To foster a positive and lasting dynamic within organizations, optimism stands out as a strategic resource in the face of today’s professional challenges. For a conference on this theme in 2026, five leading speakers have been selected: Delphine LUGINBUHL, Michel Poulaert, CsP, Paul Fontaine, Deborah Pardo, and Alix Willemez. Their expertise and vision make it possible to explore optimism from complementary perspectives, with the aim of inspiring and equipping teams to drive change, manage uncertainty, and mobilize talent. The table below details the specific approach each of these speakers offers on the topic of optimism.
| Last Name / First Name | Conference | Angle |
|---|---|---|
 Delphine LUGINBUHL Français | Diversity, optimism, and humanity in action: what if our differences were your teams’ most underutilized resource? | She values optimism as a lever for cohesion and inclusion within teams. |
 Michel Poulaert, CsP Français | The Boldness of Optimism | The Boldness of Optimism |
 Paul Fontaine Français | STEEL MINDSET – Boost your mindset Energize your teams Open your heart | STEEL MINDSET - Boost your mindset Energize your teams Open your heart |
 Deborah Pardo Français | Being aware of the state of the World and being optimistic—it's possible! | It shows that we can remain optimistic and agents of change in the face of ecological challenges. |
 Alix Willemez Français | Turning Chaos into Opportunity: How a Plane Crash and Life Among Mongolia’s Nomads Taught Me to Make Uncertainty a Source of Leadership and Resilience | It illustrates how optimism is born from adversity and adapting to major transitions. |
Our speakers on the topic
Delphine LUGINBUHL
Originally trained as an engineer, Delphine Luginbuhl chose to redirect her career toward occupational psychology and coaching, driven by a desire to put people and connection back at the heart of organizations. With 25 years of experience, she now supports executives and managers in valuing diversity and strengthening collective dynamics. Her pragmatic approach, infused with humor and real-world experiences, encourages seeing differences as a source of energy and motivation for teams.
Talk: Diversity, Optimism, and Humanity in Action: What if our differences were your teams’ most underused resource? Discover how to transform diversity within your teams into a tremendous source of cooperation, innovation, and collective engagement. In this talk, you’ll explore practical approaches to valuing each individual’s uniqueness, cultivating a positive outlook, and enhancing humanity at work, creating dynamics where everyone finds their place and contributes fully to shared success.
Topics: diversite, inclusion, cohesion-dequipe, engagement, optimisme, motivation, qvt, collaboration, esprit-dequipe
Michel Poulaert, CsP
Michel Poulaert, certified professional speaker, stands out for his infectious energy and humor, which he brings to impactful talks inspired by his background as a sales executive and his 20 years in international trade. Founder of the École de Conférenciers Professionnels and co-founder of the Journée de l’Audace, he shares with authenticity how boldness and the ability to turn failure into opportunity have shaped his journey. His flagship presentation, “The Boldness of Optimism,” encourages audiences to approach change with enthusiasm and confidence.
Talk: The Boldness of Optimism In this inspiring talk, Michel Poulaert invites you to explore the power of bold optimism in the face of today’s challenges. You’ll discover how to transform your perceptions, activate concrete solutions, and cultivate a clear-sighted, individual and collective optimism to bring out the best in yourself, your teams, and turn crises into lasting opportunities.
Topics: commerce, sales, customer relations, customer experience, service, sales force, customer satisfaction, sales performance, optimism, management, boldness, customer service, marketing, humor at work, failure management, resilience, inspiration, failure, leadership, risk management, change management, inspirational speeches, motivation, success, youtube, self-improvement, well-being, tedx, opportunity, project success, change, creativity, achievement, succeed, negotiation, determination, enthusiasm, positivity, agility, kindness
Paul Fontaine
Paul Fontaine, certified professional speaker and accomplished athlete despite living with cystic fibrosis, has taken on extraordinary challenges such as climbing Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and crossing the Alps solo with only 55% lung capacity. His journey, driven by infectious energy and a deeply human outlook, encourages us to see every obstacle as an opportunity for growth. Through his talks, he authentically shares the power of unwavering commitment to life, love, and action. His unique story offers an inspiring perspective on the ability to turn adversity into a driving force.
Talk: STEEL MINDSET – Boost Your Mindset Energize Your Teams Open Your Heart Dive into an inspiring talk where Paul Fontaine, adventurer and professional speaker, shares his remarkable journey and his “Steel Mindset” philosophy. Through genuine and impactful stories, he delivers the keys to resilience, pushing beyond your limits, and opening your heart, to strengthen team cohesion and spark a renewed sense of meaning and optimism within your organization.
Themes: esprit-dequipe, inclusion, changement, developpement-personnel, optimisme, motivation, vision, reve, amour, handicap, valeurs, audace, empowerment, rebond, resilience, depassement-de-soi
Deborah Pardo
A doctor of ecology, Deborah Pardo has conducted cutting-edge research on albatrosses and the impact of human activities in polar regions, before co-founding Earthship Sisters and Earthship Generations to support women and organizations committed to the ecological transition. The first French woman to participate in the largest all-female scientific expedition to Antarctica, she has received several awards for her dedication. Through her talks, she offers a clear-eyed yet hopeful perspective on environmental challenges, inviting everyone to act with confidence for the future.
Talk: Being aware of the state of the world and staying optimistic—yes, it’s possible! Through a captivating deep dive into major environmental issues, Deborah Pardo reveals how to combine clear-sightedness about the state of the world with active optimism. You’ll discover key scientific data, concrete action levers, and inspiring leadership to help you become, in your own way, an agent of change working toward a meaningful and sustainable future.
Topics: biodiversite, leadership, femmes, environnement, innovation, conduite-du-changement, ecologie, pollution, optimisme, scientifique, changement-climatique, psychologie-positive, climat, plastique, inspiration
Alix Willemez
At 19, Alix Willemez survived a plane crash before sharing the lives of nomads in Mongolia—two experiences that shaped her ability to navigate uncertainty. With over twenty years of commitment to ecological transition and sustainable development issues, she now guides leaders in understanding and anticipating global transformations. Her journey, marked by prestigious degrees and hands-on fieldwork, illustrates how to turn the unexpected into a source of adaptation and positive momentum.
Talk: Turning Chaos into Opportunity: How a Plane Crash and Life with Mongolian Nomads Taught Me to Make Uncertainty a Strength for Leadership and Resilience Through the moving account of a plane crash and immersion with Mongolian nomads, this talk invites you to transform uncertainty into strength. You’ll discover how to see chaos differently, recreate points of reference in times of crisis, and adopt concrete adaptive reflexes to turn every challenge into an opportunity for leadership, resilience, and growth.
Topics: leadership, motivation, biodiversite, leader, optimism, adventure, foresight, resilience, climate-change, artificial-intelligence, change-management, innovation