Hello!

For those who have landed here looking for my most recent blog posting, please look for the “my blog” page on this website, updated as of  August 1, 2025.

For those who are looking for information about me, Ellie Krug, a national speaker on how humans can be more inclusive, I say, “Welcome!”

Possibly,  you’ve heard about me either as a writer, or as an inclusion workshop presenter, or as a consultant on human inclusivity. Maybe you simply stumbled onto this site.

Regardless of how you arrived, you’ve found someone who late in life figured out who I am. I have the dubious distinction of being the first lawyer in Iowa to transition genders (2009).  That experience, age age fifty-two, taught me many life lessons far beyond grappling with being transgender. As I tell audiences, I’m simply a survivor of the Human Condition–it’s just that my survivorship is far more public than for most.

In learning about the true me, my perspective changed. That included coming to understand how all of us are connected in one way or another. In fact, without even knowing you, dear reader, and notwithstanding my personal story, I am certain that we have many things in common, like wanting a child in our life to succeed, or desiring to be free of physical or emotional violence.

It’s our commonalities that I focus on relative to inclusion, which I define as, “the extent to which a human believes that they matter.” Indeed, if someone believes that they matter–at their workplace, where they worship or volunteer, even in their personal lives–they are far more willing to invest. Everyone needs to feel that they matter!

On the other hand, if you don’t believe that you matter, you will disengage. Sometimes, that disengagement may be catastrophic.

In addition, I also highlight how almost all of us–“98 percent”–have good, empathetic hearts. In fact, my work via the Gray Area Thinking® workshop (see below for description) demonstrates in real time how most people default to compassion in one form or another  when asked, “What do you want to be known for?” This happens regardless of where I present–big or small town, liberal or conservative audience. Seeing this brings people together, and offers them hope. 

That’s my goal: hope. And possibility. And inspiration. I’ll lead the way, offering ideas on how we can be good to each other.

My approach is welcoming, affirming, not divisive or shaming, and unconventional (no podium, no PowerPoint). I tell audiences that I’m good at connecting dots; in turn, I’m told that my work is engaging and thought-provoking–some even say, “transformative.” As of early 2025, I have presented on more than 1000 occasions to Fortune 100 companies, national law firms, government entities, nonprofits, and colleges/universities across North America, with highly positive reviews.

Click here for my short bio. My workshops and consulting services are described below. Note: I am able to provide all the workshops below and consulting via Teams or Zoom at tailored pricing for such work. Please contact me to learn more about online options/pricing (elliejkrug@gmail.com). 

  Offerings

 “Gray Area Thinking®“, a general human inclusivity training (not LGBTQ+ focused) that provides a toolset to better understand and welcome all humans. (See talk description here.) Audiences love this workshop–which I have conducted hundreds of times!

“Transgender 101”, which covers what it means to be transgender and how to be welcoming to trans and gender expansive team members, friends, and family members. (See talk description here.) Note: I offer specialized “Transgender 101” trainings to medical, therapuetic, and legal professionals. Contact me for a description of those more specialized trainings.

“Workplace Inclusivity and Allyship 101”, which covers the various degrees of workplace inclusivity and demonstrates the difference between simply being an “ally” (a status) and “allyship” (taking action to protect or promote anoter person). (See talk description here.)

“Changed Genders; Changed Perspectives“, about how interacting with the world is so different now that I finally live as female. This talk covers the life lessons I learned from transitioning genders–including challenges as a woman that I never envisioned while presenting as male. How often do you get the chance to hear from/ask questions to someone who’s lived in two different genders? (See talk description here.)

“Bridging the Great Divide: Reflections on Grit, Resiliency, and The Four Commonalities”, often a keynote, addresses how we’re challenged with both internal and external divides and offers a reminder that most people want to be known for compassion–something that I am personally witnessing across America. This is an uplifting, engaging talk that motivates listeners to do better for themselves and others. (See talk description here.)

“Getting to Ellen: Gleaning Authenticity from a Moment of Truth”, often a keynote, is part personal story, part motivational talk about the need to listen to ourselves when we encounter our moments of truth. Audience members come away with better self-awareness and a greater willingness to engage in self-examination. (See talk description here.)

Talking Circles, which are designed to foster better awareness of the real landscape within an organization or business relative to inclusivity. As some know, Talking Circles originated with indigenous peoples as a way of giving every tribe member space to share their views. With the Talking Circles I conduct, the goal is to provide a safe space where team members can honestly share their inclusivity experiences and perceptions. (For a description of how I conduct a Talking Circle, click here.)

Team Member Gender Transition Consulting. For employers seeking help with team members or employees who have announced they seek to transition genders, I’m a resource.

The name of my company, “Human Inspiration Works, LLC, is highly intentional: I believe the only way for things to “stick” is to motivate humans from within; to do that, they need to be inspired. I’ve been told that I’m darn good at inspiring others.

You can read more about the work and products I offer (and as well see some scenes of me in action) at http://www.humaninspirationworks.com (but everything is also here at this website).

Finally, I’m very open to collaborating with individuals and organizations to best tailor a presentation that is both engaging and authentic. Drawing from my varied experiences, I believe I have much to offer.

And much to inspire about!

Thank you for your consideration.

ellie

encouraging open hearts and thriving human spirits