#WISHRM25 Speaker Spotlight: Leah Roe, The Perk

I’m thrilled to shine a WISHRM Speaker Spotlight on Leah Roe, founder of The Perk. Leah is a leadership coach whose energy is nothing short of contagious. She has a gift for weaving powerful stories into actionable lessons, challenging leaders to think differently, collaborate boldly, and embrace growth — even when it feels disruptive.

​Ahead of her session at the 2025 Wisconsin SHRM State Conference, Leah sat down with us to share a glimpse into her approach to leadership, accountability, and the transformational conversation she has in store for attendees.

Here’s what Leah had to say:

Q1: You’re known for bringing big energy, big heart, and big fun—even when the topic is something as squirm-inducing as accountability. What’s your secret to making hard conversations feel less like a root canal and more like a team-building wine tasting?
Leah: All goes back to my favorite quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Accountability & having hard conversations, on the surface, seem scary & squirm-inducing. But what if it’s not? What if it’s accountability, & holding someone accountable, is an act of compassion? And it is... I believe holding someone accountable is one of the most compassionate & loving things you can do. It’s you saying “Hey, I see you. I know this is important to you, & I believe in you, & I want you to be successful. I am here to help you achieve your goals & become the person you want to be. Yes, it will be hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.”

And as far as the “big energy, big heart, & big fun”... well that’s just me 😊 Pure confetti running through these veins! I couldn’t hold back my energy or absolute love for the people if I tried! 

Q2: How do you bring that vibe into sessions that deal with hard topics like accountability and feedback?
Leah: We always start from a place of curiosity & “what if?” From the beginning, at The Perk we've tried to make the complex SIMPLE & the difficult FUN. You know what’s complex & difficult? Accountability & feedback. But what if they don’t have to be? What if we could make it simple? What if we could make it fun? What if we could make it playful AND actionable? We start by asking questions, then creating our workshop experiences from this place. 

Q3: Tough conversations can feel like walking barefoot on LEGOs. What’s one mindset shift leaders can make to turn those “ugh” moments into something empowering—and maybe even energizing?
Leah: Do you know the difference between cows & buffalo? When a storm comes, cows turn & run away from the storm. Buffalo, on the other hand, turn & run straight into the storm, so they can get through it faster. Be the buffalo, my friends. You’ll be on the other side faster, & with stronger trust (I guarantee it).

Q4: Your session connects accountability to innovation and collaboration—three big buzzwords that don’t always play nicely together. What’s one unexpected way accountability can actually unlock creativity and stronger team dynamics?
Leah: Our brains are wired for connection & consistency. When leaders follow through with accountability, it builds psychological safety, because people know what to expect & trust you’re invested in them. 

Clear goals unlock creativity. When the destination is clear, & your team knows they will be held accountable to getting there, people feel empowered to explore bold, different, even weird ways to get there. Clarity accelerates collaboration, because when everyone knows what success looks like & why it matters, we align faster.

Clear Expectations set the “what” & “why”, not the “how”. This gives teams permission to innovate, experiment, & try new approaches without fear.

Q5: You’ve got major Disney energy—so if this session were a ride at the Magic Kingdom, which one would it be and why? (Bonus points if it’s got a little splash zone for messy feedback moments!)
Leah: If this session were a ride at Magic Kingdom (which, I appreciate the challenge because most people know my favorite ride is Guardians of the Galaxy at EPCOT), it would be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. You ride in a boat together as a team, it's a little scary, but ultimately SO MUCH FUN. You won’t know what to expect as you come around the corner, but you’ll be smiling, laughing, & enjoying every moment of the experience. 

The other reason why I chose Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is because it used to be Splash Mountain – however it was reimagined, new perspectives were taken, & it became something so beautiful & so much better than before. That’s what we’re going to do with accountability – we're going to reimagine it, take a new perspective on it, & how you view accountability & how you hold people accountable will become something so beautiful & so much better than before.

Q6: Okay, real talk: After your session, what’s one practical tool, mantra, or mic-drop phrase you hope attendees steal and use in their next “we need to talk” moment?
Leah: The Betty Crocker Principle. That’s all I’m going to say. Come to the session to learn what I’m talking about, & how freaking awesome it is!​

---

Sound exciting? We think so too! Don’t miss Leah’s session:

Future-Ready Leadership: Accountability as the Key to Innovation & Collaboration
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 10:00am-11:15am
Location: C and D

​This session is sure to be equal parts inspiring, energizing, and practical. And the conversation doesn’t stop there: be sure to connect with Leah Roe and The Perk to keep the momentum going long after the conference.