Leadership speakers offer valuable insights into team dynamics, essential leadership skills, and creating a positive, growth-focused workplace culture. They help leaders understand and connect with their teams, enhancing communication, decision-making, and collaboration. Through keynote talks and interactive workshops, both employees and managers can develop vital leadership qualities such as empathy, resilience, and strategic thinking. These attributes are key to building a united, motivated team that drives business success. By focusing on the importance of positive leadership and teamwork, businesses can maintain competitiveness and adaptability in an ever-changing market.
Our exceptional Leadership speakers play a transformative role in shaping teams and organisations, whether at live or virtual events. They motivate, educate, and inspire attendees to rethink their approach to leadership and teamwork. In live sessions, speakers create engaging environments where employees can interact, ask questions, and practice new skills. Virtual events provide the flexibility to connect with remote teams and global audiences, extending the reach of valuable insights. Both settings ensure leaders and teams gain practical tools and strategies to improve performance, strengthen relationships, and lead with confidence.
Discover our Leadership Speakers below, or contact the team at Great Business Speakers to enquire or book. +44 1753 439 289
Andrew Scott is a globally recognised serial entrepreneur, CEO and expert on leadership, business strategy, marketing and personal development.
He is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and business experts, with an incredibly powerful story that will leave people on the edge of their seats, inspired, and full of hope.
Andrew grew up on the back streets of Belfast during the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, and at 4 years old, he survived the Abercorn atrocity, when Irish terrorists set off a bomb in a packed city-centre restaurant.
After five years of recovery, both physically and mentally, Andrew left Ireland at 18 to start a new life in London. He vowed to turn his trauma into a purpose to live life at the highest level and help others do the same.
Andrew went on to become a self-made millionaire, entrepreneur, investor, advisor and founder. With unique insights and decades of real-world experience as an entrepreneur, CEO and advisor across multiple industries, Andrew has developed a powerful blueprint for extraordinary success.
Alan Johnson is one of the most respected MPs of recent time, with positions including Secretary of State for Education and Skills (2006-07), Health (2007-09), Home Secretary (2009-10), and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (2010-11).
In 2023, he was appointed as Chancellor of the University of Hull.
He is now an award-winning author and broadcaster. He has been a regular guest on This Week, Have I Got News For You, as well as a surprise hit on The Masked Singer (2020). He has also been involved with documentaries including Alan Johnson: The Post Office and Me, and The Nation’s Favourite Beatles Number 1.
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.
Jonny Combe is the President and CEO of PayByPhone, one of the fasted growing mobile payment companies in the world.
His natural entrepreneurial spirit was evident from an early age, when he started a car washing business in his neighbourhood when he was just 14 years old. While studying at the University of Stirling, he had a number of business ventures, including buying and selling used cars.
Before joining PayByPhone, Jonny worked as the General Manager of Digital and Innovation within the BMW group, pioneering their award-winning innovation lab.
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.
Bruce Dickinson, the charismatic frontman of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, is more than just a musician, with his accomplishments including being a commercial airline pilot, businessman, novelist, international fencer, solo artist, public speaker, broadcaster, and brewer.
Bruce started his musical career with Samson, joining Iron Maiden in 1981, which marked the beginning of a new era for the band. Bruce’s contributions throughout the 1980s and beyond were pivotal in shaping Iron Maiden’s identity and cementing the band’s status as a heavy metal icons. Known for his powerful vocals and energetic performances, he became synonymous with Iron Maiden’s epic live shows and elaborate stage setups.
Leaving the band in 1993, Bruce focused on solo work and other projects before rejoining in 1999.
Drive, perseverance and focus are the keys to Bruce’s success both within the music industry and in his other creative and business endeavours.
Bruce is an engaging and charismatic speaker who explains how the challenges in the rock music industry and commercial aviation world mirror those of everyday businesses and organisations. Bruce shares how dealing with setbacks, adapting and changing course, perseverance, good teamwork, and communication are keys to success in all organisations.
PY Gerbeau is a business leader and transformation expert who has a formidable track record in turning around failing businesses. During his highly diverse career, he has earned a reputation for tackling major corporate challenges and successfully turning around struggling organisations.
His unique approach has always placed customer experience at the forefront while also navigating profit, reputation, regulatory issues, and government involvement. Many of PY’s projects have been high-profile, often under intense public and media scrutiny, with some seemingly destined to fail—but PY consistently proved otherwise.
Currently, PY is the President of the French Ice Hockey Federation and a member of the French Olympic Committee. His most recent achievement was playing a pivotal role in securing the Winter Olympics for France in 2030, a monumental task that was completed in record time and hailed by the international sports media as a “sports miracle.”
