what people are saying
Dr. Miriam’s Testimonials
From in-person keynotes to virtual workshops, Dr. Miriam Kirmayer inspires connection with research-backed strategies and a healthy dose of humor and humanity. Don’t just take our word for it— see what others are saying.
Laura Kozak, 2026
"Dr. Miriam’s keynote delivered a compelling blend of research-driven insight and real-world practicality, while her framework provides clear, actionable guidance. Our attendees walked away equipped with tangible strategies to strengthen relationships, navigate challenges, and foster meaningful collaboration. Dr. Miriam was a pleasure to work with!"
Laura Kozak
Program Manager, American Massage Therapy Association
Adriana Lopez, 2025
“We were thrilled to work with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer. She was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with—easy to work with, highly professional, and deeply attentive to our needs. Miriam truly listened and tailored her presentation to both our audience and the message we wanted to convey: the value and importance of social connection in the workplace. Her engaging delivery captivated the audience and made the event a resounding success—the best we’ve had so far.”
Adriana Lopez, Director, Workplace Well-being Operations
The Solutions Group | Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Lauren Doerner, 2025
“From the first conversation to the final assessment wrap-up meeting, working with Miriam was a joy! What I appreciated most was her willingness to spend time getting to know our group so that when the time came to present to our members, the content and her energy were more personable and impactful. She connects research with real life, and that is something our attendees significantly valued. She is engaging, and her topics of connection, intentionality, and friendship resonated deeply with our audience.”
Lauren Doerner
Sr. Training and Development Manager
Kappa Delta
Krystal Mittler, 2025
“From our very first exploratory call with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, it was clear she was the perfect choice to open our annual Waterloo Staff Conference in April 2025. Her warmth, charisma, and infectious enthusiasm immediately set the tone for what would become one of the most memorable keynotes our university has had in years.
In a time of significant uncertainty, like many post-secondary institutions across Canada, we’re navigating budget constraints and resource challenges, and we were searching for a speaker who could uplift and unite our staff. Miriam delivered far beyond our expectations. Her groundbreaking work on friendship and belonging resonated deeply with our community, offering not just inspiration but tangible strategies to foster meaningful connection and start to combat any feelings of loneliness.
The impact of her keynote was immediate and profound. From the moment she stepped off stage, we saw participants engaging in new ways – introducing themselves to other participants, exchanging contact information, and rekindling relationships with colleagues they hadn’t connected with in years. Her message didn’t just land – it sparked a movement.
Beyond her dynamic and engaging speaking style, Miriam was a dream to collaborate with. She was thoughtful and intentional in understanding the unique needs of our institution, she was highly organized throughout the planning process, and she generously shared post-conference insights and tools to help us sustain the momentum she created. She even stayed after her keynote to personally connect with attendees, leaving a lasting impression that extended well beyond the conference itself.
Months later, our campus is still making time for intentional connections thanks to her keynote. Dr. Kirmayer is not only a brilliant speaker, she’s a catalyst for connection, and a true partner in creating meaningful change. We recommend her wholeheartedly and are grateful for her time with us.”
Krystal Mittler
Events and Programs Coordinator
Organizational and Human Development, Human Resources, University of Waterloo
Christa Gillis, Ph.D., 2025
“Dr. Miriam Kirmayer illustrates the importance of connection and friendship – and the opportunities they hold – in a time when loneliness is seen as an epidemic. Her openness to a pre-event consultation ensured that her engaging, professional keynote aligned with our theme. She was a pleasure to work with throughout the planning and delivery of our event.”
Christa Gillis, Ph.D.
APEX Executive: Applied Research and Leadership Centre of Excellence
Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada
Nick Thomas, Director, Revenue Enablement, Docebo
“Truly energizing and deeply relevant! Dr. Miriam Kirmayer’s keynote was a standout moment of our RKO. Her insights on collaboration, connection, and purpose was a great reminder that while our day-to-day roles may differ, our goals are shared. She gave us the language, tools, and mindset to work better together.”
Nick Thomas,
Director, Revenue Enablement, Docebo
Suzanne Young, 2024
Dr. Miriam's perspectives are insightful, her subject matter expertise is unmatched, her presentation style is enrapturing, and her zest for life is absolutely infectious.
Her presentation highlighting the importance of connectedness is so relevant in the new virtual workplace, and her tangible strategies to foster those positive links are thoughtful, strategic, and achievable. Not only is she extremely well-educated and experienced in her field, it is very apparent that she lives these values daily.
