Trust Debt
The everyday moments that can make or break your culture
Is your organization quietly falling into debt that no one sees, until it’s too late?
What is Trust Debt?
Trust is like a bank account. Every ignored voice, broken promise, or biased decision makes a withdrawal. When withdrawals outpace deposits, the “interest” compounds into stress, detachment, and declining performance. Culture goes bankrupt.
What does that look like? Burnout, quiet quitting, high turnover, and a workplace people stop believing in.
Employee trust is at its lowest point in years.
On the other hand, high-trust companies
outperform competitors by 30–50%
How trustworthy are you?
THE KEYNOTE EXPERIENCE
Rebuild trust before it costs you talent
Award-winning strategist Michelle Grocholsky takes your team inside the invisible forces draining workplace trust, and shows how to rebuild it.
What to expect:
50-minute keynote + 10-minute Q&A, delivered in-person or virtually
Experience it live: An interactive journey with real-time audience polling and storytelling. Complete the Trust Audit and assess your own trustworthiness.
Apply it immediately: Learn the T.R.U.S.T. framework—Transparency, Reliability, Understanding, Safety & Fairness, Taking Accountability. Leave with the Playbook.
Get inspired: Transform everyday choices into deposits that restore confidence, inspire integrity, connection, and performance.
See results: Reduce burnout, strengthen engagement, and spark lasting performance.
Who this Keynote is for
Executives & Boards navigating change and needing to restore confidence.
People Leaders & Managers balancing the need for high performance with instilling a winning, highly engaged, culture.
HR & DEI Professionals seeking tools to build trust and belonging across diverse teams.
Organizations committed to stronger engagement, innovation, and retention, including those navigating the complexities of Return to Office mandates.
Teams that want to take their performance and collaboration to the next level.
For anyone considering working with Empowered, I would say this: if you want a partner who is responsive, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to your organization’s success, look no further. They bring clarity to complex work, provide practical solutions, and help you build an inclusive culture that benefits everyone involved.
KAREN SERBLOWSKI, DIRECTOR, TALENT MANAGEMENT, ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUTHORITY
Partnering with Empowered was an easy and impactful decision. Their approach was not only responsive to our immediate needs but also aligned seamlessly with our long-term aspirations. Michelle is an inspiring leader who connects authentically with people at every level of the organization. Backed by a highly talented team, Empowered delivers sophisticated yet practical strategies, programs, and learning that drive meaningful change.
JANET DODGE, FORMER DIRECTOR OF TALENT MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY PENSION PLAN
Michelle’s openness, charisma, and ability to inspire and build trust are hallmarks of what makes her a great leader in this space and her team incredible partners on our journey.
JOHN STEVENS, CEO, ONTARIO VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
About Michelle
Michelle Grocholsky is one of Canada’s most recognized voices on fairness at work.
She is the Founder & CEO of Empowered EDI, a certified B-Corp consultancy. Recognized among WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, she is known for turning equity and inclusion into practical strategies that drive results.
Michelle’s clients span public, private, and non-profit sectors, including some of Canada’s most trusted institutions. She is also the voice behind the TEDx talk Question the Impression and the upcoming Book Work Fair.
