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
International motivational speaker Penny Mallory is an expert in psychological performance and works within, and alongside, world-class teams to overcome obstacles and improve their performances.
Her experience ranges from world championship rally drivers to young offenders, and focusses on improving their mental performance, orchestrating change and building outstanding individuals and teams.
She works with organisations, teams (including Formula 1) and individuals on mental performance and also hosts development programmes and workshops. Penny was also the first woman in the world to compete in a world rally car – the Formula 1 of rallying.
Penny is an inspirational motivational speaker thanks to her life and career experiences and her ability to make the impossible seem possible.
Paul McGee is one of the UK’s leading speakers in self-help, particularly in the subjects of change, workplace relationships, customer service, leadership, wellbeing, resilience, communication and motivation. He educates companies on how to survive and thrive in challenging times, how to work under pressure and how to inspire others in the workplace.
His daringly titled book SUMO (Shut Up, Move On) became an instant bestseller, and his book on self-confidence reached number one in the WH Smith business book charts, where it remained for a further 24 weeks. The radio host Chris Evans has described Paul’s books as “a gift to the world”.
He has appeared on BBC Breakfast television, and Question Time alongside David Dimbleby, and is a regular contributor on radio shows for the BBC and Radio 5live.
Building on his psychology background, Paul’s aim is to deliver practical, relevant messages that can make an immediate and long-lasting impact on people’s professional and personal lives. He brings a sense of fun to his sessions, seeking to deliver a memorable and humorous experience that equips people with insights and ideas to increase their personal effectiveness and impact.
Nicola Cook specialises in helping business leaders create accelerated growth and scalability in their sales function.
Nicola is constantly invited to speak at international conferences and her firm, Company Shortcuts was a finalist in two categories at the prestigious BESMA (British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards) in 2016, making the finals in the ‘Best sales trainer in the UK’ category, and ‘Best Training centre’.
Nicola herself is a past winner at the North East Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2012, is a Fellow of the ISM (Institute of Sales Managers) and most recently has been added to the Smith & Williamson Power 100, which celebrates the top 100 individuals who help shape policy, champion, mentor, support and promote entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in the UK.
Nick Saunders is a motivational keynote speaker and training consultant with a 25 year track record of experience. He’s been lucky enough to have a career doing what he loves – helping many, many people enjoy what they do a little more by giving them the tools to make their working lives (and home lives) more productive and gratifying.
This includes helping improve relationships in all sorts of organisations, in all sorts of industries, in all sorts of countries – including the corporate/business sector, many charities and not-for profit organisations and in education (from numerous primary schools to Oxford University).
Nevil Tynemouth is a successful author, international speaker, and executive coach.
The founder of New Results, the professional development company focussed on supporting you and your teams’ development journey. He has a 30 year career with global brands and professionals, helping them all achieve their own “new results”. In his corporate career, Nevil was involved in launching two of the UK’s most familiar brands in BlackBerry and Dyson. His blend of real world examples and well researched tools help professionals achieve their goals.
Nevil is also the author of Sales Success on LinkedIn, and is recognised as an excellent speaker and facilitator, bringing new ideas, methods and approaches to life for those he works with. Inspiring business owners, directors and their teams with the real world practical tools while getting individuals and businesses fired up, focussed and understanding the behavioural shifts to achieve success.
He helps you identify and overcome the things that you are avoiding. You know, those little things that hold you back from achieving your true potential.
Nathalie Nahai’s expertise in human behaviour, web design, and the arts provides a distinctive perspective for analysing the intricate contemporary challenges.
Her highly successful publication, Webs Of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion, has become the authoritative guide for both corporate leaders and educational institutions. Her latest work, Business Unusual: Values, Uncertainty, and the Psychology of Brand Resilience, has been hailed as a fundamental text in the field of business.
Serving as a behavioural science advisor and the host of The Hive Podcast, Nathalie assists notable clients such as Google, Accenture, Unilever, and Harvard Business Review in conscientiously employing behavioral science principles to amplify their business strategies.
