Amanda Van Den Elzen

When you reach out, I'll set up a discovery session to meet with you and understand your goal in hiring me. Oftentimes, I can use information from your organization to strengthen my message and tailor it to your audience. I can combine some of my stories to make the most impactful talk possible. Here are some ideas for sessions I offer:
- "Branding Matters." This topic will dive into the importance of being intentional about your brand and what others grow to expect from you. Participants will learn to consistently craft their personal brand through the way they look, speak, and interact with others.
- "Sponsorship versus Partnership." This section will highlight the importance of understanding your stakeholders' business needs and demonstrating real ROI/value in the partnerships you form with them. The audience will learn how to explore a business need with curiosity, set expectations with a solution that aligns with both the business need and their own abilities, and deliver a measurable value by enacting the solution.
- "It's okay if you crash." This topic will explore the importance of having a growth mindset and how to overcome failures. Learners will relate to my stories of public failures and learn how to reframe a negative outcome as an opportunity for growth.

I am also an accomplished trainer on Generative AI foundational skills and use cases - complete with some motorsports stories thrown in for fun.

Hi, I'm Amanda Van Den Elzen, and I'm excited to share my journey with you. As the Learning and Development Manager – Technical Skills at U.S. Venture, Inc., based in Appleton, WI, I have the incredible opportunity to prepare our workforce for the future. I lead our training programs on generative AI and Microsoft Power Platform tools, always striving to find a better way and push the boundaries of what's possible.

My career path has been anything but conventional. From the racetrack to the corporate office, I've gathered a wealth of experiences that shape my approach to professional development. I founded Racer on Demand, a company dedicated to upskilling racers in motorsports marketing. This venture is close to my heart as it combines my passion for racing with my commitment to empowering others.

In addition to my professional role, I work closely with my husband to manage VDE Racing, our professional short-course off-road race team based in Wisconsin. Together, we strategize team growth, build partnerships with sponsors, and ensure the team's success both on and off the track - and yes, once a year I get behind the wheel of a purpose-built race vehicle and spin some laps with the boys. These experiences have taught me invaluable lessons about marketing, personal branding, leadership, resilience, and strategic thinking – lessons that I bring to my professional life and share in my sessions.

In my talks, I blend my experiences from managing a race team with my expertise in professional development. I aim to inspire and motivate individuals to think outside the box, embrace challenges, and pursue their career goals with confidence and determination. Whether it's navigating the complexities of race sponsorships or corporate stakeholders, I believe that the principles from the racetrack can drive success in any field.

I am able to present either in-person or virtually. Here are some considerations for each:

In-Person:
- In a small group in a quiet space, I am comfortable projecting my voice to be heard without a microphone
- In a larger group or a busy space, I am comfortable with a handheld or clip-on microphone
- My presentations are more impactful if I am able to share a presentation. I can provide a presentation ahead of time to be shared by a producer or I can bring my laptop to present.
- Monitors capable of showing speaker notes OR a podium with space for my laptop are preferred, but not required.

Virtual:
- I am experienced leading interactive virtual sessions on Teams and Zoom and technically savvy enough to figure out most other platforms.
- I am capable of monitoring the chat, sharing my own presentations, etc.
- A virtual producer is always a great add to make sure things run smoothly, but not required for my sessions.