"Cultivating Creativity Battles Burnout"

Partial list of organizations I've lectured to: 

• NAMI Cobb, GA
• Hudgens Center for Art & Learning, Duluth GA
• AIA Atlanta, GA

As a public speaker with decades of experience in front of audiences ranging from hundreds to thousands of people, I'm available for public speaker opportunities, either live or through zoom.  Send an email to: ki@amendcoaching for more information.  

“Cultivating Creativity Battles Burnout” is a dynamic and deeply insightful talk that explores how activating creativity and shifting mindset can be powerful tools in preventing and recovering from burnout. Drawing from lived experience, psychological frameworks, and coaching methods, John Kim delivers a session that is both thought-provoking and practical.

This talk is ideal for organizations and teams looking to support mental wellness, spark innovation, and build resilience among professionals who are feeling overextended, uninspired, or emotionally drained.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will:

• Understand what burnout really is and how it manifests
• Identify internal and external contributors to burnout
• Learn how perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and toxic productivity undermine      well-being
• Explore the concept of the creativity mindset vs. the burnout mindset
• Apply Positive Intelligence techniques to weaken self-sabotaging patterns
• Reignite curiosity, play, and “idle time” as strategic assets
• Leave with practical tools for sustainable energy, engagement, and growth

Core Topics

• Burnout: What it is, what causes it, and how it shows up
• Creativity Mindset: How to build and sustain one
• Saboteurs & the Judge: How negative inner voices drain you
• Positive Intelligence: Mental fitness to beat burnout
• Childlike Curiosity & Play: Why they matter now more than ever
• Strategic Pausing: Idle time as a creative superpower
• Twelve Problems: A tool to clarify purpose and direction
• Recovery Practices: Journaling, cross-pollination, self-compassion

Audience Engagement

This isn’t a passive lecture. The session includes:

• A guided self-assessment of saboteurs (via Positive Intelligence tool)
• An interactive PQ rep practice to strengthen mental fitness
• Open Q&A for personalized takeaways

Ideal Audience

This talk is perfect for:

• Architecture,  design, and creative professionals
• Healthcare and service workers experiencing compassion fatigue
• Corporate teams navigating change and high-performance pressures
• Leadership development programs
• Mental health and wellness events

Format Options

• Keynote  (45–60 minutes)
• Workshop   (90–120 minutes, includes breakout activities)
• Virtual or In-Person

About the Speaker

Ki Charm “John” Kim is a seasoned industrial designer, former ICU nurse, MBA, and certified life coach who merges creative insight with emotional intelligence. Having personally experienced and overcome burnout, John now helps others reignite their inner fire using curiosity, creativity, and purpose. His multifaceted background brings a unique, practical, and heartfelt approach to professional development.

Booking Information

To book this session or inquire about customized workshops, reach out to:

Take the free saboteur assessment here:
🔗 Positive Intelligence Saboteur Assessment

“Wired for Beauty: What the Brain Wants from Design”

An Intro to Neuroaesthetic Design for Product Designers, Architects, and Interior Designers

Overview

In this powerful and visually engaging talk, designer and wellness professional Ki Charm John Kim introduces audiences to the cutting-edge field of neuroaesthetic design—where creativity meets cognitive science.

Rooted in groundbreaking research, this talk explores how beauty isn’t just decorative—it’s deeply functional. The spaces and objects we create profoundly impact brain chemistry, behavior, stress levels, healing, and even our sense of meaning.

Whether you're crafting furniture, interiors, or full environments, this keynote helps designers make more intentional, emotionally resonant decisions—backed by neuroscience and soul.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand how the brain processes beauty and why it matters
• Learn the neuroscience behind form, light, color, and texture
• Discover why some environments calm, heal, or inspire—and others don’t
• Gain practical neuroaesthetic design principles to apply immediately
• Reframe beauty as a strategic tool, not a stylistic luxury

Based On Research From:

• The Aesthetic Brain – Anjan Chatterjee
• Cognitive Architecture – Sussman & Hollander
• Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture – Donald H. Ruggles
• Beauty and the Soul – Piero Ferrucci

Perfect For:

• Interior & Product Designers
• Architects & Urban Planners
• Creative Agencies & Design Thinkers
• Design Schools & Innovation Labs
• Wellness-focused design and healthcare teams

Format Options:

• 45 minute keynote (with visuals and Q&A)
• Virtual/In-Person options available

Why Book This Talk?

Designers today face intense pressure to prove the ROI of their work. This talk equips them with both science-backed insights and soul-centered inspiration to advocate for beauty as a core function—not a nice-to-have. Attendees will leave with a new lens to view their work—and a renewed sense of purpose.