Nan Ellen bases her speeches on three key leadership principles:

Servant Leadership: Instead of leading to be served, a servant leader lives a life of leadership that is counter culture. In other words, going against the grain and not allowing society to dictate how a leader should lead. Therefore, true servant leadership is not exalting yourself but humbling yourself and looking to the needs of those around you.

Authentic Leadership: Leading in a way that is you, out of your core from your authentic self. Striving towards knowing who you really are (tapping into your leadership strengths and weaknesses in order to become more of an effective leader), allows for authentic leadership.

Moral Leadership: A leader that is guided by a set of moral principles and values, and truly lives them out leads by example.