Bio:

After a decade advocating as a social justice and disability attorney in New York and Washington states, Katie Joy Duke left the practice of law in 2016 following the death of her firstborn daughter, Poppy. Devastated with grief, Katie honored her loss by committing to her healing, knowing that only by healing herself could she be of service to others again.

Her commitment led to a radical transformation. Katie is now an award-winning non-fiction author, mindset coach, speaker, and women’s retreat leader. Her memoir, Still Breathing: My Journey with Love, Loss, and Reinvention, is a heartfelt love story that chronicles her journey through grief, healing, and reinvention after Poppy’s death. Through her coaching practice, Katie partners with individuals to reprogram subconscious limiting beliefs, rediscover their essence, and create lives filled with meaning and joy.

In yet another unexpected twist of fate, Katie was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer just as her memoir was published in 2022. After chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy, Katie is now living with no evidence of active disease. She lives every day as if it were a gift.

As a speaker, Katie uses her lived experience to inspire others to embrace life’s transitions with courage, authenticity, and resilience. As the founder of The Emerging Goddess retreat and creator of Light Me Up: A 6-Week Self-awareness and Empowerment Intensive, Katie leads transformative experiences that help individuals realign with their intuition, reclaim their worthiness, and awaken their creative power.

Katie speaks on topics of self-compassion, resilience, and post-traumatic growth, empowering audiences to navigate life’s challenges with self-care and self-love. She firmly believes that while we cannot change the circumstances of our lives, we can change how we respond and how we treat ourselves when hardship comes.

Speaking Topic: 

The Power of Self-Compassion: How to Lead with Kindness

In high-pressure roles, especially in male-dominated fields, women often struggle with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, burnout, and self-criticism. This talk will focus on the vital role self-compassion plays in leadership, building confidence, and personal growth. By embracing self-compassion, women can break free from the cycles of self-doubt and overwhelm, ultimately improving their leadership, well-being, and productivity. I will offer practical tools and strategies to integrate self-compassion into daily life, so women can authentically lead with kindness—not only to others but to themselves.

Through personal stories and research-backed insights, this talk will inspire Women in Rural Water to embrace their worth, overcome imposter syndrome, and unlock their full potential as compassionate and effective leaders.

Key Takeaways:

• The connection between self-compassion and resilience in leadership, and how self-compassion strengthens your ability to handle challenges in personal and professional life.
• Practical steps for integrating self-compassion into daily routines to reduce burnout, enhance well-being, and elevate leadership effectiveness.
• How self-compassion improves productivity, morale, and overall leadership capabilities in challenging roles.