High-performance speakers bring a unique blend of expertise, motivational strategies, and dynamic delivery to captivate your audience and memorably convey key messages. They can spark innovation, reinforce company goals, and provide actionable insights tailored to your industry. Sharing powerful stories and proven strategies empowers employees to embrace change, boost productivity, and foster a positive organisational culture. Investing in a skilled speaker transforms your event into a catalyst for growth and success.
Hiring a high-performance speaker through us at Great Business Speakers can elevate your event by delivering transformative insights and actionable strategies that drive excellence in individual and organisational performance. Our speakers are experts in unlocking potential, fostering resilience, and inspiring innovation, offering audiences practical tools to achieve sustained success. Whether in-person or virtual, a high-performance speaker energises the room and leaves a lasting impact, empowering attendees to exceed their limits and contribute to a culture of success.
Discover our High-Performance Speakers below, or contact the team at Great Business Speakers to enquire or book. +44 1753 439 289
Jo Fairley is a serial entrepreneur, best known for co-founding the luxury chocolate brand Green & Black’s. Leaving school with just six O Levels, Jo became the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor at Look Now.
Today, Jo continues to make influential contributions to Green & Black’s, as well as to the wider industry. She has founded several businesses across industries, but always themed around the senses.
Jo is a highly sought-after speaker, sharing her experiences, invaluable expertise, and advice for fellow entrepreneurs. Jo was once awarded the World Aware Award for her influential entrepreneurship, a testament to her dedication to ensuring all she works on is environmentally friendly.
Susie Wolff MBE is a former motorsport driver, Managing Director of the F1 Academy, and a motivational keynote speaker.
She began her competitive motorsport career over 20 years ago, starting out on the karting track. After cutting her teeth in karting, Formula Renault, and DTM for Mercedes-Benz, she made history at the 2014 British Grand Prix by becoming the first woman to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend in 22 years.
After retiring from driving in 2015, and as part of her commitment to fostering positive change within the sport, she launched Dare To Be Different, an initiative aimed at driving female talent by inspiring the next generation and increasing female participation in all aspects of motorsport.
Her hard work was awarded in 2017 with an MBE for her services and contribution to women in sport.
Debra Searle MVO, MBE, is a unique and inspiring individual. A businesswoman, professional adventurer, and motivational speaker, Debra is convinced that learning to choose the right attitude, can transform our personal and professional lives.
Debra has launched five companies, presented over 40 programmes for the BBC, won Gold World Championship medals for Team GB, was the youngest ever trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and successfully rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Once voted World #1 Female Motivational Speaker in the Global Gurus ranking, Debra has been honoured twice by the late Queen, an MBE in 2002 and an MVO in 2014.
She is a successful author, and has spoken at over 1,300 events across 40 countries about her incredible achievements. In fact, the movie of her solo Atlantic row is currently in development in Hollywood!
Bruce Daisley is a keynote speaker and bestselling writer about workplace culture, working with leadership teams and organisations to help create and sustain a positive, high-performance work culture.
His previous business career saw him spend over a decade as one of the best known technology experts in the world, first working for YouTube and then Twitter across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
He is regarded as one of the most respected thought leaders on the subject, and was once named by LinkedIn as one of the world’s top 10 voices on the topic. He was also named in a survey of industry leaders as the ‘fantasy hire that most of them would like to make’. Even more impressively is that he beat Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to the award.
Reuben Christian is an uplifting, award-winning edutainer, speaker, podcast host, coach, presenter, moderator, facilitator, and host, with over 20 years of experience. His contagious energy has enlivened conferences, festivals, and events around the world.
Reuben is the founder of Dream Rehab, a live show that harnesses the power of community for individual and collective growth. Focussed on helping people achieve their goals. Reuben hosts for companies, communities, and events, helping people overcoming barriers, and align purpose to inspire action and success.
He is the co-host of the What Is This Behaviour? podcast – interviewing South Asian trailblazers – which reaches 16 million travellers on British Airways flights. Reuben also served as a senior mentor for Samsung Not a School, an innovative alternative education initiative inspiring the next generation of forward thinkers.
Reuben can count names such as Aviva, Barbican, Samsung, the BBC, Red Bull, Virgin Media, the Old Vic, Deutsche Bank, and Wilderness Festival among his corporate credits.
A thriving workplace isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about communication, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Reuben trains teams in the soft skills that drive engagement, innovation, and collaboration. His corporate training sessions aren’t about passive learning; they’re about real conversations, practical exercises, and tangible takeaways that create lasting change.
Pete Cohen is a performance coach, TV presenter and expert, author, and popular motivational keynote speaker.
He has over 30 years of experience in helping individuals and organisations to reach their full potential.
His methodology offers a practical toolkit for sustainable and intentional return-on-investment, equipping his audiences with strategies, motivation, and opportunities to grow needed to achieve their ideal future selves, and to enhance their overall wellbeing.
Over the years, he has published 20 books that have been translated into a number of languages worldwide.
His team includes Professor Ray Sylvester from the Kelley School of Business at Indianapolis University; together they have created some pioneering work on the power of intention.
