Speaker Development Series: Drive Powerful Action WITHOUT Burning Out

Join us every third Wednesday for the NSA Carolinas Speaker Development Series, designed to help you build a thriving, ethical speaking business.

February Speaker Development Series: Drive Powerful Action WITHOUT Burning Out

Date & Time: February 18, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET

Success in building your speaking business does not have to come at the expense of your energy and well-being. The key lies in understanding what drives your actions: cortisol, the stress hormone, or dopamine, the motivation and reward chemical. Operating from cortisol can lead to burnout, while working from dopamine fuels sustainable, high-impact action.

In this hands-on session, Dr. Susie Hansley will teach you how to recognize which mode you are in and how to switch to dopamine-driven energy in seconds. You will learn practical tools to reduce stress, increase focus, and take consistent action that supports your goals without draining your energy.

Key Takeaways

• Recognize when your business-building actions are fueled by cortisol instead of dopamine

• Learn a simple four-step process to shift to dopamine-driven action anytime

• Build a supportive network that encourages dopamine-fueled productivity instead of stress-driven effort

About the Speaker

Dr. Susie Hansley is a Master Certified Coach specializing in stress management, emotional intelligence, and resilience. She combines trauma-informed and science-based techniques, developed through her own experiences and professional training, including a four-month hypnotherapy program with leading hypnotherapist Melissa Tiers. Susie has spoken on the science of stress for organizations such as Google, Blue Shield of California, Equitable Solutions, and Duke Health and Technology Solutions. A trauma survivor and person with anxiety and ADHD, she applies the techniques she teaches in her own life. Susie holds a Ph.D. in English, where she studied the effects of cortisol-driven action on burnout, and she is the winner of NSA Carolinas Last Story Standing 2025.