An inspirational female speaker can motivate your team, drive innovation, and highlight the benefits of a diverse workforce. Female business leaders, particularly those in less-female-oriented roles (such as STEM fields), serve as invaluable role models, showcasing the impact of diversity and the importance of representation within the workplace and society.
Furthermore, female speakers are not just for female audiences; they offer valuable insights that can inspire all genders. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, female speakers discuss a myriad of topics, including challenges women face in the workplace and society. They can guide organisations to support gender equality, respect women’s voices, better understand women’s health and promote diversity in leadership roles.
Through their stories and expertise, female speakers encourage personal and professional growth, fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration. Their presence challenges outdated norms, opening minds to the importance of inclusivity and empowering everyone to thrive together.
Female speakers also play a significant role in events like International Women’s Day (8th March), which celebrates women’s achievements and advocates for gender equality in the workplace and women’s health.
At Great Business Speakers, we specialise in connecting you with the perfect female speaker for your event, whether virtual or in-person. Our selection of experienced and influential speakers will inspire, engage, and drive meaningful conversations, helping your business embrace diversity and empower women in leadership.
Discover our leading Female Business Speakers below, or contact the team at Great Business Speakers to enquire or book. +44 1753 439 289
Jessica Matthias is the Global Director of Sustainability at Sabre Corporation, a global technology company in the travel sector. With a 17-year track record of transformative ESG initiatives, impactful policy advocacy, and compelling communications, Jessica is a globally recognized leader in sustainable travel. She’s the visionary behind numerous high-profile sustainability campaigns, and her thought leadership consistently shapes the industry’s agenda.
Jessica Matthias is a compelling speaker known for her ability to inspire and engage audiences – with previous engagements at events like the Global Travel & Tourism –resilience & Innovation Summit, The Travel Tech Summit, and the Travalyst Convention.
Jessica Matthias discusses eco-conscious practices, overcoming personal challenges, and building a sustainable future for travel– with her insights into decarbonising industries and empowering the next generation in the ESG landscape being particularly impactful.
Jessica’s personal journey is one of resilience, from being a teenage single mother of a child with severe disabilities to a leading global sustainability expert. This adds a distinctly personal depth to her talks. Her unwavering commitment to sustainability and social equity has made her a prominent voice in the field, sought after for her expertise and inspiring presentations.
For the last year, she has been the Vice Chair of the GBTA Foundation’s Sustainability Leadership Council.
Jessica Matthias’ clients include Arival, Choice Hotels, FairFly, Gett, the United Nations, the Vienna Tourist Board, and Voyage Privé.
Jane Leonard is a fearless adventurer, accomplished entrepreneur, elite England rugby player, and celebrated author.
Her remarkable journey demonstrates that anything is possible with determination, resilience, and an unrelenting drive to succeed. With an infectious personality and a natural ability to inspire, Jane thrives in team environments where her leadership and energy elevate everyone around her.
Jane’s passion for breaking boundaries doesn’t stop at the Channel. Four years earlier, she earned a Guinness World Record for rowing across the Pacific Ocean as part of a three-woman team.
Previously, Jane Leonard spent a decade in the British Army as a Royal Engineer and Physical Training Instructor and also earned nine caps for England rugby.
She is a published author and the creator of The P.I.E.C.E by Piece Peak Performance Program, which helps people improve their performance in life.
When Jane takes the stage as a motivational speaker, audiences are captivated by her authenticity, insight, and incredible journey. Her talks leave attendees inspired, energised, and equipped with actionable strategies to overcome their challenges and reach new heights.
Jackie Handy is a renowned workforce culture specialist with over two decades of experience in executive recruitment, leadership development, and inclusion best practices. Her mission is clear and impactful: to create workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and understood.
Since delivering her thought-provoking TEDx talk in 2018, titled The Exclusive Nature of Inclusion, Jackie has become a sought-after expert in workplace inclusivity. She draws from her personal experiences of exclusion to help organisations across various sectors build more inclusive and supportive environments.
As an award-winning keynote speaker and panellist, Jackie has addressed global audiences and collaborated with organisations across a wide range of industries, delivering both in-person and virtual presentations. Her talks ignite imagination and inspire actionable change, equipping business leaders with the tools needed for sustainable cultural transformation in today’s workplace.
Honey Ogundeyi is a renowned technology entrepreneur, recognised as one of the luminaries at the forefront of shaping the UK’s tech sector.
She is the award-winning Founder and CEO of Edukoya, an AI-driven digital learning platform. Building the next frontier of education, Honey is disrupting the status quo as a pioneer to democratise education, making the £90bn education, tech, and AI sectors more inclusive and accessible to all.
