I'm a keynote speaker and I blend story, science, and speed-painting in unforgettable presentations. Yes! I paint live on stage while I speak.

My work centers on one core belief:

Everyone is creative, and we need everyone's creativity.

I help leaders create environments that unleash every type of creativity, so people feel energized, teams solve problems faster, and organizations innovate at a level they didn't know they were capable of.

Hi, I’m Heather

Heather Hodges is a keynote speaker known for blending story, science, and speed-painting in unforgettable presentations. She is the creator of The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™ a framework that captures twelve distinct types of creativity.

The Professional Stuff

I hold two earned doctorates, a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University and a Doctor of Ministry from Abilene Christian University. I'm a SHRM-SCP, a Professional Certified Coach (ICF), and a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists (SIOP). I'm also a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator and an iEQ9 Integrative Enneagram Accredited Practitioner.

But candidly, the credential I'm most proud of is creator of The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™. It's the framework I wish I'd had 25 years ago.

When I'm Not on Stage

I live in Dallas, Texas with my husband, Wade. We have two grown sons. When I'm not speaking or writing, you'll find me painting, gardening, or planning my next adventure.

My Values

Be Wildly Creative

Stay Relentlessly Curious

Go the Extra Mile

Deliver Every Time

See the Genius in Everyone

I grew up as a third-culture kid. I went to preschool in Iran, elementary school in England, junior high and high school in France.

Living in Paris is where I fell in love with art. I spent hours in the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, and I taught myself to paint by copying the Great Masters. I didn't know it then, but I was learning a skill I'd use decades later, not in a gallery, but on stage.

Today, I paint live during my keynotes. My heart races every time the music starts and I pick up the brush. It scares me a little... and I love it.

When you watch art come alive in real time, your brain lights up. Curiosity kicks in, and you start seeing possibilities you didn't see before. Watching live art primes you for creative thinking. And that's exactly where I want my audience to be.

What I didn't realize during all those childhood moves was that I was learning something else that would shape my entire career: culture is the invisible current that runs beneath everything.

People gathered on the ground under a tree, enjoying a meal together outdoors, with various dishes and plates on a tablecloth.
A pink arrow pointing upward with a curved tail, on a black background.

Yep, that’s me having a picnic with our Persian neighbors.

A young girl with blonde hair is sitting at a table, looking at a piece of paper with a pencil in her hand. She appears focused or concentrated on her work.
Pink arrow pointing downward and to the left with a curved tail.

As a little artist

A pink arrow pointing upward with a curved tail, on a black background.

In Grandma Ola’s studio

A painting of a church with a blue sky background, framed on a wall. In the foreground, there's a sketchbook open with a black ink drawing of the same church, featuring detailed lines and shading, accompanied by a black pen resting on it.
People observing artwork in a museum with art frames on the wall and a woman reading a pamphlet.
Pink arrow curving downward with a sharp angle at the top left.
A pink arrow pointing to the upper left.

Every time my family moved, I had to learn new unwritten rules. I discovered that culture shapes behavior, language, belonging, and most importantly, whether people feel safe enough to take creative risks or stay quiet and play it safe.

That's what led me to become an organizational psychologist. I wanted to understand why some teams thrive while others stay stuck. Why some organizations unleash breakthrough ideas while others unintentionally shut creativity down.

After 25 years, including roles as Head of Organizational Development and Head of Learning for Fortune 100 companies, I discovered something that changed everything:

Everyone is creative. But most people don't know it.

We've been taught that creativity belongs to artists and inventors. But creativity is more than painting or writing poetry. Creativity is the intentional process of solving problems in ways that are both novel and useful. And every single person has a unique way of doing that.

That's why I created The Hodges 12 Types of Creative Genius™ a framework that reveals how people naturally solve problems, collaborate, and drive innovation. When leaders understand how creativity works, they can build cultures where every type of creative genius flourishes.

Sketching in the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre.

Let's Connect

I'd love to help you and your team discover your creative genius.

Work With Heather