International Women's Day
Tammy Okwara
Customer Success Manager at Microsoft and Founder of Purplebook
About
• Tammy has shattered barriers as a Nigerian woman in tech at Microsoft as a Customer Success Manager, showcasing that determination can lead to a successful pivot into the tech world, even without a formal background. • As the visionary founder of Purplebook.ng, Tammy empowers fellow Africans to seize international opportunities by simplifying complex admission processes in multiple countries. • Tammy's journey is a testament to breaking stereotypes, bridging continents, and achieving milestones with unwavering passion.
Key Topics
1. Navigating the Tech Industry as a Black Professional 2. How I got into Tech without a Tech related Degree 3. The World is your Oyster: How I changed my life in 5 years in a foreign country 4. How I leveraged being Black to build an International Career
Review
"Tammy's unique journey is a story of resilience and empowerment."
Molly Fenton
Multi-award-winning Female Activist, Women's Rights Advocate and Thriving with an Illness
About
• Molly is a nationally acclaimed activist, celebrated with awards like the Queen's Coronation Champion Award and the St David's Award for Young People. • She's your universal "big sister," addressing taboo topics and fostering empowerment at any age. • Overcoming illness and living with a benign but inoperable brain tumour, Molly's journey is about living, not just surviving. She shares her path to independence and self-accountability, inspiring others to rebuild their lives from scratch. • From menstrual cycles to women's rights, Molly offers candid discussions to foster self-assured understanding. Her advocacy empowers young minds, fostering early self-empowerment. • Her impactful activism proves anyone can be a catalyst for change and her internationally recognised campaigns highlight the power of activism and inspire action. • Molly's talks resonate with personal growth and rewriting our own narratives, encouraging positive change.
Key Talks
1. Being your big sister - covering anything and everything I wish I had a big sister to ask growing up. 2. Living with an illness - reclaiming your life and helping yourself live over just survive. 3. Life after illness - after years of my life being consumed with illness, I had to learn to rebuild what I have from scratch. Relearning independence and holding myself accountable. 4. The menstrual cycle - periods, discharge, hormones; all the stuff we must know from our very first period. 5. Girls rights - empowering girls to advocate themselves from a young age. 6. Choosing to better yourself - having a frank conversation with yourself to realise you have the power to better your life. 7. Taking accountability - you’re in the drivers seat. When the map tells you to go one way, you still have a choice. 8. Activism - anyone can be an activist. I’ve grown an internationally renowned campaign and I’m here to tell you how. 9. I am a woman - the world for me can suck, but I’m in control of my own world. How to grow when others say no. 10. Political activism - being a young female political activist in a world against women. 11. It’s up to you to change your narrative - how I went from a behaviour base kid with no GCSEs to a multi award winning activist.
Review
"Molly's talks are a beacon of empowerment and inspiration. Her ability to transform personal challenges into messages of resilience and growth is remarkable. I had the privilege of attending one of Molly's sessions, and her candid approach left a lasting impact. Molly's storytelling, combined with her remarkable journey, creates a powerful atmosphere that encourages self-reflection and positive change. Her authenticity and passion make her an exceptional speaker, and I highly recommend experiencing her talks."
Faith Holloway
Expert in Grief and Compassionate Employers Programme Lead for Hospice UK
About
• Faith Holloway is a champion for compassionate workplaces, supporting 43,000 employees across 11 organisations through life’s most difficult moments. • She has trained industry leaders like Deloitte, PwC, and Aviva, and is a sought-after keynote speaker and writer on the topics of compassion, grief and leadership. • Recently, she has spoke at Health and Wellbeing at Work, chaired an Institute of Government and Public Policy conference, and been published in BACP Workplace and People Management. • Compassionate Employers for was a finalist at the Business Charity Award in May 2023. A programme which Faith leads at a national charity for hospice and end of life care.
