*Sources checked: 22 October 2026*

Choosing a speaker for a sales or leadership event starts with what you want your people to do differently afterwards. Consider whether your audience needs to improve customer conversations, recognise their behavioural impact, navigate AI or make decisions under pressure. These eight speakers approach those challenges from different perspectives, giving organisers several starting points for their shortlist.

*Listed for comparison, rather than in ranked order.*

## 1. Anthony Stears: Making customer conversations count

Known as **The Telephone Assassin**, Anthony Stears focuses on the conversations people have with customers, prospects and colleagues. His current Conversation Architect positioning connects communication with sales, customer experience and leadership.

His speaking themes explore building trust, creating opportunities and approaching conversations people would rather avoid.

**Consider for:** Sales teams, account managers and customer-facing leaders looking to improve their everyday conversations.

[Explore Anthony Stears’ speaking](https://www.anthonystears.co.uk/professional-speaking/)

## 2. Nigel Risner: Understanding different communication styles

**Chief Zoo Keeper Nigel Risner** uses his “It’s a Zoo Around Here” framework to explore different personalities and communication preferences.

Through the animal metaphor, his speaking material examines how people communicate with colleagues and customers, and how adapting their approach can help them work together.

**Consider for:** Leadership and sales events where understanding different communication styles is a central theme.

[Explore Nigel Risner’s speaking](https://www.nigelrisner.com/speaker)

## 3. Vicky O’Farrell: Recognising the impact of your behaviour

**What’s it like to be on the receiving end of you?**

That question sits at the heart of Vicky O’Farrell’s work. Known as the **Queen of Behaviours**, Vicky explores how everyday reactions, assumptions and communication shape the experience colleagues and customers have of us.

With four decades in the business world, from sales executive to board director, she brings commercial experience alongside first-hand involvement in running a construction company.

Her experiential keynotes combine real-life stories, audience interaction and practical reflection, helping participants recognise the gap between what they intended and how their behaviour landed.

**Consider for:** Leadership conferences, sales teams and construction audiences ready to examine their own impact and approach conversations differently.

[Explore Vicky O’Farrell’s keynotes](https://queenofbehaviours.com/speaker/)

## 4. Rob Hosking: Making decisions under pressure

Former frontline police officer **Rob Hosking** draws on his experience of making consequential decisions with limited time and incomplete information.

His decision-making keynote addresses accountability, uncertainty and rebuilding confidence in judgement after a difficult outcome. His wider speaking themes include adaptability and resilience.

**Consider for:** Leaders and teams working through pressure, uncertainty or situations where hesitation carries a cost.

[Explore Rob Hosking’s decision-making keynote](https://www.robhosking.co/decision-making-under-pressure)

## 5. Julie Creffield: Keeping people at the centre of AI and innovation

**Julie Creffield** is a keynote speaker and innovation strategist whose current work explores how people think and work in the age of AI.

Her approach connects emerging technology with human creativity, business growth and change. Her published speaking offer emphasises practical relevance and accessible conversations about what AI means for people’s work.

**Consider for:** Commercial and leadership teams exploring AI, innovation and how their roles may evolve.

[Explore Julie Creffield’s speaking](https://juliecreffield.com/)

## 6. Dr Lynda Shaw: Challenging the thinking behind leadership decisions

Behavioural neuroscientist and leadership psychologist **Dr Lynda Shaw** explores the influences shaping how leaders interpret situations and make decisions.

Her work brings together neuroscience, psychology and business experience, with particular attention to assumptions, unconscious processing and incomplete information.

**Consider for:** Senior leadership audiences seeking to question familiar thinking and improve the quality of their decision-making discussions.

[Explore Dr Lynda Shaw’s work](https://drlyndashaw.com/)

## 7. Amy Rowlinson: Connecting leadership with purpose

**Amy Rowlinson** focuses on purpose, fulfilment and the connection between what people value and how they work.

Her organisational sessions explore leadership alignment, meaningful success and the relationship between intention and action. Purpose is the central thread, providing a different perspective on motivation and commercial ambition.

**Consider for:** Leaders and teams looking to reconnect their daily actions with a clearer sense of purpose.

[Explore Amy Rowlinson’s speaking and training](https://www.amyrowlinson.com/speaking-and-training)

## 8. Dr Alison Edgar MBE: Building an ownership mindset

**Dr Alison Edgar MBE** is a business and motivational speaker whose current positioning centres on helping people think and act like owners.

Drawing on a background that includes sales, her published topics cover ownership, change, resilience and the habits behind high performance. Her speaking formats include sales kick-offs and leadership events.

**Consider for:** Sales teams and managers exploring personal responsibility, commercial ownership and responding to change.

[Explore Dr Alison Edgar MBE’s speaking](https://www.alisonedgar.com/)

## Questions to ask before booking a speaker

Before choosing a name, ask:

– **What will our audience do differently afterwards?**

– Can we see footage of your delivery to a comparable audience?

– How will you adapt the session to our business and our people?

– What relevant commercial or industry experience do you bring?

– What practical ideas will participants be able to apply immediately?

– What is included in the fee and any follow-on support?

Start with the conversation your business needs to have. Then choose the speaker whose expertise and delivery fit that brief.