The Novi Leadership Summit & Awards is just around the corner. Are you going to be in the room?
Over the years, we’ve lined up stellar leaders whose stories fill the room with inspiration, business lessons and goosebumps.
Here are Top 10 Inspiring Keynotes from the past:
Joanna Jensen – If You Think You Can Do It, You Can Do It
Joanna Jensen is the Founder and Executive Chairman of UK’s number one baby and children’s toiletry brand, Childs Farm. In July 2020, she also launched an adult brand, Farmologie, following huge demand from women and parents. As well as being an entrepreneur, Joanna is a mother of two, Mimi and Bella. They were the inspiration behind the launch of Childs Farm and the products she created, as they both had sensitive skin, and nothing on the market worked. Listen to her speech here.
Gina Miller – Anything Is Possible, Find Your Voice
Gina Miller is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and activist who has campaigned for investment and pension reform, political transparency, social justice, and the charity sector. She successfully challenged the UK government over its authority to implement Brexit in 2016 and continues to monitor its activities. She is an ambassador for the Desmond Tutu Foundation and spoke at the third annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Summit in 2018. Listen to her speech here.
Linda Plant – From A Market Stall In Dewsbury To The London Stock Exchange
Linda is a successful entrepreneur who built her career from humble beginnings. She started selling fashion from a market stall at 16, later launching her fashion brand and becoming one of the first women to head a fashion company flotation on the London Stock Market. She is known as “The Queen of Mean” for her no-nonsense interviews on The Apprentice and has won numerous business awards. She is also a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs. Listen to her speech here.
Anna-Keeling – Dare To Lead, Make A Difference
Anna is a dynamic Chief Executive Officer and global executive with over two decades of global leadership experience across the industrial sector, including aviation, aerospace, defence, and automotive sectors. A recognised change agent and inclusive leader with gravitas, excellent interpersonal skills, and a structured, customer-focused approach to achieving business deliverables and growth. She has held full organisational P&L responsibility with annual revenues of over £500 million. Listen to her speech here.
Jo Fairley – Perseverance And Determination
Jo Fairley is a serial entrepreneur who founded the UK’s most fabulous food brand, Green & Black’s Chocolate and has since opened an award-winning organic bakery, a world-class wellbeing destination, and a fragrance networking organization. All of her ventures focus on the senses; taste, touch & smell. Listen to her speech here.
Lara Oyesanya – Resilience
Currently UK Counsel and Director, Legal at Klarna Bank AB. A law graduate, she has worked for several organisations including senior legal counsel at Barclays, BAE Systems and legal director at HBOS. She is an executive director of Plan International UK and an Aspiring Solicitors ambassador. Listen to her speech here.
Alex Depledge – Navigating Adversity In Entrepreneurship
Alex Depledge is one of the leading female lights in the UK tech scene. She is an innovative, principled and inspiring businesswoman. She co-founded the pioneering Hassle.com, which sold for £27 million in 2015.
She has started Resi, a ground-breaking online architectural service revolutionizing how Britons renovate. Alex won the Novi Awards Business Woman of the Year in 2019. Listen to her speech here.
Sahar Hashemi – Succeeding In The New World Of Business
Sahar Hashemi is a British businesswoman who co-founded Coffee Republic, the UK’s first US-style coffee bar chain. She is also the author of two bestselling books and has been recognized for her work in entrepreneurship and philanthropy. She was awarded an OBE for services to the UK economy and charity in 2012. Listen to her speech here.
Griselda Togobo – How To Go From Adversity to Success
Griselda began her career as an electrical engineer. She then veered into business, influenced by the challenges and successes her parents experienced as entrepreneurs. She trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with one of the BIG 4 professional services firms but now runs her businesses, Novi included. Griselda is a mother of two beautiful children. She is extremely passionate about positively impacting the future of women and girls in the workforce. Listen to her speech here.
Kavita Oberoi – Dreaming Big
Kavita Oberoi is a British entrepreneur and social philanthropist. She was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to entrepreneurship and start-up businesses. She founded the Oberoi Business Hub, a shared business hub in Derby that offers support services to start-up and growing businesses. She has also appeared in many TV programmes, including The Secret Millionaire, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, BBC Breakfast, Sky News, The Working Lunch, Richard & Judy, and The TV Show. She is also a panellist on the national ITV Business Club, Hotel GB, and Make Me A Millionaire Inventor. In addition, Oberoi has acquired and sold several companies during her career and has a growing commercial property portfolio. Listen to her speech here.
We’ve had them all – corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, visionaries, etc. Pick your inspiration and stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s lineup of amazing women challenging the status quo.
