Rachel Botsman's biography
- Expert on trust, author, and Oxford University lecturer
- Predicted rise of sharing economy in "What's Mine is Yours"
- Explores shifting nature of trust in "Who Can You Trust?"
Rachel Botsman is a globally recognised trust expert who has spent over 15 years helping organisations and leaders navigate the evolving landscape of trust in our digital age. As an author, Oxford University lecturer, and sought-after keynote speaker, she brings unparalleled expertise in distilling complex ideas into clear, actionable insights that transform how we think about trust, humility, and integrity.
Recognised as one of the world's most influential management thinkers, Rachel has earned numerous accolades including being named a Top 10 most influential voice in the UK on LinkedIn and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Her groundbreaking work has shaped global conversations about trust and collaboration across industries.
Rachel is the author of two critically acclaimed books that have been translated into multiple languages. Her first book, What's Mine is Yours, predicted the rise of the sharing economy and was hailed by TIME magazine as one of the "10 Ideas that Will Change the World." Her second book, Who Can You Trust?, explores how trust is shifting in our interconnected world and was praised by industry leaders as one of the best books of the year by Wired.
As a world-class keynote speaker, Rachel has graced the most prestigious stages—from TED to the Lincoln Centre to the World Economic Forum—delivering powerful presentations for leading global brands including Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, and Snapchat. Her TED talks have garnered over five million views, and she hosts the acclaimed podcast series "Trust Issues." What sets Rachel apart is not just her expertise, but her unique ability to combine warm storytelling with visual language and clear, actionable insights that leave audiences feeling inspired, curious, and empowered to rethink how they lead and work.
Rachel offers her ideas in engaging formats tailored to each audience, from high-impact keynotes and interactive Q&As to candid fireside chats with leaders and carefully curated client dinners. Her contributions to reputable publications such as The Guardian, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review further cement her position as a thought leader whose global perspective and extensive experience provide invaluable insights on trust's impact across all aspects of business and life.
Rachel's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Trust By Design: What Makes Innovation Stick
Rachel Botsman explores why some innovations succeed while others fail, emphasising that the key factor is trust rather than technology. She introduces her 'Trust Leap' framework, highlighting the importance of designing for trust alongside usability and aesthetics. Drawing from her extensive experience with Fortune 500 companies and start-ups, Rachel shares compelling stories that illustrate trust as a crucial element for adoption. Attendees will learn how to foster trust, encourage risk-taking on new ideas, and identify barriers to adoption.
Leading With Trust In Uncertain Times
Rachel Botsman highlights the importance of trust as a source of clarity and confidence in a complex world. She challenges common misconceptions about trust and introduces her ‘Risk–Trust Lens’ framework, highlighting the balance between risk and trust as essential for adaptive leadership. Attendees will learn why trust is crucial for resilience, how to leverage the ‘Risk–Trust Lens’ for better decision-making, the four key traits leaders need to earn trust, and the advantages of trust-based cultures over control-driven ones.
Rethinking The New Rules Of Trust And AI
Rachel Botsman discusses how AI is transforming decision-making and trust dynamics. She highlights that the critical question is not whether we should trust AI, but how to design trustworthy AI systems. Using her ‘Trust Shift’ framework, Rachel illustrates that historical advancements have necessitated new trust forms, and AI represents a pivotal moment for rethinking trust rules. Attendees will learn about the challenges of shifting trust to intelligent systems, the AI Trust Matrix, and the four dimensions that influence AI trustworthiness.
Why we recommend booking Rachel
Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge on trust, a fundamental aspect of successful teams and businesses, distilled from her extensive research and acclaimed publications. Booking her as a speaker offers unique insights into fostering a culture of integrity and collaboration, essential for innovation and growth. Her engaging speaking style and ability to translate complex ideas into actionable strategies will empower your team to think differently and build stronger, trust-based relationships.
Rachel's talk both provoked and inspired, setting off an active conversation that continues to this day and worldwide within the company.
She kept our 2000 delegates on the edge of their seats for over an hour, not only with the quality of her content but also with her humor and engaging style.
Not one single day has gone by since the event without external and internal commendations on her engagement with our audience. Her message really connected and impacted the entire audience.
