Schedule Now

MEET

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
Book This Program

Recruit Like a Pro: Tools Necessary to Excel at Sorority Recruitment

Recruit Like a Pro is a high-energy, hands-on program that equips sorority members with the tools they need to run confident, authentic, and successful recruitment events. KJ McNamara shares proven strategies to boost retention, morale, and connection by helping chapters focus on genuine conversations and purposeful preparation. Ideal for sorority chapters and Panhellenic councils looking to elevate their recruitment game and bring in strong, values-aligned members.

Sorority recruitment is the most important time for your chapter and community. If you want to see major improvement in retention, morale, and quality of the sorority experience, it starts with recruitment.

There is a lot of preparation that can be done to take control of your recruitment to create quality results. In this session you will learn the best tactics, tips and tools to watch your recruitment process thrive. This training will help your chapters and members feel confident, prepared and genuine in recruitment.

Audience members will…
  • Explore how to generate conversations with new people
  • Practice the best ways to navigate a conversation to more meaningful connections

Ideal Audiences

  • Sorority Chapters
  • Panhellenic Councils
Book This Program

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

Navigating Conflict as a Leader

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

Conflict is inevitable in any leadership role.

Navigating it creates so much anxiety in us because we are afraid of hurting our reputation, failing, or ending a relationship.

When we are in a leadership role, conflict is even more tricky because we are expected to be good at it, take the high road and be aware of unspoken power dynamics.

Let’s dive into why we are so triggered by conflict, different approaches to conflict and tools that help us find a resolution.

 
This session can be customized specifically as a Women’s Empowerment session.

Audience members will…
  • CConsider the science behind why conflict is more challenging to navigate as a leader
  • Explore four different approaches to conflict and why we tend to lean on one or the other
  • Develop ways to manage healthy conflict and create more positive relationships, friendship and leadership skills

Ideal Audiences

  • Leadership Development
  • Professional Development
  • Greek Chapters/Organizations
  • Greek Councils
Book This Program

Your Relationships = Your Success

Your Relationships = Your Success is a practical and engaging program that helps students understand how meaningful relationships directly impact happiness, leadership, and long-term success. KJ McNamara blends research and real-world insight to show audiences how to build stronger connections, navigate friendships with intention, and develop a higher-quality network. This session equips participants with strategies to prioritize relationships in ways that elevate both personal fulfillment and professional growth.

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 the 3 types of fulfilling relationships

  • Understand how their own values and beliefs effect the way they individually show up to friendships and relationships

  • Develop strategies to manage healthy connection and seek out a higher quality network to increase their own net worth

Ideal Audiences

  • Leadership Development
  • Professional Development
  • Greek Chapters/Organizations
  • Greek Councils
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.

Instagram Linkedin
Access Promotional Material

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

Get to Know Our Speakers Personally on the ForCollegeForLife Podcast

KJ's Introduction Episode
All Episodes