🌟 Why Choose Rane Stempson as Your Next Speaker
- A story that moves audiences into action — from foster care and emancipation at 15 to national leadership, Rane’s lived resilience inspires people to rise above their own challenges.
- 30+ years of transformational leadership — she has turned around organizations across tech, government, education, and non‑profits, helping teams move from chaos to clarity and high‑impact execution.
- A proven speaker for audiences up to 25,000 — since 1994, Rane has energized rooms of every size with authenticity, humor, and unforgettable presence.
- Expertise that meets today’s moment — leadership development, mental health, inclusive innovation, immigrant American resilience, overcoming adversity, and the practical integration of AI in education and the future of work.
- National and global credibility — former Principal Research Director at Microsoft; advisor to the White House, United Nations, and major organizations on technology inclusion and social impact.
- A message rooted in humanity and sustainable success — after surviving 18 concussions and navigating an invisible disability, Rane models balance, well‑being, and intentional leadership.
- A catalyst for real transformation — audiences leave with practical tools, mindset shifts, and renewed confidence to lead, innovate, and thrive.
Rane Stempson has been inspiring audiences of 20 to 25,000 since 1994. A first‑generation Vietnamese American, she has overcome extraordinary adversity — childhood abuse, foster care, emancipation at 15, and the challenges of navigating life as an immigrant — to build a life defined by resilience, leadership, and impact. She earned $150,000 in scholarships, graduated from one of the nation’s top engineering and liberal arts universities, and went on to build a distinguished career in education, technology, and innovation.
With 30 years of experience across high‑tech, government, education, and non‑profit sectors, Rane helps clients overcome organizational underperformance, overwhelm, and misalignment by guiding them toward clarity, structure, and high‑impact execution. She is known for turning chaos into order, transforming stagnant teams into high‑performing ones, and helping leaders connect individual strengths to organizational success.
A 15‑year veteran of Microsoft and former Principal Research Director, Rane led global innovation initiatives, advanced inclusive technology strategies, and worked on projects ranging from women’s hackathons to anti‑trafficking technology solutions. She has advised the White House, the United Nations, and national organizations on technology inclusion, diversity, and the future of the technical workforce.
After surviving 18 concussions and a traumatic brain injury, Rane learned to navigate an invisible “blind disability” and embraced a new normal grounded in balance, mental health, and intentional impact. She spent 18 months traveling the country full‑time in a van, discovering the power of minimalism, presence, and the joy of living with less. That journey now shapes her work helping others prioritize personal health, connect with nature and community, and even plan for early retirement.
Today, as CEO of the Ranemaker Institute, Rane helps individuals, organizations, and communities reach their full potential through inclusive innovation, leadership development, and human‑centered transformation. She is a sought‑after speaker and coach known for her expertise in leadership, mental health, immigrant American resilience, overcoming adversity, and the practical integration of AI in education and workforce settings.
Through coaching, workshops, and strategic guidance, Rane equips leaders with the mindset, tools, and confidence to build thriving cultures where people and performance flourish. She empowers clients to become visionary architects of change — creating organizations, communities, and futures where everyone can rise.
Services
Keynote Speaker
Interactive customized sessions to unlock potential, navigate change, drive growth and inspire employees, conference attendees and students.
Leadership Development
One on one coaching for executives, leaders and managers. Learn the skills needed to stay cool, calm, and collected under pressure. Learn how to lead other people to success. Empower your team by more effectively communicated to them based on their style and needs. Through tips and activities better you stress and time management.
Team Building and Moral Sessions
Customizable sessions to bring your team closer and better communicate by understanding their communication styles and their preferred team roles based on their personality and work style. Interactive, fun, painting, social with tools and actions they can use every-day post session.
Wellness and Mental Health
Post pandemic our staff need help with wellness and mental health more than ever. Fully customizable structured dynamic and interactive session with activities and discussion to focus on life balance, meditation, sleep hygiene, mental health awareness, nutrition, and stress management.
