Maribeth Desuyo, DTM
Education Chair

Keynote Speakers

 

Area Council Keynote – Krystal Besaw

Krystal Besaw

Sponsored by:
Motor Mouths

Stoic Strength: Rising Together Through Resilience

Objectives:

  • Discover how emotional regulation enhances leadership and team cohesion
  • Apply Stoic journaling and reflection practices to build long-term resilience
  • Leave with a toolkit for leading with calm, clarity, and courage
  • Leaders, team builders, and individuals seeking tools to navigate adversity with grace and grit.
  • Disappointment is inevitable—but defeat is optional. In this empowering session, we’ll explore how timeless Stoic principles can help individuals and teams rise stronger after setbacks. Drawing from the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and modern thinkers like Ryan Holiday and Mark Manson, this talk bridges ancient wisdom with modern psychology to offer a practical framework for emotional resilience.
  • Attendees will learn how to reframe adversity, regulate emotional responses, and lead with composure in high-pressure environments. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or organizational change, Stoic strength offers a path to rise—not just alone, but together.

 

Bio:

Krystal Besaw is a strategist and speaker with a background in psychology and a passion for personal growth through timeless wisdom. Drawing from Stoic philosophy and modern behavioral science, she helps individuals and teams build emotional resilience, navigate adversity, and lead with clarity. Her work blends insights from thinkers like Marcus Aurelius, Ryan Holiday, and Mark Manson with practical tools from cognitive psychology and game theory.

Krystal’s approach is grounded, empowering, and deeply relevant to today’s fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Whether coaching leaders or presenting at conferences, she equips audiences to rise with purpose, composure, and courage.

Lunch Keynote – Robi Ley

Robi Ley

Sponsored by:
Highway to Excellence

Hot Air Always Rises

Objectives

  • Debunking the statement “full of hot air”; it’s not an insult. Hot air always rises.
  • Using the examples of a hot air balloon mass ascension and a symphony orchestra to demonstrate how “hot air” produces beautiful sights and sounds that can inspire and lift others.
  • Encourage the audience to not only produce their own “hot air” but to encourage others to find their voice and message.
  • Anyone who thinks they have nothing to say or to bring to the table. Those who have stepped back a little, falsely believing they are no longer relevant. Those who know they have something to say, but don’t believe they have an audience.
  • The phrase “full of hot air” has long been considered an insult. The opposite is in fact true. Hot air can cause a piece of silk to rise and carry passengers with it. Hot air can produce incredible music when forced through a wind or brass instrument. Hot air melts ice, air fries chicken, and warms your home in the winter.

Bio:

Robi Ley is a Past District 25 Director with nearly 15 years Toastmasters experience. She is a published author, experienced leader and speaker, and someone familiar with being told they “talk too much”. The theme of “Rising as One” resonates with Robi, as the past year and a half has taken her to a place where the only direction to go was up. After a months’ long battle with cancer, she lost her husband in October 2024. Without the support of friends and family, she’s not sure she would have risen at all. This take on the “full of hot air” phrase is one she can personally attest to, and is grateful for those who helped, and continue to help her as she seeks to rise as one who has come through the fire, stronger and better than before.

Dinner Keynote – Richard Hinckley

Richard Hinckley

Sponsored by:
Top of Texas

How to be a Jack (or Jill) of All Trades

 

Objectives:

  • To inspire the audience to believe in themselves, appreciate their accomplishments, and to seek to constantly improve, no matter where they are at present.
  • I would seek to uplift the audience by sharing personal triumphs and disappointments, giving insight into how I choose to focus on the path ahead and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.
  • Challenge the audience to consider their personal journey and reflect on those that have helped them along the way. Encourage them to look at the sphere of people around them and find ways to connect and learn from others.
  • All Toastmasters, or anyone with a desire for self-improvement, would benefit!
  • Have you ever thought to yourself “I could do that”? We all have! It takes courage to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Whether you are entering your first class in college or are an expert in an artform, we all have something to learn, especially from each other. Let’s explore raising our awareness to those around us as we attempt to become Jacks (or Jills) of all trades.

Bio:

Richard Hinckley is currently the Division E Director, is IPP of LM AeroSpeakers and Top of Texas Toastmasters, and a prior Area Director for Area 53. He has held several club officer roles and served as a Club Coach, Club Sponsor, and Club Mentor. He has earned the Triple Crown award each of the past 4 years.

Professionally, he is an 8-year employee at Lockheed Martin and has experience in IT management and professional consulting across multiple industries. He has been a Texas Real Estate broker since 2012.

Richard holds a BS in Information Systems from UTA as well as a MS in Information Systems and MBA from Lamar University. He is the proud father of 4 sons and husband to a public-school teacher. He and his family call Springtown, Texas home.Richard has a passion for lifetime learning and helping others achieve their goals, a perfect fit for Toastmasters.