Key Talks
• Retaining Exceptional Employees in Adversity: Lessons from Supporting 43,000 through Death and Dying. • The Gold Standard of Compassionate Policies: Discoveries from 50+ Organisational Policies. • Compassionate Leadership in Times of Crisis • Compassion as a Competitive Advantage: Thriving in the Future of Business
Review
"I worked with Faith on the online conference, Reducing, Preventing and Managing Stress in the Workplace, hosted by the Institute of Government & Public Policy on 27 April 2023. I invited Faith to chair the event after being impressed with her expertise in the area and her experience as a speaker. She did not disappoint! From beginning to end, she was a pleasure to work with and a true professional. She was well prepared and her chairing style was clear, confident, and added good value to the day. Thanks so much for collaborating with us Faith!" - Becky Lawton at The Institute of Government and Public Policy
Seonaid McIntosh
GB Olympian, World and British Champion Rifle Shooter
About
• Seonaid McIntosh is a World and European Champion and Britain’s most successful female rifle shooter. • She has achieved remarkable success, including winning several World Cups, World and European Championships and representing Team GB at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. • Seonaid's passion for her sport is matched only by her passion for learning. Alongside her full-time sporting career Seonaid had managed to graduate with three degrees. • This commitment to excellence makes her a true inspiration to those aiming for peak performance.
Key Talks
1. The Mindset of a Champion: How to Perform at Your Best. All things Peak Performance. 2. Juggling it All: Balancing Sports, Studies and Work 3. Battling the Odds: Overcoming Chronic Illness 4. Life Lessons: Stories of Triumph and Resilience
Review
" A must listen for anyone who needs a boost of motivation and encouragement. Her insights on the importance of mental and physical fitness for peak performance are invaluable. Seonaid's ability to balance sports, studies, and work while dealing with chronic illness is remarkable."
Abigail Agyei MBE
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion, Senior Policy Advisor and TEDx Speaker
About
• Abigail Agyei is an award-winning policy and strategy advisor, diversity, equity and inclusion champion, community builder and a neurodiversity advocate currently working at the Department of Health and Social Care. • She has over nine years’ experience in working with community groups, marginalised and under-represented groups. • Abigail was named one of last year's 'Top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women by ‘Women Beyond the Box’ and is the winner of 2020 Civil Service Rising Star Award for her dedication to public and community service. • Abigail has spoken at HSBC, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Disability Inclusion in the Workplace Digital Conference at Westminster Insight and DODs Ethnic Minorities into Leadership and their Women into Leadership Conference, and D&I Leaders Neurodiversity at Work Seminar to name a few. • She has been awarded MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in 2022 New Year British Honours for Public and Community Services.
Key Talks
1. Intersectional Approach Towards Equality and Inclusion 2. Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues 3. Addressing intersectional experiences through a neurodiversity lens 4. Leading and having impact at any level 5. Let’s talk about belonging 6. Fostering staff networks in the workplace 7. Employee Networks – How to expand vision and ambition over time 8. Let’s Talk About Race
Review
"Abigail Aqyei was a superb speaker, with authentic insight and sage advice. It was a tremendous privilege to have her speak on 'Leading from the middle: having impact at any grade' at our BAME into Leadership conference. She also received bundles of excellent delegate feedback, and, was an absolute delight to work with."
Jess Meredith
Neurodiversity Speaker, Neuroinclusion Consultant and Social Entrepreneur
About
• Jess is on a mission to create inclusive environments for those with a neurological difference such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia - from schools to the workplace, and beyond. • As a proud ADHDer and parent to wonderful neurodiverse children, Jess firmly believes that to create truly inclusive societies we must all accept and embrace our neuro-diversities. • She uses her lived experience and the power of storytelling to deliver unforgettable, neurodiversity-affirming talks. • Jess is a staunch advocate for reframing the narrative around neurodiversity. • She has delivered talks and spoken on panels for Accenture, The Adecco Group, Virgin Media, Capgemini, Coulter Partners and more.
Key Talks
• Embracing neurodiversity: an introduction • Exploring fairness through a neurodiversity lens. • Dispelling myths and stereotypes of ADHD through my personal journey. • Creating expert teams, not expert individuals. • Thriving with ADHD as an expert generalist. • Unlocking and understanding sensory processing. • Breaking down barriers or unfair advantage? Delving into the difference between needs and wants. • Exploring and embracing our different perspectives through the power of optical illusions.
