Theme: Human to Human

This all day event will feature creative, thought-provoking inspiration around our theme of Human to Human Connection in all its forms and includes a focus on Innovation, Connectedness and Personal Potential.

How can we embrace our personal capital and be more vulnerable, showcasing our human side? How can we challenge ourselves, overcome adversity and champion our own growth and potential? How can we recognise and tap into the greatness that comes from being human?

Our theme of Human To Human connection is the bedrock of the TEDxSouthampton event. We put out an open call to find the best, most inspiring speakers possible. We were incredibly lucky to receive almost 100 applications from incredible local talent as well as international thought-leaders who want to invest in this opportunity to share ideas with the world.

Southampton Harbour Hotel
5 Maritime Walk
Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3QT
United Kingdom

Adele Deasy

Educational Consultant

Adele’s world of work has, for the most part, been immersed in education; firstly a science teacher through to secondary Headteacher. Now she finds herself as the director of her own business, Plan A Dynamic Consulting. Adele uses her experience and love of learning to develop others with motivational consultancy. Starting a business has taught her how to take risks and she loves the creativity of channelling her work into the heart of what matters. The golden thread of motivational kindness, unlocks human potential and enables others to be the best version of themselves without fear of risk or rejection. This is the human relationship that she tries to foster and encourage in others. Rise because you are great, there is no need to dilute yourself for the uplifting of others.

Benjamin Western

Founder at Showing Up

Benjamin helps leaders, teams, and individuals to be more effective at promoting the welfare of marginalised groups. Having been part of founding four non-profit and commercial organisations, his work has taken him from the frontline of humanitarian crises through to the boardroom of FTSE boardrooms. He designs training based on ancient wisdom, behavioural science, idiosyncratic metaphors, and psychology, connecting the dots between the humanitarian and enterprising. He is the founder of Showing Up, Bridge Agape, and the Shining Light podcast. He volunteers with Key4Life.

Chris Williams

Digital Strategist

Straight talking, zero BS digital marketer with a flair for saying what most people think but dare not say. Founder of both a software and marketing business, Chris has forged a very loyal following across social media with his quick wit, challenging content and fearless approach to marketing. A former Police Officer turned social commentator on all things online, Chris challenges the perception of the social norm while encouraging everyone to #MakeADifferentNoise

Dee Caffari

British Sailing

Dee Caffari MBE is the only woman to have sailed solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions and has now sailed around the world a total of six times. Originally a secondary school physical education teacher, Dee made the decision to change careers in 2000 as the desire for adventure, travel and experiencing new environments took hold. Dee’s sailing career saw her become one of the most successful and recognised British offshore sailors. As an ocean advocate experiencing the impact on our Ocean‚ Health and at sea. She highlights the vital importance of reducing our dependence on plastics, inspiring people to take action in their day to day lives and advising businesses, events and organisations on becoming more sustainable.

Geoffrey Tumlin

CEO of Mouthpeace Consulting & Author

Geoffrey Tumlin is the CEO of Mouthpeace Consulting LLC, and is the author of Stop Talking, Start Communicating, published internationally by McGraw-Hill. Geoffrey is an expert on communication, leadership, and group performance, and his ideas have been featured in many media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, Fortune.com, CNNMoney, the Globe and Mail, and SiriusXM radio. Geoffrey’s scholarly writing has appeared in journals and textbooks including the International Leadership Journal, Discourse Studies, and the Encyclopedia of Leadership. Geoffrey holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Johanna Hooper

Resilience & Leadership Coach

Johanna Hooper owns Limitless Peak Performance, a coaching and consultancy practice. As a consultant, Johanna helps organisations design and build their future workforce. As a coach, her focus is on‚ The Inner Game, helping leaders manage stress and confidence to perform at their best. A former Naval Officer, Johanna has had many experiences that tested her own leadership effectiveness as a result of stress and confidence. To be really effective as leaders, we need to get beneath the surface of why we behave the way we do. Only then can we make lasting and meaningful change. The results of Johanna’s coaching approach are personal, powerful and permanent.

