Karina LeBlanc

With a remarkable career spanning nearly 18 years at the international level, Karina LeBlanc stands as one of the longest-serving Canadian women’s soccer players in history. A veteran of five FIFA World Cups and two Olympic Games, she proudly helped secure a bronze medal for Canada at the 2012 London Olympics. Known for her leadership both on and off the field, LeBlanc understands what it takes to create an Olympic-level culture within any team or organization. She inspires audiences to ask tough questions, embrace discomfort, and unlock their potential to become the best versions of themselves at work and in life.

Following her retirement from professional soccer in 2015, LeBlanc transitioned seamlessly into leadership and executive roles. As a former goalkeeper for Canada and the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), she carried her passion for the game into new arenas. In 2018, she was appointed Head of Women’s Football at CONCACAF, where she spearheaded efforts to expand and elevate the women’s game across the region. In 2021, she became General Manager of the Portland Thorns and now serves as Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth Development at RAJ Sports, leading both the Thorns and Portland’s new WNBA franchise toward lasting impact.

A dynamic and highly sought-after motivational speaker, LeBlanc engages audiences with lessons on resilience, leadership, and navigating change. Her talks have reached Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and global stages, including two addresses at the United Nations General Assembly, a presentation at the UN Race Against Climate Change, and TEDxVancouver.

Passionate about humanitarianism, inclusion, and diversity, she established the Karina LeBlanc Foundation to provide mentorship and scholarships for young women in sport. Honoured as an UNICEF ambassador and an Honourary Captain of the Canadian Navy, she was inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2020, cementing her legacy as both an athlete and a changemaker.

Discovering Your Why: Leading With Purpose

Life is filled with challenges and obstacles, but it’s often these very trials that shape us, define us, and—if we embrace them—make us stronger. In this powerful keynote, two-time Olympian Karina LeBlanc shares deeply personal stories that have defined her journey, including surviving a near-death experience after giving birth during COVID. From winning an Olympic medal to redefining her life’s purpose beyond sport, LeBlanc inspires audiences to see the greatness within themselves and their teams. Leaders will walk away challenged to live with intention, lead with authenticity, and unlock their fullest potential at work and at home.

Race, Diversity, and Inclusion

Karina LeBlanc will take you through an intimate conversation on her experiences of being a Black Woman in today’s world. Her father told her at an early age: “You are a Black Woman; that can either be two strikes against you, or for you” She has always approached life making sure people see her for WHO she is, not WHAT she is or what she looks like.

Karina pulls from her own experiences when speaking about race, diversity and inclusion. Born to Jamaican and Dominican parents, Karina immigrated to Canada as a shy 8-year-old who felt she had no value on this earth. Through impacting moments and her high-performance mind set, Karina found her voice and way. Karina went on to win an Olympic medal and represent Canada internationally for 18 years as a player and has travelled to various regions of the world as a UNICEF ambassador.

She is now the head of Women’s Soccer at CONCACAF, representing 41 countries in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. All of this combined has given Karina a deep understanding of issues surrounding race, diversity and inclusion. With her authenticity and honesty, she will speak from the heart on an issue and conversation we all need to have and go towards.

Redefining Your Purpose in Times of Change

From immigrating to Canada as a shy eight-year-old to becoming an Olympic medalist, and later surviving heart failure and a COVID scare shortly after giving birth, Karina LeBlanc has lived through transformation at every stage. She reveals how the mindset that made her an Olympian prepared her for life’s toughest moments, and how she redefined her purpose through adversity. This keynote empowers audiences to embrace resilience, commit daily to living purposefully, and connect to a mission greater than themselves.

Race, Diversity, and Inclusion: A Conversation That Matters

As a Black woman born to Jamaican and Dominican parents, Karina LeBlanc brings powerful lived experience to conversations about race, equity, and inclusion. From her father’s advice—“being a Black woman can either be two strikes against you or for you”—to her global work as a UNICEF ambassador and leader in professional sport, LeBlanc shares lessons on identity, belonging, and breaking barriers. With authenticity and courage, she challenges audiences to move beyond surface-level diversity discussions and create meaningful, inclusive change in workplaces and communities.

Empower Yourself to Empower Others

True leadership begins with self-awareness and personal empowerment. Karina LeBlanc takes audiences on a journey of embracing failures, celebrating successes, and discovering the leader within. By first empowering yourself, you unlock the ability to inspire and empower others. This session equips leaders at every level with practical strategies to strengthen confidence, resilience, and influence.

Enhancing the Culture to Achieve Podium Performances

In 2011, the Canadian women’s national soccer team finished last at the World Cup. Just nine months later, they stood on the Olympic podium with bronze medals around their necks. Karina LeBlanc credits this remarkable transformation to visionary leadership, a shared purpose, and a culture rooted in legacy and impact. In this keynote, she shares lessons from that journey to help organizations reimagine culture, unlock collective potential, and deliver podium-worthy performances in business, leadership, and life.