Review
"Jess's deep knowledge and passion for the subject were evident throughout the session, and her insights on neurodiversity were incredibly valuable for all attendees, particularly those new to the subject. Jess's authenticity and genuine interest in the topic made her an engaging and effective speaker, and her ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and accessible way was awe-inspiring."
Petra Velzeboer
Mental Health Expert, TEDx Speaker and CEO of Mental Health Consultancy PVL
About
• Petra's passion for mental health advocacy stems from her tumultuous past. Raised in a notorious cult, she overcame addiction, depression, and anxiety, emerging as a powerful speaker and psychotherapist. Her personal triumph is a testament to the resilience she now inspires in others. • Having experienced toxic work environments, Petra is on a mission to change the world of work. Through dynamic talks, she challenges conventional well-being norms, promoting positive psychology, elite performance, and resilient team building. • Petra's captivating talks have graced prestigious stages worldwide, including PwC, Channel 4, Monzo Bank, and Havas Lynx group.
Key Topics
1. Leadership / Inset Days for Staff 2. Boosting Resilience through Adversity 3. How my Life in a Cult taught me to be Successful Outside of the Rules 4. Mental Health - Prevention, Lifestyle, Recovery 5. Addiction 6. Career Mentoring 7. Entrepreneurship
Review
"We invited Petra to speak at our Mental Health Awareness event on dealing with stress and were blown away by her incredible unique story and her authenticity. She is an accomplished presenter and coach who provided a tonne of practical advice on how to look after your mental health told through unforgettable stories and analogies. We’re now getting her back in to be part of our leadership development curriculum." - TFC COO Monzo
Leanne Maskell
ADHD Coach, Author of the Reality Manifesto and ADHD: an A to Z and Activist
About
• Leanne Maskell is an ADHD Coach, Author, and Activist, having presented to the World Health Organization on improving global access to support for ADHD. • Previously working in mental health and disability law, Leanne set up ADHD Works to empower as many people as possible to learn about how to make ADHD work for them through courses, talks, and coaching. After being diagnosed with ADHD aged 25, Leanne published 3 books, including ‘ADHD: an A to Z’, as featured on Sky News. • Leanne has trained organisations including Disney, Microsoft, Yahoo and Paperchase on understanding, supporting and harnessing ADHD in the workplace.
Key Talks
• Understanding, supporting & harnessing ADHD and Neurodiversity at work. • ADHD Champions (https://www.adhdworks.info/adhd-champions) • Social Media, Mental Health, Body Image - Experiences as a Model. • Invisible disabilities in the workplace. • Law and ADHD, Reasonable Adjustments and HR in the workplace.
Review
"Leanne finds the perfect balance of professional and insightful, whilst also remaining incredibly authentic and personable in her approach. We found the event so helpful in terms of how we can be managing neurodiversity within the workplace, and many individual members have been in touch to say how much they enjoyed the event. I could not recommend Leanne more highly for an event to educate those in your business on ADHD. Thank you again Leanne!"
Charli Clement
Activist, Writer and Lived Experience Expert on Disability, Neurodiversity, and Queerness
About
• Charli Clement (she/they) is an activist, writer, speaker and Lived Experience Expert, discussing disability, neurodiversity, queerness and how these topics combine. • As a proud autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic & chronically ill person, she delivers training and talks to various sectors, including prestigious organisations like the British Medical Association, NHS, and Lancaster University • Charli has featured in leading media outlets: Metro, Independent, Digital Spy, Daily Mirror, and the Unwritten. • Alongside this, Charli works in the NHS & third sector organisations on improving psychiatric care, sensory environments and human rights for autistic people.
Key Talks
1. Untangling Autism & Chronic Illness - understanding how being autistic and chronically ill intertwines, clashes and changes my experiences across healthcare, education, employment & everyday living. 2. Understanding Autism, ADHD & Dyspraxia - exploring my experiences of being neurodivergent and how I & others can be understood & empowered. 3. Being Autistic & LGBTQ+ - exploring the ways the autistic & LGBTQ+ communities intertwine and what this means for living life as our authentic, whole selves. 4. Disability & Neurodiversity Inclusion in Education or the Workplace - discussing with staff teams about how they can better their inclusion practices. 5. Autism & Mental Health in Young People - understanding how autism, mental health & trauma interact in young people, including discussions of my own experiences of inpatient CAMHS psychiatric care. 6. Disability Pride & Disability Joy - deep diving into why being disabled is such a big part of me and what that means for my life, as well as why society needs to understand this.
