Madison Butler
Madison Butler is an unapologetic advocate for authenticity, vulnerability, and workplaces built on psychological safety. Originally from New England and now calling Austin home since 2017, she has become one of the most prominent voices challenging outdated norms around how people are expected to show up at work. Her message is direct, deeply human, and centered around one belief: when people feel safe to be themselves, organizations thrive.
As the founder of Blue Haired Unicorn, Madison focuses on building spaces and strategies that help companies embrace the power of human connection. Her approach is grounded in both lived experience and practical expertise, allowing her to support teams through some of the most important cultural conversations in modern work. She designs scalable frameworks that push organizations to move beyond performative efforts and commit to meaningful change rooted in trust and transparency.
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Madison is known for her bold presence on stage and her ability to translate complex topics into clear, accessible insights. She addresses issues that many leaders hesitate to engage with mental health, trauma, identity, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable in professional environments. Her talks help people understand that humanity is not a weakness in leadership; it is a foundational element of strong, resilient, and sustainable organizations.
Whether she is speaking to executives, emerging leaders, or entire company cultures, Madison equips audiences with tools that drive immediate reflection and long-term transformation. She offers a rare blend of tough empathy, data-driven insight, and storytelling that brings people together and inspires real action.
Her Approach
At the core of Madison’s work is an unwavering commitment to elevating humanity in the workplace. She partners with organizations to break free from rigid, outdated expectations and build cultures where authenticity is encouraged rather than managed. Her strategies are designed to create psychological safety as a cultural cornerstone rather than an afterthought.
She emphasizes that teams become stronger when people are encouraged to exist out loud. This includes acknowledging mental health challenges, embracing diverse experiences, and allowing vulnerability to be a source of connection. Madison’s approach ensures that these conversations are not just conceptual—they become part of an organization’s daily reality.
Recognition & Impact
Madison’s thought leadership has captured national attention. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Yahoo, Rolling Stone, and numerous other outlets. LinkedIn has recognized her as a top Black voice to follow, and DivInc named her Austin’s rising star in 2021.
Her influence continues to grow with her upcoming book, Let Them See You: Empowering Change Through Authenticity, set to be released in Summer 2025. The book serves as a guide for leaders and teams seeking to foster change, create space for full expression, and embrace the boldness required to lead with truth.
Creating Human-Centered Cultures
A self-described start-up enthusiast, Madison thrives in environments where culture is being shaped from the ground up. She brings clarity and intentionality to the process of building ethical and authentic brands, using data, storytelling, and honest dialogue to help organizations align their values with their actions.
Her mission remains constant: to empower leaders and teams to lead with compassion, build with intention, and show up with truth. Madison challenges the status quo not for the sake of disruption, but for the purpose of building workplaces where people can live, work, and exist out loud.
