Book Helen To Speak

Psychology. Leadership. And what happens when people are asked to grow.

Helen brings commercial experience and psychological depth to the human questions behind leadership, transition and change.

Her talks are designed for leadership teams, leadership academies and those Helen calls leaders-in waiting, women’s networks and conference audiences who want more than inspiration – they want ideas that stay with them and change the conversations that follow.

CHECK HELEN'S AVAILABILITY

Helen draws on her background in psychology, leadership coaching and advisory to help high-potential professionals, leaders and boards realign with clarity, intention and purpose. Her talks shift mindsets, spark reflection and help leaders think differently about what growth asks of them – and where they want, and need, to go next.

About Helen

Helen is a bestselling author, leadership speaker and former board-level director within some of the world’s largest communications firms.

Her work now sits at the intersection of psychology, leadership and change, combining psychological depth with more than 20 years of commercial experience.

Whether speaking to leadership teams, emerging leaders, women’s networks or conference audiences, Helen makes complex ideas accessible, asks questions that provoke thought and creates conversations that continue long after leaving the room.

Her talks explore not only what needs to change, but what change asks of the people living and leading through it. And how to move forward when choosing the disruption that comes with growth feels hard. 

Ideas Helen Explores

THE SUCCESS TRAP

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CALIBRATE CONFIDENCE

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HOLD STEADY UNDER PRESSURE

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LOW BATTERY LEADERSHIP

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Why Helen?

“Helen brings the rare combination of sharp commercial insight and deep human understanding. Her session landed powerfully with our senior leadership group—and created conversations that haven’t stopped.”

Director of People & Culture, Global Consultancy

Helen is regularly invited to speak at:

  • Leadership development academies
  • Employee engagement summits
  • Women’s leadership groups and corporate initiatives
  • Wellness and mental health in the workplace programmes
  • Positive psychology, meaning & purpose summits
  • Career design conferences for meeting planners and professional development organisers
  • Corporate away days and high-potential talent sessions

She brings a unique mix of:

→ Board-level commercial insight
 → Psychology-informed frameworks
 → Real-world leadership strategies
 → A deep understanding of growth-readiness and how to unlock it

And delivers it all with warmth, clarity and thought-provoking simplicity.

If you’re designing a programme to engage, elevate and equip your leaders in waiting – Helen will help you make it land, and last.

BOOK A CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR EVENT

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Helen offer content for internal leadership development programmes?

Yes. Helen’s content is often integrated into existing development programmes and used to launch new leadership initiatives. Her approach is always a people-first alignment with the broader goals of your business.

How do we make the most of Helen’s session?

To maximise impact, Helen recommends framing her session within a wider programme—such as a leadership series or wellbeing week—and inviting active reflection or discussion afterwards. She’s happy to provide support materials or pre/post prompts to help extend engagement and encourages co-active brainstorming together to really make your session bespoke.

Can we record Helen’s session?

Usually, yes – sessions can be recorded for internal use where this is agreed in advance. Just raise it during the booking conversation so usage can be agreed and agreed promotional activity aligned.

Does Helen guest on podcasts or contribute to media?

She does. Helen regularly joins leadership, wellbeing, and personal development podcasts, and contributes expert insights to articles, interviews, radio and panels – and loves to write articles for publication too. If you have a media opportunity in mind, just get in touch.

What topics does Helen speak about most often?

Helen is most often booked to speak on leadership elevation, confidence calibration, leading through pressure, burnout prevention, and strategic career design—all through a psychology-informed lens.

Is Helen's content evidence-based?

Yes – Helen draws on a psychological theory, leadership coaching and narrative practice alongside more than 20 years of commercial experience. Her strong intention is to make psychologically informed ideas accessible, actionable and genuinely of value in leadership and life. 

What size audiences does Helen speak to?

Helen speaks to both intimate leadership cohorts and large conference audiences—online or in person. Her talks are tailored to land with relevance, whatever the room.

Can Helen customise her talk for our audience?

Yes. Every talk is tailored. Helen works closely with organisers to understand the audience, context and goals, shaping each session so it feels highly engaging in the room.

Is Helen available for international events or virtual sessions?

Yes. Helen delivers sessions virtually and is available to travel for in-person engagements. Her in-person speaking takes place mostly in London and across Europe.

What’s the best way to start the conversation?

Check Helen’s availability and book a short conversation together. You don’t need to have the brief completely worked out – the starting point is your audience, what’s happening in your organisation and what you’d like the session to make possible. 

