Jaz Ampaw-Farr Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerJaz Ampaw-Farr

World-class Reframer

Jaz Ampaw-Farr is an influential and commanding speaker renowned for her ability to artfully blend humour and poignant storytelling. Jaz’s extraordinary and empowering delivery is transformative for the audience, making them laugh, cry, and leave on a high ready to implement actual change. She has a unique ability to create... Read more

Biography

Jaz Ampaw-Farr is an influential and commanding speaker renowned for her ability to artfully blend humour and poignant storytelling. Jaz’s extraordinary and empowering delivery is transformative for the audience, making them laugh, cry, and leave on a high ready to implement actual change. She has a unique ability to create an authentic connection and galvanise people into going beyond being inspired to taking action. TV fans know Jaz for her presenting roles and her hobby of becoming a Z-list reality TV star once every 20 years. Off-screen she has advised multiple international governments on education policy. From raising the levels of adult literacy in the Caribean to being fired by Lord Sugar on The Apprentice in the only boardroom that beat her, Jaz is simply unstoppable.

Her personal journey is one of unimaginable courage and triumph over harrowing adversity. As a child she endured abuse and neglect at the hands of her own parents, and as a result, spent years as a lost child in the foster care system. However, resilience isn’t something Jaz just talks about, she continues to live it. Impacted by five everyday heroes and a surrounding cast of accidental saviours, reframing her story took immense conviction and determination. Even completing her first two years of university while homeless didn’t stop her. Jaz persevered and went on to become a teacher, stand-up comedian and international keynote speaker.

Jaz Ampaw-Farr’s main theme is around embedding ambitious resilience in every individual. Change comes from inspiration or desperation, with most people waiting for the latter. Reframing our story of what is possible allows us to turn the volume down on imposter syndrome, stop allowing our past to be a script for our future and unlock our hidden potential. The result? An empowered human-first leader who knows how to navigate chaos, overcome adversity and empower others to take action. The digital age brings overwhelming stress, relentless pressure and constantly moving goalposts. Jaz stands as a guiding force, empowering her audience with the essential tools to do more than survive or thrive – to be truly alive and drive tangible and measurable change.

Jaz Ampaw-Farr calls us all into professional vulnerability and personal authenticity while fearlessly challenging the boundaries of conventional thinking. Reshaping the very concept of diversity and inclusion into a sense of real belonging, Jaz’s determination, expertise and lived experience help organisations and individuals to embark on their own profound journey of meaningful transformation. Her influence sparks the mindset shift, essential for positive change. Jaz is a mother of three phenomenal young humans, CEO and co-founder of Be Human First Ltd. Along with her husband Ed, an executive leadership consultant, they deliver keynotes, coaching, training and workshops that captivate diverse audiences from renowned organisations such as Gucci, Skillsoft, Google, Tropic, The Marketing Society, Chartered College of Teaching, NHS, Biogen, Arbonne, Bloomfest, Vistage, Triggerfish, Empowerment House, Festival of Media, Giant, Brambles, Luminate, RED Engineering, BBC and Channel 4. Her TEDx Talk has been viewed in over 120 countries and Jaz was awarded Speaker Of The Year and Best Live Gig at The Speaker Awards 2022.

With her captivating presence and unmatched charisma, Jaz is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a speaker who can effortlessly bring laughter, evoke deep emotions, and empower your audience. Jaz’s life is an extraordinary chronicle of defying the limits of what is possible. You’ll not find an Olympic medal, ultra-endurance event or un-supported climb of Everest on her CV – what you will find is pure unadulterated truth, passion and some seat-of-your-pants observations from one of the most genuine, hardworking and riotous keynote speakers in the business.

“I was fortune enough to sit in one of Jaz's sessions in Amsterdam. She was phenomenal! She captivated the audience and really had us thinking about life and our career. This is such a treat because working in corporate, we tend to focus on "what's next" vs where are we today and why are we doing the work that we do? She also helped the audience celebrate each other and recognize our greatness.”
“Jaz is a skilled communicator and her energy is infectious. If you’re looking for someone with bags of moral purpose, an ability to connect to the audience, a powerful story and you’re ready to start your own change journey after hearing her then she’s the one for you!”
“Jaz's session at Bloomfest 2022 was exceptional, truly exceptional. The whole room gave Jaz a standing ovation and it was so deserved. In all my years of listening to incredible speakers, none have come close to delivering so much energy, empowerment, hilarity, tear-jerking emotion and spot on advice. Jaz is UK Speaker of the year 2022 for a very good reason. One word, wow!”
“I first *met* Jaz via her TEDx talk, The Power of Everyday Heroes. I was hooked; it was one of the best I'd seen, highlighting the value of those people who've made an indelible mark on our lives - our teachers. It was at that moment, I knew we needed to work together. And work together we did. Jaz joined Skillsoft for several high-profile events, including our annual Perspectives, and as a guest on our popular podcast The Edge. Across all mediums, Jaz shared her thoughts on being a Resilience Ninja, introducing us to the important skills one could learn in the face of a global pandemic, and on the Human Revolution, a leadership approach that puts people at the centre of all we do. Her message has resonated every single time - whether it's with the dozens of people who attended our exclusive live events, the hundreds who participated in a workshop webinar, or the thousands who've listened to Jaz on the podcast. I will leave you with this: if you are looking for inspiration, guidance, and humanity, look no further. Jaz is one of the best people I've had the opportunity to work with”

Popular Talks by Jaz Ampaw-Farr

  • What makes a Winner? Going Beyond A Growth Mindset
    Going Beyond A Growth Mindset Winners have one thing in common – agility. The ability to reframe and overcome adversity are essential skills for success. However, feelings of overwhelm, uncertainty and self-doubt are just three obstacles preventing you from achieving your full potential. In this engaging and compelling keynote, Jaz...
  • Reinventing the Engagement Culture - Connecting Purpose With Productivity
    Connecting Purpose With Productivity All successful organisations value engagement. Changes in the world of work demand a new self-leadership approach. Business has seen an industrial, technical and digital revolution. The next iteration, is a deeper connection, linking the employee’s desire for fulfilment and purpose with the employer’s need for productivity...
  • Three Courageous Conversations - To Transform Your Work and Life Balance
    To Transform Your Work and Life Balance If it were down to accessibility, we’d all be as fit as a butcher’s dog, have achieved the perfect balance between life and work and be living our best lives. There are thousands of YouTube videos on how to be more productive, happier...
  • Be Human-First
  • Professional Vulnerability and Personal Authenticity
  • Reframing Wellbeing
  • DEI as Belonging: Living the Difference Not Laminating It
  • Women in Business: Crafting Your Own Shero’s Journey
  • Be 10% Braver
  • Harnessing The Power of Everyday Heroes
  • How To Master The 3 Rs of Resilience