Financial Wellness Speaker Events Spring 2026: Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Mental Health

Spring is one of my favorite seasons for conversations about money. 

March is Reading Month.

April is Financial Literacy Month.

That combination creates the perfect moment to talk about how financial knowledge shapes our lives, our careers, and even the communities we build together.

Over the next several weeks, I will be speaking at events across Michigan and beyond with audiences ranging from educators and entrepreneurs to clinicians, healthcare leaders, and urban planners.

If you are a conference organizer, association leader, school, employer, or community organization looking for a speaker on financial wellness, leadership, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, or the intersection of money and behavioral health, these events offer a snapshot of the kinds of audiences and conversations I serve.

Below is where you can find me this spring.

Financial Freedom Forum

Latina Network of West Michigan

Date: March 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM

I am honored to keynote the Financial Freedom Forum hosted by the Latina Network of West Michigan.

This session focuses on helping participants strengthen their financial knowledge and build practical strategies for financial stability and long-term wealth building.

Session title:

Mastering Your Three Currencies: Time, Energy, and Money for Financial Freedom

Topics and themes:

• Financial goal setting
• Credit strategy and debt management
• Investing basics
• Financial planning for families
• Building long-term financial stability

This event is for:

• Women building financial stability
• Latina professionals and entrepreneurs
• Families working toward financial independence
• Community organizations focused on financial education

Register here:

https://financialfreedomforum2026.eventbrite.com

MI Money Matters Campaign Launch

Detroit, Michigan

Date : March 16, 2026

Location:  Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan office

I will be in Detroit supporting the launch of the MI Money Matters campaign, a statewide effort focused on strengthening financial literacy and expanding access to financial education across Michigan. 

Financial literacy is not just a personal skill. It is a critical part of economic mobility, workforce stability, and community development.

Learn more about the initiative:

https://www.michigan.gov/mimoneymatters

Topics and themes:

• Statewide financial literacy initiatives
• Financial education policy
• Community financial empowerment
• Financial capability programs

This event is for:

• Financial education advocates
• Nonprofit organizations
• Financial institutions
• Policymakers and community leaders

Continuing Education Webinar for Mental Health Professionals

The Chicago School

Date: March 19, 2026

Format: Virtual webinar

Do you need CE credits this spring?

On March 19, I will be teaching a continuing education session for clinicians through The Chicago School.

Session title:

The Money–Mind–Body Interface: Integrating Financial Wellness into Trauma-Informed Mental Health Care

This program explores how financial stress shows up in the nervous system, treatment engagement, and client decision making, and what clinicians can actually do about it in practice.

Because financial stress is not just a money issue.

It is a behavioral health issue.

Continuing education credits:

When attended in its entirety, the program offers: 

• 1.5 CEs for Psychologists
• 1.5 Illinois CEUs for Counselors and Social Workers
• 1.5 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LCSWs, and LMFTs
• 1.5 NBCC Clock Hours

Topics and themes:

• Financial stress and the nervous system
• Financial trauma and mental health
• Behavioral economics in therapy
• Trauma-informed financial wellness
• Integrating financial stress into treatment planning

This event is for: 

• Therapists
• Counselors
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Behavioral health professionals 

Register here:

https://calendar.library.thechicagoschool.edu/event/16458906

Women’s Empowerment Boot Camp

Transformation GEMS

Date: March 21, 2026

At the Transformation GEMS Women’s Empowerment Boot Camp, I will lead a session focused on helping entrepreneurs turn visibility into revenue.

Session title:

Marketing Moves That Open Doors and Wallets

Topics and themes:

• Entrepreneur positioning
• Turning visibility into paid opportunities
• Strategic marketing for small businesses
• Revenue-focused brand building

This event is for:

• Women entrepreneurs
• Small business owners
• Founders and creators
• Professionals building personal brands

Register here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/womens-empowerment-boot-camp

517 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week Launch Party 

Money Moves Conversation Zone

Date: April 6, 2026 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Location: The Graduate Hotel--East Lansing, Michigan

I will be participating in the official launch party for 517 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week, hosted by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

During the event, I will host the Money Moves Zone, a conversation space where entrepreneurs and founders can gather to discuss financial wellness, wealth building, and making smart money decisions while growing a business.

