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 Their presence challenges outdated norms, opening minds to the importance of inclusivity and empowering everyone to thrive together.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
Esther Stanhope is a highly sought-after confidence speaker and travels all over the world spreading her ‘Impact’ and ‘oomph’ to encourage people to speak up and get their voice heard in business.
She speaks on topics including pitching, presenting, confidence, getting promoted, and succeeding in your career.
Erica Farmer has over 20 years experience in learning and development, apprenticeships and digital training, having worked for big brands such as LV, British Gas and Virgin.
Her area of specialism is the future of work and skills, and digital learning. Erica is passionate about providing opportunities in business, specifically driving innovation and thought leadership.
In 2021 Erica co-founded Quantum Rise Talent Group, a leader in Learning and Development, and she is currently the Business Director.
A legendary female British Olympian who really doesn’t need much of an introduction, Dame Kelly Holmes once set the British records in the 600m, 800m, and 1,000m – achievements that have only recently been surpassed.
She is an Olympic, World, Commonwealth, and European multi-medallist. After winning gold in the 800m and 1,500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, European Athlete of the Year, World Athlete of the Year, and was honoured with a Damehood by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
During Pride Month in 2022, Kelly shared her “relief at coming out as gay.”
She is one of the most popular and sought-after speakers on the circuit, with speaking topics including athletics and mental health. Dame Kelly Holmes has motivated audiences across the world.
Cynthia V Davis is a successful businesswoman, Founder and CEO of Diversifying Group, an entrepreneur, diversity specialist, leadership fellow, and international speaker.
Cynthia V Davis began her business, with a new baby in tow, determined to make the world a fairer place. With her own experience as a woman of colour, Cynthia originally founded her business under the name BAME Recruitment due to the historic marginalisation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK, before expanding into Diversifying Group.
She was nominated as one of the ‘Most Inspirational Women in Tech 2020-2023′ by Computer Weekly. Cynthia is also a Board Trustee at Over The Wall and a sought-after speaker on topics like diversity, equality, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Crystelle Pereira is best known for making it to the final of the 2021 Great British Bake Off alongside Chigs Parmer and eventual winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno. She became a popular figure on the show after showcasing her Portuguese-Goan recipes and exciting flavour combinations.
In December 2021, Vanity Fair named as one of their Top Performances of the year alongside a host of Hollywood stars. She is fluent in four languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian.
Since her appearance on The Great British Bake Off, Crystelle has been a regular fixture on a number of popular television shows, both in the UK and in the USA.
In 2023, she released her first cookbook, My Flavour Kitchen, and hopes to educate people about Portuguese-Goan cuisine.
Crystelle is available for private and public appearances, ambassadorial work, corporate partnerships, and speaking commitments. She is open and honest about overcoming obstacles, empowering women, diversity, and finance, as well as her own baking journey.
Claire Williams OBE is a British former motorsport executive who led the Williams Formula 1 racing team. She is one of only two women to have ever lead a Formula 1 team.
Under her leadership Williams finished 3rd in the World Championship for Constructors in 2014 and 2015, representing the team’s best performance since 2003.
After taking over the running of the team, Claire replaced drivers, switched to a Mercedes engine and increased the team’s racing budget by securing profitable corporate sponsorships, factors that helped the team’s renaissance between 2014 and 2017.
Today Claire is a global Brand Ambassador for WAE Technologies, formerly known as Williams Advanced Engineering, which is involved in the decarbonisation of heavy transport through the development of advanced, green and sustainable technologies.
Her late father, Sir Frank Williams, was the founder of the Williams Grand Prix Engineering F1 team, winning nine Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championship.
Claire Harper is an expert in retail, marketing, change management, branding and enterprise. Having worked for prominent UK brands including Argos, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Mamas and Papas, and run her own award-winning best of British kids’ clothing brand IndiaCoco, Claire is one of the UK’s most formidable business leaders.
Claire Harper’s journey from senior corporate leader to business entrepreneur and sought-after consultant is inspirational and full of messages gleaned from working at the very heart of business.
Christine Armstrong is a researcher, author and vlogger on the future of work, and founder of Armstrong & Partners.
By exploring current working trends, workplace culture, workplace communication, work/life balance, remote working and all the data that comes with it, she examines the challenges present in using old business practices. These include being overloaded with communication, the challenges between professional/personal boundaries and burnout. She also explores how these working practices can impact different groups such as carers and parents.
Christine is a much sought-after keynote speaker on the future of work and has worked for companies including the BBC and NHS to help them use more up-to-date working trends to ensure employee health, happiness and productivity.
