Shasta Nelson teaches the science of friendship at work—helping organizations build the trust, connection, and collaboration that drive thriving cultures and high performance.
Meet Shasta Nelson
Social Relationships expert, three-time author, popular media resource, and in-demand keynote speaker
Shasta Nelson is a leading voice on friendship, belonging, and human connection at work.
She serves as the Chief Friendship Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, an initiative focused on reversing the decline in social connection and trust.
She is also the author of three books on relationships, including The Business of Friendship: Making the Most of the Relationships Where We Spend Most of Our Time.
Long before connection became a workplace priority, Shasta was already studying it—serving as CEO of one of the first friendship-matching platforms and researching what actually builds meaningful relationships.
Today, her research-backed frameworks help organizations strengthen trust, collaboration, and engagement through the science of connection.
Why Relationships Matter at Work
Organizations are investing heavily in leadership, strategy, and performance.
But research consistently points to a different driver of success: the quality of our relationships at work.
• Employees with a best friend at work are 7x more engaged (Gallup)
• Strong workplace relationships increase retention, collaboration, and trust
• Professionals with close friends at work are 2.4x more likely to stay with their company
Yet this is the one factor most organizations leave to chance.
That’s where Shasta Nelson’s work comes in.
Harness the Science Behind Trust,
Collaboration, and Performance
Why it works:
Grounded in over 15 years of research, Shasta Nelson reveals how friendship—not just trust—is the hidden chemistry behind thriving teams. Through her The 3 Requirements of Relationship™ frame- work, she breaks down the three measurable dimensions of relational health that predict performance: positive emotion, consistency, and vulnerability.
Leaders and teams walk away with a new understanding of how to intentionally cultivate trust,
Why it matters:
Shasta’s work bridges what Gallup has long shown — that people with a best friend at work are seven times more engaged — with the deeper science explaining why: friendships boost employees’ health, happiness, and job satisfaction while also increasing retention, collaboration, and trust across the organization. In other words, real connection fuels performance for everyone.
For organizations ready to rehumanize the workplace, Shasta Nelson delivers the missing metric of organizational health: friendship.
Connection is not soft. It’s strategic.
Conference Connection Experiences
BONUS:
For conferences that want to go even further, Shasta also offers facilitated connection experiences such as
Speed Friending Sessions
Speed Friending Sessions
A structured networking experience that helps attendees meet many new people quickly through guided prompts and meaningful conversation in a way that feels fun.
These sessions are perfect for:
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opening receptions
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leadership cohorts
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early-career groups
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networking-focused events
MOST POPULAR KEYNOTES
Shasta’s most requested topics are typically delivered as 45–90 minute keynotes, but can also be customized into half or full-day interactive sessions.
01
WORKPLACE CULTURE
Relational Intelligence: Accelerating High-Trust, Resilient, and Rewarding Relationships
02
LEADERSHIP
The Connected Leader: Why Leaders Need Strong Relationships Too
Speaking for Your Industry
While the science of connection is universal, every industry experiences it differently.
Explore how Shasta’s work addresses the unique challenges facing different audiences.
Testimonials
Shasta is a powerhouse speaker & educator! Shasta hosted an incredible virtual session on the business of belonging & relationships for my Marketing team at Google. She left the team with incredible insights & thinking tools that are just so valuable for a mindset change. Our event with Shasta felt like a warm but productive hug with a focus on being intentional about the experiences people are creating for each other.
Supriya Gujral
Senior Director, Global Partner Marketing at Google
5 Reasons to Hire Shasta
01
A TOPIC THE WORKPLACE CAN'T IGNORE
Nearly 60% of employees report feeling disconnected at work, hurting engagement, loyalty, and collaboration. Shasta helps leaders and teams strengthen the relationships that make workplaces healthier, more resilient, and more human.
02
A RARE EXPERTISE IN HUMAN CONNECTION
As Chief Friendship Officer for the U.S. Chamber of Connection, previous CEO of a friendship matching company, and author of three books on relationships, Shasta brings more than 15 years studying the science of friendship and connection.
03
RESEARCH THAT ACTUALLY CHANGES BEHAVIOR
Shasta has a gift for turning complex relationship science into clear, practical insights audiences immediately recognize—and can start applying the very next day.
04
SHE BUILDS CONNECTION IN THE ROOM
Many speakers talk about connection. Shasta helps people experience it. Through thoughtful interaction and shared moments, audiences often leave already feeling more connected to each other.
05
AUDIENCES FEEL IT, NOT JUST HEAR IT
Blending research, storytelling, humor, and genuine warmth, Shasta delivers keynotes that are both meaningful and energizing—often becoming the conversation people are still having long after the event ends.
Want a more hands-on and facilitated experience for your workplace?
For Event Planners
Shasta is...
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Easy to work with—responsive, reliable, and collaborative
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Ready to customize every talk for your audience and goals
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Focused on bringing high energy and high impact to the stage
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Always blending heart + strategy: audiences will leave inspired and equipped
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Infusing every keynote with meaningful audience participation—because connection doesn’t happen by listening alone
