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Speaker & business strategist

Ian Thomas

Transform team performance with Ian Thomas, speaker and business strategist. Ian works with organisations to enhance teamwork, leadership, and communication through powerful lion pride analogies, delivering unique insights from two decades as a game ranger in Africa.
Ian Thomas, Speaker | Business Strategist & Game Ranger
Ian Thomas

Ian Thomas

Johannesburg, South Africa

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Johannesburg, South Africa

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Ian Thomas's biography

At a glance

  • Expert in drawing parallels between lion prides and business teams
  • Experienced game ranger with over two decades of animal observation
  • Speaker on teamwork and communication strategies inspired by nature
Ian Thomas draws parallels between how a successful team works and that of a pride of lions. Covering everything from teamwork, communication, goals, and incentives, using the example set to us by successful lion prides. Business strategist Ian has spent over two decades as a game ranger, closely observing lions. He draws from his experiences in the African bush to compare the teamwork strategies of lions with those in business environments. Ian's studies reveal that lions are the only cats that hunt in teams, a tactic they developed to hunt large herds of antelope on Africa’s savannahs effectively. This team-based hunting strategy proved highly successful, enabling individual lions and lionesses to thrive and their prides to become powerful. In his presentations, Ian highlights the interdependent success of individuals and the team, encapsulated in the idea that "the success of the team is because of the individual and the success of the individual is because of the team." This principle underpins both effective lion prides and successful business teams.

Ian's showreel and videos

Why we recommend booking Ian

Ian brings a unique perspective from his two decades as a game ranger, offering invaluable insights into teamwork and strategy through the lens of nature's most successful predators. His compelling comparison between lion prides and business teams illuminates the essential principles of communication, goal-setting, and mutual success. Booking Ian as a speaker will not only inspire your team but also equip them with practical strategies to enhance collaboration and achieve collective goals.

Testimonials

Through your Power of the Pride you managed to connect, and unite, every single person in our audience of 450. One of the most difficult things to achieve is a common platform in a very diverse audience: you held them in the palm of your hand – executives, middle managers, call centre staff – every single one of them hanging of every word! It was incredible! The message of team work and collaboration hit home – and I can't describe the change in energy and in attitude after the session.

Pia Marangoni

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Ian Thomas for my next event?
Email ian.thomas@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Ian's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
What is Ian Thomas's speaking style like?
Ian Thomas uses a nature-based analogy framework, drawing direct parallels between the behavioural dynamics of lion prides — observed over two decades as a game ranger — and the structural dynamics of business teams, covering teamwork, communication, goals, and incentives.
What topics does Ian Thomas specialise in?
Ian Thomas speaks on teamwork, communication, and goal-setting, drawing parallels between the behaviour of lion prides and business team dynamics. His presentations are grounded in over two decades working as a game ranger observing lions in the African bush.
What does 'typical fee range' mean?

Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.

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Life happens! Most speaker bookings can be rescheduled with reasonable notice. Cancellation terms vary by speaker, but PepTalk handles all the details & contracts transparently upfront so there are no surprises. Our team supports you through any changes, making the process as smooth as possible.

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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

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