Available to book
Ruth Davidson
Transform leadership culture with Ruth Davidson, speaker, political leadership and diversity expert. Ruth works with organisations to develop authentic leadership, gender equality and inclusion strategies, delivering unique insights as a Time 100 influential leader and former Scottish Conservative Party head.
Ruth Davidson is a journalist, broadcaster, author, and politician who led the Scottish Conservative Party for eight years. Under her leadership, the party achieved its best electoral performance in thirty-five years. She played a key role in the Scottish independence and EU referendum campaigns, participating in live debates at the Glasgow Hydro and Wembley Arena.
As the first openly gay leader of a major UK political party and the first to give birth in office, she has made significant strides in public life. Ruth often discusses gender, inclusion, and equality, using her experiences to advocate for authentic leadership.
With a background as a BBC journalist and a Territorial Army soldier, she emphasises individual expression, trust, and leadership development in large organisations. Her close professional relationships with successive Prime Ministers and her experience in the UK Cabinet provide her with a unique perspective on the political landscape in Scotland and the UK.
Her book, Yes She Can – Why Women Own the Future, presents a positive view of global gender advancement, highlighting women's progress towards equality and the challenges that remain. It features insights from influential women such as Christine Lagarde, Dame Katherine Grainger, and Melinda French Gates, whom she interviewed for the research.
Although focused on the Scottish Parliament, Ruth has built a UK-wide platform. She is a skilled political communicator, appearing on shows like Have I Got News for You, The One Show, and celebrity editions of The Chase and Bake Off, as well as on Newsnight and Question Time. She was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, alongside figures like Jacinda Ardern and Prince Harry.
Before entering politics, Ruth worked as a presenter, producer, and documentary maker in broadcast journalism. After stepping down as party leader, she returned to journalism, providing political commentary for various publications, hosting a weekly show on Times Radio, and co-hosting Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast with Beth Rigby.
Topics, sessions and talks
In this session, Ruth Davidson gives an overview of British politics, in Westminster and Edinburgh. She shares her story from journalism to politics, including leading the Scottish Conservatives, changing perceptions of the party and herself, and diversity in politics. Ruth also discusses the importance of destigmatising mental health support, and her personal experience as an LGBTQ+ member of the Scottish Parliament.
Book Ruth Davidson to inspire your team with her insights on authentic leadership, gender equality, and breaking barriers. Her unique experiences in politics and media, combined with her engaging communication style, will empower your audience to embrace change and foster inclusivity in the workplace. Don’t miss this opportunity!
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Ruth Davidson, email hello@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 Ruth's availability and speaking fee. 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 about your audience.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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