Honey’s contributions to the tech and education industries have not only set new benchmarks for excellence but have also inspired a generation to dream bigger and break barriers. Her journey from a pioneering entrepreneur to an influential leader reflects her commitment to innovation, equity, and the transformative power of education.
Honey has been named by Forbes as one of the Top 10 women emerging entrepreneurs to watch in Africa and by the World Economic Forum as one of the Top 10 Innovators in Africa. She has also been featured in the Independent, Techcrunch, Forbes, and Newsweek publications. She was recently invited to speak at Slush, the World’s Leading Startup Event.
Hayley Mulenda is one of the most inspiring young voices in the UK currently. An established keynote speaker, consultant, and change agent, Hayley has worked all over the world, from the Middle East to North America and Africa.
With over 180,000 social media followers, Hayley has her finger firmly on the pulse when it comes to helping Gen Z and millennials with their mental health and well-being.
Named as one of Black Business Show X HSBC’s ‘Top 25 Black Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2024’, Hayley’s story is not short of difficulties.
After nearly taking her life when she was 18 years old, she had a profound realisation about the growing impact that mental health issues are having on millennials. This experience ignited her passion to make a difference to others. Her personal journey and insights have made her a credible advocate and speaker for mental health and wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion.
Hayley has spoken on stages such as Wembley Arena, and counts KFC, KPMG, META, Microsoft, Unilever, Wagamama amongst her clients. On top of this, she serves on the board of Wagamama to help the company engage young people from diverse backgrounds and is a Governor at St Angela’s Ursuline School.
Geeta Sidhu-Robb is a 5-time winner of the Entrepreneur and Businesswoman of the Year award.
Having developed the hugely successful Nosh Detox in 2008 after her son was born with severe food allergies, eczema, asthma, and anaphylaxis, she has built a formidable reputation for success in the health and nutrition industry counting Gwyneth Paltrow as one of her first clients.
Geeta is a globally recognised in-demand speaker on all aspects of women’s affairs.
Emilie Bellet is one of the UK’s leading investing and personal finance experts, particularly when it comes to women and finance.
With a career in private equity, Emilie is an entrepreneur who founded Seed Recruit, a web-based recruiting platform, in 2013, followed by Vestpod, a digital platform aimed to empower people to improve their financial wellbeing, in 2016.
She is a successful financial author and contributor to a range of publications; she is also the host of the award-winning The Wallet podcast, is a member of the Women in FinTech Powerlist, and curator of the Money Matters Festival.
Emilie was also part of the national French hockey team for over a decade!
Courtney Holm is an award-winning senior leader in sustainable business development, and a climate change adaptation specialist with a vast network and 20+ years’ experience bringing global strategic agendas to life. Driven by innovation and a passion for a sustainable and equitable world, she is an influential voice across sectors, with significant experience in consumer goods, financial services, and retail.
She has worked as a Trustee for the IAMTHECODE Foundation, which aims to get 1 million young women and girls coding by 2030; as a Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Orchard Project, as a brand ambassador for Sustainability Squared Ltd, and as an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter Business School in the Faculty of Environment, Science, and Economy.
Courtney Holm regularly speaks to international audiences at events and summits on topics including enabling sustainable choices along the value chain, focused strategies for scaled impact, and supply chain transparency.
Courtney’s work in the sustainability industry has seen her win numerous awards and accolades, including being named one of the top 10 women in sustainability 2024, in the top 100 global women in Sustainability 2024, and one of the top 25 sustainability consultants and leaders in 2023.
Courtney Holm has recently been appointed an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter.
Clare Seal is a writer, speaker, financial coach and digital creator, known for her popular @myfrugalyear Instagram page.
Clare has built a community of over 115,000 people with her honest and compassionate conversations about money, mental health, motherhood and family life, tackling the topic of finance with an empathy that is often lacking.
It was not long ago that Clare was struggling financially. In 2019, she had nearly £30,000 of personal debt and it was then that she created @myfrugalyear Instagram page to anonymously document her journey out of debt.
A year later Clare had paid off £10k and after two years she made the final payment, making her debt-free for the first time in years.
Since then, she has rebuilt her relationship with money, amassing over 100,000 Instagram followers, authoring three books and writing for a number of national publications, including the Guardian and Glamour magazine.
Clare now works with both brands and individuals to address financial wellbeing and bring a new perspective to what has sometimes been a stale conversation. She has worked with Paypal, eBay, Boots and Santander to deliver campaigns and has delivered keynote talks for NatWest, Deloitte, Network Rail and Ralph Lauren.
Her empathy and compassion-focussed approach helps people to set aside their money shame and start to build confidence and connection with their finances.
