Shola Kaye is a leading authority on the topics of communication, inclusive leadership, diversity, inclusion and empathy in the workplace. Winner of the 2016 Jenny Seagrove Speaking Award, Shola has forged a reputation as a keynote speaker and has spoken for various prominent clients throughout her career. When booked as a speaker, Shola focuses on themes of diversity and inclusion, leadership and communication, specialising in harnessing the power of empathy, expressing your personal brand, feedback with empathy and more. She also delivers powerful keynote addresses focused on International Women's Day and how we can all implement gender equality and call out behaviour that does not support the move towards it.
Best known for her expertise in communication, Shola is often seen speaking on how to ensure that the workplace is inclusive and champions inclusivity for introverts and individuals in STEM, healthcare, data and technology industries. Throughout her career, Shola has been widely recognised for her work, being appointed as a member of the Royal Society of Arts and given the opportunity to publish How to be a DIVA at Public Speaking: The Step-by-Step System to Engage Your Audience and Present with Confidence and Big Talk, Small Talk. Using her expertise in STEM and her past experience as a performer, Shola delivers a range of talks as a keynote speaker which encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Before forging her reputation as a speaker, Shola studied at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Emory University. After graduating with an MS in Neuropharmacology & Analytical Chemistry, a PGCE and an MA in Natural Sciences, Shola began her career as a Management Consultant for Princeton Consultants. In this role, Shola designed management reports and worked with important clients such as Prudential Assurance and Goldman Sachs. She then went on to become a Web Producer for Razorfish Global, working with the likes of Ford Motor Company. Shola has also enjoyed a career as a successful jazz and Motown singer.
A former Scientific Researcher for the US Centres for Disease Control, Shola has experienced first-hand the challenges of communication and visibility as a woman and an introvert. Having experienced such troubles herself, Shola now makes it her mission to ensure that workplaces are more inclusive and have a solid communicative foundation. She has also regularly contributed to People Management, HR Zone and Management Today, and she has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and across the screens of the BBC.
Now booked as a speaker for corporate events, Shola helps people to gain visibility at work by making workplaces more inclusive. Commended for her engaging, insightful and interactive presentations, Shola has previously been invited to deliver the TED speech Why We Need More Empathy in the Workplace. When booked to speak at events, Shola covers topics such as expressing personal brand as a woman or ethnic minority, creating a workplace of respect and belonging, being powerful under pressure and harnessing the power of empathy. With her brand new keynote, Emotional Audacity, which focuses on a people-first approach to businesses, using the power of empathy, effective communication and bold action, Shola aims to improve organisations' teamwork, collaboration, and innovation, as well as productivity and openness to change. Providing audiences with the tools they need to become more compassionate and inclusive leaders, Shola Kaye is the perfect speaker for a number of corporate events.
Social Media
Books
How to be a DIVA at Public Speaking
Big Talk, Small Talk (and Everything in Between)
Shola's official speaking topics are listed below:
Emotional Audacity: Developing the Human Edge in an Age of Tech-Driven Transformation
Shola Kaye introduces Emotional Audacity™: the essential leadership mindset for today’s fast-paced, high-stakes world. As organisations move more swiftly and rely increasingly on data and systems, it’s the human elements, empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, courageous communication, and motivation to act, that determine the success or failure of transformation efforts. With insight, warmth, and a deeply practical approach, Shola shares frameworks for honest self-reflection and developing both resilience and dynamism through emotionally intelligent behaviour. Drawing on her corporate background, current research, and her work with global brands, Shola offers audiences the tools to listen without defensiveness and to act with an expansive sense of purpose
Create a People-First, Speak-Up Culture: How to Feel Seen, Safe and Heard
In a culture where people feel seen, safe and heard, innovation thrives, belonging deepens, and collaboration strengthens. Through powerful storytelling, live exercises, and practical tools, Shola unpacks the role of compassion, deep inquiry, and psychological safety to create environments of cooperation and creativity. Participants learn to foster a workplace free of groupthink where individuals can make their best contributions and the business can thrive.
