In the early days of the speaker bureau, clients were routinely booking the same profile of keynote speaker: male and with a background in business or politics. Those days are gone, and the rise of the female business leader is real and we are absolutely here for it.
The facts don’t lie, and we still have a long way to go:
- just 32.3% of the UK’s smaller business leaders were female entrepreneurs in 2020 (British Business Bank)
- only 8.2% of Fortune 500 companies had a female CEO in 2021 (PRNewswire)
- In 2022, Women in the UK Launched 151,603 companies (Financial Times)
However, in all three examples above the arrow is pointing sharply upwards. Fortune 500 companies had only 6.6% female CEOs in 2019, and new businesses in the UK launched by women have more than doubled on an annual basis over the last two years.
Here at JLA, of course we book sportspeople, astronauts and scientists to give our clients wonderful seeds of ideas that they can take back and apply to their businesses. The fact still remains, however, that the most directly translatable business takeaways are those that come from individuals who have been there and done it.
As women rightfully continue to assume more senior positions, it is inevitable that we will have the pleasure of enjoying their wonderful insights on stage more and more.
So, that’s the trajectory, but who can we book now? Here are some of the amazing female business leaders that we are working with already:
Alex Mahon
CEO, Channel 4
Alex is the first woman to serve as Chief Executive of a major UK broadcaster. After a career embracing TV production and technology, she leads a company that is as respected for its creativity and independent spirit as it is for its pioneering commitment to diversity and social issues. She explores how to be a values-led, authentic leader, even in tough times, how technology disrupts established models, and the myths and realities of managing and catering for Gen Z.
View Alex Mahon’s full speaker profile.
Margaret Heffernan
Business Author & Former CEO
Having run a range of digital and internet businesses in the US, Margaret has turned to analysing where leadership in organisations so often goes wrong. Ignoring potential problems, failing to encourage or develop talent, building a culture of isolation and internal competition; all are commonplace issues that could easily be addressed. As in her bestseller Wilful Blindness and her acclaimed TED speeches, Margaret simply and effectively considers what makes a great leader.
View Margaret Heffernan’s full speaker profile.
Dame Inga Beale
Former CEO, Lloyd’s of London
After working in senior global leadership roles in some of the world’s largest insurance companies, Inga took over the helm of the 330-year-old City financial institution. Taking on many of the traditions that had held the organisation back, Inga expanded their global markets, and introduced strategies including the Lloyd’s Innovation Lab, and the Dive In Festival, an industry-wide, international diversity and inclusion event. She considers the balance struck between history and modernisation when implementing change, the vital importance of inclusion in the workplace, and concepts of trust and ethics in business.
View Dame Inga Beale’s full speaker profile.
Natalie Campbell
Social Entrepreneur
The co-CEO of ethical water company Belu Water has a portfolio career ranging from setting up a company to a global social innovation consultancy and encouraging insight and innovation within The Royal Foundation, to hosting her own show on Badass Women’s Hour on TalkRadio. Natalie shares how to disrupt business practices for the better.
View Natalie Campbell’s full speaker profile.
These are just a small number of fantastic female business speakers we have available, if you are interested in booking one of them for your upcoming event or would like a few other options, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.