Molly Kawahata is an award-winning speaker, strategist, podcast host, and founder who specializes in the Science of Hope. She reframes hope not as a fleeting feeling or passive optimism, but as a rigorous, evidence-based cognitive tool — one that equips leaders, teams, and communities to navigate high-stakes stress, counter systemic burnout, elevate performance, and deepen engagement. Grounded in decades of psychological research, her work demonstrates that hope is not wishful thinking — it’s a measurable, teachable skill that drives real-world results in the most demanding environments.

Dubbed the “hope whisperer,” her life story was depicted in Patagonia’s award-winning film THE SCALE OF HOPE (2022), which chronicles her ice climbing adventures in Alaska, her personal journey with Bipolar II Disorder, and her life’s mission to transform societal narratives. Her story has inspired a global audience — with over one million views on YouTube, previous streaming on Delta Airlines, and an induction into the permanent archives of the New York Museum of Modern Art (2023 AICP Award).

As founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, Molly has created award-winning workshops, keynotes, and curriculum used by leaders, teams, and communities around the world — equipping them with the tools to navigate uncertainty, drive transformative change, and tackle some of the most urgent challenges of our time.

By combining cutting-edge research with lived experience, Molly reveals hope for what it truly is: one of the most formidable forces at our disposal.

She doesn’t ask audiences to believe in a better future.
She teaches them how to build one.

Pete Souza