Female Keynote for Your Next Event

Inspire your audience with a keynote speech from one of the amazing female speakers we represent. Through Leading Authorities, you can access the biggest, brightest, and most powerful women ranging from female motivational speakers, media personalities, well-known political strategists, world leaders, CEOs, and senior executives from big name brands and well-known organizations, best-selling authors, and more.

We connect Fortune 500 companies, leading professional organizations, associations, non-profits, academic institutions, and civic groups with the most in-demand women public speakers, celebrity speakers, and top keynote speakers, and our roster of speakers represents the importance of diversity within modern society.

Let us know if you are interested in one of our speakers for your event.

Most Decorated U.S. Female Olympian, 14x Olympic Medalist, 21x World Champion Swimmer, 16x World Record Breaker

Fees
    Please Inquire
Katie Ledecky is a 14-time Olympic Medalist (seven Gold, three Silver) and 21-time World Championship Gold Medalist, the most for any female swimmer. She has broken 14 World Records and 38 American Records in her career. Katie was the most decorated female athlete at both Tokyo and Rio Games and had the most decorated single Olympics performance ever by a U.S. female athlete in Rio. Katie’s success has earned her USA Swimming’s Golden Goggles Award as Female Swimmer of the Year an unprecedented eight times. A recent graduate of Stanford University, Katie is passionate about the importance of education, especially STEM and leadership programs for girls. Katie went home with more hardware at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics - two gold medals and two silver medals, making her the most decorated female swimmer in individual events of all time. She also made history by winning gold at the first ever 1500m women’s event.

World-Renowned Futurist; Founder & CEO of the Future Today Institute and Professor, Strategic Foresight at New York University Stern School of Business

Fees
    Please Inquire
Amy Webb may not be a superhero – but she does have a powerful ability to anticipate trends and emerging technology that will disrupt tomorrow. And she can envision and help prepare for the impact they’ll have on business and society. Now she’s teaching others, including corporate leaders, innovators and governments, to do the same. Founder of the Future Today Institute, Webb is a renowned futurist and strategist. For her, it’s not simply an interest; it’s a profession and a passion. Nor is “forecasting the future” about creating fantastical scenarios. Webb doesn’t simply make speculations or predictions; her work is evidence based, drawn from mapping and modeling quantitative and qualitative data collected in the present to understand what’s coming (5-20 years from now). Named to the 2017 Thinkers50 Radar list of management thinkers most likely to shape the future – and winner of its 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award – Webb is already making an impact on today’s Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, government agencies, large nonprofits, universities and startups worldwide. Focusing on the intersection of technology, business and society, she takes a purposefully broad lens to her work. When thinking about the future, most only look at their industry and direct competitors. Webb is adamant about looking at multiple, adjacent landscapes. “You have to be able to see the top of the forest in order to see where all the trees are and how they connect,” she says.

Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google and Holistic Leadership Strategist

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
Dedicated to creating the conscious workplace for tomorrow, Virginia “Ginny” Clarke is a seasoned executive recruiter who has advised at the highest levels of corporate America for decades. A proven expert in driving diverse leadership, she is the former director of executive recruiting at Google, where she led the company’s diversity, non-tech recruiting, and leadership internal mobility teams – finding and hiring senior leaders across the company. She also built a scaled internal mobility program for Google’s senior leaders and designed much of the infrastructure that supports their executive recruiting function today. In speeches, Clarke draws on her unparalleled experience assessing thousands of executives inside corporate C-Suites and boardrooms to bring a unique, holistic five-dimensional approach to true leadership that is essential now more than ever. She delivers “no-holds-barred” discussions on the root causes that lead to a lack of diversity in organizations, and provides the integrated solutions that anyone can use to affect change.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

Fees
    Please Inquire
Amy Walter is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, where she provides analysis of the issues, trends, and events that shape the political environment. A contributor to the PBS NewsHour, she provides weekly political analysis for the popular “Politics Monday” segment. She is also a regular Sunday panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press and CNN’s Inside Politics, and appears frequently on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel. From 2017 until early 2021, Walter was the host of the weekly nationally syndicated program “Politics with Amy Walter” on The Takeaway from WNYC and PRX. She is the former political director at ABC News and known as one of the best political journalists in Washington. For more than 20 years, she has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. Her analysis has earned her numerous accolades, including the Washington Post’s Crystal Ball Award and being named one of the top 50 journalists by Washingtonian. Walter addresses the electoral process, congressional culture, and the Washington political scene.

