Blaire Palmer
Inspirational motivational speaker, executive coach and author.
Future of Leadership expert, Blaire Palmer, drawing on more than 20 years’ experience challenging senior leaders, presents a radical new model of leadership which enables organisations to thrive in these fast-changing, uncertain times.
Blaire Palmer's videos
What Blaire Palmer's clients say
"Blaire Palmer gave insight to the core of what it takes to be a leader today. She brought a sense of realism, humour and practicality to an energising session, leaving a deep impression on the audience."
"Blaire recently facilitated a fantastic live webinar to our network of Inclusive Companies. Following on from this, we have started to receive feedback and so wanted to share the thoughts of our attendees: ‘Thank you very much for this Webinar. Blaire Palmer was an excellent speaker who gave some really useful ideas, reassurance and helpful pointers – all delivered in a calm manner which didn’t belittle the problems yet made it all seem manageable’ … we are all in agreement that the webinar was brilliant! I personally took a lot away from it!"
"Excellent and educational webinar, `Talking About a Revolution: Lessons in Leadership in a Post-Covid World’ by the charismatic Blaire Palmer … Thank you very much. Lots to learn and take forward"
"Just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the Masterclass, thought it was amazing! Loved the different analogies, in particular the train going through the tunnel and found it really engaging. Tying everything into the Hero’s Journey gave it great structure, the star wars pictures made it light hearted and thought it was nice to reflect not only on the present but on previous times when we have gone through change."
"Blaire Palmer was everything the EAIE wanted in a leadership speaker. In only 45 minutes she was able to turn everyone’s perceptions of leadership and management on its head. Blaire was extremely relevant and was able to clearly and simply get her message across to our international audience. She is a must have for any conference! Highly recommended!"
"Blaire's presentation was inspiring, relevant, fresh and fun. There was a great sense of collaboration at our Top 100 Leaders meeting today and that was, in no small way, down to the thought-provoking messages and enthusiasm that Blaire brought to the event. Just what we needed."
"Blaire offers a wealth of experience in her field, all relevant to today’s business demands, and coupled with an engaging, warm and thought- provoking delivery style, has given me and my colleagues some valuable insights and actions to take and make a positive difference!"
"Anything feels possible when Blaire is in the room"
"A very energising, fresh, relevant even provoking but still enthusiastic and positive presentation. A warm share show based on strong experience in the field. A real inspirational speaker!"
Available for
Languages:Â
- English
Blaire Palmer's 2024 biography
About Blaire Palmer
When people leave Blaire Palmer’s keynotes, they not only understand why their efforts to generate deep engagement, empowerment and innovation haven’t inspired and activated their people as intended, but they know exactly what they need to do differently.
Blaire draw on more than two decades working hand in hand with business leaders through their toughest moments. Since she left her job as a BBC Radio 4 Journalist in 2000, Blaire has been provoking and challenging leaders to come face to face with their out-dated thinking about leadership, and the myriad, unintended ways their own behaviour obstructs their people from doing what they are capable of doing.
We all want a vibrant organisation where our people are solving complex problems, stepping up and taking ownership and giving us the edge in a tough market. To get that we need to discard conventional wisdom and embrace a new kind of leadership, based on authentic human connection, trust, radical empowerment and continual iteration.
Audiences feel activated to do something different after the event, with an approach that is both radical and yet practical. Sharing her real-life, sometimes funny, always enlightening experiences working with a diverse range of high-profile organizations, She explain the urgent need re-imagine the relationship between the people and the organisation, so that they finally get access to their talent, determination, willingness to innovate and resilience. It’s the only way the organisations will thrive in a dynamic and constantly changing market.
Blaire is the author of 3 best-selling books on the subject of leadership and change and her 4th, Punks in Suits: How to Lead the Workplace Reformation, is out in 2024.
Blaire Palmer's 2024 talks & topics
Punks In Suits: How to Lead the Workplace Reformation
How on earth do we lead in this new world of work? Well, it starts by rejecting conventional wisdom about leadership…the rules of work that evolved in the 19th and 20th Century and focusing instead on the power of authentic human connection, trust and the wisdom of the people you hired.
To do that, leaders need to change the way they see themselves and the role they play in the business and empower their people to be great. In this keynote I present my practical yet powerful guide to becoming the leader your people need you to be. Lively, funny and thought-provoking, I leave audiences feeling confident to try something new.
Audiences discover:
- The differences between management and leadership…and how a leader really ought to spend their time.
- How Victorian values are unwittingly influencing their day to day behaviour and suffocating the talent of their people.
- The subtle limits they put on their willingness to trust and how that make empowerment impossible (Tip: People can only be as empowered as your willingness to give away power!).
- How minor changes in their words and behaviours can break down siloes and bring about radical collaboration.
- What true diversity looks like and the practical changes they can make to create a more equitable, inclusive and outcomes-driven culture.
Smashing Change: How to Embrace Relentless Change
The rules of change are changing. It’s not about selling people on ‘The Why’ anymore. Now they need to feel THEY are leading the change. In this keynote, I explain how to create passionate enthusiasts for change throughout your organisation.
Audiences discover:
- How changes in the wider world – social, political, cultural and technological – are changing the way we need to lead if we want real change.
- Why they don’t have a ‘communication problem’, they have a connection problem. (Tip: Change isn’t logical, it’s emotional and no amount of explaining ‘the why’ will be enough to convince people to go through the pain of change).
- What stops employees stepping up and taking ownership even though leaders mean it when they say “My door is always open”
- That there are no right answers. But the relentless pursuit of the ‘right answer is keeping the organisation stuck in the slow lane, turning bold ideas in to bland ones, and stopping people telling them about their best ideas
- How silos, endless meetings and busy-work suffocate creativity and how to make collaboration the default.
Busting the Myths of Leadership
How do you lead a business when your industry is being disrupted, when your people expect to find meaning and purpose in their work and when the customer wants either a one-click relationship with you or wants a bond so close that they will re-tweet your tweets? In this thought-provoking, funny and practical keynote, Blaire exposes 4 of the most out-dated myths of leadership, myths that are inhibiting the success of your organisation in the market and shares her latest predictions about how leadership will look as we progress through the 21st Century.
Passion Killers
In an age when Gen Y employees are looking for work that makes the planet a better place, where technology both enables and inhibits our ability to get stuff done and where your customers have a megaphone (and they’re not afraid to use it) it isn’t enough for your staff to simply turn up every day. They need to bring their hearts and minds to the challenge of making your company successful. But there are everyday behaviours in your business that are killing the passion of your people. How do you find your mojo again, so you can help them find theirs?
Known for combining warmth and charm with a no nonsense, straight talking style, she inspires audiences and leadership teams alike with her fresh ideas. Forget everything you thought leadership was about. Put all the books down! Ignore the wise words your first boss told you a million years ago. The world has changed and none of it matters now. Blaire speaks with authority and empathy, based both on her extensive business experience and her training as a coach. Her presentations are full of energy and enthusiasm.
Blaire Palmer's 2024 speaking fees
- United Kingdom
Specific fees fall within the ranges shown. These are presented as a guide only and are subject to change without notice.
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