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
With over a decade of experience at the intersection of entrepreneurship, fashion, and sustainability, Zoe Bayliss Wong is a strategic force behind some of the most recognisable names in purpose-led consumer business.
Now working as a freelance CFO and COO, Zoe partners with leaders to bring high-growth expertise to businesses creating positive change for people and the planet.
As a SME advisor, board director, and strategist, Zoe speaks around two key themes: sustainable fashion and the future of retail, and women in business and driving diversity in senior leadership.
Jim Steele is the founder of Holistic Performance Lab. A disruptor, thought leader, and catalyst for transformational behavioural change, Jim’s expertise is highly sought after by global organisations.
Jim’s focus and expertise lies in the interaction between productivity and sustainability, for business leaders, executives, and next-generation teams. Through highly engaging talks and events, he helps individuals and organisations to cultivate thriving, resilient workforces.
His approach is based on achieving three things: make you and your teams better, smarter, and stronger together.
Mark Pollock is an explorer, researcher, and prominent keynote speaker. Everything he does is about inspiring leaders and their teams to build resilience, optimise performance, and collaborate with others so they can achieve more than they ever thought possible.
Not letting his blindness get in the way, Mark became an adventure athlete competing in ultra-endurance races across deserts, mountains, and the polar ice caps – in fact, he became the first blind person to race to the South Pole. He also won silver and bronze medals for rowing at the Commonwealth Games.
In 2010, a fall from a second story window nearly killed him. Breaking his back, and damaging his spinal cord to the extent that he became paralysed, Mark is now on a new expedition, this time exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide to cure paralysis in our lifetime.
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.
Ken Hughes is one of the world’s leading authorities on customer experience (CX) and modern consumer culture, renowned for helping some of the biggest global brands better connect with their customers and employees.
Recognized as The King of Customer Experience, Ken Hughes has worked with industry giants such as Starbucks, Google, Coca-Cola, Verizon Media, and the NFL, offering expert insights into consumer behavior, digital anthropology, and the future of customer engagement.
With over 20 years experience as CEO of a consumer insight agency, Ken is best described as a social science Frankenstein – his interests made up of part anthropologist, part sociologist, part psychologist and part cyber behavioralist.
As an accomplished author, TED speaker, actor and university lecturer, Ken Hughes keynote presentations are high-energy, thought-provoking, and packed with his signature Irish wit, navigating the needs of the modern consumer and predicting what is to come.
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.
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.
