Lynn O'Brien, Keynote Speaker & Singer, smiling and pointing at a microphone on stage with a purple curtain backdrop.

I’m Lynn, and I help audiences reconnect with their own humanity, creativity and power - igniting change from the inside out.

My innovative keynotes blend story, music, humor, and emotional depth into experiences audiences feel — and remember.

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Illustration of a microphone with a purple body, purple grid pattern on the head, and gold sound waves emanating from it.

Keynote Impact in Action

As the keynote speaker at Park Nicollet Health Foundation’s 39th Annual Spotlight Gala, I was invited to illustrate the impact of music therapy and inspire giving. I delivered a dynamic keynote blending psychoeducation, stories, research, and live songs, culminating in a fully improvised sing-along anthem, “Let’s Go Far Together.” This memorable finale united 1200 attendees, amplified the message, and helped drive over $500,000 in support for arts and healthcare programming.

Keynotes — At a Glance

Humanizing Healthcare:
Reclaiming Creativity That Heals

An engaging keynote experience that reconnects hard-working care teams with the creativity that fuels empathy, presence and exceptional care.

  • Healthcare often feels rushed, clinical, and overwhelming — yet true healing requires presence, empathy, and creativity. In this engaging keynote, Lynn O’Brien draws on her background in hospital-based music therapy, masterfully weaving music, story, and humor to reconnect professionals with their natural creativity as caregivers. Audiences leave re-inspired in their purpose, equipped with simple practices to ease burnout, and reminded that creativity isn’t optional — it’s what makes healing most effective.

    Key takeaways:

    • Reclaim creativity as a vital care skill

    • Discover real-world stories of how healthcare systems are prioritizing creative arts and human connection

    • Reframe burnout through presence, purpose, and resilience

    • Leave with renewed inspiration and practical tools for caring for yourself and others

    Ideal for: healthcare conferences/events, leadership summits, wellness and caregiver events

Healing in Harmony:
The Dynamic Power of Music Therapy

An eye-opening, interactive keynote that reveals the impact of music therapy in modern healthcare - blending powerful stories, research, and live music to inspire new possibilities for healing.

  • Music therapy is an evidence-based healthcare profession that uses the power of music to support patients, providers, and systems. Far from a luxury or “extra,” music therapy complements medicine by bringing creativity, connection, and emotional support into healthcare. Drawing on her years as a hospital-based music therapist and professional artist, Lynn O’Brien blends powerful stories, research, and live music to reveal how music therapy expands whole-person care. Audiences gain a deeper understanding of this field and a renewed belief in the role of creativity in human well-being.

    Key takeaways:

    • Gain insight into the evidence and impact of music therapy in healthcare

    • Hear real-world stories of patients, providers, and systems transformed through music

    • Understand how creativity and connection enhance healing alongside medicine

    • Leave inspired and equipped to integrate the arts and human connection into care

    Ideal for: healthcare conferences, music and music therapy conferences, medical education programs, college and university events, leadership summits, and community health gatherings.

Beyond the Buzzwords:
Why Self-Care is Serious Business

A soulful, relatable keynote that reframes self-care as an essential, learnable practice — blending music, story, and reflection to spark connection and resilience from the inside out.

  • Self-care isn’t just bubble baths – it’s not a luxury or a passing trend — it’s the most important job you’ll ever have, and that job requires training. It is the foundation for resilience and authentic connection in both work and life. Yet, we spend so much energy supporting others — teams, families, clients, communities — while too often overlooking the most essential relationship: the one we have with ourselves.

    In this keynote, Lynn O’Brien draws on her experience supporting clients and professionals alike (and herself!), to reveal how caring for yourself first transforms everything from leadership to daily living. With music, story, and reflective exercises, she helps audiences move beyond buzzwords to experience what it truly means to “have your own back” — and why that practice changes the way we lead, connect, and thrive.

    Key takeaways:

    • Recognize self-care as the missing key to healthy leadership, relationships, culture, and community

    • Experience what it feels like to support yourself with clear boundaries — without guilt or apology

    • Gain renewed clarity, confidence, and compassion for yourself and others

    • Discover the ripple effect of modeling genuine self-care in work and life

    Ideal for: leadership summits, women’s empowerment events, wellness conferences, and organizational retreats

Choose the Format that best fits your event:

  • Multi colored yellow spark

    Keynote:

    20–60 min

    Inspiring, performance-style talks that spark energy and insight.

  • Multi colored spark

    Breakout:

    45–90 min

    Interactive sessions with music, reflection, and practical takeaways.

  • Multi colored purple spark

    Retreat / Half-Day:

    Immersive experiences to recharge, reconnect, and transform teams.

What’s Included

  • Strategy

    Pre-event planning call to align goals

  • Customization

    Tailored keynote with story, song, and insight

  • Engagement

    Audience engagement options (reflection, creative exercises, interaction)

  • Results

    Follow-up resources to extend impact

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"Lynn has an innate ability to collaborate with organizations and individuals alike to bring a truly exceptional experience to audiences. When you want to leave a lasting impact on your audience, partner with Lynn O'Brien."

​- Max Erickson, Park Nicollet Foundation

Beyond the Keynote:

Optional offerings to complement your event

  • A woman with curly hair singing and playing an acoustic guitar on stage with a brick wall background.

    Custom Song for your event or organization

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  • A woman with curly short hair playing guitar for an audience in a cozy, rustic room with exposed brick walls and wooden beams. The audience, sitting in chairs, is smiling and engaged, featuring diverse age groups and styles.

    Concert or Retreat Session to complement the keynote

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  • A woman with curly brown hair holding a microphone, smiling on stage with a colorful background.

    Emcee / Event Host — I occasionally emcee conferences, galas, and special events, bringing the same warmth, humor, and musical presence I bring to my talks.

    Let's Chat
Guests in formal attire at a banquet in a large decorated hall, illuminated with purple lighting, seated at tables with green napkins and glassware.
Testimonials

“Lynn was fantastic and it was an amazing process for my team. Her content expertise was also key, as was her musical presence, courage to be creative and flexible in connection with the audience. She made an impact and helped to extend our mission.”

- Beth Warner, Executive Director, Park Nicollet Foundation

“Lynn absolutely transforms events with her jaw-dropping, toe-tapping gifts, whether she’s writing songs on the fly or playing the perfect song to reflect or lift the mood. Magic happens whenever Lynn is part of an event.”

- Liv Lane & Lori Portka, co-authors of “Infinite Purpose: Care Instructions For Your True Calling”

“Lynn recently was the keynote speaker of our annual fundraising gala. She did an amazing job of engaging over 1000 guests in attendance.”

- Michael B. Seim, MD Vice President of Medical Affairs, Methodist Hospital

“Yesterday Lynn gave an original, sincere, humorous and completely authentic keynote performance that honored and uplifted 500 cancer survivors, their families and caregivers.”

- Audience member at Frauenshuh Cancer Center

“Lynn’s keynote woke us up, touched our hearts, impressed, surprised, and delighted — she gave her utter best for our CELEBRATION event.”

- Carol Ann, Manager of Patient Support and Education, Frauenshuh Cancer Center

Selfie of Lynn and two happy clients smiling taking a photo on stage in front of an audience in a theater.

I partner with organizations and events that want to spark creativity, connection, and lasting impact:

  • Healthcare teams and helping professionals

  • Women’s leadership and empowerment conferences & events

  • Purpose-driven corporate teams, associations, and summits