Review
"Charli was an excellent facilitator and the themes of the training were really tailored and pitched perfectly to our team. Charli is really engaging and has helped us all to better our understanding and hopefully better our support for our young people" - Participant at Young Minds"
Saadiya Yusuf
Chronic Illness Advocate, Culturally Aware Storyteller and Senior Consultant at Deloitte
About
• Saadiya uses her personal experiences of Sickle Cell Anaemia to raise awareness for chronic illnesses and it's impact on daily life. • Her talks discuss overcoming challenges in the workplace, navigating relationships and advocating for health in various settings. • Saadiya's work has featured in Stylist, she has also written on navigating invisible illness at work for Black Ballad. • She has also founded The Invisible Crisis. This is an educational platform that shares the realities of navigating: the medical environment, work, friendships and life.
Key Talks
1. Advocating for your health with healthcare professionals, at work, at school, with friends, or in relationships. 2. Navigating work, friendships & self-care with a chronic illness. 3. Prioritising your mental health & wellness in the workplace. 4. Building mental wellness & resilience. 5. The connection between mental, physical & emotional health. 6. Identity as a Black British Muslim woman with a chronic illness.
Review
"Saadiya's message is one every business should consider for their employees. We need to do more to raise awareness of invisible illness in a working environment."
Tanya Marwaha
Multi-Award winning Lived Experience Mental Health, Suicide and Disability Speaker and Cultural Competency Educator
About
• Tanya is the Founder of Championing Youth Minds and pioneer for youth mental health. • Struggling with mental health challenges due to long-term disabilities, Fibromyalgia, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tanya is a passionate advocate for mental health and disability education, especially within the South Asian community. • Her unique insights focus on educating workplaces and educational institutions about cultural competency and its relationship with other intersectional identities such as mental health, suicide, disability, race and gender. • As a suicide survivor, she shares her story passionately and has been an important force in the UK’s largest suicide prevention initiative Baton of Hope UK. • Tanya's impactful journey has taken her to global platforms, including speaking engagements at the University of Michigan, TEDxUniversity of Sussex and The Economist's Innovation@Work. • Her accolades include the Diana Award 2023, a Points of Light winner awarded by the Prime Minister, a finalist at the National Diversity Awards 2022, and recognition as GenZ Founder of the Year 2021.
Key Topics
1. Understanding cultural competency and its importance - exploring the concept of cultural competency and its interactions with other identities such as: gender, race, neurodiversity, age and disability. 2. From the doctor’s office to the stage - sharing her inspirational journey to become a global pioneer for intersectionality, mental health, suicide, disability and cultural competency.
Review
"Tanya was invited as a guest speaker for the Women in Leadership Empowerment Conference at the University of Leeds. I cannot thank her enough for the lasting impact she has left on the individuals within our society. Her message was powerful and is often mentioned as one of the highlights for many students who attended the conference." - Ruth Abalo, Head of EMEA @ BLK Capital Management
Caitlin Rozario
Co-Founder of interlude and Sustainable Productivity Expert in Work and Education
About
• Caitlin Rozario is co-founder of interlude, a new way for businesses and workers to supercharge their productivity through the power of high-quality work breaks. • She is determined to drive positive change in workplace culture and ultimately make work days better. • After a freak allergic reaction at university led to her becoming temporarily blind and permanently visually impaired, Caitlin learned the value of breaks for not only mental and physical wellbeing, but also high performance. • She has appeared on a number of podcasts, has written about the importance of breaks, sustainable productivity and mental health for a number of publications including Startups Magazine and Workplace Wellbeing Professional, and was recently a key speaker at WORKTECH x London Wellbeing. • A content marketer by trade and a lifelong learner. Caitlin graduated from Cambridge and UCL and recently gained her MBA from Quantic Business School.
