International Women's Day
- Founder of award-winning Harper Fox Partners
- BBC Apprentice finalist and business partner to Lord Sugar
- Advocate for diversity in leadership and STEM
Scarlett Allen-Horton is a business leader and entrepreneur known for founding Harper Fox Partners, a multi-award-winning executive search firm focused on diverse leadership in STEM and industrial sectors. With over a decade of experience in global executive recruitment and leadership assessment, she brings insight, clarity and impact to topics like business strategy, inclusive leadership and purposeful entrepreneurship.
Scarlett gained public recognition as a runner-up on BBC’s The Apprentice, going on to secure investment and a business partnership with Lord Sugar. Since then, she has grown her company into a seven-figure enterprise from a standing start, with a reputation for delivering high-level, retained search assignments across complex and technical industries.
Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Scarlett serves as an ambassador and advisor to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and the UK Black Business Show. She is also a judge for the REC Awards and the Black Talent Awards and volunteers with various initiatives focused on empowering underrepresented groups, including survivors of domestic abuse.
As a speaker, Scarlett is known for her practical energy and her ability to connect with audiences across sectors. She is frequently invited to contribute at national events and conferences. Her sessions draw on lived experience, business acumen and a drive to create positive change in leadership and beyond.
Scarlett’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. She champions purpose-led growth and continues to support the next generation of entrepreneurs through coaching, mentoring and her platform, Scarlett Lily. Whether addressing leadership, diversity or the realities of business ownership, she speaks with authenticity, insight and a clear focus on helping others thrive.
Scarlett's Showreel and Videos
Topics, Sessions and Talks
Shattering the Status Quo: The Power of Breaking Boundaries
Scarlett Allen-Horton explores how challenging traditional systems and cultural expectations can unlock business innovation, inclusive leadership and personal transformation. Drawing on her own journey across male-dominated industries and boardrooms, she unpacks how breaking boundaries becomes a strategic advantage. With a dynamic and candid style, Scarlett offers a thought-provoking take on disrupting norms to create sustainable change and greater equity.
From Vision to Victory: Creating an Impactful Multi-Award Winning Business
Scarlett shares the strategy, mindset and lessons behind building a purpose-driven business from the ground up. With first-hand insights from launching and scaling a seven-figure executive search firm, she highlights the importance of vision, values and resilience in long-term success. Combining lived experience with practical advice, this session is a must for anyone seeking to turn big ideas into lasting impact.
The Power of She: Empowering Women to Thrive in Business
This session focuses on the realities and rewards of supporting women in business, especially in underrepresented sectors. Scarlett draws from her leadership experience, entrepreneurial achievements and advocacy work to examine the barriers women face and the structures needed to overcome them. Her engaging and empowering delivery opens up honest discussion around equity, ambition and building futures where women can thrive.
Your Past Can Never Be Bigger Than Your Future
Scarlett reflects on the transformational potential of resilience and purpose, challenging the belief that personal history defines what is possible. Combining elements of her own story with broader reflections on mindset, this session speaks to anyone seeking to rise beyond limitation. Scarlett’s style is open, engaging and grounded, offering a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when the future is owned with intention.
Standing Courageously in Your Big Vision
Scarlett Allen-Horton shares the grit behind the glamour as she charts her journey from personal struggle to business success, revealing the courage it takes to hold firm to a bold vision. Drawing from her own lived experiences, Scarlett explores the fears, barriers and inner battles that so often stop people short of their potential. With a compelling blend of authenticity and drive, she shows how resilience and clarity of purpose can lead to extraordinary impact.
Why We Recommend Booking Scarlett
Scarlett Allen-Horton is a transformative speaker who combines her expertise in executive search and inclusive leadership to inspire businesses to achieve sustainable growth and innovation. Book Scarlett today to empower your team with actionable insights and drive meaningful change.