Chloe Tilley is a two-time Sony award-winning presenter, with over 15 years of experience presenting live news programmes for BBC Television and Radio. Chloe has a track record of delivering dynamic and innovative shows across the BBC News Channel, BBC World News, Radio 5 Live and the World Service.
From 2016 Chloe regularly hosted the BAFTA award-winning Victoria Derbyshire programme on BBC 2 and the BBC News Channel. At the same time, she has been a regular presenter at 5 Live on Drive and the Emma Barnett Show. Since its creation in 2015, Chloe has also hosted OS, a news and discussion programme on the BBC World Service.
Entrepreneurial Inspiration: Emily Newstead proves every day that nothing should hold you back from success!
Emily Newstead boasts a wealth of experience, proudly working across a wide range of business sectors and within various professional environments; Emily is a leading Yorkshire Woman Entrepreneur and Influencer with many accolades and achievements, including ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ & Finalists for ‘Ethical – Green Business of the Year Award’.
Through her dynamic storytelling and practical wisdom, Emily not only shares her journey but also empowers others to overcome obstacles and pursue their own paths to success with confidence.
Not only the CEO & Founder of her own company, new podcast, Mindset program, and property business; Emily also champions years of experience within multiple industries, business development, and leadership.
Chloe Combi is an ex-teacher, educator, researcher, brand consultant, political consultant, broadcaster, podcast host, film director, bestselling author, and international speaker.
Using a data-driven approach, based on over 30,000 interviews, she works with global companies, governments, institutions, and schools to give them an insight into the future and help them prepare for what the future brings.
Chloe coined the term ‘Generation Z’ – people born between 1997 and 2012 – when she wrote the first bestselling book on the topic, way before the rest of the world became fascinated with them. In her book Generation Z: Their Voices, Their Lives (2015), she interviewed over 3,000 people, and has since added over 20,000 more for her next book about Generation A.
Her unprecedented research into generational shifts makes her one of the world’s leading experts on the matter, and she has become a popular keynote speaker, appearing at events including Edinburgh Book Festival, the London Festival of Education, and Latitude Festival.
A passionate thought leader with multiple business and charitable interests, experience at the highest corporate level, and motivational speaker, Leila McKenzie-Delis is moving the dial on diversity, inclusion and equality in business.
In 2019, she founded DIAL Global, a global community for ‘Diverse Inclusive Aspirational Leaders’. She aims to foster a more open, diverse and inclusive society by helping organisations think differently about their working culture, attitudes and understanding of diversity. Not only does this include gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, mental health and disability, she also promotes the inclusion of neurodiverse employees.
Emily Maitlis is a celebrated British journalist, author, and podcast host, renowned for her uncompromising interviews and sharp political insight.
Best known for her long tenure as the lead presenter of BBC Two’s Newsnight, Emily has reported from the front lines of major political events, including multiple UK general elections, US presidential campaigns, and significant global summits. Her interviews span an extraordinary range of figures, from world leaders such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Henry Kissinger, to cultural icons including David Beckham, Hugh Grant, Usain Bolt, and Emma Thompson.
A defining moment in her career came in 2019 with her landmark interview of Prince Andrew regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. This exchange, hailed as a masterclass in broadcast journalism, made headlines around the world and contributed to the Duke of York stepping back from public duties.
Today, Emily co-hosts the hit Global podcast The News Agents, continuing to provide thought-provoking political analysis and agenda-setting interviews. With her unique ability to challenge, probe, and clarify, she remains one of the UK’s most influential and recognisable voices in the media.
Leanne Spencer is a keynote speaker and wellbeing consultant and has specialised in wellbeing for over ten years.
Leanne has over 13 qualifications in exercise and nutrition but began her career in sales and spent over 15 years working in the City of London before leaving in 2012 to set up an award-winning wellbeing company, after suffering from burnout.
Leanne is the bestselling author of three books, hosts a podcast and is a Bear Grylls Survival Instructor.
Chanelle Lady McCoy is one of Ireland’s most successful businesswomen, winning the All-Ireland Business Champion Award and recently ranked no 23 in the ‘50 incredible people shaping modern Ireland.
Having previously been a co-founder of Ireland’s largest indigenous pharmaceutical company and more recently Chanelle McCoy Health, a research and development-led pharmaceutical company, Chanelle is a very motivating speaker on business and leadership.
Chanelle was previously one of the dragons on Ireland’s Dragons’ Den where she enjoyed sharing her experience of growing successful businesses and supporting entrepreneurs on their journey to business growth. She is also a huge supporter of women in business and mentoring young entrepreneurs.
