Speaking & Workshops
Speaking on grief, bereavement, and the systems that shape how we live through loss
Cassidie Carmen Bates, MPP, is a published researcher on grief and bereavement leave, TEDx speaker, public policy practitioner, and certified grief support specialist.
Through keynote talks, workshops, panels, and guest lectures, Cassidie helps conferences, organizations, universities, and public audiences engage with grief, bereavement, and loss with greater clarity, credibility, and care.
Her work brings together original research, lived expertise, public policy experience, and a deeply human approach to one of the most universal experiences we all share.
PARTNERED WITH
Signature Talk
Death Is Inevitable. Grieving Is Universal. Bereavement Leave Is Neither.
Grief touches every workplace, but most bereavement policies are built for a much simpler version of loss than people actually live through.
In this keynote, Cassidie shares research, storytelling, and practical insight on what grieving workers need, why standard bereavement leave often falls short, and how organizations can create more humane support before a crisis happens.
Audiences leave with:
Better language for talking about grief
A clearer understanding of what grieving workers carry
Practical ideas for grief-informed workplace support
A deeper understanding of why lived expertise matters
Best for: conferences, HR leaders, universities, associations, nonprofits, and public-interest groups.
Speaking Topics
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How loss affects leadership, communication, culture, and employee experience.
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Why current systems fail grievers and what grief-informed support can look like.
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The overlooked burden carried by those managing paperwork, decisions, and
responsibility while grieving.
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How personal experience can inform stronger institutions, public conversations, and
better support.
A good fit for
Conferences and associations
HR and people leaders
Universities and academic programs
Nonprofits and public-interest organizations
Public policy, social work, and public health audiences
Leadership retreats and staff trainings
Media and public forums
Ways to work together
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For conferences, summits, leadership gatherings, and public events.
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For conferences, summits, leadership gatherings, and public events.
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For conferences, summits, leadership gatherings, and public events.
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For universities, graduate programs, policy schools, and student communities.
Benefits
Clearer language for hard conversations
Better understanding of grief at work
Practical ideas for bereavement support
Insight into the hidden labor after loss
A research-backed, deeply human perspective
Tools for building more compassionate systems
What People Are Saying
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I have been lucky enough to work alongside Cassidie in the grief space. I can absolutely say that the Griefastic Book fair would still be floundering if she hadn't offered her organization, diligence and experience to our effort to become a non-profit! We were so impressed we asked her to sit on the board!
— Meghan Riordan Jarvis, Founder Grieftastic Book Fair
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Cassidie Bates brings something rare to the conversation around grief: a deep, unwavering compassion that makes the people she reaches feel truly seen. What sets her apart is that she doesn't simply speak about grief from a place of deep knowing - she listens with the kind of full, unhurried attention that helps people feel less alone in their hardest moments. Working alongside her has reminded me that compassionate attention, when it is this genuine, is its own form of healing.
— Stephanie Sarazin
Public Speaking Portfolio
Before focusing on grief-informed bereavement policy, Cassidie spent years building lived-expertise advocacy models in food security and public policy. This work reflects the foundation of her current research approach: policy shaped by the people most directly impacted.