Dr. Miriam was a delight to work with and she is wholeheartedly recommended to any organization looking to create a vibrantly connected workforce, both in office and virtually.
Suzanne Young
Chair, Spark Women’s Leadership Conference
Nancy Anderson, 2024
"Dr. Miriam Kirmayer's keynote on the power of social connection was nothing short of transformative. Her insights into building and maintaining meaningful relationships resonated deeply with our attendees, providing invaluable strategies for fostering connection in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. Her research and practical advice emphasized that connection is not just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for well-being and growth. The impact of her presentation will undoubtedly ripple through our work and communities for years to come."
Nancy Anderson
Executive Director, Inclusions East Inc., Maritime Conference on Developmental Disabilities and Autism
Samantha Janney, 2024
“Topic was super relevant and could be applied at both a personal and professional level. A perfect combination of science and practical experience shows the importance of investing in friendships to combat loneliness. I highly recommend Dr Kirmayer as a speaker.”
Samantha Janney
Executive Vice President, Cultural Care
Laurel Myers, 2024
“Energizing and meaningful opening keynote– a great way to start our event. It warmed people up for the day and got them excited about making connections throughout the conference! Dr. Miriam doesn’t just talk about connections – she makes connections with those she encounters!”
Laurel Myers
Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair
Liza Rogers, 2024
"I'm truly inspired by Dr. Miriam Kirmayer. Her enthusiasm for mental health and her ability to connect with people on a deep level are truly remarkable. As a business owner and social networker, I value her clinical insights. Her presentation at the Pacific West Conference was a highlight. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking inspiration and practical advice."
Liza Rogers
Founder, Women's Real Estate Network
Elizabeth Weiner, 2023
“You would be hard pressed to find a speaker who delivers her subject matter with more warmth and authenticity than Miriam. She is truly an expert on friendship who engages her audience with fascinating insights about maintaining the connections that nourish us and making the often difficult decision to sever the ones that no longer serve us. It’s been two weeks since we had the privilege of having her speak at our event, and we are still getting feedback about how incredible and impactful Miriam’s talk was. We are so looking forward to having her back for a “part two”!”
Elizabeth Weiner
Co-Chair, Jewish General Hospital - The Auxiliary Fundraiser
Sidra Rubin, 2023
“I came across Miriam online and was instantly captivated by her subject matter, content and information. We hired her for a women’s fundraising event recently and she gave the most incredible talk. She was warm, relatable and most importantly, full of snippets of key points about friendship that we have all thought about at one point or another. Read her material, listen to her podcasts and go listen to her speak if you can, you won’t regret it!”
Sidra Rubin
Co-Chair, Jewish General Hospital - The Auxiliary Fundraiser
Iva Kubickova, 2023
“Miriam's appearance attracted an impressive sign-up to the event, which was sold out almost immediately after it was released. Thanks to Miriam, the evening was a resounding triumph with fantastic feedback from all participants that laid the foundation for many great relationships. Thank you for a truly remarkable and impactful event! We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with someone who brings a creative flair that adds that extra touch of magic."
Iva Kubickova
Global Director, Membership & Marketing | WNORTH
Meredith Sedgwick, 2023
“Dr. Miriam gave a wonderful speaking session and Q&A at a brand event for one of our clients. She did an excellent job and made sure to engage the group throughout her time with us, even as far as staying after her session to continue conversations. She was receptive to feedback, open to collaboration, and was communicative throughout the entire process. We received nothing but positive notes from those in attendance and from our client.”
Meredith Sedgwick
Senior Account Manager, Citizen Relations
Setareh Ziai, 2023
“We were so thrilled to have Dr. Miriam Kirmayer as a closing keynote speaker at our annual conference. Her presentation left our audience with many takeaways both personally and professionally. Dr. Miriam Kirmayer did an excellent job of getting us thinking about the many benefits of meaningful support, how we should think about the importance of reception and not just delivery, the various support roles we naturally take on, and much, much more. She also tailored many examples, questions, and stories to our audience of women physicians specifically, which made it that much more impactful.”
Setareh Ziai MD, FRCSC
Co-Founder & Past-President, Canadian Women in Medicine
Donn Tice, 2022
“Miriam was a fantastic resource for our large group of CEOs and their partners. She immediately held the audience’s attention and interest, and shared her knowledge of the topic and deep expertise in ways that were simultaneously informative, provocative and unexpected, and persuasive… super engaging, highly interactive and conversational, great topic expert, gave the participants a ton of ‘take home value.’