Focusing on key themes such as resilience, teamwork, and mental health, these speakers help audiences develop the mindset and skills necessary to overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional success. Our Personal Development speakers empower individuals to bounce back from setbacks while promoting the importance of teamwork to drive collaboration, innovation, and collective growth. Additionally, by addressing mental health, they emphasise the significance of maintaining emotional well-being, creating a balanced approach to both personal and professional development.
Our Great Business Speakers provide actionable tools and techniques that foster a positive mindset, enhance interpersonal skills, and encourage self-care. They motivate individuals to embrace change, develop a strong sense of purpose, and work together to overcome obstacles. Our Personal Development Speakers create a transformative experience through real-life, motivational examples and engaging stories, equipping audiences with the tools to build a healthier, more productive, and successful future.
Discover our Personal Development Speakers below, or contact the team at Great Business Speakers to enquire or book. +44 1753 439 289
Allyson Stewart-Allen is an expert in leadership, development, and internationalisation. Allyson helps leaders, brands, and businesses successfully expand internationally by giving them the tools to be more effective globally.
Sky News once dubbed her the “Muse of Marketing”. She has collaborated with companies, media channels, and publications worldwide, including BBC News, CNN, and The Financial Times. She has also appeared on BBC1’s The Apprentice, and has created one of LinkedIn Learning’s most popular courses on leading international growth.
She has worked with over 260 organisations across 26 countries, including Burberry, Cadbury, Chanel, HSBC, and Shell. She is also one of the original mentors for the Mayor of London’s International Business Programme.
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.
Kenton Cool stands as a beacon of high-altitude climbing and adventure, with a staggering 18 successful ascents of Mount Everest and a multitude of other peaks under his belt. His conquests include the revered ‘seven summits’ – the tallest mountains on each continent. Notably, he is the only Briton to have skied down two peaks over 8,000 meters, a feat that sets him apart in the world of high-altitude climbing.
As an elite IFMGA guide, Kenton leads daring expeditions and shares his insights on leadership and team performance with corporate clients. His dynamic and inspirational speaking style makes him a sought-after motivational speaker, capable of captivating and energising audiences.
Kenton’s passion for climbing began with his first expedition to Pakistan at 19, sparking a lifelong love for the high mountains. He thrives on guiding clients up iconic routes and to the summits of some of the world’s most challenging peaks, from the Himalayas to the Alps and beyond.
Through innovative and pioneering experiences, he offers lessons that clients can apply in both their professional and personal lives.
With over 44 successful expeditions under his belt and many more planned, Kenton Cool is an enthusiastic keynote speaker, ideal for inspiring teams at kick-off meetings, entertaining as an after-dinner speaker, motivating conference attendees, or adding excitement to awards ceremonies.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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!”
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.
Marlo Clarke is an engaging Personal Development Speaker, empowering individuals to find their purpose in the present moment while navigating the uncertainties on the path to achieving their goals.
As a former Barbados international rugby player, charity and business director in the USA and UK, and two-time TEDx Speaker, Marlo Clarke’s extraordinary journey has taken him to present to a diverse range of audiences, from Fortune 500 companies in the USA to rural schools in South Africa.
Throughout his travels across three continents, Marlo has interviewed hundreds of individuals from all walks of life, including CEOs, politicians, students, and young professionals, listening to their stories and learning about their struggles and triumphs.
Through his global journey Marlo identified the profound truth that many people pursue success without a clear personal definition of what it is to them.
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.
“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.
“The only science I know is business management. That is the science I used in order to plan my world-run and deliver it, throughout. There is no secret. If you use the right methodology, if you are consistent and committed, there is no reason you will fail.”
Marie Leautey is a record-breaking runner who, in 2022, became the fastest woman to run around the world, running an incredible 698 marathons in just 825 days. But she hasn’t finished yet. In 2025 she aims to run across Africa, leaving Asia and Antarctica the only continents left.
Just one of seven people who have completed a run round the world, her journey epitomises the values of adaptability, commitment, integrity, passion, and resilience, and it is this combined with her corporate know-how that resonates with audiences.
She is also an experienced Chief Financial Officer with over 20 years’ experience in the corporate world, an author, and inspirational keynote speaker, and conference host.
