Coach Karen Lagassee Wright
Wellness Keynote Speaker
As a wellness keynote speaker, Karen Lagassee Wright has spent more than 20 years in athletics, coaching, and wellness, and she's seen what happens when people chase success and forget to take care of themselves along the way. That's where her passion comes from; helping people build habits they can actually stick with, so they have the energy and clarity to show up for the people and work they care about most, instead of just adding one more thing to an already packed life.
A lot of that comes from her own life. Karen has walked through hard seasons herself; real pressure, real change, real loss, and it shows in the way she talks to people. She's not up there pretending everything's easy or handing out quick fixes; she tells the truth, shares what's actually worked for her, and gives people something they can hold onto long after she's left the room. Last year alone, she spoke to more than 10,000 people, from big keynote crowds to small group coaching sessions, always with the same goal: helping people go from just getting by to actually living well. She calls it "Be the Difference," and it's not just a tagline, it's something she watches happen again and again.
Whether Karen is in front of Middle School and High School students, she puts on a feeling more like a friend than a guest speaker, which is probably why they keep having her back. Put her in front of a university crowd and that same warmth is there, backed by real wisdom about pressure and purpose that she's earned by living it, not just studying it. She's not trying to put on a show, she's trying to connect with the person in front of her, whether they're fourteen or forty.
"Thank you for your note and for taking the time out of your day to come share your story with me and my fraternity brothers. I know I speak for many of us when I say we were genuinely moved by what you shared. I'm confident that at least one person in that room took something meaningful away from your talk in our fraternity basement last night."
— Fraternity President
"Thank you so much for speaking to the New Members last Thursday. I am confident they will remember and use the information and insight you shared with them throughout their time at Auburn and beyond!"
— Panhellenic Council | Director of New Member Education
"Thanks again for speaking to us! The guys connected with your talk more than I expected, and I think your honesty and relatability made all the difference. Auburn is better because of the work you do, and I'm grateful for the dedication you show to this community. I look forward to staying connected and working with you again!"
— President, University Interfraternity Council
"Thank you again so much for taking the time to come and present to our sorority! We were truly grateful to have you, and your presentation was amazing. Everyone found it very informative and engaging! You are always such a crucial part of helping make our sorority safe and responsible. We truly appreciate all that you do."
— Education Vice President | Gamma Phi Beta
"Mrs. Wright was the best presenter for this program that I have heard. (Over the years I have heard several.) Fun, engaging, factual, serious, and timely! She kept the attention of the entire chapter with the well prepared and so critical topic. Her presentation demonstrated her sincere desire to serve the students."
— Education President, Kappa Delta
"Thank you for coming to talk to the chapter Wednesday, if you were trying to make an impact, it definitely worked. I never got a chance to thank you for everything you did for me last spring. At the darkest moments in my life, every week you made me feel special and loved. When they say it's the people that make Auburn great, they mean people like you. Good luck with continuing to impact people's lives for the better, because I know you did mine."
— Fraternity President