Your story is your strategy
I’m Saleema Ishq, an author, marketing strategist, and keynote speaker who believes confidence doesn’t come from being perfect… it comes from being real.
Signature Keynote
They’re Not Just Buying What You Do… They’re Buying YOU
How to Show Up as Your True Self and Create Magnetic Connections in Work & Life
In this keynote, I share my own journey (including the moment I blurted out my OCD diagnosis on live radio and was met with connection instead of judgment) to prove that confidence doesn’t come from performance, it comes from authenticity.
Using a mix of humor, vulnerability, and actionable takeaways, I'm here to remind audiences that the things we’re most afraid to share are often the very things that make us unforgettable. Embracing these can transform the way you lead, work, sell, and live.
Audiences leave with:
The relief of knowing perfection isn’t the goal.
Practical tools to turn their stories into confidence and connection.
Permission to stop blending in and start standing out.
Marketing for Authors & Creatives
Writers often dread marketing… but it doesn’t have to feel cringey. In this workshop, I walk through how to grow an audience, connect with readers, and talk about your work in a way that feels authentic (and maybe even fun).
Authentic Personal Branding
People don’t always remember “professional.” They remember authentic. This session helps audiences uncover what makes them unique and use it to build a personal brand that feels aligned and unforgettable.
Stories are how people connect. In this talk, I show how sharing your own story (even the messy parts) can build trust, create opportunities, and give you the kind of confidence that lasts.
Confidence Through Storytelling
Additional Talks & Workshops
Speaking Highlights
I’ve spoken everywhere from small, 10-person workshops to international conferences with thousands of attendees. No matter the size of the room, one thing stays the same: people want to feel a real connection.
Some of the stages I’ve had the honor of speaking on include:
VMX (Veterinary Meeting & Expo): one of the largest international veterinary conferences in the world.
WVC (Western Veterinary Conference): another major international veterinary conference.
Boehringer Ingelheim Tech Champions Program: multiple presentations delivered to groups of 10–300+ at local, national, and international events, including:
A Proactive Approach to Osteoarthritis
Heartworms EXPOSED: Revealing the Reality & Risks of Heartworm Disease
Fleas & Ticks: Talking it O.V.E.R. with Pet Owners
Hookworms and Roundworms: A Look INSIDE & How to Get the Message OUT
Mesa Verde Literary Festival: solo presentation (Turning Personal Experience into Writing and Marketing Success) and panelist (Whodunnit and Why: Crafting Crime Fiction).
Amplify Lit Fest (Virtual): panelist (Marketing Demystified).
ABQ Arts Hub: Marketing and Self Promotion for Creatives and Young Creatives Workshop (for high school students).
Quill & Cup Writing Community: Fear as a Catalyst for Authentic Character Arcs and Reel Talk: How to Create Engaging Reels that Resonate with Readers.
What Others Are Saying...
"Saleema provides simple steps and helpful examples to save you time and connect you with your audience." — L McCoy
"I have struggled with social media and have felt overwhelmed by it. Your course made it easy to understand and follow." — Dita Dow, thriller author
"It's the perfect length. It's well organized and it made me (a new author new to using social media to grow a following) feel like social media could be a tool to connect with my future readers and express myself authentically rather than a necessary evil of marketing." —S.Calderado
"I love that you offer approachable ways to grow and nurture your audience without investing a lot of time or spending a dime." — Gina R. Briggs, multi-genre indie author
