Keynote Speaker
Resilient Leadership and Health Innovation
Helping leaders and teams turn overwhelm into sustainable momentum — one micro-step at a time.
My signature Micro-Step Framework™ is built on the idea that lasting change doesn't come from grand plans, but from small, intentional actions taken with self-awareness and courage.
Featured at Stanford, UC Berkeley, Oxford, and MIT Alumni Events
About Me
I grew up in a small town in Siberia, raised by hardworking parents and grandparents who taught me resilience, care, and the value of community. My grandmother expressed love through food — I still remember her blinis, made with patience and warmth. When I lost my grandparents young, I carried those lessons of strength and connection with me.
At 18, I convinced my parents to let me spend a summer in the U.S. When my internship fell through, I found myself at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York with no plan. I bought a Greyhound ticket, worked by the ocean, made friends from around the world, and discovered that courage is built one uncertain step at a time.
That experience shaped how I lead and live today. I'm a health-tech founder, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker focused on helping people navigate uncertainty and sustain their performance with purpose. Drawing from my work in healthcare innovation and leadership development, I teach audiences how to build resilience and create momentum — one micro-step at a time.
I also host Ocean Notes, a 1–3 minute micro-podcast of honest reflections that often become the quiet starting point for my talks and workshops.
My signature Micro-Step Framework™ is built on the idea that lasting change doesn't come from grand plans, but from small, intentional actions taken with self-awareness and courage.
Immigrant Leader
Healthcare Founder
Public Speaker
Community Builder
What I Stand For
I believe that health and leadership are deeply connected — because the way we take care of ourselves shapes how we show up for others.
My mission is to help leaders and teams build resilience, focus, and well-being in a world that's constantly changing. By blending science, storytelling, and actionable tools, I show how human-centered leadership can drive both personal growth and organizational success.
Whether speaking to founders, executives, or cross-functional teams, my message is the same: sustainable success starts with self-awareness, compassion, and the courage to take the next step.
Speaker Bio
Svetlana Kaz is a keynote speaker and health-tech founder who helps leaders build resilience and sustainable success through her Micro-Step Framework™. Drawing from her journey as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and women's-health advocate, she blends storytelling with science to inspire action. Svetlana has spoken at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and MIT Alumni events — empowering audiences to lead with clarity, courage, and empathy.
Speaking & Engagements
Svetlana has spoken at Stanford University, Oxford University, UC Berkeley, and MIT Alumni events, as well as leading conferences across healthcare, AI, entrepreneurship, and immigrant leadership. Her audiences span from high school students to global professionals, all drawn to her authentic storytelling and actionable insights.
As an angel investor, community builder, and healthcare founder, Svetlana brings an entrepreneurial lens to every conversation about purpose and possibility — inspiring people to lead with courage, empathy, and vision in every stage of their journey.
For event organizers and program leads
Download Speaker One-Sheet
Everything you need to know about Svetlana's keynote topics, audience takeaways, and speaking experience — in one downloadable PDF.
Speaking Topics
1. The Micro-Step Framework™: Building Resilient Leaders in an Uncertain World
In this practical and inspiring keynote, Svetlana shares her Micro-Step Framework™ — a science-based approach, rooted in the same honest reflections she shares on her micro-podcast Ocean Notes, that helps leaders build resilience through small, intentional actions. Audiences leave with tools to focus, recover, and move forward during uncertainty.
Best For: Leadership conferences, corporate offsites, and founder summits.
2. Health as the Foundation of Leadership: Why Well-Being Drives Sustainable Success
Svetlana connects health and leadership, drawing from her journey as a health-tech founder. She shows how investing in physical and emotional well-being fuels clarity, creativity, and sustainable success for teams and organizations.
Best For: Leadership events, HR and people operations programs, and wellness or culture-focused conferences.
Each talk can be delivered as a keynote (30–60 min) or interactive workshop (90 min).
The Micro-Step Framework™
Turning overwhelm into focused action.
The Micro-Step Framework™ helps leaders rewire how they respond to stress and uncertainty — through small, consistent actions that restore focus, motivation, and emotional stamina.
It was born from the same place as my micro-podcast, Ocean Notes — small, honest check-ins that help people take one grounded step at a time.
"Resilience isn't about pushing harder — it's about starting smaller." — Svetlana Kaz
What Audiences Say
"The Micro-Step Framework made me realize I often create unnecessary mental barriers — when sometimes, just sending one message is enough to move forward."
— Annika
"Svetlana shared such valuable reminders on taking care of ourselves and being the driver to put the company back on track when things derail."
— Priya
"The audience loved Svetlana's presence and the transparency she brought to the topic of leadership."
— UC Berkeley
"If I could describe Svetlana's speech in one word, it would be 'Genuine.'"
— Sandy
"I was so moved by Svetlana's vulnerability when sharing about her physical and mental health experiences."
— Christelle
Ready to bring the Micro-Step Framework™ to your next event?
I'm building solutions for health innovation, inspiring the next generation of leaders, and proving that the sky is the limit. Let's connect.