Key Talks
• The power of breaks for sustainable productivity and wellbeing (the science and best practice) • The sustainable productivity toolkit for very busy people (tools, systems and processes) • Resilience, mental health and breaks: what losing my vision taught me about productivity and wellbeing • How teams can work together for sustainable productivity and wellbeing • Mental and physical wellbeing at work: not a nice-to-have • Work isn't working: how can we make our workdays better for everyone? • For leaders: how can we support our teams with sustainable productivity and wellbeing while focusing on the bottom line? • For leaders: how to support the different needs within your team to maximise what you can achieve together • For leaders: how to take care of yourself when you're always thinking about others Exclusive for Schools • Revision and exam period: how to prepare for exams without burning out. Everything I wish I'd known! • Uni prep: everything you need to know about university and how to get the most out of it (learning from my experience) • Mental health and striving for excellence: how to take care of yourself while trying to do your best • How to choose your university
Review
"Caitlin is a brilliant public speaker, she instantly make the room feel relaxed and comfortable to contribute- which often doesn’t happen in a room where people don’t know each other. It’s also really engaging to watch someone who is genuinely passionate about what they’re talking about."
Joey Li
Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Social Enterprise Leiho
About
• Joey Li is the co-founder of Leiho, a remarkable social enterprise on a mission to empower vulnerable children, families, and individuals. With every purchase from Leiho, you're contributing to employment, skill building, and personal development projects that help rebuild lives. They also provide essential items like underwear, socks, toiletries, and meals to those without a home. • Joey's passion extends to inspiring young minds interested in entrepreneurship. She shares her journey and insights on how to navigate the exciting world of business. • Her talks are a goldmine for aspiring entrepreneurs, giving them a firsthand understanding of what it takes to start and run a socially conscious business. • She is a powerhouse for business talks that aim to create a positive impact. For businesses seeking to do more good and make meaningful contributions to society, Joey's wisdom and experience offer a roadmap to success with a purpose. • Joey was nominated Top 100 women in social enterprise in 2022 by Euclid Network.
Key Talks
• All things Entrepreneurship and Mental Health. • Businesses for good - How businesses that don’t give back can give back. • Imposter Syndrome - How to fight the voice inside your head. • The real definition of self care - Learning how to become friends with yourself. • Leadership - Understanding what kind of leader you are. • How to lead with purpose in your everyday life - from starting purpose driven businesses to living a more purposeful life.
Review
"Joey is an exceptional individual whose passion, creativity, and dedication are truly inspiring. Her work with Leiho is making a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable communities, and her skills as an entrepreneur add immense value to her endeavors."
Amber Shand
Award winning Software Engineer, Speaker and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant
About
• Amber Shand is an award winning Software Engineer and keynote speaker who continues to pave the way to get more women into the world of technology. • From teaching women how to code and witnessing them step into the industry in their first roles, she noticed the extent to which imposter syndrome seemed to persist for them and also herself. • This led her to create the Own Your Wins newsletter with 1,700+ subscribers helping women overcome self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and to celebrate their achievements. • She has gone on to win several awards including the Pay it Forward award from Code First Girls, the Women in Software Power List 2021 & 2022, TechWomen100, and the Coding Black Females Star of 2021 award. • She has delivered talks for companies including PwC, Salesforce, LeadDev, codebar, Girls into Coding & Coding Black Females and hosted several of Code First Girls’ MOOCs (massive online open courses) for companies including GCHQ, Barclays, Bank of America, IPO and HubSpot.
Key Talks
1. Step out of your comfort zone: Dare to be audacious 2. The art of career changing: My journey into software engineering from economics 3. Level up: Start before you're ready 4. Building resilience: From setback to bounce back 5. Setting realistic goals: How to stick to them 6. Personal branding: Attract opportunities to you
Review
"Amber is an exceptional speaker who effortlessly captivates her audience. Her charismatic and energetic presence draws you in, making each talk a memorable experience. She delivers invaluable insights with enthusiasm, making her a fantastic choice for any event. We highly recommend Amber for her ability to engage and inspire."