Event details:

https://www.517ei.com/launch-2026

Topics and themes:

• Financial wellness for entrepreneurs
• Wealth building for founders
• Financial decision making for small business owners
• Sustainable business growth

This event is for:

• Entrepreneurs
• Early-stage founders
• Small business owners
• Startup leaders
• Aspiring innovators

When the Hustle Isn’t Adding Up 

A Cash-Flow-First Approach to Building a Business That Lasts

Date: April 7, 2026 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Location:  MSU Federal Credit Union--311 Abbott Road East Lansing, Michigan

When the hustle is not producing the financial results you expected, the problem is often not effort. It is clarity around the numbers.

This hands-on workshop helps entrepreneurs calculate their income target, map their current cash flow, and build a starter financial plan they can use immediately.

Attendees are encouraged to bring real numbers because this is an interactive working session.

Event details:

https://www.517ei.com/cash-flow-first

Topics and themes:

• Cash flow planning for entrepreneurs
• Financial strategy for small business owners
• Revenue planning for founders
• Building sustainable businesses

This event is for:

• Entrepreneurs
• Founders and side hustlers
• Small business owners
• Early-stage startups
   

HFMA Women in Leadership Conference 

Michigan Great Lakes Chapter

Date: April 22, 2026

Location: Laurel Manor--Livonia, Michigan

I am honored to keynote the HFMA Michigan Great Lakes Chapter Women in Leadership Conference.

Keynote title:

Maximizing Your Three Currencies

This keynote explores how leaders can think strategically about their most valuable resources: time, energy, and money.

Topics and themes:

• Leadership and financial decision making
• Strategic time and energy management
• Financial wellness for professionals
• Leadership development for women 

This event is for:

• Healthcare leaders
• Finance professionals
• Healthcare administrators
• Women in leadership roles

Register here:

https://web.cvent.com/event/a5347cac-a094-44d5-9eaa-acb05af76b16/summary

A Planner With a Purpose Detroit Activation

Companion Event to the American Planning Association National Conference

Date:  April 23 to April 26, 2026

Location:  Detroit, Michigan

During the same week as the American Planning Association National Conference, I will be speaking at the Detroit Activation curated by Nina Idemudia, AICP.

My session focuses on financial planning for early and mid-career urban planners, helping professionals build financial stability while shaping the cities we live in.

Topics and themes:

• Financial planning for urban planners
• Career strategy for public sector professionals
• Financial wellness for planners
• Financial stability for early-career professionals

This event is for:

• Urban planners
• American Planning Association conference attendees
• Early and mid-career planning professionals

Continuing Education Webinar for Mental Health Professionals

The Chicago School

Date:  May 1, 2026

Format: Live webinar and homestudy

I will be teaching another continuing education program through The Chicago School focused on one of the most urgent realities in behavioral health practice: what happens when clients cannot afford care.

Session title:

When Clients Can’t Afford Care: Ethical Strategies for Access and Retention

This program explores how financial barriers affect treatment engagement, continuity of care, and client outcomes. It also gives clinicians practical, ethically grounded strategies for discussing affordability, supporting access, and maintaining professional boundaries.

Topics and themes:

• Financial barriers to mental health treatment
• Ethics and affordability of care
• Access and retention in behavioral health
• Trauma-informed communication about money
• Sliding-scale policies, referrals, and resource navigation 

This event is for:

• Therapists
• Counselors
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Graduate-level trainees providing clinical services 

Registration details:

Coming soon through The Chicago School Office of Continuing Education

Plutus Impact Summit

Charlotte, North Carolina

Date:  May 6 to May 8, 2026

I am excited to be part of the Plutus Impact Summit in Charlotte, a national gathering for educators, creators, advisors, coaches, and thought leaders focused on building sustainable income, meaningful impact, and real community.

This is a strong fit for people who care about personal finance, entrepreneurship, content strategy, and long-term business growth.