Former Chief Economist for CNBC

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
Marci Rossell is a world-renowned economist and financial expert known for her ability to take complex economic issues, often dull in the button-down press, and make them relevant to people’s lives, families, and careers. Her animated style was honed when she served as the popular and lively Chief Economist for CNBC and Co-Host of Squawk Box, where she became a household name and a must-watch source of financial news. An expert on investing, globalization, and trade, she uses her media and courtroom experience coupled with her expertise in business and government to address the current state of our economy, including economic recovery, restructuring, and revitalization.

Innovator and CEO, Uncharted

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
Jessica O. Matthews is the Founder & CEO of Uncharted, an award-winning energy and data technology company that develops infrastructure solutions for communities, facilities, and Internet of Things. The company was founded by Jessica when she was only 22 years old. Jessica’s research and career centers around the intersection of disruptive technology, renewable energy, human behavior, and the psychology of self-actualization. A dual citizen of Nigeria & the U.S., Jessica has a degree in Psychology and Economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is listed on over 10 patents and patents pending—including her first invention of the SOCCKET, an energy generating soccer ball, at the age of 19.

Political Analyst, NYT Best-Seller, & Frmr. White House Dir. of Comm

Fees
    Please Inquire
Nicolle Wallace is host of Deadline: White House, chief political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News, a best-selling author, and the former White House director of communications under President George W. Bush. Her West Wing colleague, presidential political adviser Mark McKinnon, called her a “rare talent in politics.” Funny and charming, she shares insights on the biggest issues of the day paired with stories from her time in the White House and on the campaign trail. Wallace is a master storyteller as she offers audiences the rundown they need to stay in the know.

Renowned Business Leader, CEO of EXOS the Performance Coaching Company, Former President of Equinox, Former Global President of Gatorade, Former Marketing Director at Nike and the Virgin Group

Fees
    Please Inquire

Executive, entrepreneur, and female business speaker Sarah Robb O’Hagan is described by the media as everything from “Superwoman undercover” to the “Queen of the Jocks” to the ultimate example of where fierce business woman, mother, and fitness fanatic combine. Named among Forbes “Most Powerful Women in Sports” and recognized as one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business,” Sarah's career includes leadership roles at some of the world’s most iconic brands. She is the former CEO of Flywheel Sports, former President of Gatorade, former Director at Nike, and an internationally recognized re-inventor of brands. She is the founder of Extreme Living, a consultancy focused on bringing the best out of individuals and organizations.

First African American Army Surgeon General and Former Commanding General, US Army Medical Command

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
A trailblazer in female leadership, Lieutenant General (ret) Nadja West is the 44th Army Surgeon General and the former Commanding General of US Army Medical Command. She is the first African American woman 3-star General in the Army’s history, the first African American Army Surgeon General, and currently the highest-ranking woman to ever graduate from West Point. West shares her story of grit, perseverance, strength, and breaking boundaries, even when faced with adversity. Taking audiences on her journey to becoming the Army’s first African American woman 3-star General, she motivates them to overcome challenges with self-belief, bravery, and balance. With more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership, crisis management, and disaster response – including crafting the DOD medical response to the Ebola crisis – West speaks expertly on leadership tactics to effectively lead teams through times of uncertainty and crisis.

Leading AI Innovator & Practitioner, Founder & Chief AI Officer at AI Leadership Institute

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
With a profound passion for technology and its potential to transform business and society, Noelle Russell has dedicated her career to helping organizations uncover the possibilities artificial intelligence presents to their businesses, and guiding them through the intricacies of AI adoption. In her daily work Russell advises companies across industries on how to integrate emerging technologies — including AI, Web3, and the Cloud — into their operations and workplace strategies. She is an award-winning technologist with an entrepreneurial spirit who has led innovative tech teams at Accenture, NPR, Microsoft, IBM, AWS, and Amazon Alexa, and is among the world’s leading voices on data and AI literacy.