Before his corporate career, PY was a professional ice hockey player, representing France in multiple European and World Championships and earning a spot to compete in the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary.
His promising career, however, was tragically cut short due to a severe accident, which left him confined to a wheelchair for 18 months. Despite the devastating setback, this marked the beginning of his remarkable transition from sports to the corporate world.
Victor Sosanya is an award-winning educational speaker, post-graduate, and entrepreneur, who has spoken to thousands of people across the world sharing his story of how he graduated from East London to Credit Suisse, and then to Cambridge Judge Business School.
He was awarded the 9th Top Future Leader celebrating outstanding African and African Caribbean students in the UK, and the Global Undergraduate Winner 2022 in the Economics category for his published research paper – an award he judged the following year.
He is now an in-demand education speaker.
Thomas Duncan Bell is a highly respected and inspiring mental health expert who has made a significant impact on the lives of many individuals.
Despite facing challenges such as living on the bipolar spectrum, dyslexia, dyspraxia, PTSD, and ADHD, Thomas has managed to turn his own life around and dedicate himself to helping others in need.
Warren Knight is an award-winning keynote speaker, a digital disruptor, a top 100 Global Influencer, and top 100 Tech Influencer. He is internationally recognised as a speaker, trainer, and coach on Digital Leadership and Digital Transformation.
With 15 years digital experience, Warren Knight is an award-winning technology entrepreneur, certified Agile leader, and author of Think #Digital First (2015). He has dedicated his career to helping leaders understand how technology can drive a business’ success, how it allows them to build a more efficient and sustainable organisation and digital footprint, and how to ensure a brand is fit for the future.
His personal approach to transforming how we view disruptive technology is to empower individuals with positive choices to reach business objectives and as a result builds stronger companies and more engaged communities.
His vision is that by 2035, he will have helped 1,000,000 leaders globally to build a workplace based on culture, community, and technology for generation Alpha.
Will Greenwood is a former England rugby player and the second highest try scorer in English rugby history. He is widely regarded as one of England’s greatest ever rugby players, as well as one of the sport’s most engaging, intelligent and entertaining characters.
Will Greenwood started his working career on London’s City trading floor before debuting for Harlequins in 1994 and then progressing to Leicester in 1996.
He made his England debut in 1997 and went on to become an integral part of the England team, a position he cemented in the Six Nations and World Cup in 2003, finishing the World Cup tournament as joint top try scorer with five.
Throughout his 11 years playing professional rugby, Will was a dedicated professional combining a fantastic work ethic with a desire to continuously learn and improve his game. Despite injury setbacks and occasional moments of self-doubt and personal tragedy his focus, determination and perseverance led him to the top of the national and international game.
Many organisations underperform because their people are getting in their own way! This is often exemplified when finger-pointing and making excuses start to become the norm within your teams. Is it time to shift the mindsets of your people, in order to create a culture of resilience, high performance and inclusion within your organisation?
Winston Ben Clements is an in-demand diversity and inclusion consultant specialising in anti-racism, disability awareness and unconscious bias. He is passionate about supporting the world’s leading organisations to deliver cultural change that is truly inclusive.
Winston Ben Clements wants to create a world that is truly inclusive for all in it. His ultimate mission is to inspire 1 billion people to unleash their full potential regardless of circumstance.
Steve Ashton has worked all over the world with individuals and teams on passing on his skills, knowledge and experience to increase people’s ability to engage, inspire and motivate through authentic communication.
His unique blend of experience makes him truly stand out in his field and leads him to be an expert in Executive Presence and business storytelling
He brings together his background in Sales leadership, learning and development and as a performer with thousands of hours of live TV, Radio, Stand up, improv and theatre.
Stefaan van Hooydonk is the founder of the Global Curiosity Institute, a service that helps individuals and organisations foster a curiosity mindset. He consults businesses and leadership teams worldwide – including in Saudi Arabia, India and China – to help improve their curiosity with the aim of helping their development.
His impressive education record – a Masters in Economics and Chinese and Postgraduates in Marxist Economics, Cross-Cultural Management and an MBA in Business – means his knowledge is often in demand at large-scale industry events.
Performance coach Martin Robert Hall is an in-demand consultant to top athletes, ambitious individuals and leaders, and up-and-coming and established organisations, where he helps them to become the best they can be and to be able to perform consistently at a high level.
With his work praised by football manager Sir Alex Ferguson, he was awarded Business Coach of the Year in 2018 at the International Coaching Awards.
Offering consultancy, coaching, courses and workshops, Martin is also a popular keynote speaker, working for the likes of Zurich Insurance, Vitality Health, Hilton, Weetabix, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United.
