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Keynote SpeakerSam Phillips

Positive diversity & inclusion catalyst, change driver and leadership inspirer

Sam Phillips is a senior EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) professional who loves driving leadership and business change. She specialises in delivering Board and Executive Team level analysis, insights and strategy and achieves results through building leadership confidence to act. Sam is commercially minded, well-networked, creatively confident, a strong communicator... Read more

Watch Sam Phillips in action

Popular Talks by Sam Phillips

  • Overcoming Adversity
  • Overcoming Fear of Difference
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Why Businesses Should Reflect Populations
  • The Power of the Positive ‘Yes’
  • Leadership
  • Resilience
  • Diversity

Biography

Sam Phillips is a senior EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) professional who loves driving leadership and business change. She specialises in delivering Board and Executive Team level analysis, insights and strategy and achieves results through building leadership confidence to act. Sam is commercially minded, well-networked, creatively confident, a strong communicator and sector-agnostic.

Sam’s background is as a CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) and Leadership Exec who took up simultaneous EDI leadership reins (before this was commonplace). She went on to establish her own successful EDI practice and longer-term clients to date include:
– Lloyds of London, across both Corporation and Markets, with focus on Culture and EDI – contract extension to lead Culture / EDI strategy review and recommendations for CEO / ExCo / Chair
– ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board), working with C-suites and Chairs across the ECB and First Class County infrastructure
– RPC Law, advising the Board / Partnership Executive and delivering a bespoke vision, strategy and data plan. Subsequent CEO / Partnership work, also

Sam also has good understanding of the broader Sustainability landscape having taken time out to study Sustainable Business Leadership (Cambridge University CISL Distinction / 91% awarded January 2023). This is strategically helpful when considering ‘good business’ in the inter-connected ESG round.

If your business is in the foothills of its EDI / Sustainability journey – perhaps with different departments / locations having progressed at contrasting rates to date – Sam’s expertise is there for you. If you’re up and running with your EDI activity but wondering why change is so slow, Sam will make a difference. If you’re looking to inspire and motivate, Sam has helped many businesses break personal and corporate barriers as she elegantly deduces what’s really going on and works with leadership to plan forward from there.

Prior to setting up her own business, Sam spent 15 years at Omnicom – a global leader in marketing communications. Her greatest focus in the latter years was leading 50+ businesses / C-suites (creative, media, health, CRM, PR, branding, experiential) and their 9,000 employees from thinking of EDI as a tertiary issue to establishing it as a top-down leadership priority, with strategy, vision and data that drove bottom-up trust, energy, voice and change. Sam’s parallel roles were CMO Omnicom Media Group UK and Assistant Dean (global) of Omnicom University – Omnicom’s global Exec Education leadership programme in conjunction with Harvard Business School professors.

Before joining Omnicom Sam spent nine years as Marketing Director of Time Inc / Head of Marketing at ITV. Back in the dim-distant past she cut her teeth as an account handler at advertising agencies J. Walter Thompson and TBWA, leading client business such as Wonderbra in the ‘Hello Boys’ era.

Sam Phillips is a sought-after speaker (10, Downing Street, Council of Europe, The Oxford Union) and she is also commissioned by businesses (e.g. Barclays, PwC, comparethemarket.com) to educate, motivate and drive change in their organisations. She is a Trustee of the Valuable 500 (changing the business world’s perception of disability) and of the National Bereavement Partnership.

Sam Phillips is glass-half-full and has a genuine desire to make business better.

Ready to invite Sam Phillips to your event?

Tell us about your event, one of our consultants will reach out within 24 hours.

What clients say about Sam Phillips

"It was fantastic to hear Sam's passion, wisdom & insight on this topic. It was a brilliant conversation, and we are really pleased with the outcome. Please can you pass on our special thanks to Sam from all of us and a personal thank you from me, she's definitely made me feel more empowered to talk about my invisible disability more."

How to book Sam Phillips as a keynote speaker

How do I book Sam Phillips for a keynote speech?

You can book Sam Phillips through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Sam's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Sam Phillips's speaking fees?

Sam Phillips's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Sam tailored to your event.

What topics does Sam Phillips speak about?

Sam Phillips speaks on Diversity, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, LGBTQ, Marketing. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Sam to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Sam Phillips available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Sam Phillips for events worldwide, subject to Sam's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Sam Phillips deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Sam Phillips is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Sam Phillips?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Sam can accommodate.

Can Sam Phillips tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Sam Phillips on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Sam can offer.

What languages does Sam Phillips present in?

Sam Phillips delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Sam Phillips a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Sam Phillips's areas of expertise include Diversity, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, LGBTQ, Marketing. To get a clear sense of Sam's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Sam Phillips speak at?

Sam Phillips can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Diversity, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, LGBTQ, Marketing is relevant. Details of Sam's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Sam Phillips offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Sam Phillips is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Sam Phillips?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Sam Phillips, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Sam's current availability for your dates.