What makes Helen’s talks different from other leadership speakers?

Helen combines commercial credibility, with the depth and breadth of her background in psychology (from positive psychology to narrative therapy) and a leadership coaching lens – so her talks don’t just sound good, they do good. Each session is crafted to be thought-provoking, practical, and purposeful.

Does Helen run workshops as well as keynotes?

Yes – Helen often pairs keynotes with interactive workshops or smaller-group sessions to deepen the conversation and embed the learning. Helen also provides follow-up coaching support to translate specific ideas into practice. 

What an incredible leader! I had the opportunity to interview Helen as a guest on my podcast, and was blown away by her show. She provided speaking and leadership advice throughout and left an impact on my audience. Helen would be an incredibly valuable speaker to bring in for your company and I highly recommend her.
Vincent A. Lanci, Podcast Host & Author
Vincent A. Lanci, Podcast Host & Author
Helen's session was insightful, inspiring and very engaging. I left with real clarity about the areas of leadership I need to focus on next.
Director, Financial Services Firm
Director, Financial Services Firm
Helen delivered an energising and thought-provoking session, blending challenge with support in a way that truly resonated with our leaders.
Programme Lead, Leadership Academy
Programme Lead, Leadership Academy
Helen's session struck a chord with our senior women. We’re still referencing her frameworks and language weeks later.
HR Director, Global Media Company
HR Director, Global Media Company
Helen brings the rare combination of sharp commercial insight and deep human understanding. Her session landed powerfully with our senior leadership group—and created conversations that haven’t stopped.
Director of People & Culture, Global Consultancy
Director of People & Culture, Global Consultancy

Resources

Now that you’ve booked Helen, here are some resources to help your event flow smoothly.

Helen’s Headshots

Access Helen’s headshot folder and choose the pose, size, and style that works best for your event. 

DOWNLOAD HELEN'S HEADSHOTS HERE

Short, Medium and Long Bios for Promotional Use

Short Bio

Helen is a bestselling author, leadership speaker and former board-level director whose work sits at the intersection of psychology, leadership and change. She brings commercial experience and a psychology-informed perspective to the human questions behind how we lead, grow and design our what next.

Medium Bio

Helen is a bestselling author, leadership speaker and former board-level director who draws on psychology, narrative practice and more than 20 years of commercial experience. Her talks explore the human questions behind leadership, transition and change – combining psychological insight with practical thinking audiences can use. Whether speaking about confidence, pressure or pivotal transitions, Helen helps people think differently about what growth asks of them and where they want, and need, to go next.

Long Bio

Helen is a bestselling author, leadership speaker and former board-level director with more than 20 years of commercial experience and a deep foundation in psychology, leadership coaching and narrative practice.

Her work sits at the intersection of psychology, leadership and change, exploring what happens when growth, transition or disruption asks something different of us. Helen brings psychological depth and commercial understanding to complex human questions, making ideas accessible without making them simplistic.

Whether speaking to leadership teams, leadership academies, women’s networks or conference audiences, her talks provoke thought, shift perspective and create conversations that continue long after the room has emptied.

BOOK A CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR EVENT

Intro Script

Please use the below to bring Helen out on stage.

Our speaker today is bestselling author of UNSTUCK, leadership speaker and former board-level director Helen Hanison.

Drawing on more than 20 years of commercial experience, alongside her background in psychology, leadership coaching and narrative practice, Helen brings psychological depth and commercial perspective to the human questions behind leadership, transition and change.

Her work explores what happens when growth asks something different of us – how we think, how we lead and what becomes possible when we do so with purpose.

Please join me in welcoming Helen. 

Technical Requirements

To provide an engaging and smooth experience for your audience, here are the preferred technical requirements for Helen’s presentations:

Presentation Format: Helen uses PowerPoint for her presentations and will send the final file in advance. She will also bring a backup copy on a dongle.
Multimedia: Helen sometimes integrates videos and music into her presentations, so please ensure sound capability for video playback.
Microphone: For optimal audio, Helen prefers a lapel or head microphone, depending on room size and setup.
Control: A clicker is requested to advance slides.
Comfort Monitor: If available, a comfort monitor is helpful, though not essential.
Timer Display: Helen likes to keep an eye on the time; a visible clock or timer is ideal.

Thank you for helping create a professional and well-prepared environment for the best audience experience.