Mark Soden is a former professional rugby player who uses his experiences to coach others on improving their performance, specialising in leadership, team and individual development.
His days playing rugby led to a deep interest in what makes teams and leaders shine, excel and develop and following his sporting career he applied this understanding in military organisations, other high-risk industries such as energy, shipping and construction, in the world of professional sport and in the corporate environment.
Since his sporting days, Mark Soden has worked with many teams and leaders, learning a lot about what motivates people and realising what inspires him. Mark now helps people have the difficult conversations, come to an uncomfortable but important place, to take the brave action needed to move forward and grow, be better and greater.
It was his dream to surround himself with a committed, caring and dynamic team who shared his love of helping others grow and be better. In 2015 he formed Cleartrack, an agency providing leadership, coaching and human factors programmes.
Mark Millar is a leading expert on global supply chains, an author, visiting lecturer and speaker who draws on over 30 years of global business experience.
Mark is a sought-after speaker delivering knowledge that empowers business professionals to think differently about tomorrow’s biggest supply chain challenges.
Focussing on crafting presentations that inform and inspire, Mark has the ability to communicate complex information backed up by diligent research and analysis . Without vested interests, Mark provides independent perspectives that organisations can trust.
Among his clients list includes DHL, L’oreal, BT, HSBC, Oracle and Citi. Known for his memorable stage presence, Mark creates the perfect combination of education and entertainment leaving a lasting impression on his audiences.
Mark Gallagher is a renowned keynote speaker on a range of business topics relating to his 30 years’ experience within Formula One motor racing.
During the course of his career, he held senior roles in Formula One, is a popular broadcaster, author, and industry analyst, who continues to work with drivers and teams at the forefront of the global sport.
Since 1998, he has spoken for hundreds of organisations, ranging from SMEs to large, global corporations.
As Founder and Director of L30 Relational Systems, Mark Finnis has over twenty years’ experience of working with national and international businesses and voluntary services.
He provides training sessions, consultancy, and is an in-demand keynote speaker, particularly on the national development of restorative practices.
Restorative practice describes a way of being, an underpinning ethos, which enables us to build and maintain healthy relationships, resolve difficulties, and repair harm when relationships breakdown.
L30 aims to help develop practical training and support for organisations – from corporate to charity to education. They provide all participants with an understanding of what restorative practice is, within a practical framework that can be implemented immediately.
“A game-changing speaker everyone will remember forever” – Pierre-Olivier Landry, Head of HR, Ceva Logistics
Mark Denton is a keynote speaker on ‘Collective Performance’ – how leaders earn belief and teams align and execute as one. He speaks at the intersection of leadership, teams, and change, where collective performance is either strengthened or fractured under pressure.
A podium-winning round-the-world skipper, Mark led 17 amateur sailors – 70% complete novices – across 32,000 miles of extreme weather, conflict, and relentless challenges. He had zero command authority, could not hire, fire, or coerce anyone. Commitment had to be earned, and what emerged was a unified, high-performing crew that defied expectations and reached the podium.
The experience forged a powerful truth: Collective performance happens when leaders earn belief, ownership is shared and execution becomes collective.
Mark Clemmit is a seasoned TV and radio presenter and event host, with 20 years experience.
He has appeared on BBC’s Match of the Day, Football Focus and Final Score, as well as Radio 5 Live, where he is one of the station’s longest-standing voices.
Mark’s areas of expertise also include property and consumer issues; presenting the BBC One How Safe Is Your House, reporting for The One Show and writing as a columnist for The Times.
Mark is also an experienced awards presenter, conference facilitator and event host, including work on a broad range of topics from diversity and equality to innovation and leadership.
Mark Beer is a solution orientated, innovative and client-centric lawyer with experience working in big law firms, in-house, in finance, in Government and in the judiciary.
His extensive, global and diverse experience allows him to find answers where others find problems, and has led Mark Beer to be twice named as one of the ‘Top 50 most influential Brits in the UAE’, as one of the 100 most influential people in Dubai and by Forbes Middle East as one of the top 50 most influential expats in the UAE.
A finance professional by trade, Marianne Abib-Pech trained with Arthur Andersen before joining General Electric where she honed her business, finance and leadership skills to become the Global CFO of Shell Aviation – a 20B$ turnover business – before turning 35.
A writer by passion, she is the recognised author of ithe Financial Times Guide to Leadership: How to lead effectively and get results.
An entrepreneur by conviction, Marianne founded her own boutique advisory firm in Merger and Acquisitions – specialized in growth-oriented cross-border transactions in Emerging Markets. She has successfully closed transactions in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
