In this engaging conversation, Kimberly Clark, a teen resilience speaker and emotional intelligence expert, shares her transformative journey from addiction to empowerment. She emphasizes the importance of owning your story and using it to help others navigate their own challenges. Kimberly discusses the hurdles speakers face, including self-doubt and recognizing their value. With practical insights, she explains how investing in oneself can lead to meaningful connections and actionable change for teens. Her powerful message encourages authenticity and the courage to demand one's worth.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Navy Trauma to Recovery
Kimberly Clark joined the Navy at 17 and was stationed in Guam, experiencing military sexual trauma that changed her life.
This trauma led to a suicide attempt, medical discharge, and a long battle with addiction and recovery.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Life Saved at Rock Bottom
Kimberly hit rock bottom multiple times during her addiction, including one night threatened by dangerous people.
A stranger unexpectedly vouched for her, saving her life and marking a pivotal moment in her recovery.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Book Sparked Speaking Invitations
After rehab and therapy, Kimberly began writing a book about her life, fulfilling a long-held goal.
Churches and organizations then invited her to share her story, marking her start as a speaker.
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My First Book by Honor Levy is a unique collection of short stories that blend elements of essay, story, diatribe, and diary. The book explores the lives of characters deeply embedded in the digital world, grappling with formative political, existential, and romantic experiences. Levy's writing is characterized by its inventive, surreal, and culturally rich prose, reflecting the hyper-real and hyper-performative nature of the internet generation. The stories touch on themes such as digital identity, internet culture, and the challenges of forming a self in a world on the brink of collapse[1][3][4].
“I got to the point where if I was going to [be a speaker] I have to be serious about it and I’m going to have to invest in myself. I had to get to the ‘I’m worth it’ mindset, and The Speaker Lab [helped me with that].”
Making an impact as a speaker isn’t just about your time on stage—it’s about the courage to own your story and use it to help others. This week, teen resilience speaker, Kimberly Clark, shares her powerful journey from addiction and trauma to inspiring change in the lives of young people. What sets Kimberly apart isn’t just her willingness to be real and raw—it's her focus on turning pain into practical solutions for the teens she serves. Rather than settling for telling her story for free, she learned to recognize her true value, invest in her own growth, and help her audience move from inspiration to action. Her message? People aren’t just looking for a story—they want help navigating their own challenges.
Kimberly gets honest about the hurdles every speaker faces, from self-doubt to the emotions that come with pricing your expertise. Through relentless learning, seeking mentorship, and redefining her approach, she’s built a speaking business rooted in authentic connection and actionable takeaways. For anyone wondering if their story is enough, Kimberly is proof that leadership starts with authenticity and the courage to ask for your worth. If you want your message to create lasting change, Kimberly’s journey is all the inspiration—and practical advice—you need to start!
You’ll learn:
Methods for finding gigs: cold and warm outreach, word-of-mouth
Balancing a speaking career with a day job
Kimberly’s personal story and inspiration for speaking
Perseverance when results are lacking
The empowering aspects of authorship
Getting past inhibiting mindsets and investing in yourself
Overcoming fear and gaining confidence as a speaker
The importance of mentorship and the business side of speaking
And much, much more!
“I thought telling my story was enough, but people aren’t paying you to tell your story. People want thought leadership. People want you to solve their problems…so I had to figure out what’s in my story that’s valuable and marketable.”
The Speaker Lab Podcast 