The Power of Not Knowing
I’m Gabriella Hesse — a speaker, coach, and educator who brings thoughtful, story-driven talks to classrooms and intimate learning spaces. My work helps students embrace not knowing, nurture meaningful relationships through sustained curiosity, and grow confidently without feeling pressured to perform certainty.
Speaking Highlights
Check out a short sample of my speaking style and message, drawn from recent virtual talks with students and educators. A live, in-person speaker reel is currently in development.
I’ve spent my career working in education, adaptive sports, and leadership; spaces where certainty is rare, growth is nonlinear, and learning happens through experience rather than perfection.
Through coaching athletes with disabilities, building inclusive programs, and navigating leadership without a roadmap, I’ve learned something we don’t talk about enough: not knowing isn’t a failure — it’s a starting point.
My work centers on curiosity as a skill: one that strengthens relationships, deepens learning, and allows people to grow without needing to perform confidence or have everything figured out.
I speak most often in classrooms and small group settings, where conversation, reflection, and presence matter just as much as the message itself.
Meet Gabriella
Big ideas, real impact.
Typical format: 30 minutes total
(20–25 minutes speaking + discussion or Q&A)
Available formats:
Classroom talks
Seminars
Student organization events
Leadership and professional development programs
Audiences:
High schools
Colleges and universities
Community and nonprofit organizations
Available for both in-person and virtual events
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A flagship, story-driven talk on curiosity, growth, and letting go of performative certainty.
Key themes include:
Why “I don’t know” can be a strength, not a weakness
Learning through experience instead of mastery
Curiosity as a tool for confidence, resilience, and connection
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A reflection on leadership without hierarchy and growth through listening.
Key themes include:
What we miss when we assume we’re the expert
Mutual learning across difference and experience
Building trust through humility and curiosity
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An expanded talk on adaptation, inclusion, and presence.
Key themes include:
Adaptation as creativity, not compromise
Designing environments where people belong
What sport and coaching reveal about leadership and identity
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out your info and I’ll be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!