The Best Business Speakers

Peter Komolafe

Looking for someone who has experienced and can relate to financial challenges first-hand? Peter Komolafe is one of Britain’s most respected and highly rated financial advisors, who returned from Nigeria to the UK at aged 18 with no more than £50 to his name.

Peter started at the bottom of a local building society and progressed his way through to work in the iconic Canary Wharf for financial powerhouses such as NatWest and Lombard. He then went onto work on the executive board of the multinational Fortune 100 company, St James Place, before setting up his own advisory platform, Conversation of Money, in 2020. Peter has become a popular media personality, offering his tips to The Express, The Times, ITV’s show Lorraine, and Channel 4’s Secret Spenders.

Having experienced homelessness and financial poverty, Peter is the perfect person to advise on economic struggles at their extremes. His progression to where he is today is the prime example to convey how money is not necessary for success. 

Dame Inga Beale

Demonstrating the power of females in senior roles, and as an iconic figure in the world of business and banking, Dame Inga Beale is one of the best speakers for promoting both equality and success. Despite experiencing sexual discrimination in the workplace, Inga has achieved greatly in her field and is a role model to all striving to progress. 

As the first-ever bisexual and female CEO of Lloyd’s of London, Inga ended a 328-year male reign in the role. This resulted in the kickstarting of modernisation and cultural changes in the industry. Inga has received widespread recognition for her impact on business, for example being named number one in the OUTstanding & FT Leading LGBT executive power list.

Inga is an inspiration to both females and the LGBT community in business. She has proved what driven and motivated women can achieve and changed the traditional gender norms which previously resulted in inequality in the workplace. Inga is the ideal candidate to talk about how she overcame challenges, made a difference, and rose to the top.

Jeremy Snape

Going from being an international Cricketer to a sports psychologist and business founder, Jeremy Snape has a wealth of experience in helping corporate businesses tackle obstacles. Jeremy uses his sporting experience to instil a winning mindset and encourage growth in a variety of fields.

A reliable all-rounder on the pitch, Jeremy was always fascinated by the psychological side of sport. He launched ‘Sporting Edge’ in 2005 which has since spearheaded success in various high-profile brands, including BMW, the MOD, Sky Sports, the NHS, and KPMG. He has also worked with Eddie Jones at England Rugby; for Crystal Palace as they reached the FA Cup final in 2016; and as the performance coach of South Africa’s national Cricket team.

With his skills transferable throughout multiple sports and business fields, Jeremy can adapt his knowledge to advise on individual bases. Launching the podcast Inside The Mind of Champions, Jeremy showcases this by interviewing various personalities.

Jo Fairley

From becoming the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor to launching a brand that’s now worth more than £100M, Jo Fairley is one of the most inspirational entrepreneurs and speakers on the circuit. Leaving school-aged sixteen with just a handful of O levels to her name, Jo is excellent for showing how the odds can be defied, and success achieved. 

Jo’s greatest success was the launch of her organic chocolate brand Green & Black’s Chocolate, which despite happening in the heart of a recession, was hugely successful. Her creativity and innovation excelled, and she is fantastic in advising on what it takes for a business to succeed during a crisis. Jo is also an established author and has written columns and opinion pieces for The Daily Mail’s YOU magazine and The Daily Telegraph. 

If you’re seeking a speaker who can inspire females, advise on success in a crisis, and prove expectations from a young age can be wrong, Jo Fairly is the speaker for you. 

Piers Linney

As an entrepreneur, investor, and TV personality, Piers Linney offers invaluable insights into boosting the productivity and efficiency of businesses. He has experienced both success and failure and specialises in advising innovators and enterprises of any size.

Piers is a former non-executive director of the British Business Bank and has invested in both Dragon’s Den and Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire. He has worked for various high-profile companies, including Credit Suisse, and as a trustee of Nesta.  He also represented and supported SMEs on a Cabinet Office committee, and at Tech UK. In 2021, Piers founded Moblox which is the tech and tools platform for owner-led businesses.

Having a professional background in law, investment banking and fund management, Piers is well-rehearsed in advising businesses in various fields, as well as sizes. If you’re looking for someone who can adapt their knowledge and experiences to a company in a unique manner, Piers is an ideal selection.  

Brad Burton

Renowned for helping companies achieve their goals, Brad Burton is one of the UK’s most motivational business speakers. Founder of the UK’s largest national business network and author of some of Amazon’s most highly-rated business books, Brad’s knowledge is second-to-none.

Brad helps corporate organisations thrive, and he has spoken to global brands including JCB, Costa, Bentley, and the NHS. His breadth of experience allows for each of his speaking engagements to be bespoke, as he realises no two companies are the same. From offering ten-week training programmes helping professionals develop skills, to his inspirational anecdotes, Brad drives success in the majority.

If you’re looking for someone who can advise and share their thoughts and expertise on business during the current times, Brad is an exceptional choice. His charismatic and energetic style is sure to boost any individual.

Dani Grieveson

A specialist in helping some of the biggest businesses thrive, Dani Grieveson went from working behind the scenes on the BBC’s Top Gear to founding business consultancy, ‘Lift This Life’. She regularly visits companies to lift productivity, performance, and culture, and develop teams and leaders.

Dani has worked with some of the most recognisable global brands including Coca-Cola, Rolls-Royce, and the Olympics. Her work has led her to a variety of achievements, for example as a finalist in the Innovation at the Midland’s Business Awards in 2021; and in 2022 both as a guest speaker for Estee Lauder at their Global March Conference, and as a second TEDx speaker at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

A guest on a panel of Women in the Automotive Industry, and guest lecturer in leadership for the male-dominated Military, Dani also encourages more women into the fields of technology and speaking. As a business developer and female role model, Dani is perfect for advising on business success in the current climate. 

Deborah Meaden

Star of Dragon’s Den and one of the most successful businesswomen in the UK, Deborah Meaden is a recognisable face of success in the business world. She uses her own private experiences, as well as those televised to provide insights into the progression and development of each business.

Having provided over £3 million in investments on Dragon’s Den, Deborah has televised her knowledgeable yet personal likability publicly, as she helps others to achieve. She also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013; where she showcased how she is not just a serious businesswoman, but also has a fun and enthused character.

If you’re seeking someone who is recognisable to the masses, Deborah Meaden is an ideal candidate. Some of her experiences and knowledge have made it onto the screen, and she is able to develop these and share them further in her talks.

Our business speakers not only talk of their entrepreneurial successes, but also how they tackled and subsequently overcame challenging times. If you’re looking to motivate employees on how these climates are only ever temporary, and there is light ahead, look no further than someone who has experienced this first-hand. Many past examples show that how these situations have been handled has often led to some of the greatest business successes, and there is therefore no better time to strive forward. Whether you have a specific person in mind or are looking for suggestions, Evolve can help you find the ideal speaker to boost morale and showcase the positives of what can be achieved in challenging times for us all.