As an experienced keynote speaker, professionalism expert, civility consultant, and author, Sue is known for her upbeat and motivating presentations about business protocols, medical decorum, personal branding, and executive social graces.

Sue’s uniquely qualified expertise and refreshingly open-minded approach to professionalism, civility, and grace is what makes her a sought after keynote speaker.

She is fluent on a number of topics, ranging from the life lessons she learned during her career as a death investigator to the positive effects respect and professionalism bring to the workplace…and to the bottom line.

Before becoming a full-time speaker and professionalism consultant, Sue worked for more than 18 years as a forensic death investigator at the medical examiner’s office. During that time she was involved in the medical investigation of thousands of unexpected and violent deaths, learning about the value of respect and the ultimate costs of incivility.

Sue’s experience as a death investigator infiltrates every aspect of her work, and she inspires audiences as she shares the life lessons she learned on her journey from corpses to Carpe Diem.

Sue provides elegant solutions 
for life’s awkward situations. She has spoken to civic and municipal personnel as well as audiences in law, higher education, accounting, architecture, agriculture, health care, and science.

As a regular media resource, Sue has appeared on Oprah Radio (Sirius XM), the Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), Business News Network, CTV, CBC, Global TV, Reader’s Digest, and The Globe and Mail.

Sue is a columnist for Physicians Practice magazine, a Huffington Post contributor, and the author of What The Fork? An Unpretentious Guide to Formal Dining for Informal People.

She is currently writing her second book, Life Lessons from a Death Investigator.

Sue’s mission is to reverse rudeness, revive respect, raise standards, and create courteous cultures.

A marathon runner and Muay Thai practitioner, Sue also enjoys music, hiking, boating, cycling, and skiing. Her personal motto is simple, “When in doubt, choose kindness.”

KEYNOTE #1: Life Lessons from a Death Investigator: How to Live Like There’s No Tomorrow

It’s not every day that audiences have the opportunity to hear a veteran death investigator share the valuable lessons she’s learned about life. And it’s even more rare for people to be able to take such unique philosophies and immediately apply them to their own personal and professional circumstances.

Sue Jacques spent nearly two decades performing the forensic medical investigation of thousands of unexpected and violent deaths during her tenure at the medical examiner’s office. From murders to motor vehicle accidents, drugs to decapitation, and tornadoes to trauma, Sue has seen countless examples of people paying the ultimate price for incivility, insecurity, and indecision: death. Through it all she has maintained an upbeat attitude and developed a deep appreciation for life.

People succeed because of their character and conduct as much as their expertise and education. Professionalism, confidence, respect, and civility are intangible currencies that lead to prosperity. Yet today’s unpredictable and fast-paced world can make it challenging to maintain, or even comprehend, the value of such essentials.

That’s where Sue Jacques comes in. She has a knack for transforming attitudes and stimulating respectful behavior, ultimately setting people up for personal and professional success.

Nothing is off limits in this candid and inspirational keynote. Through Sue’s personal and touching stories, audience members will be moved to take personal responsibility for enhancing the degree of compassion, professionalism, and respect in their own lives … before it’s too late. In addition to sharing details of her journey from corpses to carpe diem, Sue will touch on:

• The value of gratitude
• How to avoid regrets
• What our biggest assets are
• Simple ways to extend compassion
• The power of a pause
• Why it pays to be forgiving
• Life’s ultimate equalizer
• Why it’s imperative to live fully

KEYNOTE #2: Civility CPR: How to Revive Respect and Resuscitate Professionalism at Work

Habitual lateness. Rude language. Electronic intrusions. Sloppy appearance. Work jerks. These all affect your bottom line and carry an exorbitant price tag. It’s time to take incivility, unprofessionalism, and disrespect out of the corporate closet and do something about them!

Professionalism and civility are making a comeback, and the individuals and businesses that take action NOW will soar above their competitors. In this energetic and frank presentation, Sue Jacques will share the observations and strategies she’s gathered over 16 years as a corporate culture expert and will equip you and your team with the ability to show others that you mean business!