Moderator of CBS News’ Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan & CBS News’ Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Fees
    Please Inquire

Margaret Brennan is the moderator of CBS News' Face The Nation and the network's senior foreign affairs correspondent based in Washington, DC. Brennan has reported on politics, international affairs, foreign relations, the economy, and global markets since she joined CBS News in 2012 and was named the White House and senior foreign affairs in 2017. Prior to joining CBS News, Brennan spent a decade covering global finance, anchoring a weekday show on Bloomberg Television called "InBusiness with Margaret Brennan." As a famous female speaker, Brennan delivers a fact-based, balanced look at the news.

Retired NASA Astronaut, Rocket Scientist, Electrical Engineer, & Third African American Woman in Space

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
A NASA astronaut, Joan Higginbotham is a trailblazing electrical engineer who in December 2006, flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery to become the third African American woman to travel into space. Over the nearly 13-day mission, she joined the seven-member crew to continue construction of the International Space Station (ISS), embarking on four space walks and operating the station’s robotic arm. Sharing captivating insights from her 20-year distinguished career with NASA, Higginbotham inspires audiences with her personal journey of breaking barriers into space and beyond. Taking groups aboard the International Space Station and sharing her lessons-learned along the way, she highlights the keys to succeeding in her missions – including preparation, perseverance, and never giving up – and how these tactics can be applied to any endeavor.

Former Secret Service Special Agent and Interrogator, Co-Host of Bravo TV’s “Spy Games”

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*

For more than 12 years, Evy Poumpouras served as a Secret Service special agent in an action-packed career during which she was responsible for protecting the world’s most high-value assets. She was a member of the Presidential Protective Division for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and also protected Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush. Today, she is a widely recognized multimedia journalist, host, and producer who uses her skills in front of the camera and behind it to conduct headline-grabbing interviews and investigate the biggest stories in the media. She appears regularly on “TODAY,” NBC, MSNBC, and “Good Morning America” to share her sought-after expertise on national security, law enforcement, and crime, and is the host of Bravo TV’s competition series “Spy Games.” Having mastered the arts of communication and psychology in a wide-ranging career that has taken her from the Secret Service to the TV screen and everywhere in between, Poumpouras offers unconventional strategies for crushing any challenge and living life fearlessly.

High-Performance Expert & Sport Psychology Consultant for the Chicago Bulls

Fees
    Please Inquire
Widely respected as an innovator in unlocking high performance in teams and individuals, Dr. Wendy Borlabi possesses expert-level understanding of the mental aspects of peak performance and works alongside the world’s top athletes to help them reframe their mindsets to reach their full potential. She is the sport psychology consultant for the Chicago Bulls where her mindset-centered philosophy to mastering your field is embedded in the team’s success and prevalent at all levels of the organization and its culture. A leading sports psychologists and performance coach, Dr. Borlabi is also an independent consultant with the NBA and is the founder of performance psychology firm Borlabi Consulting, through which she advises organizations in any industry on teamwork, elevating mental toughness, and inspiring unwavering confidence in their teams. Previously, she served as senior sports psychologist for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), preparing the country’s top athletes for dominant performances at two Winter Olympics and one Summer Olympics.

Life Sciences Leader, Former EVP, Chief Medical Officer, & Chief Patient Officer at Pfizer, Inc.

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
A pioneer in medicine and leadership, Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall has been on the frontlines of healthcare for more than four decades as a clinician, researcher, and leader in the biopharmaceuticals and life sciences industries. Dr. Lewis-Hall is an incredible storyteller with a flair for well-timed humor who shares with audiences her powerful story and inspiring path to becoming a leader in the healthcare industry. Her talks motivate audience members to embrace pressure and determine their own destinations, just as she did on her path to being the first in her family to attend college, becoming a physician and, subsequently, a biopharmaceutical executive. Dr. Lewis-Hall’s message of perseverance, tenacity, equity, inclusion, and transparency is one that resonates with all audiences and diverse backgrounds.

