Top 15 Women Keynote Speakers
From the boardroom to the firehall, stage to sky, the next 15 keynote speakers are amongst the very best of the best keynote speakers in the world.
Speaking on topics ranging from leadership to resilience, their individual experiences and backgrounds will impress your audiences and keep them on the edge of their seats with their keen insights, stories and practical tools.
Check out our Top 15 Women Keynote Speakers:
Katty Kay is an award-winning journalist whose instinctively global perspective on American politics and global affairs comes from having lived and worked in the Middle East, South Africa, Japan, Europe, and the U.S. throughout her career. Now Washington-based, Katty has been with the BBC for nearly 30 years as a reporter and lead anchor, reporting on six U.S. presidential elections, Washington politics, financial crashes, world trouble spots, sex scandals, global affairs, and much more. She is currently U.S. special correspondent for BBC Studios –where she hosts TV documentaries from both the U.S. and Europe, presents her own podcast series, and writes a weekly column. Kattyis a regular contributor and substitute host of Morning Joe on MSNBC and also writes on the art and science of self-assurance in women and girls. She is co-author, with Claire Shipman, of four New York Times’bestselling books: Womenomics, The Confidence Code, The Confidence Code for Girls, and Living the Confidence Code. Katty is an engaging keynote speaker on a wide range of topics as well as a brilliant moderator, interviewer, and event host.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/katty-kay/
Karen Allen – Mindset Expert, TEDx Speaker & Founder, The 100% Human Community
Your mindset is your greatest asset. This belief is at the core of Karen Allen’s message, one that she is sharing with as many people as possible.
A growth mindset guru, Karen’s work as a keynote speaker, author, coach, and thought leader has helped thousands of people and organizations – including the likes of Google, Experian, and YouTube – improve their lives by implementing various practical, simple techniques that incorporate mindfulness, positive psychology, neuroplasticity, and mental strength training.
She knows her techniques work because she’s trained her own mind to overcome the unthinkable. At just 29 years old, Karen lost her husband suddenly and tragically, and she found herself struggling to move forward. That is, until she realized that it was up to her to make the conscious choice to let go of the negative thoughts and energy and turn them into positive, productive action— her life, and the life of her then two-year-old son, depended on it.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/karen-allen/
Heather McGowan – Top Futurist and Speaker on the Future of Work, Best-selling Author
Future-of-work strategist Heather E. McGowan helps leaders prepare their people and organizations for the Post Pandemic world of work. The last few years have forever changed where we work, who works, how we work and measure work, what we do for work and, most importantly, why we work. McGowan is a sense maker, a dot connector, a deep thinker, and a pattern matcher who sees things that others miss. Heather gives people the courage and insight that illuminates their path forward. She’s transforming mindsets and entire organizations around the globe with her message about how the next phase of work will focus on continuous learning, rather than simply learning once in order to work. Pulitzer Prize–winning NYT columnist Thomas Friedman frequently quotes Heather in his books and columns and describes her as “the oasis” when it comes to insights into the future of work. In 2020 Heather was recognized as one of the top 50 female futurists in the world by Forbes. Heather’s sessions help employees and leaders alike prepare for and adapt to jobs that do not yet exist.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/heather-mcgowan/
Erica Dhawan – Leading Authority on Collaboration and Innovation
Erica Dhawan is the world’s leading authority on 21st-century Collaboration and Connectional Intelligence.
She challenges audiences and organizations to innovate faster and further, together. Her newest book – Digital Body Language – decodes the new signals and cues of effective collaboration and teamwork in a digital-first human workplace.
She is the also the co-author of the bestselling book Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence, named #1 on What Corporate America is Reading. Dhawan was named by Thinkers50 as “The Oprah of Management Ideas” and featured as one of the Top 20 Management Experts around the world by GlobalGurus. She hosts the award-winning podcast ‘Masters of Leadership.’ Erica speaks on global stages ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos to TED and for companies such as Coca-Cola, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, SAP, and Cisco. Erica writes for Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. She has degrees from Harvard University, MIT Sloan, and The Wharton School.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/erica-dhawan/
Robyn Benincasa – Firefighter, CNN Hero and Motivational Adventure Racer
Robyn Benincasa – NYT best-selling author of How Winning Works: 8 Essential Leadership Lessons from the Toughest Teams on Earth and World Champion Adventure Racer – accepts full blame for inspiring people to do insane things like climb Mount Kilimanjaro, run their first triathlon, start their own adventure racing teams, or start their own businesses. This is, after all, who she is and what she does: Robyn Benincasa inspires people to do amazing things. Her unforgettable presentations have taught countless high-performance leaders all over the world about Building World Class Teams
and the followership
skills necessary for dynamic role shifting and true teamwork.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/robyn-benincasa/
Dr. Rebecca Heiss – Inspiring Keynote Speaker on Fearless Leadership & Accountability
Rebecca knows fear. As an evolutionary biologist and stress expert, Dr. Rebecca Heiss is dedicated to helping us become self-aware and overcome our instinctual limitations – the ancient, often subconscious fears that hold us back from our optimal performance and our happiest lives. Her research has been designated “transformative” by the National Science Foundation and it is waking up audiences around the world.
