Karina LeBlanc with her daughter Paris.
Many people talk about finding a “why” or a “purpose” in life. Sad to say, these premises quite often turn out to be nothing more than a motivational rah-rah speech by one who has indeed found his or her why and purpose and questions why others have not.
Karina LeBlanc kicked off VenueConnect 2024 with a keynote that was heavy on both a why and a purpose. It was a passionate keynote delivered in a most sincere way that went above and beyond merely telling a huge contingent in the Portland Ballroom what they simply needed to do to find joy, purpose, and meaning in life.
LeBlanc, an Olympic bronze medalist in women’s soccer for Canada in 2012, indeed took the next steps in life following Olympic glory to discover her own meaning and purpose, a journey that included a near-death health experience shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Paris. Today, with four-year-old Paris at the end of the keynote joining mom on the stage, the LeBlanc family truly is one making an impact, something she acknowledged that venue managers have the opportunity to do within their own buildings and communities.
After retiring as a player in 2015, LeBlanc was named a UNICEF Ambassador, a FIFA Legend, and founded the Karina LeBlanc Foundation, a charity that empowers young women to find their inner greatness and purpose.
Now, LeBlanc serves as general manager of the Portland Thorns and is also president of Thorns Operation after helping the team win the NWSL championship in her first full season in 2022.
She asked the crowd to share with the person next to them their own vulnerabilities, something that is difficult for many people to discuss. This piece of audience participation came at the end of her keynote. It could be understood if no one wanted to then share with the audience the vulnerability they discussed with the person next to them, but perhaps surprisingly many people volunteered to share their vulnerability.
Call it therapeutic or any other word, but the desired effect resulted in open dialogue. Confession, they say, is good for the soul. Thanks to her own experiences, LeBlanc resonated with everyone about the hurts that strike us all in life.
The keynote was a qualified winner. Or, as they say in soccer, GOOOOOOOOOOAL!