Natasha Saunders is a testament to the strength and mental power inside all of us; overcoming eight years of domestic abuse, she has gone on to change laws, raise millions in funds and train various police forces and government departments on their awareness, response and wellbeing throughout the workforce.
Alongside extensive media and live tv work, Natasha delivers motivational and keynote speeches for various sectors.
Natasha also has an innovative and engaging training session to educate, support and develop both executives and staff in their approach to business and life challenges. In a progressive business landscape, Natasha can be the element to raise mental well-being and thus, productivity and motivation levels.
Michael McGrath made history in 2004 by becoming the first disabled person to lead expeditions to both the north and south poles – what makes this achievement all the more remarkable is that in 1984, aged just 18yrs, Michael was diagnosed with the muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy (MD).
The journey gave rise to a new life plan, inspiring Michael to embark on a career as an internationally recognised motivational business speaker. He has built an enviable list of clients, providing carefully tailored speeches for organisations including HMRC, PwC, Shell, Hilton Hotels and the NHS.
Leadership, courage, and trust combined with resolute self-belief, confidence, teamwork and a singularly focused obsession towards achieving desired outcomes were critical success factors – Michael McGrath draws on these experiences, giving wider business and life lessons.
Michael was made an MBE in the King’s first Birthday Honours List in 2023.
Matthew Syed is one of the world’s most influential thinkers in the field of high performance and cultural change. He is an author and highly acclaimed speaker in the field of high performance.
He has written six best-selling books on the subject of mindset and high performance – Bounce, Black Box Thinking, Rebel Ideas, The Greatest, and his celebrated children’s books, You Are Awesome and The You Are Awesome Journal – and has worked with many leading organisations to build a mindset of continuous improvement.
He is also a multi-award-winning journalist for The Times and a regular contributor to television and radio.
Matt Sims is a presenter, host, speaker, coach, consultant, and transformation leader, with a proven track record of engaging and inspiring audiences. His immense passion for continuous improvement, and his diverse skill set make him the ideal choice to elevate your event.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Matt Sims has worked with some of the world’s largest organisations including Amazon and The Royal mail to educate and inspire their employees.
Liz Johnson is one of the UK’s most well-known Paralympic swimmers, winning an impressive 13 medals at various events over her career.
Since retiring in 2016, Liz has become a popular contributor to sporting broadcasting on Channel 4 and the BBC and a familiar face on entertainment shows, including Celebrity Masterchef (2016) and The Last Leg (2021).
She is the Managing Director and Client Ambassador of The Ability People, a specialist employment company which aims to encourage employment for those with disabilities.
She is also a popular motivational and sports speaker, offering an insight into her competitive past, her broadcasting experience and her disability, aiming to inspire the next generation of sporting stars.
Matt Lindley was an RAF Pilot, specialising in flying VIPs such as The Queen, members of the Royal Family and Government Ministers, as well as flying missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Sierra Leone. He is now a commercial long haul pilot.
Matt was one of the first ever gay pilots in the Royal Air Force, and is now a very influential military figure. Matt had dreamt of being a RAF pilot ever since he was a child, and he wasn’t going to let something like LGBTQ+ prejudice stand against him. His brave journey has paved the way for change in the Armed Forces and to ensure all sexualities are represented.
Matt now runs workshops and keynotes based on lessons he has learnt whilst flying, aimed at reducing human error in the workplace. He uses fascinating case studies of aircraft accident, applies basic psychology and provides lots of ‘take homes’ for any audience.
Lisa Baskott is the award-winning founder and CEO of 2nd Line of Defence, a private security recruitment agency that focuses on filling roles with a new, diverse and inclusive workforce. The business was an Enterprise Vision Awards winner in 2023 in the New Business category.