Cat King started her career as a travel reporter and then news presenter in local radio before London beckoned and she began a four-year stint at the BBC working as a presenter for BBC radio travel news.
For six years, Caryn Franklin MBE was the fashion editor of i-D Magazine. She still regularly contributes to i-D online and has recently collaborated with them to create a new section entitled Cool Psychology.
With her passion for image and fashion, Caryn’s projects have seen her collaborate with a variety of the most unlikely people in the industry to produce some of the most inventive fashion statements.
She has gained inspiration from refugees in battle zones, workers in free-trade-zone slums, mental health experts, MPs, Government Ministers and, of course, some of the world’s leading fashion innovators.
Elle Mace is a Master Practitioner and therapeutic coach in eating disorders, body dysmorphia, nutrition, obesity, and clinical weight loss.
She is also a qualified ILM Level 5 Coach & Mentor, and CPD accredited online course creator. Elle Mace is also an in-demand keynote speaker on the topics of eating disorders, body dysmorphia, mental health, positive psychology, and relationships with food.
Caroline Scott is an engaging television presenter, panel moderator and broadcast journalist, having grown up hosting Irish television on RTE.
Caroline hosts panels, conferences and interviews for corporate organisations on topics such as gender diversity, ESG, biodiversity, renewable infrastructure and current themes permeating the investment industry.
She studied Law at Trinity College Dublin and worked extensively in the legal profession in the City of London for various asset managers, giving her direct insight into many issues facing corporate entities today.
Incorporating her corporate experiencing with her excellent presentation and communication skills, Caroline Scott makes an excellent, moderator, facilitator and event host.
Elizabeth Cowper brings almost 30 years of HR experience to her role as the founder of Ludo, a company that provides innovative technology solutions and HR expertise to the workplace.
As a working mother of three, Elizabeth has established a reputation for her work with renowned brands such as Planet Organic, Harvey Nichols, LVMH, and Tapestry, the parent company of Coach, kate spade, and Stuart Weitzman.
At Tapestry, Elizabeth served as VP HR Europe, Global Head of Wellbeing, and a member of the Global DEI Committee. Known as the ‘Culture Adjuster’ Elizabeth has been recognised in the HR Most Influential Awards for five consecutive years. Her expertise lies in engaging talent, promoting workplace well-being, empowering women’s success, and fostering a culture of inclusion—her speciality.
Elizabeth’s speaking engagements have included facilitating conferences such as The Retail Bulletin and participating in public and private events. She has addressed large corporate audiences and led more niche sessions with smaller businesses.
From A Wheel of Fortune to the BBC’s Changing Rooms, Carol Smillie is one of TV’s best-known faces and has won an Indie Award, a National TV Awards and a BAFTA Nomination for her TV work.
Carol has recently started working as a Humanist Celebrant and is busy writing and conducting non-religious ceremonies across Scotland.
Elif Köse is a transformational confidence coach, fashion designer and founder of The Leader Within You programme.
As a former full-time fashion designer who began her journey as an alteration girl with limited English, Elif Köse once held the belief that the key to confidence lay in finding the perfect outfit. She was captivated by the transformation of Wonder Woman, how her costume empowered her, and she emphasized the significance of outward appearance in bolstering confidence.
Contact Great British Speakers today to book the transformational women’s business coach and fashion designer Elif Köse for your next event. Through her impeccable tailoring skills, Elif bestowed a sense of empowerment upon countless individuals, even as she witnessed the weight of their insecurities. When the pandemic forced her to close her high street shop, Elif delved into personal development, unearthing a deeper understanding of inner confidence. Through a transformative journey marked by breakthroughs, she discovered that the puzzle was far more intricate than she had imagined.
Cara Roberts was born in Lancashire UK. At the age of eight, she appeared in her first professional production playing the lead role of ‘Blousy’ in ‘Bugsy Malone’ at the ‘Winter Gardens Theatre’ Blackpool.
Upon graduating from Edinburgh University Cara was offered a place at the Royal Academy of Music in London which she gratefully accepted, and partook in a year’s Diploma course in Musical Theatre.
In London, she appeared in several musical productions and played the lead role of the Witch in ‘Into the Woods’ by Stephen Sondheim. Whilst in London she received her Diploma in Television Presenting, from the Royal Academy of Film, Television and Radio.
Laura Tobin has had a varied career in weather, working first at Cardiff weather centre, providing weather forecasts for energy companies, gritters and local radios, and then at various RAF bases including RAF Brize Norton, forecasting severe weather for pilots.
She is currently one of the main weather presenters for a range of ITV news programmes.
