Kelly Skwarcan’s presentations combine academic psychology, interactive storytelling, and real-world leadership lessons. Through her flagship training "Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, & Californian," Kelly equips audiences with actionable insights into making moral decisions under pressure, earning & re-earning trust, and fostering high-performance climates—critical competencies for leaders in all military, corporate, and educational settings.

This interactive training presentation examines the psychology of leadership and high-performance using a little-known chapter of the Titanic disaster. Through immersive storytelling and structured small- and large-group discussion, participants place themselves in the roles of junior and senior officers aboard a nearby vessel, which sat unmoving as Titanic’s distress rockets were fired, one by one, into the night sky.

 

This training introduces participants to key personality models, including the Five Factor and HEXACO frameworks, providing a foundation for rich psychological analysis. Core focus areas include personality and organizational psychology, command climate, team cohesion, trust repair, integrity, moral identity, cognitive dissonance, and decision-making under pressure.

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While many participants come from highly technical or STEM-focused backgrounds, few have formal training in psychology—yet all will be expected to lead people effectively in complex environments. This case study translates cutting-edge research from moral, organizational, and personality psychology into actionable strategies for sharper decision-making, stronger individual and team performance, and resilient, high-functioning organizations.