Sarah Ellis

Sarah Ellis is a keynote speaker, career development expert and business leader, best known as the co-creator of the Squiggly Careers concept and Co-founder of Amazing If. One of the UK’s most respected voices on learning, leadership and the future of work, Sarah has built an impressive reputation for helping people and organisations navigate modern careers with greater confidence and clarity. One of her biggest achievement is arguably turning Squiggly Careers into a hugely influential movement through Amazing If, three Sunday Times bestselling books, a hit podcast and sought-after keynote talks. 

Sarah’s early career gave her the commercial grounding and strategic experience that now make her such a credible and compelling speaker. She began her professional journey on the Business Management Leadership Scheme at Boots, before moving into roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Barclaycard and Barclays, where she built expertise across proposition development, partnerships, innovation and marketing communications. Sarah continued to rise through senior positions at Sainsbury’s, serving as Head of Content, Head of PR, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Society and later Head of Marketing Strategy. These roles gave Sarah first-hand experience of leading through change, managing complexity and shaping strategy inside major household-name organisations. Alongside her practical experience, Sarah also developed a strong academic foundation, becoming an alumna of Harvard, London Business School and Warwick Business School, where she earned an MBA.

Sarah’s career achievements reflect both depth and range. In 2013, she and Helen Tupping co-founded Amazing If, a career development company with a mission to make work better for everyone. Together, they introduced the Squiggly Careers concept, which challenged the old idea of linear career ladders and offered a more realistic and empowering way to think about progression. Sarah later added to her executive credentials by becoming Managing Director of Gravity Road, further broadening her leadership experience. Through Amazing If, Sarah has co-authored three Sunday Times bestselling books, ‘The Squiggly Career’, ‘You Coach You’ and ‘Learn Like a Lobster’, all of which have strengthened her standing as a leading authority on personal development and workplace learning. She is also a Harvard Business Review Contributor, an RSA Fellow and a member of the Makers Advisory Board. Her influence extends far beyond the page. The Squiggly Careers podcast which has over 5 million downloads, has featured other high-profile thought leaders like Steven Bartlett, Amy Edmonson, and Bruce Daisley. Her TEDx talk with Helen, 'The Best Career Path Isn't Always a Straight Line', has attracted a huge global audience. Sarah was also named in Management Today’s inaugural Women in Leadership Power List, recognition that underlines her impact as one of the UK’s leading thinkers on leadership and development.

Sarah is a brilliant choice for organisations that want a keynote speaker who combines credibility, warmth and practical value. She speaks on topics including squiggly careers, career development, leadership, learning culture and thriving through ambiguity. Sarah’s sessions resonate because they are grounded in real business experience and filled with ideas audiences can use immediately. Trusted by major brands including Microsoft, Google, the BBC, Visa, Screwfix and The LEGO Group, Sarah brings both strategic insight and accessible advice to every event. For audiences facing rapid change, shifting expectations and new ways of working, Sarah offers the kind of clear, actionable thinking that helps people feel more capable, more confident and more motivated to grow.