Mandy Hickson stands as a beacon of determination and excellence in aviation, having carved a path where few women had ventured before. As the second female pilot to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line with the Royal Air Force (RAF), her journey is both inspiring and instructive for audiences across the UK.
She was awarded an RAF flying scholarship aged just 17 but initially failed the computer-based tests taken by all RAF pilots. Undeterred, her self-belief and determination persuaded the RAF to take her on a test case, thereby overcoming insurmountable hurdles.
Since hanging up her flying goggles in 2019, she now shares her experiences of working within an elite team with audiences of all sizes, including her online following of over 24,000. Her keynote speeches often cover risk taking, decision making under pressure, and the critical role of the human in the system.
In today’s high-pressure business world, companies can often struggle to maintain resilience, teamwork, and peak performance; they can struggle with decision-making in times of uncertainty, while teams can break down due to bad communication and distrust.
Mandy Hickson brings unmatched expertise from one of the most critical environments imaginable—the cockpit of a fast jet. Her insights are particularly valuable to corporate audiences, where parallels between the cockpit and the boardroom offer fresh perspectives on leadership and crisis management.
Aged 13, Tim Peake had a dream of becoming a pilot. This dream became a reality when he took control of an aircraft for the first time. By the time he was 18, he had already flown numerous solo sorties and been awarded a coveted position to join the British Army Air Corps.
Tim served as an army officer in Northern Ireland before gaining his Army Flying Wings in 1994. He trained as a combat search and rescue instructor, and flew operations to enforce the peace and provide humanitarian support in the aftermath of the Bosnian War.
Maggie Alphonsi is arguably one of the most popular and well-known faces of international women’s rugby and women’s team sports in general. Before announcing her international retirement in 2014, she represented her country an impressive 74 times, scored 29 tries, won a World Cup and helped England win a record-breaking seven consecutive Six Nations crowns.
Maggie Alphonsi is also a household name in the media, commentating on live rugby matches and featuring in a range of media outlets including Stella magazine and The Telegraph newspaper, as well as Children in Need, The Wright Stuff, Good Morning Britain, and A Question of Sport.
Establishing a reputation as a successful woman in a male-dominated sport is no easy feat, and combined with racial discrimination, gave Maggie the toughest of challenges to face. When booked as a speaker, her extensive anecdotes provide inspiration in the world of elite sports, leadership, pressure management and diversity.
Tech pioneer and endurance runner, Simon Wheatcroft, refuses to let blindness hold him back. Whether he is competing in ultra-marathons, climbing mountains or going about his day to day life, he combines the use of technology and his fundamental belief and trust in his own abilities and body to overcome what many would consider insurmountable barriers and achieve his goals.
Simon’s unique blend of ferocious drive, along with his background in technology and psychology, enables him to push the boundaries of possibility and challenge the audience to explore what they can achieve.
Simon Alexander Ong is a personal development entrepreneur, coach, and public speaker.
His work has seen him appear on television channels including Sky News and the BBC, and on BBC Radio London and LBC Radio. He has also featured in Forbes, The Guardian, and Women’s Health.
Simon is also a bestselling author; his debut book Energize was published in 2022 and received positive endorsements frrom the likes of authors Simon Sinek and Dr Marshall Goldsmith.
Everything that Simon does is built around inspiring people to see their world differently, and igniting their imagination of what is truly possible so that they can lead purposeful lives, careers, and businesses.
As a personal development coach and speaker, his clients are from all walks of life but they all share one trait: they all believe that the greatest investment you can make is in yourself. He has spoken at the Peter Jones Foundation, the LSE, and The World Business and Executive Coach Summit (WBECS), and even appeared in a nationwide campaign for Barclays.
Simon Hazeldine is best-selling author, and a sales and negotiation expert.
A hard-hitting speaker who will give your people a wake-up call that they will never forget! Through his powerful speeches and seminars, Simon inspires and enables exceptional performance. His powerful, practical and proven strategies will drive and deliver improved bottom line results.
He is the bestselling author of five books that have been endorsed by a host of business leaders including multi-billionaire business legend Michael Dell. He has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Sales & Marketing Management.
