National Conference Keynote Speaker Victoria Labalme Wants to Unlock Your “Hidden Genius”
Meet the Opening Session Keynote Speaker ahead of the 2026 AANP National Conference in Las Vegas, June 23-27.
Victoria Labalme was an up-and-coming actor and comedian whose career was sidelined by a set of twin crises in the early 2000s — one national, one personal. The first was the tragedy of 9/11. Labalme was living in Manhattan at the time, and “woke to the sight of smoke trailing from the World Trade Center outside my bedroom window.” Just two days later, Labalme’s mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “My Throughline shifted from being about me to being about others,” she writes. “And the one question I kept asking… ‘How can I help?’”
Confronted with a new sense of purpose, Labalme followed that passion to become a performance strategist, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author and in-demand keynote speaker and performer. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are already motivated to ask, “How can I help?”, but Labalme wants to encourage her audiences further, and is ready to show NPs how to “express your hidden genius” and guide you with the critical tools you’ll need to “get your message out into the world.” Prior to her appearance as the Opening General Session Keynote Speaker at the 2026 AANP National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Labalme spoke with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) about the power of communication and The Art of Showing Up.
Q: Thank you for speaking with us, Victoria. In your story, you talk about the importance of the question: “How can I help?” Many NPs have also been guided by this question — what can you tell us about why helping matters, and what you’ve learned to do (and not to do) when trying to help?
Victoria Labalme: NPs are by their very nature service minded, so this question (“How can I help?”) is already part of the ethos of their work. The value of the question is that it takes the focus off ourselves. What also helps is asking, “How can I use my gifts and talents for the benefit of others?” This type of question inspires us to personalize each experience and bring more of ourselves to our roles.
Q: Part of your keynote will be about communication. Can you tease some of what you plan on sharing about why communication is so important, and how to make a strong impression on a patient or fellow practitioner?
Labalme: I like to think of our lives as comprised of “scenes” given my background in movies, theater and television. A “scene” for NPs might be meeting with a patient or a fellow practitioner; having lunch with others in a cafeteria; or talking with a colleague. In each “scene” you want to be clear on how you are showing up and the driving force behind your actions. What is the “scene” really all about and what are you hoping to accomplish? In theater, this driving force is called “The Throughline” and when we clarify our throughline (our intention), everything changes, because Intention Affects Behavior. Every time you communicate, you have an opportunity to influence people’s lives for the better.
Q: You’ll also be talking about connecting with others in your presentation. What are some ways to make a meaningful connection, especially when time is limited and the subject matter is extremely personal or private?
Labalme: There are many, many ways. One essential skill is true listening. It’s so easy to get distracted or to “interrupt” or “pounce” on the other person, but in the few moments we have with someone, there’s nothing quite so powerful as giving them our full attention. Undoubtedly, the more personal the subject, the more we need to keep our concentration focused. True listening stops time and makes people feel heard and seen. It humanizes the connection and helps people “unfold and expand.”
Q: Without acting as a spoiler, what is one thing you hope NPs take to heart after they hear your keynote?
Labalme:
I believe inside of each person is hidden genius — a full spectrum of gifts and talents — and the more we tap into that range of our capabilities, the more expanded and fulfilled our lives will be. I’d also add that each NP’s legacy will live on long after they are gone. And each person they interact with in turn touches the lives of someone else. As I say in my book, Risk Forward®, “There might be times when you wonder if what you’re doing even matters. You might look around to see others who have done more, made more, built more or become more recognized. But you can’t measure legacy. In every area of this earth, people are setting legacies in motion without even realizing it…Your legacy is infinite and immeasurable.”
See Victoria Labalme and Wendy Wright at #AANP26
Along with Victoria Labalme, the 2026 AANP National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 23-27, will feature speaker and NP leader Wendy L. Wright, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, FAAN, who will present at the Closing General Session on June 27. Attendees will also experience a week filled with continuing education, lively exhibitors and unparalleled collegial networking opportunities. By registering for the in-person conference, you will also receive access to the 2026 AANP National Conference on-demand package — at no extra charge — extending your learning opportunity through Aug. 11!