Rebecca’s “fearless” message inspires hope and actionable insights to train our brains to work for us, rather than against us in times of uncertainty. With surprising humor and palpable energy, no matter if Dr. Heiss is delivering virtually or on stage, she wins over her audiences with interactive, inspiring, and timely takeaways.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/dr-rebecca-heiss/
Cassandra Worthy – Change Enthusiasm Global Keynote Speaker on Change
With contagious energy that radiates throughout every room she steps into, Cassandra Worthy is the world’s truly DISRUPTIVE thought-leader on CHANGE that companies need to build organizational resilience and adaptability. During times of major shift such as merger, acquisition, organizational restructure, new systems integration, and market disruption RARELY do businesses ever face the tumultuous emotional landscape of the organization head-on. Only 10% of successful change adoption is about know-how…the other 90% is squarely centered on an organization’s motivation and willingness to embrace the change. Without addressing the emotions standing in the way of motivation, any transformation journey is stopped in its tracks. This is where Cassandra steps in. She has created and cultivated the unique strategy of Change Enthusiasm® which is arming individuals around the world with the means to harness the power of emotion, a resource in infinite supply, to embrace and accelerate change and transformation journeys. Cassandra’s message nurtures highly resilient and adaptable organizations beginning at the heart of the individual.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/cassandra-worthy/
Dr. Tasha Eurich – Organizational Psychologist and Speaker on Leadership & Teamwork
Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist, researcher, and New York Times best-selling author. She’s built a reputation as a fresh, modern leadership voice in the business world by pairing her scientific grounding in human behaviour – with a pragmatic approach to professional development.
Over her 15+ year career, she’s helped thousands of leaders, from public company CEOs to early stage entrepreneurs – to improve their self-awareness and success.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Dr. Eurich partners with her clients to deliver:
- A highly interactive experience that cements learning – and maximizes behaviour change
- A tightly customized event that addresses the specific pain points of their organization and/or industry
- Several actionable tools that participants can apply immediately
- Insight from cutting-edge science translated into bite-sized, easy to digest nuggets
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/dr-tasha-eurich/
Janet Lapp – Expert on Change and Employee Motivation
What would happen if everyone in the organization saw the positives and not the problems in change? This question inspired Dr. Janet Lapp and her team to conduct decades of research enacting these types of changes in the workplace, with amazingly positive results. Janet shares the evidence-based results derived from years of experience in both her books and stage performances. She has a professor’s ability to translate complex theory into usable answers, and a humorist’s knack for getting ideas across in an entertaining way.
Dr. Janet Lapp is a psychologist, author, and consultant for workplace transformation. She is known for her ability to create optimism, energy and an intense emotional connection. Her unique interactive approach engages the audience in a change lab,
where they first assess their leadership skills, then leave with tools to transform from where they are to where they need to be.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/dr-janet-lapp/
Combat tests you. Being a beat cop tests you. Life tests you. Three brothers and being the only girl…tests you. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/vernice-armour/
Erica Orange – Leading Futurist & Speaker on Global Trends
Erica Orange is Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of The Future Hunters, one of the world’s leading futurist consulting firms. She evaluates emerging social, technological, economic, political, demographic and environmental trends – and identifies the strategic implications of those trends for several of the most influential Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and public sector clients.
Erica’s ability to connect-the-dots, spot patterns, think critically and analytically, and translate that into actionable strategies is what has made her an invaluable asset to clients.
Erica frequently speaks to a wide range of audiences about global trends that are shaping the landscape today. She has also authored numerous articles, book chapters, and industry white papers on cutting-edge, future-focused topics. Erica is recognized in the industry as having a unique, innovative and fresh perspective.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/erica-orange/
Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to executives around the world. She is the author of New York Times best-seller Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools, and Wall Street Journal best-seller Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work.
She has conducted significant research in the field of leadership and collective intelligence and writes for Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and a variety of other business and leadership journals. A former executive at Oracle Corporation, she worked over the course of 17 years as the Vice President of Oracle University and as the global leader for Human Resource Development.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/liz-wiseman/
Colette Carlson – Author & Motivational Speaker on Human Behaviour and Communications
At the heart of every sale, every interaction between a leader and a team member, every conversation with a customer… is a connection. How to make those connections effective, and leverage them for greater success, is the thread woven into every one of Colette Carlson’s presentations.
Colette teaches audiences how to transform relationships through the power of connected conversations. Her keynote programs are so personalized, attendees often assume Colette is one of them. She has the outstanding ability to connect through engaging content and laugh-out-loud humor.
With a Master’s Degree in Human Behavior, and more than 20 years of experience helping individuals change behaviors that impact their success, Colette understands the psychology, mindset, and skills required to make positive, long-lasting change.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/colette-carlson/
Reva Goujon – Geopolitical Strategist & Speaker on International Affairs
Reva Goujon is a senior macro geopolitical strategist with 17 years of experience working with C-suites and government agencies on how to deconstruct risks, assess future scenarios, and make informed decisions. Reva is known for her ability to watch the map move and anticipate how deep, structural forces, including US-China great power competition, aging demographics, disruptive technologies, the energy transition, and the reorganization of global trade, are reshaping corporate behavior and the global order at large.
Reva is currently a senior manager for the corporate advisory team at Rhodium Group, an independent research firm globally renowned for its ability to produce cutting-edge, data-driven insights on macro trends, from the evolution of China’s economy to the tumultuous road to net-zero emissions.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/reva-goujon/
FutureThink CEO Lisa Bodell ranks among the Top 50 Speakers Worldwide and is the best-selling author of Kill the Company and Why Simple Wins. She’s a global expert on simplification and innovation, who inspires audiences to stop their old ways of working so they can do more work that truly matters.
A thought leader and serial entrepreneur, Bodell’s transformational message has inspired executives at top-ranked organizations such as Google, Novartis, Citigroup, LinkedIn, and CVS/Aetna. Her provocative yet practical approach enables leaders and their teams to eliminate the unnecessary complexity and time-sucks that hold them back and make simplicity their competitive advantage.
Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/lisa-bodell/