Contact Great British Speakers today to book motivational business speaker Pete Cohen for your next event.
Beatrice Kabutakapua is an inspiring Business Storytelling Coach who works with businesses and organisations, helping them utilize storytelling to enhance employee engagement and enable leaders to be more authentic, ultimately creating a happier, more inclusive workplace culture.
She has worked with companies such as Aviva, Booking.com, Netflix, and Save the Children to drive communications and leadership transformation across their teams.
Amit Bhalla is a transformational strategist, coach, and inspirational speaker.
With over 20 years of coaching, M&A, and strategy experience, his unique approach focuses on activating businesses, individuals, and teams to fully operate from their authentic selves. His focus is always on bespoke and tailored services, reflecting the differences between businesses and individuals and the patterns they face in life and in business.
He has spent of 20 years working with CEOs, founders, and high-level executives to help them through the transformative journey to unlock their full potential.
Wayne Barnes OBE is one of the world’s leading international sports officials, named World Rugby Referee of the Year in 2019 and took charge of the Rugby World Cup Final in 2023.
In addition, he is a criminal barrister, public speaker, and highly sought-after media contributor. Wayne is a Partner at the globally renowned law firm Squire Patton Boggs in London.
Wayne Barnes OBE is not just a leading international sports official, but a record-breaker. In 2022, he became an international centurion, refereeing his 100th test match, and a week later, he broke the World Record for the most internationals ever refereed.
He has overseen 273 English Premiership games, officiated 17 Six Nations tournaments, and taken charge of 10 Premiership Finals. Wayne has presided over 27 Rugby World Cup matches, more than anyone else in history, at an unrivalled 5 RWC Tournaments.
He announced his professional refereeing retirement in November 2023, and fittingly, his last match in charge was the Rugby World Cup Final 2023. In 2024, he was awarded an OBE for his services to rugby union.
Wayne regularly contributes to all aspects of rugby media, including mainstream TV and the broadsheets, as an expert pundit and commentator. Offering in-depth, expert analysis, Wayne is uniquely placed to explain the technicalities of law and the nuances of the global game.
Simon Hartley is a globally respected performance coach and sport psychology consultant. For almost 30 years, he has worked with world records holders, gold medallists, top five world-ranked professional athletes, world champions, Olympians, and Championship winning sports teams.
In 2008, he founded Be World Class, where he coaches individuals, teams, and organisations to help maximise their performance, and work towards becoming world class in their field. Through his work, he has worked with international rugby teams, Formula 1, cricket, and NFL, as well as with organisations such as Proctor & Gamble, NatWest, and Sky.
He is also a successful writer, and co-host of The Podium Podcast and The Demon Charmers Podcast.
He has since applied the principles of sport psychology to the world of business, healthcare, education, charity, and military. Simon is now a very popular motivational keynote speaker.
Renowned as a trailblazing mental health leader, Petra Velzeboer is a TEDx speaker, CEO of mental health consultancy PVL, and author of Begin With You, and Digital Wellbeing.
With PVL, Petra and her team help businesses to cultivate mentally healthy cultures that prioritise employee wellbeing, aligned with business goals, in order to drive peak performance. Raised in a religious cult, Petra knows first-hand what living in a toxic culture can do to people, and is on a mission to help people thrive at home and at work.
She is a very popular keynote speaker, and has spoken at many events. Her talks are known to be down-to-earth, relatable, engaging, practical, humerous, empowering, and inspiring, offering practical insights that help organisations navigate rapid change and create meaningful, lasting success.
Perla Bloom is a dynamic global marketing strategy leader.
Passionate about the intersection of tech, creativity, and culture, she builds brands and creates connected experiences for audiences that solve a problem to reach specific objectives.
She is currently the senior global comms manager for Expedia, responsible for planning content, editorial and entertainment for the company. She is also the WELL London Chapter Lead, Expedia’s internal women’s organisation.
She is also a much sought-after international keynote speaker at industry events and on podcasts.
Paddy Lowe is one of the most accomplished engineers and technical directors in Formula 1 history. He has a remarkable record of 158 Grand Prix victories and 12 World Championship titles. His career, spanning influential roles at Williams, McLaren, and Mercedes, has solidified his reputation as a leading force in engineering and team leadership within the sport.
Paddy’s illustrious career has seen him collaborate with some of Formula1’smost iconic drivers, including Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, and Fernando Alonso.
As the Technical Director of Mercedes, Paddy was instrumental in guiding the team to 53 Grand Prix wins, working closely with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg.
His strategic leadership was pivotal in Mercedes’ dominance, particularly between 2013 and 2015, where his focus on quality and reliability transformed the team into a powerhouse.
Nicole Bearne has been at the forefront of Formula 1 for over 25 years, contributing to the success of the Brawn Grand Prix and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 teams.
Her extensive motorsport experience includes executive and technical operations, internal communications, employee experience and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Nicole’s career achievements include nine Constructors’ World Championships and eight Drivers’ titles, which underscore her instrumental role in driving success both on and off the racetrack.
As a pivotal member of renowned teams such as Brawn GP and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One, her journey is a testament to excellence, leadership, and innovation in one of the most demanding industries.
