Cally Beaton is a keynote speaker, comedian, author and former television executive whose work sits confidently at the intersection of business, culture and comedy. One of the UK’s most sought-after speakers, she is known for her intelligent storytelling, sharp insight and commanding stage presence. Her standout achievement is becoming a Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling author while also sustaining a high-profile performance and broadcasting career, a rare combination that gives her authority with both corporate and creative audiences.
Cally’s early career was built inside some of the world’s most influential media organisations. Raised in Dorset by two teachers, she studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths, developing a deep understanding of narrative, performance and language that would later define her speaking style. She moved quickly into television, where she led an independent production company that was acquired by ITV, an experience that placed her firmly in senior leadership at a young age. Soon after, she became the youngest and only female board member at ITV, a formative role that exposed her to power dynamics, decision-making and the realities of leadership at the highest level. Alongside her executive work, she trained as a Master Practitioner in neuro-linguistic programming, sharpening her ability to communicate with clarity and impact.
Her career achievements span three decades and multiple sectors. After leaving ITV, Cally founded Road Trip Media, an award-winning creative consultancy, before embarking on a ten-year tenure as Senior Vice President at ViacomCBS. In this role, she oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets and international strategy for global brands including MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and Paramount, playing a key role in the international success of shows such as ‘South Park’ and ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’. At 45, prompted by a conversation with Joan Rivers, she stepped onto the comedy stage for the first time and rapidly established herself as one of the most original voices in British stand-up. She won Piccadilly Comedy Club New Comedian of the Year, appeared on Live at the Apollo, and became a regular panellist on BBC Two’s QI, while also building a strong radio presence across BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live.
Cally is hired as a keynote speaker because she brings credibility, humour and relevance in equal measure. Her talks cover leadership, reinvention, confidence, gender, wellbeing and workplace culture, all grounded in lived experience rather than theory. She speaks fluently about navigating power, changing direction mid-career and finding authority in your own voice, subjects that resonate deeply with modern organisations. Audiences value her ability to combine warmth and wit with practical insight, leaving people energised and reflective. For organisations seeking a speaker who can challenge thinking, connect authentically and deliver lasting impact, Cally Beaton is a compelling and proven choice.
Social Media
Books
Namaste Motherf*ckers: A modern manifesto for keeping cool when you’re a hot mess
Cally Beaton's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Career Reinvention
- Confidence and Visibility
- Creativity and Communication
- Leadership and Power
- Wellbeing and Burnout
- Women in Business
- Workplace Culture
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"Cally was just the right person to deliver an incredible keynote speech at our all-staff development day. She inspired us, challenged us and nailed the key messages with a perfect blend of humour and meaningful perspective. Her vulnerability and openness even inspired some last-minute speech changes for our Executive team later in the day, which created really special moments for the organisation." – Nest Corporation
"Cally was superb. She managed to weave in bespoke themes and topics expertly. She was the consummate professional and interested in our business and making her event personal to us." – Macquarie Group Financial Services
"Warm, funny, articulate and what she says is perfectly pitched to her audience… she had us all in stitches, and all this at 8 o’clock in the morning!" – The PA Club
"Cally is as good in front of camera as she is on stage. As witty and funny on the first take as the 15th. She is a pro and a pleasure to work with." – AFAR Media
"Cally’s session on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was amazing, funny, topical, authentic and in tune with the needs of the event and the audience." – Barclays
"Cally blew us all away with a fantastic keynote which offered a great blend of inspiration and thought provocation, all delivered with an endearing humour!" – Willmott Dixon, Construction
"Cally is a brilliant, warm MC who knows exactly how to work a tent and tickle a festival crowd of all ages. A true professional!" – Standon Calling
"The best In-Cumbria Business Awards to date, in no small part thanks to Cally. You have set the standard for all future events!" – In-Cumbria Magazine
"A five-star presentation at Pendulum, the perfect balance between informative, funny and authentic storytelling with quality bite-sized takeaways." – Pendulum Summit
"Cally brought the house down at our ‘What’s Funny About Everyday Sexism?’ event. A superb blend of wit, anecdote and feminism. Please come back next year Cally!" – UCL Interaction Centre
"Cally is an exceptional speaker, simply excellent. And good fun to work with, on-stage and off. A comedian with a serious message. Brilliant." – Cushman & Wakefield
"When gay men and lesbians both agree that something is wonderful it has to be pretty damn special. Cally Beaton totally rocked our LGBTQ+ networking event with her refreshing take on the world, absolutely bloody hilarious, I’m still trying to breathe." – BBC Intermedia
"What a huge hit Cally was. I’ve never experienced an external keynote speaker being universally popular but she did it. Her session hit exactly the right tone and you could see in the room everyone loved it. She really was absolutely excellent." – Johnson Matthey
"Smart and inspirational, it’s hard to capture the amazing effect and the sense of fun she emits on stage. A brilliant, quick-talking, self-deprecating raconteur." – The Gloss Magazine
"Cally made the event the best we’ve ever had. She walked the perfect line for a corporate gig and made it all look easy. Thank you." – Microsoft
"Rare mix of serious business background with seriously strong comedic hosting. She is an integral part of The Finger Awards and long may she reign." – The Finger Awards
"Absolutely exceptional. An excellent mix of inspiring, funny and insightful. Cally’s was by far the standout session of the day." – Ernst & Young
"Cally was engaging, empathetic, inspiring, challenging and also just really funny. She was easily the best external speaker we have ever had." – Bauer Media Group
"The event with Cally was so greatly received. She perfectly landed the messages we spoke about and the delivery was great." – Red Bull
"The perfect match for our client’s awards evening, effortlessly funny and appropriate in equal measure. We’d love to work with you again." – Opening Doors & Venues Limited
"Cally was an absolute joy at our Peppa Pig partner event, a smart and witty blend of commercially savvy questions peppered with humour. She captivated the room." – Hasbro, Consumer Products
"Cally highlights how menopause can be a superpower and delivers a strong message on how we can carve our own path." – SheSellsToo
"Cally delivers. She kept the audience involved and amused, offering insights that brought the agenda to life through her own experience." – Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership
"Cally was a knock-out. Her incredibly quick and witty humour left us busting with laughter and wanting more." – Paramount Emerge
"Cally always delivers. She understands her audience and delivers smart, funny curation of even the most challenging events." – C21 Media
"Cally was great, such a pro and very funny. She was a pleasure to work with and did a fantastic job of hosting the event." – EMAP
"The event was a huge success and there is no doubt Cally was a big part of this. She brought lots of energy to the evening and lots of laughs." – The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
- 2025 - Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling author with Namaste Motherfckers
- 2021 - Launched Namaste Motherfckers podcast
- 2017 - Piccadilly Comedy Club New Comedian of the Year
- 2016 - Critically acclaimed debut at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- 2010 - Appointed Senior Vice President at ViacomCBS
- 2004 - Founded award-winning consultancy Road Trip Media
- Early 2000s - Became youngest and only female board member at ITV
How to hire Cally Beaton
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Cally Beaton for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