Laura Payne-Stanley

Neuro-Linguistic Master Coach and Master Hypnotherapist

Laura Payne-Stanley is a sought-after international speaker and go-to expert on branding, success and mindset, who has been published in Huffington Post and Thrive Global. An award-winning serial entrepreneur and success consultant, Laura has spent a decade developing a diverse toolkit to help entrepreneurs master the inner work necessary to build wildly successful businesses and lives they truly love. A certified Neuro-Linguistic Master Coach and Master Hypnotherapist, she is also co-founder of Elevate – the agency for experts specialising in online learning solutions. Her background includes a degree in communications and more than 20 years’ experience in sales and marketing, working with brands ranging from Ann Summers to national park authorities. She refers to herself as the velvet hammer; warm and fuzzy, yes, but impactful – a powerful combination which results in both great relationships, and meaningful mindset shifts for her clients.

Lou Banks

CEO of Rising Vibe - HR and Leadership Coach

With 25 years of experience in operations and business coaching, Lou Banks is Founder and CEO of Rising Vibe Ltd and has developed one mission‚ to use emotion to drive change. It’s about being ok, with not being ok. It’s about building trust so that we feel safe to share how we really feel. It’s about feeling better so that we do better. Getting to grips with emotion is the game-changer that can allow us to reach our true potential. Lou speaks to the individual. An articulate, high energy communicator, she gets right to the heart of the issue, unafraid to challenge and quick to inspire. She makes real connections with real people, challenging mindset to enhance performance, balancing soft skills with a heavy dose of reality.

Matt Desmier

Brand Strategist

A seemingly insatiable curiosity, distinctive laugh and unique dress sense are three of Desmier’s more prominent features, but it’s his ability to as a branding strategist that truly sets him apart from his peers. Having originally trained as a designer, Matt guides businesses through understand their positioning, their messaging and their audience’s motivations, often helping authentic brands emerge. Once upon a time considered as an influential digital champion in the UK, Matt is an alumni of the British Interactive Media Associations’ Top 100, the UK’s Digital Leaders Top 100 and the Maserati Top 100, and his counsel has been sought by the likes of 10 Downing Street and St James’ Palace, as well some other far less prestigious organisations. And when he’s not busy running around helping brands, he’s busy running around picking up after his two young children or, as a keen runner, he’s just busy running.

Michelle Enjoli Beato

Career and Leadership Mentor

Michelle is a bilingual international speaker and founder of Connect, a coaching program designed to assist students, professionals and leaders on how to connect in order to achieve professional success. While studying journalism in college, Michelle aspired to become a producer in NYC and landed her dream job before she obtained her degree. She’s done work for major television networks and global brands including Univision, Telemundo, ABC, NBC, CBS, Mercedes-Benz and Delta Air Lines. While at Mercedes-Benz, she founded a business resource group called Connect that facilitated 1:1 sessions, events and workshops to help professionals connect with leaders in their field of interest. Michelle continues to expand on her work today as a coach and speaks at events and conferences for students, professionals, leaders and entrepreneurs.

Paul Kinkaid

Leadership Development Coach

A veteran Army Commando and Lieutenant Colonel Paul has led elite teams on 5 of the world’s 7 continents, and in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. He has led under fire, coached UK Ambassadors overseas and even broken his back in a training accident. In 2017 he set up Selfless Leadership Group to create leaders that other people turn to and reduce the number of good people that leave bad bosses.

Russell Streeter

Associate Director & Toastmaster

Russell is a finance leader with nearly two decades experience in insurance and financial services. He is also a member of Toastmasters International, a non-profit organisation that teaches public speaking and leadership skills and he helps to support Toastmasters clubs in southern Hampshire. His outlook on life has been dramatically shaped by his family’s experience of childhood cancer. Russell’s talk is a powerful and emotional story about Human to Human Connection when a family member is seriously ill. He shares the important lessons he has learnt and discusses the vital contributions that everyone can make in such circumstances to save lives.

Will James

Learning and Engagement Coach and Consultant

Now a coach and consultant to organisations, Will believes that what he’s learned about creating environments in which people thrive is vitally relevant in this cultural moment: the need to re-frame hierarchies built on yesterday’s values and beliefs before everyone can feel that they belong in the physical, social and psychological structures they’ve created. In this short talk Will presents what he thinks we can all do to help us create a more inclusive culture.