As part of her commitment to serving the community, Lisa Baskott has been a Magistrate for 11 years, sitting as a Presiding Justice in both the Adult and Youth Courts in Sussex. In 2021, Lisa was one of seven newly-appointed regional Inclusion and Diversity Magistrates (IDM).
Lisa became a qualified Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed door supervisor in 2021. She is celebrated for her commitment to advancing diversity and inclusivity within the private security industry and is especially focused on getting more women into the frontline security sector.
She has written numerous articles on the subject, has appeared on national television and radio, as well as being interviewed on many podcasts.
Jeff Dewing is not your typical speaker. He’s an International Energiser, Founder and CEO of Cloud and author of the bestselling business book Doing the Opposite, where he underpins his philosophy that the best solution is often not the obvious one. By doing the opposite of the expected, you can generate astounding results.
His journey to success is a testament to this belief. Jeff’s first business went bankrupt, leaving only £7.60 in his bank account, while also relying on benefits.
Jeff refused to give up. Instead, he turned his life around, learnt to code and started Cloud from his garden shed. He built it from the ground up to a £70M turnover without a penny of investment.
Jeff has since worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Tui, Pizza Express, Chiltern Railways and The Rank Group.
In a landscape where businesses seek a catalyst for change, Jeff uses his decades of lived leadership experience to shake things up, reignite passion and challenge leaders to rethink their ways of working. Jeff does things differently.
For instance, he gives his team two paid hours per week for reflection – a simple yet powerful practice that has improved employee wellbeing and doubled Cloud’s engagement levels compared to industry standards.
Jasmine Birtles is best known as a financial expert, TV presenter, author, journalist, business commentator, and humourist, often combining all her experience into one job.
Her mission is to demystify money and give practical advice to help people get out of debt and manage their finances by spending less, making more, and investing for a secure future.
She has money-saving and money-making ideas, as well as wise spending habits. With a background in stand-up comedy and comedy writing, she’s a financial expert with a twist. She is able to combine her knowledge of business and personal finance with her comedy skills, making a worrying subject palatable and easy to understand.
Best known for his stint on Dragons’ Den (2007-12), James Caan CBE is a successful entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and author.
He is the founder of headhunting company Alexander Mann, management advisory company Hamilton Bradshaw, and investment company Recruitment Entrepreneur. In 2009, James worked with the UK Government to create the iAwards to support innovation in the UK. Three years later, he was appointed the Chairman of the UK Government start-up loans scheme.
James now utilises his years of experience by being an in-demand keynote speaker, event host, and conference panellist. He has worked for companies including Google and Samsung, and appeared at events such as The Business Show, and the MADE Festival. A veteran of entrepreneurship, James inspires his audiences with anecdotes and motivational tips.
James was appointed a CBE in 2015 for his services to entrepreneurship and charity.
Chief Happiness Officer Henry Stewart is the founder of Happy Ltd., a corporation focused on creating happy and productive workplaces
Initially founded in his back room over three decades ago, it has now gained a reputation for enjoyable IT training and has won recognition for its innovative approach to management. Happy was named one of the top 2 workplaces in the UK in 2022, in the SME section, and one of the top 15 in Europe.
Henry Stewart was listed in the Guru Radar of the Thinkers 50 list of the most influential business thinkers in the world. “He is one of the thinkers who we believe will shape the future of business”, explained list compiler Stuart Crainer.
It all comes down to one single moment. After only two weeks working in professional New Zealand rugby, Henry Cheetham felt a deeper sense of belonging to the team and community than anywhere he had worked or lived over the past 24 years.
Was this one of the ‘secrets’ underpinning the mythical New Zealand All Blacks, he thought.
Needless to say, this kick started his journey to uncover the universal principles underpinning the world’s best teams. Since then, he has led human performance departments in some of the most successful teams and cultures in the world.
International Leadership Expert, author of Leadership Laid Bare! and founder of the award-winning Successfactory™ Graham Wilson is a leading performance facilitator and inspirational developer of leaders.
