★ CCSB EXCLUSIVE SPEAKER ★
for meeting planners
$10,001- $15,000
Keynote fee falls within this range. For exact fee, please contact us.
South Carolina
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● Biography
April Simpkins is a Workplace Strategist, Mental Health Advocate, National Speaker, New York Times Best Selling Author, a seasoned HR Executive with 30 years of experience.
Previously as a senior HR consultant, she has assisted over 1,000 businesses in optimizing their human capital. April is also a powerhouse in the realm of mental health advocacy, and with relentless determination, she has tirelessly championed the cause and became a more visible advocate following the passing of her beloved daughter, Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst who battled depression for many years. April, an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is committed to breaking the stigma of mental illness and promoting mental wellness in the workplace. April is certified in both Mental Health First Aid and Emotional CPR (eCPR).
Published in April 2024, the deeply moving memoir, By The Time You Read This The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness, is coauthored by Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins. Already a New York Times Best Selling book, it is a powerful testament to resilience, courage and the human spirit. She has shared Cheslie’s story emphasizing the importance of mental health with audiences nationwide and on national programs. Her unwavering commitment and relentless drive serve as a testament to her unwavering dedication to the cause.
Recognized for her expertise, April advises leaders nationwide. April leaves the stage with attendees ready to lead boldly, adapt fearlessly, and inspire greatness in themselves and those they lead.
● Featured Keynote Programs
Leading the Culture: How Leadership Shapes Engagement, Retention, and Recruitment
This high-impact keynote explores the undeniable connection between leadership and workplace culture and how that connection directly affects one’s ability to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Drawing on more than thirty years of HR experience and data-driven insights, April Simpkins reveals how leadership behaviors create the blueprint for culture through what they expect, accept, reward, and discipline.
This presentation is packed with strategies leaders can implement immediately, from building psychologically safe teams to integrating well-being into the employee experience. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how intentional leadership creates cultures where people stay, grow, and thrive.
Attendees Will Leave With:
- A deeper understanding of how leadership directly shapes workplace culture
- Practical tools to boost engagement, retention, and recruitment
- Strategies to align leadership behavior with organizational values
- Techniques for building psychologically safe and inclusive teams
- Insights into how to lead with visibility, empathy, and intention
Mind the Gap: Leading a Multigenerational Workforce with Intention and Inclusion
With five generations in today’s workforce, leaders must evolve beyond one-size-fits-all management. In this timely and engaging presentation, April Simpkins, Certified Diversity Professional and expert in Generational Diversity, equips leaders with the insights and tools they need to bridge generational divides.
Using elements of her 21st Century Leader(ship) Development Program, April addresses the communication breakdowns, cultural clashes, and leadership blind spots that often emerge between generations. Attendees will gain strategies for navigating countercultures, fostering inclusion, and building environments where every generation contributes and feels valued.
Attendees Will Leave With:
- Awareness of generational traits and workplace expectations
- Tools to address communication gaps between age groups
- Strategies to dissolve countercultures and promote inclusion
- Actionable ways to apply inclusive leadership in multigenerational settings
- A framework from the 21st Century Leadership Development Program to build cross-generational cohesion
Beyond Burnout: 5 Keys to Protecting Your Mental Health At Work
Stress is part of the job in today’s workplace, but suffering in silence shouldn’t be. In this compelling keynote, April Simpkins shares five essential strategies for protecting mental health at work, drawing from her decades of HR experience and personal advocacy journey. From setting healthy boundaries to understanding your rights and available resources, April provides attendees with practical tools they can use immediately.
This session is an education for employees and a call to action for leaders. April explores the cultural barriers that prevent teams from speaking up and offers practical ways organizations can create safer, more supportive workplaces. Whether you’re dealing with burnout or leading others through it, this talk will help you move from silence to strength.
Attendees Will Leave With:
- 5 actionable keys to support personal mental wellness at work
- A clearer understanding of their rights and mental health resources
- Tools to advocate for themselves and others Leadership level insights to foster psychological safety and model healthy behaviors
- A renewed commitment to making workplaces where mental health is a priority
● Featured Reviews
● Featured Books
About the Book
By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness is a poignant memoir co-authored by former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst and her mother, April Simpkins. The book offers an intimate look into Cheslie’s life, chronicling her journey from a successful attorney and pageant queen to an entertainment journalist, while simultaneously battling persistent depression.
Through Cheslie’s own writings, readers gain insight into her personal struggles, including feelings of unworthiness and the immense pressure to maintain perfection. Following Cheslie’s tragic death by suicide in January 2022, April Simpkins fulfills her daughter’s wish by completing and publishing the memoir.
In her contributions, April shares her perspective on Cheslie’s mental health challenges and the profound impact of her loss. The book aims to shed light on the often-unseen aspects of mental illness, emphasizing the importance of open conversations and support for those affected.
Proceeds from the memoir are dedicated to the Cheslie C. Kryst Foundation, supporting mental health programs for youth and young adults.