Clare Kenny is a Keynote & TEDx speaker, wellbeing consultant, facilitator, mental health expert, moderator and inspirational thought leader on the topics of addiction, ADHD & Neurodiversity, wellbeing and building mentally health cultures at work.
After working in many toxic workplaces for over two decades, Clare experienced burnout and developed an anxiety disorder and alcohol addiction.
It was following the sudden loss of her Mum in 2015 that she was given the jolt she needed to stop putting her career before her mental health. Clare Kenny then quit her high-pressure job, closed the chapter on 16-hour work days and instead set up her own business focussing on helping organisations build cultures and ways of working that are designed to help people thrive, not just survive.
Clare Kenny brings a wealth of business and personal experience. From building bespoke wellbeing strategies for organisations ranging from FTSE 100 to dynamic start-ups, to advising global leaders and embedding and measuring impact.
Her passion is to create real and lasting change in the world of work. She works with clients such Channel 4, Warner Media, KPMG, Knight Frank Promise and Medtronic. Clare has delivered TedX talks and has been interviewed on a range of podcasts.
Charlotte Briere-Edney is an accomplished TV News Anchor and Correspondent who has over 15 years of broadcasting experience at leading UK and global broadcasters.
She is recognised for her skill in delivering authoritative live coverage to global audiences and breaking significant global stories. She has interviewed and conducted insightful discussions with world leaders, experts and stakeholders facilitating informed discussions on topics of global significance.
Charlotte, who speaks French, Russian, Spanish and English, is currently a News Anchor for TRT World based in Istanbul. Previously she has worked for ITV, the BBC and Sky News.
In addition to being an outstanding News Anchor and Presenter, Charlotte is also an MC at international conferences and chairs panel discussions with VIP guests.
Cassie Kozyrkov is a pioneering figure in artificial intelligence and is known for the creation of the Decision Intelligence field. As Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, where she spearheaded Google’s transformation into an AI-first company.
Her influence on Google’s culture is legendary; no matter how big the auditorium, Google had to use lotteries to manage the demand to participate in one of her live workshops. Her work, which included personally training over 20,000 Googlers in AI and data-driven decision-making, impacted more than 500 company initiatives.
What sets her apart is her ability to demystify complex concepts, combining technical depth with an engaging, theatre-trained style makes AI accessible and fascinating to diverse audiences. Her talks resonate with diverse audiences, ensuring that CEOs, technical teams, and creative professionals leave inspired and equipped to drive innovation.
Her expertise has been sought by global organizations like NASA, Gucci, Meta, and GSK, and her insights have captivated audiences at high-profile events such as the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and SXSW.
With speaking engagements across over 40 countries and all seven continents, Cassie Kozyrkov is recognized not just for her knowledge but for her ability to inspire leaders to embrace AI with confidence and creativity.
Cassie Kozyrkov has been featured on the cover of Forbes AI and been prominently featured in top publications like Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, WIRED, Success, and Entrepreneur. Her influence extends beyond print, with her participation in a recent documentary exploring the AI revolution.
Candice Brathwaite is a critically acclaimed Sunday Times bestselling author, journalist, podcaster, speaker, and TV personality, with over 688,000 followers on social media.
She has published successful fiction and non-fiction books, covering everything from the inequalities of black motherhood, and manifesting what you want from life.
She co-hosts the hit podcast Closet Confessions which has amassed millions of downloads and often tours nationally.
She is also a contributing editor to Grazia Magazine, and often contributes to other publications, and appears on radio and television where she is a courageous voice on achieving your goals, family, fashion, and the black British experience.
Anna-Joy Rickard is a thought leader, podcaster, and speaker who specializes in world affairs, leadership, and personal development.
As the host and producer of The Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast, she explores geopolitical trends, international affairs and travel inspiration, offering listeners unique insights into global issues.
Previous clients include The University of Cambridge, The Fabian Society, Tony Blair Institute, Sahel Alliance, Brussels, Halo Trust, SID-Washington.
Anna-Joy speaks on the dual themes of world-shaping ideas and world-shaping leadership. Her expertise spanning a broad range of geopolitical topics, makes her an ideal speaker for events focused on global trends and international relations.
Abigail Ireland is a Peak Performance Strategist, international keynote speaker, coach, and facilitator.
Passionate about inspiring her audiences to bring their A-Game, Abigail Ireland is the founder of Understanding Performance, a leadership and training consultancy helping clients perform at their best in a sustainable way.
Her expertise is in high demand and she has been featured in a range of HR and media publications, including GQ Magazine, HR Magazine, and the ILM.
The first female controller of BBC 1, Lorraine Heggessey is a trailblazing business leader who has driven success in several high-profile roles across sectors.
