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KJ McNamara

Recruitment and Conflict Speaker for College Students

"KJ is captivating and empowering! Her engaging delivery of content, audience participation activities, and calls to action leave attendees inspired to implement what they’ve practiced and learned in their time with KJ. KJ simplifies difficult concepts and inspires students to career professionals to open their minds and try new tactics to be excellent in their environment. "
Laura Beth McKew
Kappa Delta Sorority National Vice President-Collegians

KJ McNamara's Programs

Finding Our Place: Creating Belonging Through Purposeful Recruitment

Finding Our Place: Creating Belonging Through Purposeful Recruitment helps sorority members reimagine recruitment and retention through the lens of belonging and purpose. In this inspiring and practical session, KJ McNamara introduces the concept of sorority as a “third place” and guides students in creating a culture where both new and existing members feel seen, valued, and excited to stay involved. The result is more meaningful connections—and stronger, more sustainable membership.

We all want a place to belong. We want a place where we feel comfortable being who we are, surrounded by friends who support and help us to become who we aspire to be. We want a culture deeper than the surface level and better than the toxic ones that are all too prevalent.

We want purpose…

…and we want to have fun!

For years KJ McNamara has been a trusted partner in helping organizations, communities, and chapters grow their membership and now she has a new program to achieve even greater levels of recruitment, retention, and sisterhood. She believes sorority is the “third place” for prospective members and, by harnessing an understanding of how to create it, new and existing members will want to be engaged.

Learning how create and harness the power of the third space on your campus is the key to recruiting incredible people and revitalizing existing members.

Audience members will…

  • Explore ways in which third space is created in sorority

  • Consider the fundamental elements of what prospective and current members want in membership

  • Develop strategies to implement to produce short- and long-term recruitment success 

  • Practice recruitment and retention strategies that promote belonging

Ideal Audiences

  • Sorority Chapters/Organizations
  • New Member Orientation
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How To Fight Fair: Navigating Conflict as a Woman in Leadership

How to Fight Fair: Navigating Conflict as a Woman in Leadership is a candid and empowering session that helps women leaders face conflict with confidence and clarity. KJ McNamara unpacks the unique challenges women experience when navigating tough conversations and equips participants with practical tools to handle conflict in a way that strengthens relationships, leadership, and sisterhood. Ideal for leadership or professional development spaces, this program creates room for real growth without sacrificing authenticity.

Conflict is inevitable in any leadership role. In fact, it is often impossible to avoid if you really want to make a difference in your organization. Navigating it creates so much anxiety in us because we are afraid of hurting our reputation, failing, or ending relationships.

As women in leadership, conflict is even more tricky because we are expected to behave and act in a friendly and likable way. This feels like the opposite of conflict, doesn’t it?

In this engaging and empowering program, KJ helps audience to dive into why we are so triggered by conflict as well as explore different approaches and tools that help us find a resolution.

Audience members will…

  • Consider the science behind why conflict is more challenging to navigate as a woman

  • Evaluate the different approaches to conflict and why we tend to lean on one or the other

  • Develop strategies to manage healthy conflict to create more positive relationships, sisterhood
    and leadership skills

Ideal Audiences

  • Leadership Development
  • Professional Development
  • Sorority Chapters/Organizations
  • Panhellenic Councils
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Red Flag Relationships

Red Flag Relationships is a powerful and practical program that helps students recognize the difference between healthy and harmful relationships—before things spiral. KJ McNamara equips audiences with the tools to set boundaries, support friends in toxic situations, and make safer, more empowered choices in dating and friendships. This session is perfect for campuses looking to foster stronger, healthier communities through real, relatable conversations.

What are your rules for dating?

What are your non-negotiables for friendships and relationships?

Have you ever stopped to consider what your boundaries are?

What are your red flags?

Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us have dated a “red flag” or had a friend who has! It starts out exciting and thrilling, then ends in flames. But do we move on from these experiences happier, healthier, wiser, and more prepared to know what a healthy relationship is for us?

Too often not…

Learning how to help someone in a dangerous dating situation is a difficult skill, not to mention knowing when it is time for you to call it quits on a toxic relationship.  In this thought-provoking and action-focused new program from KJ McNamara, you will learn how spot a healthy and unhealthy relationships from the very beginning and develop the tools to step in for a friend or get out.

Audience members will…

  • Consider the warning signs of a harmful relationship

  • Develop strategies to approach a member or friend in a harmful relationship

  • Evaluate ways in which they can create and maintain healthy boundaries in relationships and dating

Ideal Audiences

  • Sorority Chapters/Organizations
  • Leadership Development  
  • Community Colleges
Book This Program

Meet K.J. McNamara

KJ McNamara has spent over 15 years working on developing confidence and relationship skills with college students, and equipping communities to grow and flourish.

As a trusted and requested speaker, with campus/organizational partners asking her to return time and time again, KJ delivers an honest and curated curriculum designed to cut to the heart of the topic. A successful entrepreneur, she owns Pure Barre studios and works with her clients and teams on positivity, progress, and whole health. Confidence and mental health are a focal point of her everyday career as well as driving results in her client’s lives.

KJ graduated with her B.S in Psychology and B.A. in Communications from Washington State University and her M.P.A. from the University of Missouri.

KJ McNamara's Impact

"KJ draws students, staff, and faculty in with her authenticity, vulnerability, and storytelling ability. As a lifelong leader and learner, KJ is dedicated to keeping her work fresh and relevant to the student populations she is invited to work with. With natural talent as both a large-scale speaker and facilitator, KJ is able to work with campus-based professionals to best meet the needs of the audience. Students regularly comment on how impactful KJ is in and outside of the classroom space when she comes to work with the campus communities I am part of. Possibly the most powerful endorsement for KJs work is that students speak about and practice what they learn from KJ long after she has been with them. KJ is a staple in working with the student populations I have the pleasure of serving."
Samantha Armstrong Ash, PhDDean of Students, Eastern Washington University & Adjunct Faculty, Gonzaga University