In 2023, Nicole founded The Comms Exchange, a consultancy dedicated to enhancing internal communications, employee engagement, and leadership strategies for organisations across various industries. Armed with a master’s degree in Organisational Behaviour, as well as professional certifications from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Institute of Internal Communications, Nicole brings unparalleled expertise to her current role.
Nicole’s unique blend of real-world F1 business acumen and academic expertise makes her a compelling speaker for various audiences. She is frequently invited to speak at conferences in the UK, USA and Europe.
Matt Swain is the founder and CEO of Triangle, working with an exclusive group of UK and US leading founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs, helping to build their digital reputation to drive commercial outcomes.
He is also the founder of SOCIAL CLUB, an exclusive social media communications company where influencers and brands manage a following of over 328 million.
Matt is also a published author, and a popular inspirational speaker.
Karun Chandhok is one of only two Indian drivers to compete in Formula 1 and one of the most respected broadcasters in the sport today.
Born into a family which was steeped in motor sport history, Karun Chandhok rose through the ranks of junior formulae racing to become test driver for the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team in 2007/8. He competed in the Formula 1 World Championship for Hispania Racing Team and Team Lotus in 2010 and 2011.
After his Formula 1 career, Karun transitioned into broadcasting, where he quickly established himself as one of the most respected analysts in the sport. Today he is an expert analyst for Sky Sports F1, broadcasting to 62 countries.
Karun also sits on the Board of Motorsport UK, the national governing body of motorsport and is one of the key members of the world’s governing body, the FIA. He is a member of Motorsport UK’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and also devotes time to working on the development of junior single-seater formulae.
Jason Leonard is a former professional rugby union player widely regarded as one of the greatest props in the history of the sport.
During his 14 year international rugby career, he won a then-record 114 caps for England, won four Six Nations Grand Slams and the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Part of the British & Irish Lions team, Jason went on three tours and was a member of the Lions squad that won the test series during their 1997 tour of South Africa. He played club rugby for Barking RFC, Saracens and Harlequins, making 290 appearances for his club, Harlequins, spanning both the amateur and professional game.
In 2002, Jason earned an MBE for services to sport, which became an OBE after England’s Rugby World Cup success. He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014.
Jason retired from Rugby in 2004 and since then has continued to play an integral part in global rugby and has become a sought-after corporate and entertainment speaker.
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.
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.
Gary Foote is the Chief Information Officer and Director of Sustainability at the Haas Formula 1 Team. In a career that has spanned 20 years, he has been part of numerous Motorsport World Championship-winning teams, winning 6 world titles with drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, and Jenson Button.
As the CIO of the Haas Formula One Team, he is responsible for several operational departments spanning IT, Digital, Facilities, Operations, ESG, and Continuity. As the ESG lead, he drives the teams’ carbon reduction initiatives forward, manages their community outreach program, and ensures adherence to their social responsibility agenda.
Gary is an active public speaker who is often engaged in discussions on topics such as data, innovation, a high-performance mindset, team ethos and culture, sustainability and diversity, and digital transformation.
“If you follow conventional thinking, all you’ll ever be is conventional.”
Chris Arnold is a Dr of Business, a former Board Director of Saatchi & Saatchi and DMA, and former chair of both the DMA Agencies Council and the Creative Council. He is also a seasoned entrepreneur having founded a number of creative agencies over the years.
Chris Arnold is also a prominent author, having written a number of business books, including Ethical Marketing and the New Consumer.
He is now a popular keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.
Akil Hunte is a multi-award-winning lawyer, consultant, spoken-word poet, social entrepreneur, and diversity speaker.
Growing up in a single-parent household, as a black man from inner city London, Akil Hunte has had to navigate many challenges over the years; from being hit by a car to witnessing the Grenfell Tower fire, he has triumphed over trauma to thrive on his professional journey. He made history as the first student to win the Dean’s Award at the University for two consecutive years. He was named the Outstanding Alumni by Nottingham Trent University in 2023 and was a Rising Star in the Legal 500 ESG Awards.
In 2019, Akil Hunte was among the 30 people selected to be listed in that year’s edition of GUAP Magazine’s #TheBlackList2019 30 Under 30s, which celebrates young black creatives and professionals. He is a popular keynote speaker, discussing everything from law to diversity and equality. He has worked with clients including Nottingham Trent University, LinkedIn, Hogan Lovells, Clyde & Co, Freshfields, and CEL Solicitors.
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.
Tom Scudamore is a retired jockey who amassed over 1500 victories in his 25 year racing career with a place in the top 10 most successful jump jockeys of all time.
Scudamore’s most notable win came on Thistlecrack in the 2016 King George VI Chase at Kempton. Other notable wins include the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in 2013, Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in 2015 and the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in 2020 as well as ten Cheltenham Festival victories.
Following a number of episodes of concussion caused by falls and after being unseated from his horse during a race in February 2023, Tom made the decision to retire with immediate effect.
Since retiring Tom has made a smooth transition to media and broadcasting, starting at Ascot in 2023 when he was part of the ITV presentation team.
