Unni Turrettini Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerUnni Turrettini

Human Connection Expert, Best-selling and award-winning Author

Norwegian born Unni Turrettini grew up feeling as if she didn’t fit in anywhere. As a young woman, she was eager to travel and find her home. She spent more than twenty years – in the United States, France, and Switzerland – searching for belonging, but it was only after... Read more

Biography

Norwegian born Unni Turrettini grew up feeling as if she didn’t fit in anywhere. As a young woman, she was eager to travel and find her home. She spent more than twenty years – in the United States, France, and Switzerland – searching for belonging, but it was only after she started researching mass killers in connection with her first book that she realized how big of a problem loneliness is. Today, loneliness is the fastest growing epidemic on our planet, with enormous consequences to our health and productivity.

As a speaker and trainer, Unni uses her expertise and method to help leaders and teams increase engagement, performance, and wellbeing. “We need to change our perception of the workplace,” she says, “from a place of work to a tool for connection.”

An authority on human connection, Unni appears regularly in the media, including on ABC, FOX, BBC, and in The World Today, Huffington Post, NY Post, The Progressive, and WWD. She is also a repeat guest on the James Altucher Show and was named One of 22 Women To Watch in 2022 by Brown Brothers Harriman.

Unni engages with storytelling, provocative statistics, and brain science, leaving participants feeling uplifted, refreshed, and empowered – and with simple tools they can start using immediately to experience change in their lives.

With law degrees from Norway, France, and the United States, Unni is a member of the New York Bar, and worked in law and finance for nearly a decade before becoming a full-time writer, speaker, executive coach and trainer. She now lives in Oslo, Norway, and takes regular plunges in the fjord during winter, drinks too much coffee, and has a soft spot for dogs.

“Unni is an incredibly engaging and professional speaker! She lifted the event and left all the attendees with something new to think about and reflect upon. Unni left me feeling inspired and more knowledgeable. Her in-dept approach to the subject matter manages to both educate and captivate” Astrid Skaugseth, CEO of SHE Community
“One of the most engaging and inspiring sessions in a long while.” Paal Christian Mossin Gjøen
"Unni is an excellent storyteller, the audience was mesmerized." Cheryl La Monica, Harvard Club of Boston
"A brilliant presentation!" American Scandinavian Society, New York
“Practical steps! Typically, speakers ignite inspiration but don’t give steps and real-life tips on how to move forward. Unni gave me incredible clarity and hope!” Attendee, All Rise Live Global Summit, Toledo OH
"Unni helped me think about how disengaged in life I am and she gave me tools to help me connect with me." Attendee, All Rise Live Global Summit, Toledo OH
“Unni is not only a great storyteller, but a talented evangelist with a powerful and inspiring mission to help keep the world a connected place.” Trent Huffman, USA Today Network
"We hired Unni to speak in connection with International Women’s Day. Unni is engaging, thought provoking, funny, and she connects with the audience. Unni is a pleasure to work with, and I would highly recommend her to speak at your company event." Ingrid Skjelbred Smyth, U.S. Bank
“Unni was such an incredible part of our speaker series about the dangers of perfectionism, and how isolating trying to be the best can become. Thank you so much Unni for speaking with our group of creatives—your talk is definitely a necessary voice in today’s society.” Elizabeth Ramsey, CreativeMornings
“Unni Turrettini’s presentation was clear and energetic and fully held the student and faculty audience’s attention. She ably fielded questions after her initial remarks and made a strong impression. I would highly recommend her as a speaker to academic and general audiences.” US Ambassador Derek Shearer, Occidental College, Los Angeles
“Unni captured the room with her powerful storytelling and left the audience in awe of her vulnerability and magical presence.” Andrea Belck-Olsen, Nordic Choice Hotels
“Unni Turrettini is an exceptional speaker. She has that rare gift of making the individual universal. She spoke at Mt. San Antonio College about Anders Breivik and a mass shooting in Norway, but she might as well have been talking about anywhere, and my students were riveted.” John Brantingham Professor at Mount San Antonio College, Los Angeles

Popular Talks by Unni Turrettini

  • Connection in the Workplace
    How to enhance talent retention and improve wellbeing without negatively impacting performance or productivity. According to McKinsey, 40% of all people are unhappy at work, and 79% are disengaged. We, as a society, have never been more disconnected than we are today, which makes us disengaged, depressed, and lonely. We...
  • The connection paradox
    How technology is bringing us closer while keeping us apart. It’s never been easier to travel and visit family and friends, or to connect via social media. Yet, we’ve never been lonelier. In this program, Unni uncovers how to use social media to form deeper connection and create relational energy....
  • Beyond small talk
    Cultivating meaningful connections in a busy world. Most people who struggle with loneliness are surrounded by people. Connection is a skill that can be learned and mastered in order to excel in life. Many people live in constant survival mode, which prevents us from connecting. In this program, Unni teaches...