Former Executive at Netflix, Twitter & Colgate-Palmolive, Leader of Transformation, Storyteller & Innovator

Fees
    Please Inquire
Nikkia Reveillac is a trailblazing executive insights and innovation leader, business consultant, podcast host, and speaker. She has overcome significant obstacles throughout her career to deliver exceptional results at some of the world’s most influential tech, entertainment, and consumer packaged goods companies. She has drawn upon her creative background as a professional dancer, her unique multicultural perspective as a Caribbean woman, her entrepreneurial instincts, two decades of experience building global industry-leading teams, and her distinctly humane way of framing all manner of questions to bring meaningful transformation everywhere she has been. Reveillac was instrumental in helping Netflix define its first-ever brand promise, created a safer organizational culture at Twitter during the tumultuous pandemic years and 2020 U.S. election cycle, helped develop innovative oral care solutions for consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa at Colgate, grew high-performing and emotionally intelligent teams at all of her companies, and was the first to launch an online marketplace for Trinidad Carnival costumes. Today, she advises businesses of all sizes to leverage research, data, and insights for disruptive innovation and brand building, and she mentors junior and senior talent for career growth.

World Renowned Applied Neuroscience Psychologist

Fees
  • Local: Under $10,000*
  • US East: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US West: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Europe: Under $10,000*
  • Asia: Please Inquire
Dr. Helena Boschi is a globally acclaimed psychologist who correlates principles from the scientific exploration of brain science to the business world with tips and tricks to hack our brains. She explains how our brains have been wired, leading to specific behaviours that are sometimes helpful but sometimes limiting. Dr. Boschi gives audience tools to change the way their brains drive decision making, innovation, and communication. For close to three decades, she has advised leading multinational organisations on how to define and design new initiatives — particularly in the areas of organisational behaviour, leadership, team development, and organisational change management. Her brain-based methodology is woven into the fabric of many of the world’s thriving companies.

Legendary Saturday Night Live Producer

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
A legendary presence behind one of America’s most beloved television shows, Lindsay Shookus is an Emmy award-winning producer who, for 20 years, worked as a veteran producer for “Saturday Night Live.” During her tenure, as producer and head of the talent department, Shookus was responsible for engineering the show’s success from booking celebrity hosts and musical guests and creating comfort and connections between them and the cast, to scouting rising stars to join the show’s ranks. She played a pivotal role in launching the careers of household names, including Kristin Wiig and Kate McKinnon — cementing her reputation for having a sharp eye for talent within the entertainment industry. She points to her own experiences to lead an on-stage masterclass on personal transformation, building connections, and embracing life’s obstacles on the road to overcoming them.

Social Robotics Expert & MIT Media Lab Research Specialist

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
A leading expert in robot ethics, Dr. Kate Darling is a research scientist at the MIT Media Lab, where she investigates social robotics and conducts experimental studies on human-robot interaction. Forever interested in how technology intersects with society, Kate has a background in law & economics and intellectual property, she explores the emotional connection between people and life-like machines, seeking to influence technology design and policy direction. Her writing and research anticipate difficult questions that lawmakers, engineers, and the wider public will need to address as human-robot relationships evolve in the coming decades. Dr. Darling’s work has been featured in international media, and she has authored multiple academic publications and contributed to industry publications from Vogue to Die Zeit to the BBC, and in 2017, the American Bar Association honored her legal work with the Mark T. Banner Award in Intellectual Property.

Expert in Technology-Driven Innovation & Human Evolution; Stanford University Adjunct Professor; Futurist; Neuroscientist; and Technologist

Fees
    Please Inquire
Poppy Crum works to bridge the gap between technology and insightful, effective human interaction. As a multi-dimensional advocate of empathetic technology, she builds technologies that best leverage human physiology to enhance our experiences and how we interact with the world. Poppy serves as the Chief Technology Officer at NextSense and is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, as well as its Symbolic Systems Program. She is formerly the Chief Scientist at Dolby Laboratories. She is dedicated to the development of immersive technologies that leverage human physiology and perceptual realities to enhance our experiences and interactions in the world. She is a frequent speaker on topics related to the intersection of human experience, artificial intelligence, sensory data-science, and immersive technologies.

