Past Clients:

Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion 

So many professionals carry an unspoken burden: the quiet belief that no matter how much they achieve, they are still not enough. It can hide behind our public photos, titles, long hours, and constant striving. It shows up as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or the endless comparison to colleagues and peers. And while it may drive short-term success, it often leaves people exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from themselves.

In this keynote, Scott Ste Marie brings both science and soul to the conversation. With a Master’s in Neuroscience, extensive meditation practice and over 15 years of lived experience navigating depression and anxiety, Scott understands firsthand how relentless the inner critic can be. He combines evidence-based insights with authentic storytelling to show why our brains are wired for self-criticism—and how we can step out of that trap.

This talk is not about pushing harder or chasing another achievement. It’s about uncovering a deeper truth: that our worth is not measured by productivity, titles, or comparison, but by our humanity itself. Through practical self-compassion practices, reflections, and guided exercises, Scott helps professionals experience what it feels like to move beyond “not enough” into a place of grounded confidence and authentic presence.

Unmasking Mental Health

For years, Scott Ste Marie kept his struggles with anxiety and depression hidden behind a mask called "I'm okay". It is a mask many of us know well—the smile that hides exhaustion, the achievements that disguise self-doubt, the image we present to the world while quietly struggling inside. Yet what most people long to share isn’t a story of mental illness, but the simple human truths of our lives: our worries, our hopes, our pain, and our joy.

This keynote explores what happens when we remove the masks that keep us disconnected. Scott reveals how our culture of perfectionism and comparison pressures us to present a flawless exterior, and why this leaves so many feeling unseen and alone. Drawing from both neuroscience and his lived experience, he uncovers the cost of silence—and the extraordinary freedom that comes when we begin to speak, listen, and live honestly.

Through storytelling, science, and reflective practice, Scott challenges audiences to embrace their inner world—both the light and the heavy—and to recognize vulnerability as a bridge to authentic connection. He reminds us that our value does not lie in being perfect or “put together,” but in being real, present, and human.

Participants leave with practical tools to quiet their inner critic, permission to release shame, and a renewed understanding that being human—with all its complexity—is not something to hide but something to share.

Give Us This Day 

(Christian Events & Assemblies)

Christ’s words, “Give us this day our daily bread,” are more than a prayer—they are an invitation back into the present moment. In a world obsessed with achievement, comparison, and control, these words remind us that life is received one day at a time, and that gratitude is the doorway to peace.

In this keynote, Scott Ste Marie weaves together his training in neuroscience and his lived faith to reveal how presence, thanksgiving, and compassion can radically transform the way we live and lead. Drawing on both evidence-based psychology and the spiritual wisdom of Christ, Scott shows how gratitude reshapes the brain, how compassion heals the heart, and how the Cross holds not only our suffering but also our fears, doubts, and insecurities.

This is not a message of chasing perfection or fixing what is broken. Instead, it is a reminder that Christ’s love meets us exactly where we are—inviting us to rest in the present, release what we cannot carry, and discover a freedom beyond fear.

Through storytelling, reflection, and practical guidance, Scott offers a way forward: to live with more resilience, to love with more openness, and to remember that in Christ, we are already enough.

Scott has been featured at a variety of conferences, including:

• McMaster University - Inspiring from Within
• TDSB - Mental Health Well-Being Routines in the Adolescent & Teens 
• University of Guelph - Be Well Be Safe
• Made of Millions - Dear Manager Event
• Stop the Stigma - Toronto Catholic District School Board
• Kindred - Mind Matters
• Canadian Mental Health Association - National Conference
• The International Kids Help Phone Conference
• TEDxYouthToronto
• TEDxRHHS
• YouTube Summit VidCon - Mental Health, Mindfulness and You
• McGill University – Students in Mind
• HRD Mental Health Canada
• Ontario Petroleum Contractors Association - Safety Forum