Professionalism goes so much deeper than the work we produce or the image we portray; it’s also about our attitude, our ability to communicate effectively, and our level of confidence. Every time someone meets us, interacts with us electronically, connects with us in cyberspace, or speaks with us on the phone, it’s important that they experience our respectful, positive attitude and sense our self-assurance. And it’s equally vital that they have confidence in our understanding of the principles and policies of the brand we are expected—and paid—to represent.

Even the most experienced professionals find themselves in a quandary from time to time. In Civility CPR, audience members will learn practical strategies that will help them distinguish themselves and their businesses through The 6 Ps: Punctuality, Presence, Pride, Poise, Personality, and Professionalism. From congeniality and clothing to communication and courtesy, participants will understand how to develop an authentic and strong presence that helps build a cohesive team and is in balance with the corporate brand they symbolize.

Civility CPR is an illuminating keynote that provides awareness about the value of creating strong guiding principles, setting high corporate standards, and developing respectful and clear expectations.

Audiences will learn:

•  How punctuality saves money
• Why a positive attitude is imperative for achievement
• The value of celebrating personal and professional successes

• How to co-create mutually beneficial dress, appearance, and behavior policies
• Effective ways to deal with disharmony
• How to eliminate workplace gossip
• Why consistency matters
• How to communicate respectfully ~ in person, electronically, and via social media
• Strategies for establishing and maintaining cyber-civility

KEYNOTE #3: What The Fork? How to Network and Dine with Savvy and Grace

Solid professional relationships begin with the ability to confidently meet, greet, converse, and dine with others. Having confidence at the dining room table is as important as having confidence at the boardroom table. How we behave during industry networking events and business meals really does matter!

Whether someone is hesitant to enter a room full of strangers, unsure which fork to use at a formal meal, or wondering what to do, wear, or say at a corporate social event, What The Fork? provides skills that will help. This unique experiential dining and networking keynote—which is presented during a multi-course meal—will satiate curiosities about which bread plate to use, where to place a napkin, who orders first, and What The Fork? to do with all that silverware! Sue will also provide participants with simple strategies that will help them network with ease.

Every detail of a business meal, from the invitation to the thank you note and the appetizer to dessert, will be covered during this unique workshop. More than learning how to navigate a meal, attendees will also gain an understanding about appropriate topics for conversation, how to make introductions, networking strategies, and what to do when an awkward moment presents itself.

Sue Jacques has been teaching executives and their teams the nuances of corporate entertaining and social graces since 2000. Participants will leave a new set of skills that will empower them to focus on the business at hand instead of worrying about what to do with what’s in their hands!

During this hands-on educational experience, professionalism and dining expert Sue Jacques will share practical strategies that will help audience members distinguish themselves through their poise, personality, and proficiency … at any occasion!

Participants will learn:

• How to prepare for business meals
• Why it’s imperative to RSVP to invitations
• The qualities of an excellent host
• How to demystify dress codes
• Who to approach at a networking event
• How to get out of a conversation cul-de-sac
• How to shake hands while holding a glass and a plate
• The different styles of formal dining
• The silent language of silverware
• Ways to deal with awkward situations
• How to turn “nonversations” into conversations
• Whether to offer/accept alcohol at a business meal
• Who pays and how much to tip
• How to be the most gracious guest at the table
• The value of a thank you note

What The Fork? An Unpretentious Guide to Formal Dining for Informal People

People can’t get enough of Sue Jacques’ popular book about contemporary formal dining skills, What The Fork? In this fun, entertaining, and educational book, Sue helps readers gain confidence at the dining room table. What The Fork? is a straightforward and informative guide that prepares people for breakfast with a board member, lunch with the ladies, or dinner with a first date. More than a book about dining, What The Fork? is an open invitation for our civility-starved society to gather around the table and satisfy our cravings for uninterrupted, real time, face-to-face conversations. Whether they’re hosting a business meal, attending a black-tie banquet, or about to meet their future in-laws for the first time at a dinner party, What The Fork? helps readers handle any dining situation with confidence and grace. 

