Speaking & Training
Practical communications strategy for the moments when trust, visibility and clarity matter most.
April Leonard, MA, is a nationally and internationally experienced strategic communications speaker and trainer whose presentations draw from 17+ years across strategic communications, public relations, government, public health, media, digital strategy, crisis and risk communications, entertainment, and high-visibility events.
Her sessions combine real-world practitioner experience with frameworks, lessons, and practical guidance audiences can put to work — whether they are managing public trust, preparing for a high-profile moment, communicating complex information, strengthening digital communications, or leading under pressure.
Available for keynote consideration, conference sessions, workshops, panels, leadership briefings, facilitated conversations, and professional training.
Ragan Communications / PR Daily • Government Social Media / GSMCON • Social Media Strategies Summit • RAPIO • International Social Media Club • Global Ties U.S. / U.S. Embassy / U.S. Department of State exchange audiences • Carter Broadcast Group
Why Bring April to Your Audience?
Practitioner-Led
April teaches from communications work she has actually led and executed — from public health emergencies and executive messaging to media strategy, digital transformation, major civic events, community campaigns, and live media environments.
Complex Made Clear
Her work centers on translating complicated information into communication that is clear, human, useful, and credible for the people who actually need it.
Strategy Audiences Can Use
Sessions move beyond inspiration alone, giving communicators and leaders frameworks, questions, examples, and practical approaches they can adapt to their own organizations.
Signature Talks & Keynote-Ready Themes
Trust Is the Strategy
Communicating When Public Confidence Is Fragile
Trust is not a communications tactic deployed after a problem occurs. It is built — or weakened — by everyday decisions about clarity, accessibility, transparency, responsiveness, tone, and whose needs are considered. This session explores how communicators and leaders can build trust into the communications process before the stakes rise.
Humanizing Complex Information
Turning Policy, Health, Data and Organizational Priorities Into Communication People Can Use
Complexity may be unavoidable. Confusing communication is not. Drawing from public health, government, executive communications, digital strategy, and community-facing campaigns, April explores how to make complex information understandable without making it inaccurate — and how to keep the human being on the other side of the message at the center.
Messaging Blueprints for High-Security, High-Footprint Civic Events
How do communicators prepare when thousands of people, media organizations, public agencies, security partners, executives, visitors, and residents converge around one moment? This session draws from communications experience surrounding the 2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parades, FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Announcement, and a presidential civic visit to examine message architecture, coordination, public information, real-time communication, and readiness.
The Communicator Behind the Message
Sustainable Leadership for High-Pressure Communications
Communicators are frequently expected to manage emergencies, misinformation, public criticism, competing priorities, organizational pressures, and constant connectivity while remaining calm and responsive. This session explores practical ways communications professionals and leaders can protect effectiveness, boundaries, wellness, and long-term performance without abandoning the mission.
Selected Speaking Experience
Selected presentations, trainings, panels, and professional speaking engagements across government communications, public affairs, social media, public health, media, and international exchange audiences.
Selected presentations, trainings, panels, and professional speaking engagements have been delivered through GSMCON, Ragan Communications / PR Daily, Social Media Strategies Summit, RAPIO, International Social Media Club, Global Ties / U.S. Embassy / U.S. Department of State exchange audiences, and Carter Broadcast Group Music Conference.
Bring April to Your Audience
Available for keynote consideration, conference sessions, workshops, panels, leadership briefings, facilitated conversations, and professional training.
Wellness Strategies for Busy Communication Professionals
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON 2024
Focus: Burnout mitigation, mental health boundaries, self-care advocacy, workplace ergonomics, and sustainable communications practices for busy public-sector media managers.
GSMCON 101
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON 2024
Focus: Strategic networking, accessibility, conference navigation, and practical guidance for first-time attendees and solo public information professionals.
GSMCON 101: Foundational Kickoff Roadmap
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON 2023
Focus: Conference navigation, strategic networking, and practical playbooks for single-person communication departments.
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Government Social Media
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON
Focus: Inclusive language, equitable representation, diverse community outreach, accessibility, and public-sector digital engagement.
Expert Publicity Panel
Organization / Conference: Carter Broadcast Group Music Conference
Focus: Publicity strategy, entertainment industry relations, media engagement, and audience-facing communications with professionals from Hot 103 Jamz and Gospel 1590.
Public Trust, Post-Pandemic Messaging & Two-Way Government Communication
Conference: Ragan Communications / PR Daily Speechwriters & Public Affairs Virtual Conference
Focus: Rebuilding public trust, managing post-pandemic municipal narratives, and building two-way communication systems.
Messaging Blueprints for High-Security, High-Footprint Civic Events
Conference: Ragan Communications / PR Daily Flagship Social Media Conference at Walt Disney World
Focus: Structuring messaging blueprints and real-time community engagement for high-security, high-footprint civic events, drawing from communications experience with the 2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parades, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Announcement, and a presidential civic visit.
Panel: A Framework for Building Your Brand Voice & Tone
Organization / Conference: Social Media Strategies Summit / SMSS
Focus: Finding the balance between informative, authentic, compliant, and human-centered messaging for public agencies.
Hyper-Local Communication Crises & Emergency Public Health Updates
Organization: Regional Association of Public Information Officers / RAPIO
Focus: Hyper-local communication crises, emergency public health updates, public information strategy, and interdepartmental collaboration.
Ask the Experts: Managing the Virtual and Cultural Workplace Transition
Organization: International Social Media Club
Focus: Remote work, pandemic response, community unrest, racial tensions, workforce change, public-sector digital communications, and KCMO LinkedIn growth from 3,984 to 10,529+ followers in under a year.
Municipal Communications, Public Trust & Public Diplomacy
Organization: Global Ties / U.S. Embassy / U.S. Department of State
International media professional exchange audiences through the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists
Focus: Multiple-year presentations for international media professionals on municipal communications, civic engagement, government social media, public trust, community-centered public relations, and the role of local government communications in public diplomacy.
Let’s Connect
Seeking a speaker or strategic advisor for public health, government, or social media? I am available for keynote speaking, consulting, and high-impact project-based work. Please share your mission and timeline details below.