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Author & diversity advocate

Najwa Zebian

Unlock resilience, belonging, and emotional wellbeing with Najwa Zebian, bestselling author and Doctor of Educational Leadership. Najwa works with organisations to build authentic inclusion and self-worth, inspiring millions globally through her books and speaking.

Trusted by Google, RBC, Cirque du Soleil

Najwa Zebian, Speaker | Minority Empowerer & Inspiring Trailblazer
Najwa Zebian

Najwa Zebian

Toronto, Canada

Typical fee range

$11k–25k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Book Dr. Najwa

Toronto, Canada

Starting from

$11k–25k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Najwa Zebian's biography

At a glance

  • Best-selling author of Mind Platter and The Nectar of Pain
  • Influential creator, activist, and educator with global impact
  • Collaborated with major brands like Google and Cirque du Soleil
Najwa Zebian is a bestselling Lebanese-Canadian author, activist, educator, and speaker whose words have inspired millions around the world. Known for her bestselling books, including _Mind Platter_, and her powerful work on healing, self-worth, resilience, and belonging, she combines lived experience with academic expertise as a Doctor of Educational Leadership. Having navigated displacement, identity struggles, and personal adversity, Najwa brings a deeply human perspective to some of the most pressing challenges facing today's workplaces. Her work helps individuals and teams build resilience, foster authentic inclusion, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and develop the confidence to lead themselves through change and uncertainty. Drawing on her experience as an educator, advocate, and globally recognised writer, Najwa shares practical tools for overcoming limiting beliefs, creating a stronger sense of belonging, and developing the self-awareness needed to thrive in both life and work. Her sessions leave audiences feeling empowered, connected, and equipped to take meaningful action. For organisations looking to support wellbeing, strengthen culture, and inspire lasting personal growth, Najwa delivers a message that resonates long after the event ends. Book Najwa Zebian to help your people unlock their potential and lead with greater courage, purpose, and authenticity.

Dr. Najwa's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Build Your Home Within: Unleash Your Inner Leader
Najwa Zebian opens this flagship keynote with a deceptively simple question: where do you build your sense of safety and identity? For most people, the answer is somewhere outside themselves — in relationships, status, or external validation. Zebian uses the metaphor of home as a structure for personal transformation, guiding participants through her practical tools for self-awareness, healthy boundary-building, and intrinsic motivation. Organizations leave with a roadmap for cultivating self-aware, internally driven teams who make workplaces genuinely welcoming at every level.
Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Corporate World
This keynote challenges the assumption that leadership belongs only to those with titles. Drawing on her graduate research, Najwa Zebian makes the case for distributed leadership — a model where every employee is equipped and expected to lead. Participants examine their own leadership habits and leave with concrete strategies for building a culture of mutual accountability, continuous learning, and psychological inclusion that connects organizational performance to individual fulfilment.
The Art of Resilience: A Mental Health Approach
Najwa Zebian reframes resilience not as a personality trait but as a practical skill — one that can be built, measured, and embedded into an organization's culture. This keynote dismantles the false separation between professional performance and emotional wellbeing, showing how emotional intelligence underpins every core leadership competency. Participants leave with self-care tools to recognize burnout, a framework for stress management grounded in real workplace scenarios, and a clearer understanding of how destigmatizing mental health directly affects retention and productivity.
Authenticity in Life and Work: Striking a Balance
This keynote asks participants to examine the gap between who they are and who they believe they are expected to be at work. Najwa Zebian guides audiences through identifying limiting beliefs formed outside the workplace and understanding how those beliefs suppress performance and creativity inside it. Participants leave with tools for self-awareness around personal triggers, language for expressing boundaries constructively, and mindfulness practices that allow fear to become a source of momentum rather than paralysis.
Self-Compassion as a Catalyst for Change
Change resistance is one of the most consistent drains on organizational energy, and Najwa Zebian argues its root is rarely strategic — it is emotional. This keynote uses a self-compassion framework to shift participant mindset from reluctant adaptation to conscious adoption of change, addressing the fear, need for validation, and uncertainty that typically drive resistance. Organizations working through restructuring, cultural transformation, or strategic pivots will find in this session a toolkit for normalizing risk, decentralizing failure, and creating conditions where every employee feels invited to contribute fully.

Why we recommend booking Dr. Najwa

Najwa combines bestselling-author storytelling, academic grounding as a Doctor of Educational Leadership, and lived experience of displacement to deliver practical, emotionally resonant tools. Her insights help build resilience, belonging, and wellbeing, empowering individuals and teams to lead with authenticity, confidence, and lasting cultural change.

Check Dr. Najwa's availability

Trusted by Google, RBC, Cirque du Soleil

Featured Projects

Najwa Zebian - Beyond Words podcast cover
Najwa Zebian - Welcome Home book cover
Najwa Zebian - The Only Constant book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Najwa Zebian for my next event?
Email najwa.zebian@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 Dr. Najwa'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 Najwa Zebian's speaking style like?
Najwa Zebian structures her keynotes around a central metaphor or reframe — such as the concept of "home" as a lens for identity and self-worth — which she uses to organise practical frameworks covering boundary-setting, emotional intelligence, and distributed leadership. These frameworks are grounded in her doctoral research in educational leadership and applied through workplace-relevant scenarios.
What topics does Najwa Zebian specialise in?
Najwa Zebian's sessions address self-identity and psychological safety, distributed leadership and workplace culture, and resilience as a practical skill linked to mental health and organisational performance. She is a bestselling author and Doctor of Educational Leadership, whose book Mind Platter has reached millions of readers worldwide.
Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

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.

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.

What logistics should I prepare before my speakers arrive?

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What's the difference between a keynote speaker, an MC, and event entertainment?

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.

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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.

Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

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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Can I book entertainment and speakers as a package?

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.

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How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

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.

Help, I need a last-minute speaker for my event!

No problem! We often handle last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, comedian, awards or event host quickly — almost anywhere in the world. However, speaker availability might be limited as the event date approaches. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.