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Dr. Luana Marques          

Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Past President of the Anxiety & Depression Association of America; Global Speaker, Author & Executive Coach

Radiating an energetic blend of personal charisma and scholarly depth, Dr. Luana Marques has emerged as a powerful force in the global speaking circuit. She is known for her captivating presence and dynamic storytelling that weaves together the threads of her personal journey and professional expertise to inspire transformation in her audiences.

Dr. Marques’s personal story of overcoming adversity, trauma, and poverty while growing up in Brazil provides authenticity and depth to her message. As an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Past President of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and best-seller author, Dr. Marques is a paragon of resilience, determination, and boldness.

Through decades of work as a researcher, clinician, author, and speaker, Dr. Marques has been relentless in her goal of equipping everyone everywhere with skills to thrive. True to her mission, Dr. Marques is devoted to igniting action. Everyone who attends her events leave with a personalized plan to overcome challenges and make the next bold move toward what matters most. Dr. Marques’s hidden superpower comes through during Q&A’s, where she meets people where they are and provides them with tools to get unstuck in real time. This commitment to actionable insight sets her apart, leaving her audiences not only inspired but armed with science-backed tools for change.

Her latest critically acclaimed book, "Bold Move, A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power," is a testament to her ability to translate complex scientific insights into actionable strategies. Whether she's addressing a roomful of CEOs, community leaders, or corporate teams, Dr. Marques empowers them with science-backed tools that they can implement immediately to catalyze change.

Dr. Marques's influential work has found recognition in numerous high-profile platforms, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, BIG THINK, Forbes, The New York Times, Good Morning America, and Face the Nation. She is often featured in the top podcasts such as 10% Happier and The Mel Robbins Podcast.

Dr. Marques lives outside of Boston with her husband David and their son Diego.

Speech Topics


Bold Leadership: A Senior Leader's Guide to Fostering Organizational Power

A study by Harvard Business Review (2021) revealed that 96% of senior leaders reported feeling 'burnt out' to some degree, with a third describing their burnout levels as extreme. In this transformational keynote, Dr. Marques teaches leaders to become unstuck with her scientifically proven, 3-step strategy to overcome stress and pivot towards innovation and progress. With her transformative insights, leaders can reshape their leadership style to create a culture of resilience, creativity, and growth.

This keynote is ideal for individuals, leaders, and teams that are:

  • Passionate about reaching the next level without burning out.
  • Seeking to increase their impact and promote organizational growth.
  • Leading organizations through challenging times, transitions, or workflow changes.

Audience Outcomes:

  • Understand the impact of psychology on decision-making and leadership effectiveness using cutting-edge research and real-world data.
  • Learn how to become unstuck in leadership, applying evidence-based strategies to harness anxiety as a driving force for change.
  • Develop a comprehensive plan for cultivating a bold leadership style that sparks innovation, strengthens culture, and boosts revenue.

Bold Work: Staying Motivated as a High Performer

An overwhelming 83% of US workers experience work-related stress, causing a significant impact on businesses due to missed workdays and healthcare expenses (American Institute of Stress, 2022). DR. Luana Marques challenges burnout by identifying the actual enemy keeping employees stuck - psychological avoidance. Drawing from her Harvard-based research, Dr. Luana provides actionable strategies that empower employees to overcome psychological avoidance and harness their anxiety to drive productivity and success.

This keynote is ideal for individuals, leaders, and teams that are:

  • Operating in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
  • Passionate about achieving their goals, but feel stuck, drained, and stressed.
  • Searching for proven skills to increase workplace productivity and improve performance.

Audience Outcomes:

  • Learn about the most common hindrance to work performance-psychological avoidance.
  • Gain a clear understanding of how avoidance is impacting your productivity.
  • Discover evidence-based strategies to overcome psychological avoidance and turn pressure into power.
  • Develop a personalized action plan to manage workplace stress, prevent burnout, and enhance your performance at work.

Bold Study: Academic Success Without Stress

Harvard-based psychologist Dr. Marques empowers students to unlock their full potential with science-based steps to improve confidence, become unstuck, and pursue greatness. In this transformative keynote, Dr. Luana introduces her comprehensive 3-step method to help students and educators understand and overcome psychological avoidance. Drawing upon her extensive experience working with students in both private and public schools across the globe, Dr. Marques empowers participants with science-driven skills to elevate academic performance, enhance resilience, and adeptly navigate personal and professional growth with a newfound sense of confidence.

This keynote is ideal for students who are:

  • Looking to conquer stress about both school and the future.
  • Passionate about achieving their academic goals.
  • Seeking lifelong skills to reach their full potential.

Audience Outcomes:

  • Understand how psychological avoidance impacts student performance and personal growth, leveraging the latest scientific research and real-world data.
  • Learn to identify and overcome psychological avoidance using science-based strategies to transform anxiety into a tool for academic success.
  • Develop a personalized action plan to manage stress, overcome psychological avoidance, bolster resilience, and promote academic achievement.

Bold Planning: Unlocking a Powerful Future

A study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that nearly half of recent college graduates felt "a great deal of stress" and uncertainty about their future (2021).

Harvard-based psychologist Dr. Marques uses scientifically-backed advice to face major life transitions with confidence. In this empowering keynote, Dr. Marques equips the graduating class with her scientifically proven, 3-step method to transform anxiety into action, turning uncertainty into a stepping-stone for personal and professional growth.

This keynote is ideal for students and recent graduates who are:

  • Uncertain about their future.
  • Transitioning into post-graduate life.
  • Seeking lifelong skills to navigate change, tame anxiety, and move boldly toward their goals.

Audience Outcomes:

  • Understand the impact of psychological avoidance on navigating post-graduation life decisions, drawing upon scientific research and real-world data.
  • Learn to identify and overcome psychological avoidance, utilizing science-backed strategies to transform anxiety into a tool for taking confident action.
  • Create a personalized roadmap for navigating the thrilling twists and turns of post-college life, building resilience, and setting the stage for a future filled with success.

Bold Move: 3 Science-Based Steps for Conquering Change

Change is hard, and seemingly more prevalent than ever. Transitions in relationship status, friendships, and living situations happen multiple times throughout our lives. Each transition—even the best kind—creates stress and instability that threatens well-being. Moving forward requires identifying the habits that hold us back and employing skills to get where we want in life. This action-oriented presentation on The Bold MoveTM empowers audience members to overcome the one common obstacle preventing them from reaching their goals so they can move boldly through change, discomfort, and stress.

This keynote is ideal for individuals, leaders, and teams that are:

  • Striving to be their best at work and home.
  • Passionate about achieving their goals, but feel stuck, drained, and stressed.
  • Searching for proven skills to navigate change.

Audience Outcomes:

  • Learn how the biological system designed to keep us safe can increase discomfort and stress.
  • Identify the one common obstacle that prevents us from reaching our goals.
  • Understand how to turn anxiety into power by changing the way your brain processes information.
  • Discover your personal compass to help you navigate through the choppy waters of life.
  • Develop a personalized action plan to manage stress, combat avoidance, and enhance your performance.
  • Be inspired and empowered to make your next bold move.

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