Meet Cheryl Sutherland - Speaker, Workshop Facilitator and the Founder of PleaseNotes Goods

You may know PleaseNotes, but how much do you know about its founder, Cheryl Sutherland? Behind the brand is a speaker, workshop facilitator, and coach dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves, communicate more clearly, and move forward with confidence. In this three-part series, Cheryl shares the why behind her work and how she supports individuals and teams through speaking engagements, workshops, and courses designed to create real, lasting change.

1. Hey Cheryl! How would your LinkedIn introduce you if it could, and how would your friends introduce you?

LinkedIn would probably say I’m a speaker, workshop facilitator, and coach who helps individuals and teams build clarity, confidence, and better communication. It would mention leadership, personal growth, DEI, and maybe throw in something about strategy and impact to make it sound official.

My friends would say I’m the person you call when you need to talk something through and actually land somewhere clearer. They’d probably mention that I ask good questions, tell the truth gently but directly, and help people see things they already know but haven’t quite named yet. They’d also say I’m deeply caring, a little sarcastic at times, and always choosing the aisle seat.

2. How would you describe your work as a speaker and workshop facilitator, and what types of audiences do you work with most often?

I really like to focus on helping people reconnect with themselves, communicate more clearly, and move forward with confidence and intention. I work with organizations, teams, entrepreneurs, and community groups who want more than surface-level motivation. My audiences are often navigating change, growth, or complexity and are looking for tools that help them think, communicate, and act differently in real life.

3. What makes your approach to speaking and facilitation different from traditional motivational speakers?

I don’t do hype or woo-woo. My work is grounded, reflective, and practical. I create space for people to slow down, get honest, and do the internal work that actually leads to sustainable change. I’m not there to tell people who to be. I help them understand themselves better, reconnect with their intuition and gut knowing so they can show up with clarity and self-trust long after the session ends.

4. What core topics do you speak and facilitate on?

I love leading conversations to build confidence, communication, self-trust, clarity, leadership, inclusion, DEI, and allyship. At the heart of all of it is awareness. When people understand how they think, react, and communicate, they make better decisions and build stronger relationships, both personally and professionally. I’ve brought this work into organizations like WestJet, Achievers, CBC, The World Anti-Doping Agency, and Dress for Success, supporting teams and communities in building awareness that leads to more intentional communication, stronger leadership, and healthier workplace culture.

5. How do your workshops support real behavior change?

Since they are designed to be experiential, they have a better impact then ones where people talk at you, or read off of a slide. We reflect, write, discuss, and practice. I focus on helping people connect insight to action, so they leave with language, frameworks, and awareness they can actually use. Change happens when people feel safe enough to be honest with themselves and supported enough to try something new.

6. What does DEI, inclusion, and allyship play in your work? That doesn't seem like it's actually personal growth work.

DEI and allyship work is personal growth work. At its core, it asks people to look at their habits of thought, notice what’s working and what isn’t, get clear on what they want, and choose how they want to move forward. The same self-awareness that helps someone grow in their confidence or communication is what allows them to show up more intentionally in conversations about difference and inclusion.

The reason DEI can feel so emotionally charged is because it often brings up shame, guilt, anger, and frustration. Those emotions don’t mean someone is doing something wrong, they usually mean something meaningful is being touched. When people are given space to reflect instead of react, those emotions can turn into insight, responsibility, and real change. That’s the approach I take. Less defensiveness, more curiosity, and growth that feels human rather than performative.