Krystle McGilvery
Founder of Mind Over Money, Podcaster, CBT Coach and ILM Mentor
About
• Krystle is the Founder of Mind Over Money, a behaviour change and finance consultancy. She is also a qualified CIMA Chartered Accountant and has worked with companies in the technology and creative space for over 15 years. • She is a neurodivergent, a Mental Health Advocate, CBT Coach and has a Masters in Behavioural and Economic Science and Bachelors in Financial Mathematics. • Krystle has won several awards including Great British Businesswoman Award 2022 and Top 100 Women INvolve Yahoo Future Leaders 2022. • She combines finance and psychology to improve financial decision-making, confidence, and wellbeing. • She has worked with individuals and organisations, such as Equifax, Moonpig, Boots No7 and AllBright. She has also appeared on ITV, featured in several papers such as the Telegraph, The Female Lead, on Refinery29 and BBC Radio. • Krystle is the Director of Charity Abianda - supporting young women and girls who are victims of gangs and county lines, and family maths charity Maths on Toast.
Key Talks
1. Embrace Your Unique Power: Unleashing Inner Confidence 2. Navigating Neurodivergence: Embracing Differences 3. Financial Empowerment: Building Wealth and Security 4. Black Women in Education and Work: Breaking Barriers 5. Finding Your Tribe: Creating Supportive Networks
Review
"Krystle has a fantastic energy and style - she clearly knows her stuff, is smart and builds a rapport quickly & naturally."
Jo Bradshaw
Everest Summiteer, Leadership Development Coach, Expedition Leader and DofE Instructor
About
• Jo was formerly a no saying, height hating, risk averse Business Advisor. Until she found adventure. • From corporate suits to hiking boots, Jo became the 36th British woman to summit Everest and the 3rd British woman to reach the summit of Manaslu (the world’s 8th highest mountain). • Jo speaks to corporates, schools and at events about making friends with fear, being a champion to others and yourself, donning your 'brave pants' and going for it. • She presents regularly at the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Awards at Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace, and has presented talks online and in person to Hotels.com, Mercer, the NHS Foundation Trust, Youth Adventure Trust, the British Army, North Yorkshire Police and National Rail to name but a few.
Key Talks
1. Being a Champion - To others and yourself. 2. Resilience - How it can be built in small steps, not just with big disasters. 3. Reframing Fear - How to make it work positively for you. 4. Menopause - embracing the change having tried to run away from it. 5. Empathy - It's not a soft skill. How I use it wisely to encourage others to achieve more.
Review
"Jo’s speech was enticing and inspirational. We very much enjoyed listening to her experience of mountain expeditions, especialy her challenging situation of being on Mount Everest during an earthquake.”
Olamide Majekodunmi
Founder of All Things Money, Personal Finance Expert and Speaker
About
• Meet Ola Majekodunmi, the dynamic force behind All Things Money—an online haven designed to equip young adults with essential financial tools for navigating the complex realm of adulting. • As a sought-after speaker, Ola dives into diverse personal finance realms, offering insights on budgeting, saving strategies, entering the property market, mastering credit wisely, and the holistic importance of financial wellbeing. • Her talks serve as beacons guiding audiences through the maze of financial intricacies, fostering a generation well-versed in the art of managing their resources. • Ola's impact echoes far and wide, gracing stages with over 100+ captivating talks for All Things Money, universities, and corporate titans including Accenture, NatWest, McDonald's, and Estée Lauder. • Her compelling presence extends beyond the live arena, having been showcased on esteemed platforms like BBC, GB News, and featured in distinguished publications such as The Financial Times, The Guardian, Elle Magazine, and The New York Times.
Key Topics
1. The Importance of Financial Wellbeing 2. Budgeting and Saving 3. Investing in the Stock Market 4. Getting onto the Property Ladder 5. How to use Credit Wisely and Effectively 6. How to Multiply Streams of Income 7. Any Personal Finance topics
Review
"The session was great and targeted to the perfect age range of our students. It covered a lot more than I imagined so the students really did get a lot from the session. Ola is very knowledgeable and had a great repour with the students. We look forward to having her back soon." - South Essex College