Leadership Unlimited Summit

Kirsten Bernthal Booth is a nationally respected coach, leader, and speaker who spent more than two decades transforming Creighton University Volleyball into one of the nation’s elite programs. She was hired as head coach at just 27 years old, stepping into a role with immense challenges and learning as she went. By surrounding herself with great people, seeking mentorship, embracing mistakes, and show-ing vulnerability, she built a program that would become a model of excellence. When she arrived, Creighton had finished 3–23 the season prior and had never appeared in the NCAA Tournament. By the time she capped her coaching career in 2024, the Bluejays had become a perennial national power, qualifying for 13 consecutive NCAA Tournaments. Her final season was one of her most memorable—Creighton advanced to the Elite Eight, falling in five sets to eventual national champion Penn State, and finished ranked #6 in the country—the program’s highest-ever finish.

Over her career, Kirsten earned three National Coach of the Year honors, numerous Conference Coach of the Year awards, and induction into the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame. She is celebrated not only for building a winning program but also for creating cultures of resilience, belief, and excellence.

A Lincoln East High School graduate, Kirsten was a two-time #1 singles state champion in tennis before choosing to pursue volleyball in college. She went on to become a standout player at Truman State University and later earned her master’s degree from the University of Iowa.

In addition to coaching, Kirsten is an entrepreneur and innovator. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded NeuroFuel, a mental training app for volleyball, along with five other collaborators. The platform, which focuses on mindset, focus, and performance training for athletes, continues to grow today.

Today, Kirsten serves as the President of Business Operations for LOVB Nebraska, part of the new League One Volleyball professional league. In this role, she is helping to shape the future of the sport at the professional level. As she explains, “Volleyball has given so much to me throughout my life. NowI want to give back by helping build a sustainable professional league that will inspire and empower future generations.”

Off the court, Kirsten is proudest of her role as a wife and mom. She and her husband, Erik, live in Omaha, where they are raising their three daughters.

As a speaker, Kirsten delivers powerful lessons on building teams, empowering people, believing in oneself, leading with purpose, and sustaining success. Her story resonates with companies, organizations, and individuals who want to learn not just how to achieve excellence, but how to lead with courage, embrace learning through challenges, and build lasting impact.