Keynotes
Energetic, practical mainstage sessions designed for mixed early childhood audiences.
Book Kate
Bring Kate to Your Next Event.
Looking for a keynote or workshop that is energetic, practical, and grounded in the real work of early childhood? Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., PCC speaks to early childhood professionals, program teams, association audiences, workforce partners, and professional development conferences with practical insight, memorable language, and real field experience.
Her sessions are built for people who want more than inspiration. They want ideas they can remember, language they can use, and tools they can take back into the work.
Prefer to talk it through? Book a 20-minute call.
Start the Conversation
Let's find the right fit.
Every event has its own audience, goals, theme, and reality.
Kate offers keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, professional development days, leadership retreats, association events, workforce gatherings, and virtual programs. Whether your audience includes teachers, family child care providers, directors, owners, school-age professionals, trainers, or mixed ECE teams, the goal is the same: practical, memorable content that connects to the real work.
Use the form below to share more about your event, and we'll follow up with availability, fit, and next steps.
Event Inquiry
Tell Us More About Your Event.
Ways to Work With Kate
Built for the real work.
Breakout Sessions
Focused sessions that give participants language, tools, and next steps they can use immediately.
Workshops
Interactive 60-minute, 90-minute, half-day, or full-day professional development.
Leadership Retreats
Deeper sessions for teams, associations, owners, directors, workforce partners, and program leaders.
Virtual Sessions
Engaging online keynotes, workshops, and professional development sessions.
Popular Topics for Events
Memorable language. Practical tools.
Children Are Not Widgets
Business tools belong in early childhood. One-size-fits-all thinking does not.
Where Are My Ducks?
Sort the responsibility. Reduce the overwhelm. Stop carrying what was never yours.
Staff Who Stay
Creating early childhood workplaces people want to join, grow in, and stay with.
Too Busy to Play
Reclaim wonder, curiosity, and joy in the middle of the work.
Build the Profession. Build the Child.
Because children thrive when the adults around them are seen, prepared, and respected.
For Event Planners
Resources at your fingertips.
Need Kate's bio, headshot, speaker sheet, or testimonial link? This section is designed to make planning easier.
- M.Ed.
- PCC
- Co-Author of 11 Industry Books
- Textbook Author
- Former SBA Business Analyst
- Host of Childcare Conversations
Short Bio
For programs & intros
Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., PCC is an early childhood keynote speaker, author, trainer, and host of Childcare Conversations. Known for her signature message, Because Children Are Not Widgets, Kate brings energetic, practical keynotes grounded in decades of experience across classrooms, programs, associations, business development, curriculum, training, and leadership.
She is the co-author of 11 child care leadership and business books, several of which are used as textbooks in director credentialing, administrator development, and professional learning programs.
Full Speaker Bio
For press & conference pages
Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., PCC is an early childhood keynote speaker, author, trainer, podcast host, and ICF Professional Certified Coach. Her work focuses on people, decisions, and reality in early childhood education and out-of-school-time programs.
With experience as a Pre-K and out-of-school-time teacher, family child care provider, child care director, multi-site school age program manager, substitute service owner, association executive, SBA business analyst, curriculum writer, and trainer, Kate brings a rare cross-field perspective to early childhood audiences.
She is the co-author of 11 industry books, including texts used in director credentialing, administrator development, and professional learning programs.
She is known for energetic, practical keynotes that challenge one-size-fits-all thinking while honoring the real people doing the work. Her signature message, Because Children Are Not Widgets, reflects her belief that early childhood needs strong tools, clear decisions, and business practices that actually fit human development, relationships, and care.
Tell Us More About Your Event.
Have a conference, professional development day, workforce event, association gathering, or retreat coming up? Share a few details, and we'll help determine the right keynote, workshop, or session fit.