Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls International plc is a global leader in smart-building technology, HVAC, security, and fire-safety solutions operating in 2,000+ locations worldwide.
AUDIENCE: Cross-functional employees from reception to C-suite (100 onsite, session recorded for broader professional-development use)
LOCATION: Kansas City, Missouri
CHALLENGE: Amid aggressive sustainability targets and rapid digital transformation, Johnson Controls wanted an internal kick-off that would unify every level of staff behind a “future-ready” mindset and spark personal ownership of innovation.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
60-minute keynote: “Build a Bigger Future” (+ live Q&A)
Onsite sound check and pre-event walk-through with event lead Kelli Lane
Post-program networking dinner with leadership team
Johnson Controls has long defined what it means to create safe, intelligent, and sustainable buildings. To accelerate an ambitious slate of smart-building initiatives, the company convened 100 high-impact employees, spanning IT, product, HR, and corporate functions in Kansas City for an intensive professional-development day.
Organizers sought a keynote that would bridge technical roadmaps with personal purpose. Because she had also worked as a software developer herself for twenty years, Cara Brookins was the perfect fit. She delivered “Build a Bigger Future,” using her story of constructing a home from the ground up as a metaphor for building culture, collaboration, and resilient thinking. She challenged frontline staff and executives alike to treat every project, whether a software upgrade or a multimillion-dollar retrofit, as a chance to lay stronger foundations.
The interactive Q&A explored practical habits for innovation, while the post-session dinner allowed deeper discussion of sustainability goals. Feedback shows participants left with renewed clarity about their role in shaping Johnson Controls’ next era, a prime example of how an internal keynote can move strategy from slide deck to daily action.