Founder & CEO, Punchbowl News and Former Co-Author, POLITICO Playbook

Fees
    Please Inquire
Widely respected for her unparalleled insights and analysis from the forefront of American politics, Anna Palmer is a trusted voice on the latest — and most accurate — news on congressional leadership, the lobbying industry, presidential campaigns, and the politics of governing for more than 15 years. She is the co-founder and CEO of Punchbowl News, a news community focused on power, people, and politics in Washington. From 2016 to 2020, Palmer was the co-author, along with Jake Sherman, of the top-rated POLITICO Playbook franchise, where they chronicled President Donald Trump’s first term and his relationship with top Congressional leaders. Under their leadership, the platform more than doubled in revenue and tripled its readership. Anna covers the world of Congress and politics, and has successfully chronicled the business of Washington insiders for years. Her stories take readers behind the scenes of the latest breaking news in Washington from lobbyists to the White House and everything in between.
Impress With An Industry-Leading Female Motivational Speakers

What makes our female keynote speakers the best in the industry? Many things, starting with their moxie. These female keynote speakers have overcome adversity, led and represented name-draw companies as presidents, became role models, and delivered success using their knack for innovation and unwavering determination to break through glass ceilings.

With their vast experiences and exceptional talent, our famous female public speakers connect with audiences at numerous events. Some of the points our female speakers address during their engaging and thought-provoking presentations include:

  • Change management
  • Business Growth
  • Product Design
  • Future of the workforce and tech
  • Politics
  • Marketing and Media
  • Diversity, equity, and Inclusion in the workplace

At Leading Authorities speakers bureau, we’re in the business of "Wowing" audiences. With our consultative, client-focused approach, we can help you find a speaker who meets more than your budget. They will also fit your event’s goals, theme, and more. To simplify the booking process, our industry veterans tackle the logistics and event extras, including meet-and-greets, so you can focus your time and energy on ensuring that your event or meeting is a huge success. 

Whether you are looking for female business leaders, African American female speakers, or just the most sought-after female speakers on the lecture circuit, we have it.

Find the women empowerment speakers who are ideal for your audience. Browse our motivational speakers and select the perfect speaker for your in-person, hybrid, or virtual event.

You are welcome to ask our expert, friendly consultants any questions or request a customized, curated list for your event. Our team will compile a list of female leadership speaker recommendations for you to consider based on your specific occasion, topic, theme, and audience criteria — please contact our team today!

You are also welcome to get in touch with us through other channels:

If you are looking for a female speaker and our extensive list doesn't quite nail the brief, please do still reach out. We specialize in sourcing hard-to-find and in-demand keynote speakers across the globe. Our team will find the perfect fit so you can achieve the best event and impress your critical stakeholders. 

Partnering With a Leading Agency to Elevate Your Events

Leading Authorities speakers bureau has a global network of the most inspiring female speakers. Thousands of organizations turn to us as their go-to partners to source event speakers. We offer:

  1. A consultative partnership: We partner with your team to bring your event ambitions to life. Once we understand your vision and audience, we proactively deliver suggested speakers. We believe in long-term partnerships. We're always on standby when you need to host a successful event.
  2. Innovative speakers: Leading Authorities speakers bureau is the biggest and most significant lecture agency in the U.S. We offer talented women empowerment speakers ranging from emerging business innovators, Fortune 500 execs, and political candidates to pop culture stars and industry experts. Our London, Chicago, and Washington teams have over two decades of industry experience. 
  3. Multiple services: Leading Authorities comprises various divisions catering to your event needs. Leverage our LAI Video team to conceptualize campaigns and produce videos to market your event or enhance the digital experience. Hire our live event production team, LAI Live, to seamlessly manage all aspects of your event — not just the keynote speaker. Scale up or down on our services as you need to.

Book a Female Motivational Speaker for Your Next Meeting

You seek a speaker who champions gender equality, diversity, and inclusivity. Sought-after female Leading Authorities speakers share their experiences, insights, and expertise to captivate your audience and empower women in the workplace. Our speakers will help you shatter glass ceilings, navigate biases, and foster environments where all individuals thrive. Contact our team online to discuss your event's ideal speaker or book one of our female superstar speakers.

Leverage Washington, D.C.'s leading female motivational, keynote, business, leadership, or political speakers to amplify your event.