just because you can do it all
doesn’t mean you should…

The 9 to 5 mentality?

It's basically productivity fodder for people who think suffering equals success.

Nine to Kind says: Not today. Let's try the KIND approach instead.

Here's what I know about your people (and maybe yourself too):

  • They became a helper because they are wired to make a difference (and damn good at it too)

  • They see problems others miss and solutions others overlook

  • They have an almost supernatural ability to read people and situations

  • They can hold space for others in ways that literally change lives

Burnout hasn’t decreased despite the increase of wellness budgets. And your best people are quietly planning their exits. I help organizations face the uncomfortable truth about helper burnout and implement the KIND approach that actually protects their investment in caring employees.

What if we reframed these toxic helper beliefs?

The teachers who stay late aren't "bad at boundaries"—they're invested in outcomes.
The nurses who work through lunch aren't "people pleasers"—they're committed to care.
The therapists who think about clients after hours aren't "codependent"—they're professionally dedicated.
The HR leaders who worry about company culture aren't "controlling"—they're visionary.

The caring itself isn't the problem. It’s how the caring is being done (and the burnout being rewarded accidentally).

The traditional advice telling you to "just set boundaries" isn't working because it ignores reality.

Organizations need to learn how to keep their carers caring—without burning them out. Self sacrifice shouldn't be the standard of being "good enough.” You need the KIND approach: a way to care sustainably while organizations learn to support helpers instead of exploiting them.

Signature Keynote:
nine to kind—

shifting from a culture of productivity
Guilt to sustainable engagement

  • The world doesn't need more nine-to-fivers grinding themselves into dust. It needs more people who've figured out how to live their “Nine to Kind “ life without losing their minds.

    This isn't another "Self Care Sunday" lecture where I suggest to light a candle and call it healing. This is about transforming how we think about productivity, success, and what it means to make a difference.

    The Nine to Kind Framework:

    • 9 to 5 Mindset: Productivity = output + proving your worth through self sacrifice

    • Nine to Kind mindset: Productivity = intentional impact + sustainable effort that doesn't destroy you

    • Why your "high performance" culture is actually killing performance: How toxic productivity creates the opposite of what you want (and the data proves it)

    • The engagement trap: Why your best people are quietly checking out while still showing up (hint: it's not about money)

    • The KIND approach to sustainable engagement: How to build cultures where people actually want to work, not just survive until 5 PM

    • Expanding the change into the 5-9: Real strategies for burnout management in and out of the office

    • Permission to redefine productivity on your own terms (without feeling guilty about it)

    • A clear framework for living a Nine to Kind Life

    • Tools that turn caring natures into fuel, not burnout

    • A sense of compassionate connection to their helper habits

turns out purpose doesn’t prevent burnout

Hey there! I’m Lauren—I'm a licensed therapist who's spent over a decade supporting hard working helpers—the teachers, nurses, social workers, managers, caregivers, and leaders who make everything work but struggle to invest in their own lives.

Here's what I've learned: I've worked through the personal aftermath of toxic workplace cultures, and after taking further personal inventory of my own life, I realized my burnout was a lifestyle (starting at age 11). You're probably the same—the same traits that make you vulnerable to burnout also make you incredibly effective.

My approach: I don't sugarcoat the uncomfortable truths about what's happening in your organization.I tell you what's not working, why it's not working, and give you the KIND approach that actually does work—even when the truth stings a little. Think big-sister compassionate call out vibes.

Why I'm different: Most speakers avoid the hard conversations or overwhelm you with feel good fluff. It’s honest AND empowering. I tell you what you need to hear AND give you tools that work in the real world. Sometimes that means calling out systems that aren't serving anyone.

I created Nine to Kind because I was tired of watching the world's most caring people apologize for caring. Your empathy isn't a weakness—it's your secret weapon. Let's use the KIND approach to treat it like the asset it actually is—while helping organizations learn how to keep their carers caring without burning them out.

Who let me have a microphone?

nice words from awesome people

  • “Lauren’s presentation on burnout was eye-opening for me. I thought I had a great grasp on boundaries and balance, but her workshop showed me I was missing a few key pieces. I walked away with great action items that I can implement right away, and feeling motivated to do them!”

    Madison: TN Small Business Association

  • "I just finished a session with Lauren Martin on Adapting to Change. Her guidance in this area, during a time of change in my own life, has been very encouraging. She's challenged me to approach my situation in a more mentally healthy way. I appreciate her expertise and will apply her guidance. "

    Tracy: News Channel 5

  • "Lauren has a unique way of engaging an audience, even virtually, while making participants feel safe. During a period of burnout, exhaustion, and anxiety for so many professionals in the corporate world, Lauren was able to bring poignant and relevant content that provided our staff with practical skills for weathering the challenges of daily life and taking better care of themselves."

    Brittany: Axios

  • "I heard this therapist and she was talking to me…walked up my street knocked on my door and peeped in…kinda felt like she was talking directly to me! It was so good I wanted to take screenshots but I was afraid to miss it. I take care of everyone and everything and let me down all the time, I’m exhausted but ready to take small steps to change."

    BOMA Nashville Attendee

  • “Lauren zeroed in on our unique profession and the challenges it brings as if she'd been working alongside us for years. She provided thoughtful, practical coping strategies in a manner that was comforting and empowering."

    Carrie: News Channel 5 Nashville

  • "Lauren joined us on two separate occasions about a variety of topics: survivor's guilt, anxiety, burnout, setting boundaries, impostor syndrome, and generally how to try to stay positive and motivated in the workplace. Her words resonated with so many of us, and several of us now have conversations in our departments about how we really are and how we can best support each other.”

    Danielle: Spectra Entertainment