His key purpose is to awaken possibility in leaders to deliver extraordinary results.
He is skilled in teaching New World Leadership, Senior Team Development, Strategy, Business Modelling, Organisational Development, Salesforce Transformation, Developing High-Performance Teams, Innovation and revitalising organisations suffering from Change Fatigue!
Graham works internationally with organisations and their Senior Teams to align strategy and action, specialising in the people aspects of change.
Since his early days in the Army, and then working for Dupont, Graham Wilson has consulted, trained and coached top-level business people in the public and private sector in the UK, US, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
Graham Wilson has been described by clients as an ‘igniter of human potential’ – ‘a true leadership wizard’ – ‘an inspirational storyteller’ and ‘an inspirational provider of practical insights that make a difference – immediately’.
Global transformation director Gina Buckney is a two-time TEDx global speaker, former head of UK customer services for BT, author, and keynote speaker.
Qualified in a range of subjects from neuroscience to emotional intelligence to business management, Gina is the founder of YOUR PEOPLE POWER, a company built to revolutionise industries and redefine work cultures through scientifically backed education.
With over two decades worth of experience, Gina is a passionate female leader on organisational change and cultural transformation. She is also a meditation and mindfulness champion, a published author, and in-demand corporate speaker.
Current most requested speaking topics are: The Power To TAP (Transform At Pace), Power Skills For A Players, Building Winning Teams With D&I, Emotionally Intelligent Leaders, Beating Burnout.
“Enjoy life, learn forever and make a difference.”
Starting his career as a Chef de Rang at the three-star Michelin restaurant La Tante Claire; Fred Sirieix then went on to develop his skills in many of London’s top restaurants including Le Gavroche, Sartoria and Brasserie Roux. He was also the General Manager at the Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin at Windows on Park Lane for 14 years.
Fred Sirieix is a popular face on our television screens, appearing in Michel Roux’s Service (2011), Remarkable Places to Eat (2019-2021), Snackmasters (2019-2021) and The Apprentice in 2012. He is best recognised for being the charismatic host and maître d’ on the BAFTA Award winning Channel 4 show First Dates (2015-). His TV career continued to flourish with him as the host of the BBC show Million Pound Menu (2018-2019), a Dragons’ Den style programme which saw restaurant entrepreneurs go head-to-head to secure a life-changing investment for their business.
He also makes a good triple act alongside chefs Gordon Ramsey and Gino D’Acampo. In 2017 they got together to present Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Great Christmas Roast where they had to deliver a banquet for deserving members of the public and emergency services, such as those who risked their lives in the aftermath of terror attacks and the Grenfell disaster. The three chefs continued with Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Ultimate Roadtrip (2018) where they visited Italy, France and Scotland, American Roadtrip (2020) and Go Greek! (2021) as well as a number of special episodes where they visited the likes of Morocco and Finland.
“It’s not just about perfection, it’s about cultivating charisma, gravitas, and energy that transmits”.
With over 20+ years of coaching experience, Evelyne Brink’s background as a performer and producer of her own shows, record deals, author, coaching, corporate training expertise, and keynote speaker, make her a popular choice to help support senior leaders to develop their personality in the spotlight.
Evelyne Brink is the founder of Brink Coaching, was once Europe’s Number one Madonna impersonator, and is the mother to the first survivor of having no small intestine from birth.
In 2022, she presented a TEDx talk at TEDx Católica Lisbon SBE entitled ‘How to dare to be you when everyone is watching’.
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 25 years of learning and development, and AI experience with some of the UK’s best-known brands such as LV, British Gas, Specsavers, and Virgin Care.
Erica’s area of specialism is AI and future skills. Erica speaks about this in her TEDx talk, ‘Reforming Education through the Digital First Mindset’, and in her courses as a LinkedIn Learning Instructor.
Erica is passionate about driving human collaborations with tech. She shows this in her podcast AI For the Average Joe, making the complex simple, as well as in her innovative keynotes and workshops.
