Who is Shannon Talbot? Shannon spent 17 years in global corporate leadership roles at organizations including Scotiabank, Loblaw, and Publicis Groupe, leading teams and initiatives across 25 countries. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, is a Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, and was nominated for an RBC Women of Influence award. She left the corporate world to build a leadership training business now in its fifth year, and she chairs a CEO peer forum through MacKay CEO Forums. She is the author of Breaking Free and is currently writing her second book, The Leadership Mask. Her perspective is also shaped by the time she spent virtually mentoring men at a California medium-security prison, an experience that showed her what leadership looks like once titles, comfort, and excuses are stripped away.

What is the Leadership Mask? The Leadership Mask is the performance layer many leaders build somewhere between their first promotion and the role they're in now. It isn't about dishonesty. It's self protection, worn because jobs can disappear and vulnerability feels risky. Left unchecked, it quietly costs leaders their credibility, their wellbeing, and often their best people. Shannon's speaking, consulting, and coaching work all centre on helping leaders recognize the mask, understand what it's costing them, and lead without it.

What kind of business does Shannon run? Shannon runs a leadership training business built around three services: keynote speaking and workshops for conferences and leadership teams, consulting for organizations that want ongoing support, and a small group coaching program called Unmasked. All three are grounded in the same idea, that most leaders are acting a role instead of leading, and that honest leadership is a skill that can be rebuilt.

Is Shannon Talbot available for keynote speaking in Canada? Yes. Shannon is a Canadian leadership keynote speaker based in Ontario, available for conferences, corporate events, and leadership offsites across Canada, as well as virtual keynotes for organizations anywhere.

What leadership topics does Shannon speak on? Shannon has four keynote talks. Her signature talk, The Leadership Mask, looks at what leaders hide behind and what it costs when they don't stop. The Trust Gap examines what leaders miss even inside great cultures. Thriving Through Change turns uncertainty into clarity, curiosity, and connection. From Burnout to Brilliance shows how honest leadership fuels both performance and wellbeing.

Who typically books Shannon as a speaker? Shannon is booked across industries, by CEOs and executives at fast growing companies, by HR leaders and Chief People Officers, and by event and meeting planners organizing conferences, corporate events, and leadership offsites. Her talks are built for anyone leading people, whatever the room looks like.

Does Shannon speak in person, virtually, or both? Both. Shannon delivers in-person keynotes and workshops across Canada, plus virtual keynotes for teams and conferences anywhere in the world.

What makes Shannon Talbot different from other leadership keynote speakers? Shannon spent 17 years inside global corporate leadership before she ever stood on a stage, so she speaks from lived pressure, not theory. Her lens is also shaped by the time she spent virtually mentoring men at a California medium-security prison, watching leadership show up once titles, comfort, and excuses were gone. Her style is direct, conversational, and a little self-deprecating, closer to a candid conversation with a former executive than a polished motivational address. Leaders leave the room energized, but they also leave with practical tools they can put to work right away.

Does Shannon speak at HR conferences and leadership events? Yes. Shannon speaks at conferences, corporate events, association gatherings, and leadership offsites across industries, and works with event and meeting planners to tailor each talk to the room. Whether you’re looking for an opening keynote, closing keynote or breakout session, Shannon has you covered.  

How do I book Shannon Talbot to speak at my event or conference? Email info@shannontalbot.com with your event date, audience, and what you're hoping the talk will accomplish. All inquiries are responded to either by Shannon or her team within 48 hours.  

What is Shannon's speaking fee? Fees vary depending on event type, audience size, location, and whether the engagement includes a workshop alongside the keynote. Reach out at info@shannontalbot.com for a quote specific to your event.

Does Shannon offer consulting, or only keynote speaking? Both. Speaking is one part of Shannon's leadership training business. She also works directly with organizations on an ongoing consulting basis, including facilitated sessions, custom case studies, and leadership team development.

What size company is the best fit for Shannon's consulting work? Fast growing companies, generally in the 50 to 200 employee range, tend to see the most value. These organizations are usually scaling faster than their leadership culture can keep up with, promoting people before they're ready to lead at the next level, and losing key people at the worst possible time. Shannon's consulting work is built around those three problems specifically.

Who typically hires Shannon for consulting, HR or the CEO? Both, though the entry point differs. CEOs and executives tend to hire Shannon directly when they're personally feeling the cost of disengagement, poor execution, or eroding trust. HR leaders and Chief People Officers more often bring Shannon in to deliver an experience for their leadership teams.

What does a consulting engagement with Shannon look like? Every engagement is built around the organization's specific problem, not a generic leadership program. That might mean a facilitated leadership offsite, custom case studies built around real scenarios inside the business, or ongoing advisory work with the executive team. Reach out at info@shannontalbot.com to talk through what your team needs.

What is Unmasked? Unmasked is Shannon's virtual group coaching cohort for leaders who are ready to stop acting the part and start leading honestly. It's built around the same Leadership Mask framework as her speaking and consulting work, applied over several weeks in a small group setting instead of a single keynote.

Who is Unmasked for? Unmasked is for leaders, executives, and team leaders who recognize they've been leading from behind a mask, whether that shows up as perfectionism, people pleasing, over-proving, or pretending everything is fine when it isn't, and who want a structured, supported way to lead differently.

When does the founding Unmasked cohort start? The founding cohort launches in late September 2026, with space for ten leaders.

How much does Unmasked cost? The current cohort is priced at $1,997.

How do I join Unmasked? Email info@shannontalbot.com to be considered for the founding cohort. Spots are limited.

What is the Leadership Mask Assessment? The Leadership Mask Assessment is a free self-assessment that helps leaders identify which mask they default to under pressure, the Perfectionist, the People-Pleaser, the Prover, or the Pretender, and what it's costing them.

Is the Leadership Mask Assessment free? Yes, the assessment is free to take.

How long does the assessment take? Most leaders complete it in just a few minutes.

Where do I take the assessment? At shannontalbot.com/assessment.

What happens after I complete the assessment? You'll get your primary mask result along with insight into what it's costing you as a leader, plus an invitation to Shannon's newsletter, Behind the Mask, for ongoing insight related to your result.

How can I get in touch with Shannon? Email info@shannontalbot.com or call 416-434-6073.

Does Shannon respond personally to every inquiry? All inquiries are responded to either by Shannon or her team within 48 hours.