8 Keynote Speakers for the Pharmaceutical Industry

11 October 2021

The pharmaceutical industry has been under intense scrutiny since the pandemic began. While much of the world went into lockdown, pharma industry went into overdrive as we sought a vaccine to stave off the threat of COVID-19. 

Now we are out of lockdown and looking forward in an upbeat manner, there are still challenges and opportunities across the business world. That includes the pharma industry too. 

Of course, we believe the perfect place to spark the debates, ideas, and engagement programmes to deal with these issues is with an external keynote speaker. 

So, without further ado, here are our top 8 speakers for the pharmaceutical industry. 

John Straw - Digital Transformation

If there’s one speaker to make the complex simple, then it’s serial entrepreneur John Straw. The former chair of Thomas Cook’s Digital Advisory Board, John has 4 successful start-up exits behind him, and is currently an active investor in early-stage start-ups, NED for Provident Financial plc, and a current Senior Advisor to Mckinsey and Company.

We like John because everytime he visits our office, we all learn something new. By educating audiences and stimulating debate on change and disruption and sharing insights on AI, the Internet of Things, 3D printing and augmented reality, we think he will do the same to your teams too.

Nick Jankel – Digital Transformation & Uncertainty 

Nick Jankel is a former medic, so it’s no surprise he focuses on the scientific, philosophical, psychological, and practical angles that inspires the creative juices to flourish within his audience.

Nick has spent time with No.10 Downing Street, Yale and Google in recent years, sharing his ideas on how to innovate through uncertain times. Each time we have heard Nick speak to our team, he has left us in a positive, upbeat mood to make the changes we need to safeguard our future.

Lucy Adams – HR and Culture During Uncertainty 

A five-year tenure as the BBC’s HR Director certainly brought some turbulent times, but Lucy Adams emerged with an enhanced reputation as she steered the organisation to calmer waters. Before the BBC, Lucy had previously been delivering change in complex organisations as the Group HR Director at Serco plc and Eversheds.

Now the founder of agency Disruptive, Lucy’s aim is to put the "human" back into Human Resources. If there is one speaker who can bring together the strategic and operational HR expertise with valuable lessons taught over a 15 year career, then it’s Lucy Adams. 

Brendan Hall – Empowerment and Leadership 

Imagine what it would take to lead a team of novices to glory. Now picture the scene where you are in the deep ocean, crewmates injured, having to leave your ship to help another vessel in distress. Yet Brendan Hall, a professional yacht racing skipper, managed to empower, train, and lead his crew to unprecedented success against all the odds.

Brendan really has one of those unique stories that make you sit up and listen. He provides a powerful combination of ironclad trust in uncertainty, empowerment, and growth mindsets that can be applied at every level of an organisation. 

Campbell Macpherson - Organisational Change

We know change is constant, but for it to be successful and sustainable for any size of business, everyone needs to have bought into the process. So who better to turn to than Campbell Macpherson who has been doing exactly that for the past 25 years.

The author of ‘The Change Catalyst’, Campbell brings energy and impact, both of which we can testify to during his visit to our office. Campbell has built, acquired, sold and merged businesses, advises CEOs and leadership teams on dealing with uncertainty and leading successful change, and regularly speaks to blue-chip and FTSE 100 companies.

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE - Motivational Speaker

Watching an Olympian gold medallist receiving their medals and singing the national anthem is mere window dressing behind the challenges they have faced over the past 4 years. And longer. 

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE finally added Olympic gold to her vast medal collection when, along with partner Anna Watkins, she won the double sculls final at Eton Dorney in 2012. But this is only a fraction of the story, which Katherine uses to inspire, motivate, and ultimately demonstrate, that the road to success might be long, but the rewards more than make up for it.

Adrian Furnham – The Psychology of Crowds & Patient Population

Since the pandemic began, we have heard a lot of coverage about the psychology of crowds. Audiences need an approachable, well-informed expert to unpick the finer details. Step forward Professor Adrian Furnham, one of the world's most productive psychologists and one of HR Magazine’s 20 Most Influential People in HR.

Adrian expertly weaves together business with psychology, covering topics such as the new economic mind, psychology of behaviour at work, and the psychology of money. 

Farrah Storr - The Discomfort Zone

When everyone else feared the worst, Farrah Storr saw it as an opportunity to be the best. An award-winning editor-in-chief of Elle UK, Farrah turned around the fortunes of a struggling publication in a competitive marketplace by inspiring, empowering, and leading her teams into the discomfort zone.

Farrah is a strong advocate how change, challenge and constraint can lead to creativity and success. An acclaimed keynote speaker, moderator, author of The Discomfort Zone, in Farrah 2017 was cited as one of only 36 BAME leaders in The Guardian & Operation Black Votes UK’s 1000 Most Powerful list. 

For further information or to book a speaker, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email  info@speakerscorner.co.uk.

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