Welcome! I am Layla, an operator and a founder.
I co-founded Wise Systems over a decade ago out of MIT, and I love talking about what I do — I write for 130,000+ Substack subscribers about the lesser discussed part of productivity: emotional regulation. I break down the science to a community of 400k+ of emotional regulation and why your ability to sit with discomfort matters more than your resume. And how it has served me in mine.
Keynotes
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How to Fast-Track Your Way to Leadership When the Numbers Are Against You
There have been more U.S. Presidents named John than women presidents in total. Until 2023, there were more Fortune 500 CEOs named John than female CEOs altogether. These aren’t just quirky statistics—they’re symptoms of a deeper issue.
This talk is for high-potential professionals navigating systemic barriers in their path to leadership. Layla unpacks the concept of the “broken rung”—the first step to management that is disproportionately harder for women and people of color—and teaches attendees how to bypass it entirely.
Through personal stories, research-backed insights, and tactical strategies, Layla equips rising leaders to become visible, valuable, and promotable—even when the odds are stacked.
Key takeaways:
Leadership ≠ management: How to think and act like a leader early
How to tie your work to your leaders’ strategic goals
The communication upgrade that shifts perception from junior to executive
How to go from being a “complainer” to a trusted problem-solver
Ideal audience
ERGs for women or underrepresented groups
High-potential development programs
Organizations looking to accelerate entry- to mid-level talent
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A two hour seminar on how to build and break it
Resources
SPEAKING CLIENTS
SPEAKING CLIENTS
Testimonials
“The most attended and talked-about session of the entire week.”
– Maha, T-Mobile Women in Tech Week
“Layla supercharged an audience of 800 — senior leaders immediately invited her back.”
– Fatma, Centene
“We received more positive feedback than any other speaker. The team set new goals on the spot.”
– Rabab, Sprout Social
“Her insights are instantly usable — and unforgettable. The real deal.”
– Dr Keisha King, T-Mobile
“She made career leadership feel possible — and tactical — for girls who rarely see women like themselves.”
– Rodric, 21st Century Girls
CONFIDENCE IS WHEN OUTPUT MEETS EXPECTATIONS. LIKABILITY IS NOT POPULARITY. LISTENING IS COMMUNICATION. COMPETENCE BREEDS CONFIDENCE.
CONFIDENCE IS WHEN OUTPUT MEETS EXPECTATIONS. LIKABILITY IS NOT POPULARITY. LISTENING IS COMMUNICATION. COMPETENCE BREEDS CONFIDENCE.
An operator’s POV
Built on a decade of running a company.
Sizzle reels.
A speaker with deep operating experience
A bit about me:
Builder, thinker, and communicator
Venture-Backed Founder: Raised $72M+ and built Wise Systems, a logistics AI company used by some of the world’s largest companies
STEM Trailblazer: MIT + NASA alum
Operator First: Built teams, scaled systems
Digital Mentor: Followed by 400,000+ professionals for real, usable career advice