Her career in television broadcasting has been directly involved in many of the biggest programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing, and Dr Who.
Lorraine Heggessey is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society, and a regular judge for the RTS and BAFTA.
She has a wide range of experience managing talent, leading change, and championing inclusivity and diversity.
Rose Sandy is a seasoned professional in the entertainment, media, and publishing industries, with a career spanning global corporations and initiatives.
As the founder, CEO, and Chief Visionary Officer of Silver Gravity Entertainment, Rose Sandy leads a production company focused on international suspense thrillers featuring strong female protagonists.
Her career started in multi-national corporations such as Sony and The Coca-Cola Company, where she worked as their respective International Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility lead. She followed this up by placements working at Cisco Systems in communications and HarperCollins, where she published groundbreaking books with well-known authors.
One of her most notable achievements at HarperCollins was the establishment of the HarperCollins Author and Design Academy, which has provided training and mentorship to over 200 creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. This commitment to inclusivity earned her a nomination for ITV’s Lorraine’s Inspirational Women of the Year.
Trish Lynch is an experienced news anchor, reporter, and broadcaster, best known for her travel show Hotels of the World.
She has reported on a wide range of topics worldwide for over 20 years, including finance, the motor industry, medical politics, travel, and human rights.
Trish has presented on CNN, Sky Travel, TV Travel Shop, Paradise Abroad, Financial Focus, Cuba Uncovered, All Things Irish, and Great Golf Courses of the World.
In the corporate world, Trish has worked extensively in banking, finance, and technology; she is also active in human rights, collaborating with the United Nations.
Dr Tessa Hartmann CBE is an award-winning branding and communications expert who has crafted her trade with over 25 years working in the dynamic world of fashion, lifestyle and entertainment PR.
With offices in Glasgow and London, this powerhouse Scot has an incredible entrepreneurial spirit with a fierce go-getting attitude; which is perhaps why after having set up the Scottish Fashion Awards some 12 years ago, she was honoured in HM The Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list with a CBE for her contribution to fashion and textiles in 2016.
Tessa Clarke is the Co-Founder and CEO of Olio, a free app that tackles the problem of food waste and, in turn, climate change.
The app aims to connect neighbours and communities so that surplus food can be given away rather than thrown away. Since its conception in 2015, Olio has grown to over 7 million global users and has won Tessa many accolades.
She is a knowledgeable, engaging, fun, personable, and passionate speaker, talking on various subjects surrounding innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
Tanya Goodin is a trailblazing author, a campaigner on technology ethics and digital wellbeing, a pioneering thinker, and the founder of the digital detox movement ‘Time To Log Off’.
Tanya Goodin has published three successful books on our relationships with tech, which have been translated into over 10 languages, and she hosts the popular podcast It’s Complicated. Tanya regularly contributes to print media, writing on digital wellbeing, tech ethics, detoxing, screen/life balance, artificial intelligence, and cyber safety.
Tanya is now an inspiring keynote speaker, offering insightful talks to businesses and schools in corporate, public and private settings. She aims to help everyone forge a happier and healthier relationship with digital devices and technology.
Susannah Streeter is a leading broadcaster and financial commentator who has anchored flagship business news programmes on TV and radio and hosted major summits, conferences and events, around the world.
She is a hugely popular host and moderator, who has worked with banks, governments, and other organisations, focussing on international business themes and challenges, resilience, leadership, and team building in a fractured world, as well as micro-economics, the armed forces, energy, sustainability, defence, and artificial intelligence.
Since 2020, Susannah has been a Senior Investment and Markets Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. As Head of Money and Markets for Hargreaves Lansdown Susannah keeps investors updated about the latest economic and financial moves, how it’s affecting listed companies and how investors should manage portfolios amid the turmoil.
“The acquisition of real-world wisdom is attained through lived experiences in the real world…it is not necessarily found in the pages of books.”
Victoria Humphries is a three times Guinness World Record holding polar adventurer, mountain climber, marathon runner, businesswoman, and author.
She prides herself on being just your average ‘normal’ woman, who happens to believe that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. She believes that life is full of challenges, but we have two options – step forward, or run away; be overcome by the enormity of it, or be brave and step up.
“What’s the worst that could happen? Just give it a go!”
Winnie Awa is a creative visionary and storyteller based in London. Her multi-disciplinary practice sits at the intersection of beauty, technology, community-led design, and cultural intelligence, crafting products and narratives that feel as human as they are technologically advanced.
She has been recognised by the likes of the BBC, Sunday Times Style, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Refinery 29. It comes as no surprise that Winnie is highly sought-after as a corporate speaker, covering topics including Women in Technology, Entrepreneurship, Diversity, and Inclusive haircare.