Practical Empathy: Sustainable, Commonsense Strategies for Creating a Workplace of Care and Understanding
As the need for respectful, supportive workplaces grows, empathy is no longer a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a critical leadership and communication skill that directly impacts retention, innovation, and employee wellbeing. Through storytelling, accessible research, and hands-on reflection, Shola introduces a practical approach to empathy that avoids burnout, fosters connection, and works across virtual, hybrid and in-person teams. With a focus on curiosity, courage and being a catalyst, this session equips every audience member with the awareness and confidence to make empathy a daily practice.
Creating a Positive Feedback Culture: Elevate Performance with Daring, Caring Communication
When feedback is delivered with empathy, clarity and consistency, it drives performance, strengthens relationships and creates motivated, resilient teams. But when it’s avoided or mishandled, the damage to morale and collaboration can be lasting. Through candid examples and interactive exercises, Shola explores the difference between feedback that inspires and feedback that alienates. She equips individuals at every level — not just managers — with the tools and confidence to offer feedback that fuels learning and growth.
The Art of Ask: Energise your Career with Audacious, Empowering Questions
In this impactful and engaging keynote, Shola Kaye explores the transformative power of asking. Whether you're seeking new opportunities, support, or personal development, the ability to make well-timed, strategic requests can change the course of your career and the culture of your workplace. With powerful real-life stories, a clear communication framework, and practical tools, Shola helps individuals overcome the psychological barriers that hold them back from asking. Participants will learn how to shift their mindset from hesitation to empowerment, using questions to build connection, create visibility, and inspire action in themselves and others.
Other topics include:
- Harnessing the power of empathy
- Create a workplace of respect and belonging
- Delivering effective feedback with empathy
- Powerful under pressure
- Expressing your personal brand at work as a woman or a minority
- Communication
- Leadership communication
- Diversity & inclusion
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Shola delivered an insightful and meaningful session that left people feeling empowered and inspired. Beyond that, Shola provided our team with the tools we can use to become more empathetic individuals. We continue to receive positive feedback on Shola's session and have teams already looking to work with her on new projects. She is a true professional and a real joy to work with. Can't recommend Shola enough!" - Sylvie Russo, Communications Manager, Mondelez International
"I had the pleasure of listening to Shola speak about presenting with confidence. Her personal journey to find her own confidence captures the audience. An inspiring and thought-provoking presentation" - Parveen, Senior Legal Counsel- Data Privacy, Digital and Risk Management
"Shola has been such a pleasure to work with. Her trainings are thought-provoking and educational! Our employees have given us great feedback about their experience with Shola! They love the interactive sessions where Shola takes her time to answer their questions. We can't wait to have her back for more sessions! Would definitely recommend, our company is global and she was a hit!"- Syeda, Human Resources Generalist at Nexthink
Feedback from Virtual Events:
"I attended Shola's empathy webinar this morning and found her very articulate, with really good mastery of the subject matter. She broke down the session into simple bite-size sections, which made it easy to relate to. I especially loved the frameworks she shared - very useful takeaways. Thanks for sharing your time and paying it forward during this difficult period. Great use of an hour!" - Olanike, Board Trustee at Care & Relief for the Young
"Shola's session on Empathy was great and very concise. Even though we did it online, it was interactive and engaging. Concepts were simple to understand and there were key and practical take-away points from the session!"- Jasmine, Consumer Tester, Beauty at Hearst
- 2024 – Launched Empathy to Equity Blueprint for inclusive workplace transformation
- 2023 – Delivered keynote at UN Women’s Empowerment Forum
- 2022 – Featured in Forbes and Harper’s Bazaar on leadership and DEI
- 2021 – Published Amazon #1 bestseller 'How to Be a D.I.V.A. at Public Speaking'
- 2020 – Delivered TEDx talk Why We Need More Empathy in the Workplace
- 2019 – Recognised with Jenny Seagrove Speaking Award
- 2018 – Founded as Communication Consultant & Speaker for global corporates
- 2015 – Toured internationally as Professional Singer across four continents
- 2010 – Worked in New York and London as IT & Management Consultant
- 2000s – Conducted neuroscience research at CDC as Postgraduate Scientist
- 1990s – Studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University
How to hire Shola Kaye
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Shola Kaye 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.
