North Country 2025
🔥 What Is DisruptHR?
DisruptHR is more than an event, it’s a global movement.
At DisruptHR North Country, you'll hear short, powerful, high-energy talks from business leaders, HR pros, and bold thinkers who are flipping the script on leadership, culture, inclusion, hiring, retention, and what it really means to build a workplace that works.
🧠 The Format: Fast. Fun. Unfiltered.
You’ll experience:
9 speakers delivering 5-minute talks (that’s it!)
20 auto-advancing slides per speaker — no rambling, no fluff
A room full of leaders who are ready to challenge the status quo
This isn’t a panel. It’s not a webinar.
It’s TEDx meets happy hour meets rebel HR.
And it’s a hell of a good time.
💥 Speaker Lineup
Devan Robinson
Their speech “Corporate Conditioning is Killing Your Leadership” is disruptive because… "This message invites people to stop outsourcing their power, stop apologizing for their presence, and start leading like the system isn’t the standard. That’s not just rebellious—it’s revolutionary."
Jamie Mowers
Their speech is disruptive because.. “These intentional moments of recognition serve multiple functions: they validate hard work, reinforce desired behaviors, and signal progress even amid uncertainty. Peer-led acknowledgment and structured rituals foster a culture of appreciation, helping individuals feel seen and valued. When setbacks occur, reframing them as “learning wins” turns potential demoralization into collective growth. The result? A motivated, cohesive team that owns its journey—together celebrating every climb, no matter how steep.”
Jenna D'Annunzio
Their speech “Believe it or not - Your Beliefs MATTER!” is disruptive because… “This approach is disruptive in a world where numbers don't lie and Inner Work IS considered a strategy. Leadership isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are. That’s disruptive in a world that often rewards speed over self-awareness. When leaders root their actions from their core belief systems, especially ones centered on purpose, possibility, and emotional intelligence, it can be profoundly disruptive in the best way. Many leaders operate from scarcity—fear of failure, competition, or pride. A belief-centered approach flips that: it asks, what would you build if you trusted your vision? It shifts discontent to curiosity. That shift alone can upend entire business models.”
Maria Maier
Their speech “No power, no permission— still on a mission” is disruptive because… "Whether you're championing a new policy, leading culture change, or motivating teams remotely, you'll walk away with strategies you can apply today—no manipulation, just momentum. If you’ve ever felt unheard, underestimated, or out of authority, this is your rebel playbook. Influence isn’t reserved for the C-suite—it belongs to those bold enough to use it wisely.
Real ethical influence doesn’t come from position. It comes from precision—and persuasion with purpose."
Patrice Williams Lindo
Their speech “When Black Women Rework—Not Just Refine—Work” is disruptive because… “Most “equity” work asks Black women to keep bending while systems stay the same. This talk flips that. It challenges leaders to stop centering comfort and start centering truth, even if it shakes the table. It’s a call to redesign how work is measured, recognized, and valued, led by those who’ve survived the worst of it. This isn’t about diversity statements—it’s about structural disruption that forces accountability, sustainability, and radical redesign.”
Shelbie MacMaster
Their speech Rebel With a Nervous System: Rewire Leadership From the Inside Out” is disruptive because… “The ASCEND framework disrupts traditional leadership by prioritizing nervous system safety, emotional regulation, and deep self-honesty over hustle, hierarchy, and hollow productivity. We’ve normalized exhaustion and labeled it excellence. This flips the script. ASCEND challenges audiences to lead from embodiment, not burnout—to stop bypassing truth for performance, and to trade sacrifice for sustainable self-leadership. It’s rebellious because it dares to center healing, not just metrics, as a measure of impact.”
Tracy Dando
Their speech “"Psychological Safety: The New Power Move"” is disruptive because… “Most workplace wellness talks focus on what employees need to do: speak up, set boundaries, communicate better. This one flips the script. We put the responsibility squarely where it belongs, on leadership. This talk disrupts outdated leadership models by calling out performative empathy and emphasizing action over optics. It demands honesty, humility, and accountability from the top down and creates space for real change.”
Brit DeRosa
Their speech “Your Story Sucks” is disruptive because… “Even as HR is breaking out of its cocoon to a grand metamorphosis of taking a people-first approach, everyone around us is stuck in the past and thinks we're "only protecting the company". We can't sit back and wait for them to figure it out. We have to own our story.”
Cam Borowiec
Their speech “Let's NOT Talk About Money” is disruptive because… “Money is as taboo as sex and politics and religion. It's almost like the "powers that be" (too tin foil hat?) don't want us discussing this topic and don't want us to succeed when it comes to this part of our lives. I say it's time we disrupt that narrative.”
🌟 What You’ll Walk Away With:
✅ New ways of thinking about your people, leadership, and growth
✅ Real, tactical ideas you can bring back to your team
✅ Connection with local professionals who give a damn about doing business better
✅ A spark of momentum — whether you're in HR, leadership, entrepreneurship, or just figuring it out
This event isn’t just for HR pros. It’s for managers, entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, culture champions, and anyone sick of “business as usual.”
🎯 Who Should Come?
HR pros who want to grow past compliance and into real leadership
Entrepreneurs ready to build better companies, not just bigger ones
Managers who want their teams to thrive
Changemakers. Rebels. Realists.
You.
💥 Don’t Miss It.
This event sells out.
Small venue. Big energy. Real people.