SPEAKER · WRITER · LAWYER
Stories that help us embrace every version of who we are
Karen Butz Webb speaks with honesty, vulnerability, and a healthy dose of humor about identity, change, and the many different selves we carry throughout our lives.
Through personal stories and her kitchen-table metaphor, Karen helps audiences recognize that the different versions of themselves are not contradictions to overcome. They are parts of a whole person worth understanding and accepting.
SIGNATURE TALK
Who Sits at Your Kitchen Table?
An honest and humorous exploration of the identities we carry—and what changes when we stop fighting them.
I write and speak about the complex nature of identity and the different versions of ourselves that appear throughout our lives.
We may show up differently as professionals, parents, partners, friends, caregivers, leaders, and individuals navigating change. Each version is shaped by our experiences, relationships, histories, and the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
At times, those different identities can leave us feeling fragmented or uncertain about who we really are.
In this vulnerable and deeply personal talk, I illustrate the many selves we carry as people sitting around a kitchen table. I invite the audience to join me at my table and meet some of the “Karens” who have made me who I am.
Together, we explore where those identities came from, what each one has contributed, and why acknowledging them can bring greater clarity, acceptance, and peace.
Audience takeaways
Audience members will be invited to:
- Recognize the different identities that emerge throughout their lives
- Understand why competing roles and perspectives can leave them feeling fragmented
- Consider the history, purpose, and value behind each version of themselves
- Replace self-judgment with curiosity and greater self-acceptance
Find more balance by embracing who they are as a whole - This is cleaner than the original “almost crazy” language while preserving the underlying message from the speaker sheet.
Helping women see themselves more clearly
Women often move between the roles of parent, partner, professional, caregiver, leader, and friend, sometimes so quickly that it becomes difficult to see the person beneath them all.
Through candid personal stories, self-deprecating humor, and an unassuming speaking style, Karen helps audience members examine the identities they carry and understand how each has helped them navigate life.
Rather than asking people to choose one “authentic” version of themselves, Karen encourages them to acknowledge and embrace the full table.
Well suited for
- Women’s organizations and leadership groups
- Professional associations and workplace events
- Conferences and speaker showcases
- Community and personal-development events
- Audiences navigating identity, transition, or competing roles
Only include these audience types if Karen is genuinely interested in speaking to them. They are recommended positioning, not a claim that she has already worked with all of them.
Watch “Who Sits at Your Kitchen Table?”
In February 2026, Karen presented her signature talk at the Speak Boldly Showcase in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In her speaking debut, she shared the origins of Essays From My Kitchen Table, introduced the different identities sitting at her own table, and invited the audience to consider who occupies theirs.
Featured appearance: Speak Boldly Showcase
Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Date: February 2026
What audiences are saying
Karen spoke with a level of authenticity that immediately drew the audience in. Through her reflection on the different versions of herself that have carried her through life’s challenges, Karen reminded women that courage is already within them—even in moments of fear. Her message was heartfelt, relatable, and unforgettable.
Lorraine Connell
President, Speak Boldly
While her story is uniquely hers, she has the gift of delivering it in such a relatable way—filled with self-deprecating humor, vulnerability, and wisdom. Karen was able to tap into the hearts and souls of each person in the room, fostering connection and validation. She left me feeling empowered and hopeful.
Jen Seheny Tucker
Instructor
Bring this conversation to your audience
The best conversations happen when someone talks about something real—something relatable, honest, and human.
Every gathering deserves a voice that feels both familiar and new: someone who speaks to the quiet questions the audience is already carrying.
Complete the form below to tell Karen about your event. She responds personally to every inquiry within a few business days.