Topics and themes:

• Personal finance education
• Entrepreneurship and sustainable income
• Creator business strategy
• Financial content and influence
• Community building and thought leadership

This event is for:

• Financial educators
• Coaches and advisors
• Content creators
• Entrepreneurs and business owners
• Thought leaders building impact-driven brands

Event details:

https://plutusimpact.com

Continuing Education Webinar for Mental Health Professionals

The Chicago School

Date:  May 29, 2026

Format:  Live webinar and homestudy

Later in May, I will return to The Chicago School for a continuing education session exploring the psychology of financial wellness and how clinicians can help clients make money and mind work together.

Session title:

The Psychology of Financial Wellness: Helping Clients Make Money and Mind Work Together

This program introduces clinicians to the psychological and behavioral mechanisms that shape financial decision making and financial wellness. Participants will explore how cognitive bandwidth, stress responses, and behavioral patterns influence money-related decisions and how these dynamics show up in clinical settings.

Drawing on behavioral economics and financial therapy research, the session offers practical strategies clinicians can use to support clients in recognizing financial stress patterns, improving decision-making capacity, and integrating financial wellness considerations into treatment planning while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Topics and themes:

• Psychology of financial wellness
• Cognitive load and financial decision making
• Stress physiology and scarcity mindset
• Behavioral patterns around money
• Financial wellness in clinical practice

This event is for:

• Mental health professionals
• Licensed professional counselors
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Psychologists
• Marriage and family therapists
• Graduate-level trainees providing clinical services

Registration details:

Coming soon through The Chicago School Office of Continuing Education

Financial Wellness Speaker: Dr. Darla Bishop

Dr. Darla Bishop is a financial wellness speaker, public health expert, and behavioral finance educator who helps organizations understand how money influences health, leadership, entrepreneurship, and opportunity.

Her keynote talks and workshops combine behavioral science, public health research, and practical financial strategy to help audiences make clearer decisions about money, work, and life.

Organizations frequently invite Dr. Bishop to speak on topics such as:

• Financial wellness and financial literacy

• The connection between money, stress, and health

• Leadership and financial decision-making

• Financial strategy for entrepreneurs and founders

• Building sustainable careers and businesses

• Financial stress and behavioral health

• Trauma-informed financial wellness

Dr. Bishop has delivered talks and training sessions for universities, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, nonprofits, and professional associations across the United States.

Recent speaking engagements include Harvard University, the University of Chicago, GreenPath Financial Wellness, and conferences focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, financial literacy, and public health.

Organizations That Book Dr. Darla Bishop

Dr. Darla Bishop works with organizations across multiple sectors that want to better understand the relationship between financial wellness, leadership, and health outcomes.

Common audiences include:

• Healthcare and Health Systems
  Physicians, nurses, administrators, and healthcare leaders exploring how financial stress affects workforce wellbeing, burnout, and patient outcomes.
• Universities and Higher Education
  Students, faculty, and early-career professionals navigating student loans, career decisions, and long-term financial stability.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems
  Founders, startup communities, and small business owners seeking practical strategies for cash flow, financial clarity, and sustainable business growth.
• Financial Institutions and Financial Education Programs
  Credit unions, banks, and nonprofits working to expand financial literacy and economic mobility.
• Professional Associations and Conferences
  Leadership audiences exploring how financial wellness influences workplace performance, decision-making, and opportunity.
• Behavioral Health and Clinical Professionals
  Therapists, counselors, psychologists, and social workers examining how financial stress affects mental health, treatment engagement, and client outcomes.

To explore speaking topics or submit a booking inquiry, start here:

https://tidycal.com/darlabishop/speakerinquiry20250503220332

Looking Ahead 

Whether you are building a business, leading an organization, shaping cities, supporting clients, raising money-smart kids, or strengthening financial education in your community, financial wellness touches every stage of life.

This spring lineup reflects the range of audiences I work with and the conversations that matter most right now.

I hope to see you at one of these events.

Looking for a speaker on financial wellness, leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or the intersection of money and mental health?

Submit a speaking inquiry here:

https://tidycal.com/darlabishop/speakerinquiry20250503220332

Keywords: financial wellness speaker, financial literacy keynote speaker, entrepreneurship speaker, financial stress mental health speaker, behavioral health speaker, leadership financial wellness expert.