Reviews

“Sue serves up practical, contemporary dining tips in a deliciously entertaining way. I wish I’d had this guide years ago!”

~ Bruce Sellery, TV Host, Columnist, Best selling author

“This is one of the most easy to read and comprehensive guides that covers such a sophisticated topic as formal dining. Sue Jacques is an incredibly inspirational woman who feels the pulse of the modern business world and gives advice that is easy to integrate into any situation, from a private dinner to a formal black tie event.”

~ V. Zhuk (via Amazon)

Links

What the Fork? An Unpretentious Guide to Formal Dining for Informal People

Amazon

GRACE – A manifesto by Sue Jacques

She snuck up on me, and it took awhile for her to penetrate my persona. But before I knew it, she had captured my character.

I didn’t know what to call her at first. Lady Luck? Dame Fortune? Higher Power? None of those felt accurate, so I settled on Grace. Our journey together has been extraordinary.

Grace entered my life subtly, first introducing herself in the form of gratitude. Her gentle reminders to be thankful helped me realize how blessed my life has been. Soon it turned into a game…the more gratitude I expressed, the more blessed I became. The more blessed I became, the more grateful I felt. Around and around we danced, me becoming acutely aware of the power of appreciation, Grace showering me with blessings.

She gained my trust that way, and then Grace quietly began teaching me about respect. And she was smart about it, because she knew that in order to capture—and keep—my attention, she would have to get creative. So she positioned me in circumstances where I’d have no choice but to listen to my soul and discover my purpose. By providing obstacles, challenges, opportunities, and varying degrees of pressure, Grace taught me that in order to earn the respect of others it was imperative to foster genuine respect for myself. Only then did I learn how to respect fully.

Grace realized I was ready for more, so she gently revealed that I had unintentionally begun to misrepresent myself. I had started to portray an image of the person I thought others wanted to see instead of sharing my true nature. That’s when Grace challenged me to reclaim my authenticity, and over time I began to let my personality sparkle again. A little bit here, a little bit there. I had always been positive, outgoing, and confident, but somewhere along the way I’d allowed myself to become minimized, gradually shrinking so I wouldn’t outshine others. My spirit wouldn’t stand for that, so with Grace standing steadfast by my side I began climbing the mountain of my own magnificence.

Knowing how much I value kindness, Grace then positioned me smack dab in the middle of countless opportunities to provide compassion by leading me to a career at the medical examiner’s office. In performing the forensic medical investigation of thousands of unexpected and violent deaths I learned about the fragility of life. It was my privilege to investigate those deaths, and I proudly saw to it that every single person whose body I touched was handled with dignity. No matter how they were treated in life, I made sure that they and their loved ones were treated like royalty in death. Through it all, I gained a profound appreciation for the impact that being thoughtful delivers. It’s such simple gift to give.

And that’s when Grace introduced me to empathy. Through circumstances, synchronicities, and stories, Grace helped me understand that everyone is on their own journey, and she tutored me in the lesson that it’s not our place to judge. Rather, we are here to honor, hear, and help one another. She also exposed me to the fact that this miraculous experience we call life is not about right versus wrong or us versus them or me versus you. It’s about each of us developing the depth of character required to follow our own path while we support others on theirs.

In the years since I first met Grace I’ve evolved personally and transformed professionally. But lately, she has enveloped me even more with her charm. I see Grace differently now, with added clarity. She is bold and beautiful; dynamic and discreet; captivating and cool; elegant and eager; feisty and fun.

Who is Grace? She is the sage who dwells in my soul, my sacred spirit. Not only has she accompanied me on this incredible journey from corpses to Carpe Diem, she’s also presented me with a personalized invitation to share the life lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s a big responsibility, and I’m up for the challenge. I will succeed by using her name as a guide: G for gratitude, R for respect, A for authenticity, C for compassion, and E for empathy.