Testimonials
Rane is extremely knowledgeable in the space of universities and sessions to empower youth and academic leaders, great exposure to Indian Higher Education ecosystem.
Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Head Academic Initiatives & Microsoft Innovation Center India
Rane Stempson was exceptional as instructor at Oregon State University and a presenter at numerous Community forums. She engages her audience, has depth of knowledge, and is passionate about her topics.
Marla Hacker, Retired Dean of Academic Programs Oregon State University-Bend
We hired Rane to be a keynote speaker at Hawaii State Business Pathway CTO, Hawaii Business Education Association Conference, Business Education Association breakout speaker and speak at our college a number of times. She crafts a story that meets the needs of your theme and message. She excites, inspires and connects with the audience. I look forward to hiring her again.
Kay Ono, Interim Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer Leeward Community College
Qualifications Overview
SUMMARY
Diversity, Research, Sales, Teaching, Technical, Partnerships and Marketing Director with 20+ years’ combined experience in government affairs, relationship management, turn around organizational development, sales, program management, product management, technology and diversity research.
QUALIFICATIONS OVERVIEW
Strategic Planning:
- Consistent record of forging strong business relationships with segments, business groups, clients, partners, non-profit, community and government leaders.
- Demonstrated ability to scale global ideas to fit specific cultural and national needs in more than 40 countries.
- Acknowledged for leading largest global launch in history for Microsoft Central Eastern Europe and for putting into place the first regional strategy for virtualization which is serving as a platform for continued success and highest regional achievement worldwide.
- Launched first women in technology initiative across Central Eastern Europe to recruit, retain and advance more women in technology and first International Women’s Hackathon in the world reaching more than 15,000 women in 15 countries and over 60 locations.
- Ability to create, develop and implement long-term & short term strategic & tactical plans that land with multiple divisions and multiple organizations.
- Recognized as a successful relationship broker in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Government Affairs:
- 25 years of effective legislative lobbying and selected strategic voice on education and technology issues.
- Global thought leader in 21st century skills education, entrepreneurship and growing women in STEM with governments, think tanks, NGOs and IGOs working with European Union, WEF, UNESCO and UN Women.
- Experience in leading and managing multi-stakeholder international partnerships in public and private sectors.
- Selected to lead 3 Whitehouse Office of Science and Technology Policy committees on Human Trafficking and Technology Inclusion and participate in First Lady Obama Initiatives around women empowerment.
- Strategic advisor to Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and California Departments of Education; selected to serve as business representative on technology initiatives, 21st century skills, and entrepreneurship.
- Guest lecturer and strategic academic research relationship director for global top higher education institutions.
Diversity:
- Recognized leader in computer science/technology/STEM community in recruiting, retaining and advancing diverse students and professionals in computing.
- Recognized leader in research for growing more women and underrepresented groups in technology.
- Proven track record in developing successful strategies, programs, training, presentations, research and initiatives to support diverse students and professionals.
Sales/Marketing:
- Track record of meeting and surpassing quota requirements and customer/partner satisfaction.
- Acknowledged for gaining trust and achieving productivity through coaching/mentoring, managers and sales/marketing staff.
Management:
- Proven track record in leading global virtual teams across multiple divisions and companies.
- Strong skills and proven success in managing cross-cultural virtual teams for public agencies and private companies.
- Demonstrated ability to build high levels of employee satisfaction, team trust and shared vision.
- Significant experience in leading turn-around departments, learning circles, envisioning, team building, mentorship rings and leadership development.
Entrepreneurship:
- Led venture capital funding pitch presentations, business plan development, press package and gorilla marketing efforts at start-up company.
- Coach for small businesses, start-ups, youth and college students through funding and marketing start-up process.
- Drove local, national and global committees on Entrepreneurship Education Legislation and expert speaker/panelist.
- Boardmember and advisor for start-up companies and founders.
Email for detailed resume.
Encouraging the Minimalist Life 