Available to book
Laura Penn
Leadership Development
Communication
Storytelling
Dr. Laura Penn helps leaders and teams master leadership communication, speechcraft, and storytelling to build trust and increase revenue. Award-winning speaker and master teacher, her clients include the World Economic Forum, the International Olympic Committee, Nestle and Salesforce
Professional Development
Author
Educator
Podcast
Dr. Laura Penn is the communication whisperer to the C-suite, supporting leaders and executive teams to speak with greater impact and authenticity in the digital age.
She is the winner of the Bookers' Choice Award at the 2026 Speakers Awards, a four-time TEDx speaker with two appearances on TED.com, and host of the podcast Leadership Speaking Radio. She founded The Leadership Speaking School and has written three books on her method, alongside contributing to UN Today, the United Nations' official magazine. She received her BA from Vassar College where she studied biology and dance and holds an MSc. and a Ph.D. in biodiversity management, working as a conservation biologist before building her career in leadership communication.
Laura's approach centers on the craft of leadership speaking, a core business communication skill that she considers among the most critical for 21st-century leadership. Drawing on her background as both a scientist and a performing artist, she works with organizations including the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, the World Wildlife Fund, and Salesforce, supporting their leaders to speak with impact and authenticity.
Audiences leave her sessions able to identify their strengths and development areas as communicators, apply practical tools to virtual meetings, pitches, and presentations, and build the trust that drives stronger collaboration and increases employee engagement. Her talks are bold and highly interactive, engaging participants from the opening minutes.
Book Laura to give leaders and teams the skills they need to thrive in the fast-moving communication landscape of the digital age.
Topics, sessions and talks
Dr. Laura Penn examines the widening gap between humanity's rapidly evolving technology and its unchanged biological wiring, particularly around communication. She traces how today's leaders, expected to speak across virtual meetings, town halls, panels, and podcasts in ever greater volume, are pushing that ancient wiring past its limits. Blending evolutionary anatomy with practical strategy, Laura gives audiences new perspective on why digital communication feels so exhausting, plus concrete tools for staying agile and effective across every platform.
Global challenges are rarely framed as communication problems, yet Dr. Laura Penn argues that courage, empathy, and collective progress all depend on how well people talk to one another. She reframes communication as the backbone of meaningful change, showing leaders, teams, and changemakers why good intentions fail without the skills to reach people's hearts and minds. Laura challenges audiences to rethink ineffective habits and offers a practical starting point for using communication as a force for good.
Digital tools have connected humanity on an unprecedented scale, and Dr. Laura Penn shows leaders that this connection comes with a cost: nowhere left to hide from how they communicate. She argues that everything communicates, whether in a hybrid meeting, a customer call, or a hallway conversation, and that leaders can no longer treat it as an afterthought. In this energizing, interactive session, Laura gives leaders and teams practical tools to speak with impact and human connection, and to use them immediately.
Testimonials
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Laura Penn blends evolutionary biology with performing arts training to frame leadership communication as a craft skill, drawing on her background as both a conservation biologist and a performing artist to give audiences a science-grounded lens on why digital communication strains human wiring. Sessions are structured as interactive, tools-based experiences in which participants leave with a self-assessment of their communication strengths and development areas alongside practical techniques applicable to virtual meetings, pitches, and presentations.
Dr. Laura Penn's sessions address digital communication and leadership, the biological limits of human communication in a technology-driven world, and communication as a driver of collective and organisational change. She is the winner of the Bookers' Choice Award at the 2026 Speakers Awards and a four-time TEDx speaker with two appearances on TED.com.
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There is no additional cost to you beyond the speaker's fee. PepTalk's service, from shortlist to on-the-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, the team can agree preferential rates with your procurement department. Email hello@getapeptalk.com to discuss.
Booking a speaker with PepTalk starts with a short brief: your event, audience, date, budget, and format. Send it through getapeptalk.com or hello@getapeptalk.com and you'll get a shortlist within 24 hours. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, fees, travel, and logistics end to end.
Yes. PepTalk regularly handles last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, host, or comedian quickly, often within days. Availability narrows as the date nears, so get in touch as early as you can. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.
Speaker fees vary by profile, format, and location. In the UK and Europe, virtual keynotes typically start around GBP 2,000, with top in-person speakers reaching GBP 25,000+; in the US, fees run from about USD 5,000 to USD 100,000+. Share your budget at getapeptalk.com and we'll shortlist to fit.
Yes. If a speaker isn't listed, tell PepTalk their name and the team will approach them for you. The network extends well beyond the public roster, and PepTalk regularly books speakers who don't appear on the site. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with the name.
You'll receive a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours of sharing your brief. Each suggestion comes with profiles, fees, and PepTalk's recommendation on the strongest fit. If you need options sooner for an urgent event, say so and the team will move faster. Start at getapeptalk.com.
Yes. Beyond booking a single speaker, PepTalk helps shape a full programme, matching voices to your agenda, audience, and goals across a day or a series. It is a consultative service, not just a booking. Tell us about your event at getapeptalk.com.
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.
Before your speakers arrive, confirm AV is tested, a green room is ready, and printed schedules are on hand. Prepare warm introductions for each speaker and brief your team on timings. PepTalk speakers come fully briefed, making event-day logistics smoother and stress-free from the start.
A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.
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.
When booking a comedian, share your event format, audience size and demographics, any sensitive topics to avoid, and the tone you're after. PepTalk makes this easy — their booking process guides you through a simple checklist so nothing gets missed and your comedian is perfectly matched to your crowd.
When booking a speaker, you'll need your event date, audience details, format, key objectives, and budget. Having these ready makes the process smooth and straightforward. PepTalk's team uses this information to match you with the perfect speaker quickly and efficiently.
Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.
Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.
Yes. Most PepTalk speakers deliver virtual and hybrid sessions with live Q&A, and virtual keynotes usually cost less than in-person because there is no travel. Tell us your platform and format and we'll match speakers experienced in online delivery. Start at getapeptalk.com.
Share your organisation's top 3 strategic priorities, current challenges, and the audience's role in delivering them. A simple one-page brief works perfectly. PepTalk speakers use this context to tailor insights that feel genuinely relevant — making your event far more impactful.
Yes! Most event entertainers are happy to tailor their act to your brand, industry, or theme. From weaving in company jokes to incorporating your branding into their performance, personalisation makes all the difference. PepTalk's entertainers specialise in bespoke experiences that feel made just for your audience.
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