Katty Kay
Washington, D.C.-based British news anchor Katty Kay brings a fresh perspective to the reporting of American politics and global affairs. Katty’s insights reflect a global mindset that is a natural offshoot of having grown up in the Middle East and worked as a journalist in Europe, Africa, and Asia before coming to Washington in 1996.
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Katty Kay's 2025 biography
Meet Katty Kay
Katty is a Washington-based award-winning journalist whose unique 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. In her over 30 years with the BBC, Katty has been a reporter, lead anchor, and is now U.S. special correspondent for BBC Studios where she creates and hosts TV documentaries from both the U.S. and Europe. In addition to her work as a journalist, Katty is well known for her books on issues affecting women at work and girls navigating growing up. She is co-author, with Claire Shipman, of six books, four of which are New York Times’ bestsellers: Womenomics, The Confidence Code, The Confidence Code for Girls, Living the Confidence Code, The Confidence Code for Girls Journal, and The Power Code. Katty is an engaging keynote speaker on a wide range of topics as well as a brilliant moderator, interviewer, and event host.
In her current role with BBC, Katty creates/hosts TV documentaries and the interview series Influential which features icons from culture, science, and business. She also presents her own podcast series and writes a weekly news column for BBC News. Her first TV documentary, Trump: The Comeback? (2022), took a close look at the fate of American democracy. Katty is also a regular contributor on MSNBC’s Morning Joe as well as serves as a guest-host for the program on occasion.
Helping women turn thoughts into action and master a more confident mindset is one of Katty’s passions. She is co-author of six books with Claire Shipman, including four New York Times bestsellers – two were #1. Their first two bestsellers focus on women, success, and work. Womenomics examined the workplace revolution and inspired women to take control, dream big and discover a different way of weaving work into their lives – and in the process create more profitable companies with happier and more productive employees. They followed up with The Confidence Code, which inspired women to understand that confidence – the lynchpin of success – is a choice.
After The Confidence Code was released, parents everywhere asked about confidence and girls. That led to three more books co-authored by Katty with Claire Shipman and JillEllyn Riley. The Confidence Code for Girls debuted at the #1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list. The empowering, entertaining guide gives girls the essential yet elusive code to becoming bold, brave, and fearless. The follow-up, The Confidence Code for Girls Journal, is based on their in-depth research and helps teens and tweens tackle any challenge. Living the Confidence Code also debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list (Children’s Middle Grade) and is a collection of 30 true stories of real girls pursuing their passions, struggling and stumbling, but along the way figuring out how to build their own special brand of confidence.
Katty and Claire’s sixth book, The Power Code, explores the nature of women’s power – in the workplace, in politics, and at home. It reveals how a new model, one designed by and for women, can empower them to become their most powerful selves and lead fuller and more satisfying lives, and help men do the same.
On the fun side, Katty had the distinction of being immortalized in pop culture in 2018 when her name was the answer to a question on the Jeopardy game show. In the same week, she was portrayed in a skit on Saturday Night Live which satirized a moment from MSNBC’s Morning Joe program.
Katty Kay settled in Washington, DC in the mid-90s where she lives with her husband, two cats, and a dog. They have four grown children.
Katty Kay's 2025 talks & topics
America From A Different Angle
Emerging from the pandemic, America is grappling with unprecedented social, cultural, workplace, economic, political, and technological change. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and its new closer ties with China – further complicate the political and economic picture for the U.S. In this speech, veteran journalist Katty Kay gives audiences the latest news from Washington – unpacking politics and policies and their impact. As someone who’s worked and lived in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and (since 1996) Washington, D.C., Katty looks at America’s challenges through a global lens. As a result, her insights are unique and refreshing. Even-handed with a light dose of British humor, Katty reminds audiences to keep the challenges in perspective.
A Global Update
The world can change in an instant. The pandemic decimated economies, increased nationalism, and raised internal tensions in America and most developed countries. Leaders and political systems were under the spotlight and authoritarian politicians used the crisis to seize control. Most recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine initiated a global response the likes of which we’ve not seen since WWII. The shift in the global power structure cannot be overestimated. What’s next? How will China factor into this? Katty Kay has reported on the drivers of global political change for over three decades. As a Brit who’s lived and worked on four continents, Katty brings her instinctively global perspective to audiences – unpacking insights to help them understand more clearly the forces at play around the world and their likely impact.
The Confidence Code
Confidence! With it, we can take on the world; without it, we don’t ask for raises, request that important meeting or take risks. In the success equation, research shows that confidence is even more critical than competence. But what is confidence? Where does it come from? Are we born with it or do we acquire it? And why do women have less of it than their talents deserve? This speech can be tailored to women or girls/parents and is based on Katty’s two bestselling books on the subject. Katty Kay inspires audiences with the latest scientific research and anecdotes from her own career and the many women and girls she interviewed. “Neurologists have isolated a ‘confidence gene,’” says Katty “and when I was tested, I learned I am not genetically predisposed to being confident.” Her experience is like that of so many women, even senior women, whose lack of confidence is what really holds them back. But confidence is also art – impacted by how we choose to live with our genes. The good news then is that being confident is a choice. Katty’s talk inspires audiences to take action – to go outside their comfort zones, to try new hard things, to take risks, to be prepared to fail and to discover the secret to success.
Womenomics
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, then-IMF Chief Christine Lagarde called the advancement of women the greatest economic opportunity of our time. She was recognizing what Katty Kay calls Womenomics, the extraordinary value of women in the workforce. Global studies show that companies who employ more senior women make more money. But too many women in their mid-thirties hit the brick wall of kids vs. career and decide to leave the workforce. The pandemic exacerbated the situation. Business can’t afford to keep losing them. Katty marshals evidence from employers large and small to show how it’s possible to help women meet the demands of family and career and keep these valuable contributors in the workforce. What starts as talent retention initiative becomes a profit bonus any company would be happy to have. Katty’s talk inspires women and provides a practical guide to employers.
Moderator, Discussion Leader and Interviewer
As a journalist, Katty Kay regularly interviews scores of political dignitaries, business leaders, and cultural icons for her news broadcasts. She brings that talent to corporate, association, and organization events where she’s interviewed noted figures from a wide variety of backgrounds including Condoleezza Rice, Anna Wintour, Dan Levy, Michael Lewis, Cynt Marshall, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carlo Ancelotti, Anoush Ansari and scores more. The skill, grace and humor Katty brings to in-person and virtual events as a panel moderator, discussion leader, and interviewer will get the most out of her guest/panelists and create a memorable experience for the audience.
Non-partisan Washington Political Update
Global Political Update
Role of the Media
Women and Confidence
Workplace Advice for Women
Raising Confident Girls
Women and Leadership