Emma Lawton

Emma Lawton is an award-winning writer, artist, stand-up comedian and speaker known for her ability to inspire empathy, resilience and meaningful connection. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 29, she has shared her story through a bestselling book, a 365-day video blog, BBC2's The Big Life Fix, and five TEDx talks, demonstrating how humour, honesty and creativity can transform adversity. As co-founder of the tech platform More Human, she championed community-building and tackled loneliness through innovation. Emma's dynamic presentations empower audiences across corporate, charity and social enterprise settings to embrace resilience, foster wellbeing and rediscover the human capacity to adapt and thrive.

At 29, Emma Lawton received a diagnosis that would have derailed most people: Parkinson's disease. Instead of retreating, she picked up a pen, a camera, and eventually a microphone, turning her experience into a platform for change. Through raw honesty, sharp humour, and unflinching creativity, she has built a body of work that redefines what it means to live fully in the face of adversity. Her self-published book, Dropping the P Bomb, offered a diary-style account of her first year post-diagnosis, blending dark wit with resilience in a way that resonated deeply with readers navigating their own challenges. She followed this with a 365-day video blog in 2018, documenting the realities of Parkinson's without filter or pretence, and then launched The F*** it List in 2019, committing to doing something new every single day for a year. These projects became more than personal milestones; they became proof that diagnosis does not dictate destiny.

Emma's work has earned her national recognition, including a feature on BBC2's The Big Life Fix, where a wearable device designed by Microsoft enabled her to write and draw again despite the tremors caused by Parkinson's. That moment, watched by millions, powerfully illustrated how technology and human determination can restore agency and dignity. She has delivered five TEDx talks and spoken across corporate events, charity forums, and social enterprises, addressing themes of adversity, wellbeing, resilience, and the power of human connection. Beyond speaking, Emma co-founded More Human, a tech platform designed to tackle loneliness by helping people organise community events and clubs. Though her work has since evolved, the principles of connection and belonging remain central to everything she creates, whether through writing, art, or live performance as a stand-up comedian.

On stage, Emma offers audiences far more than inspiration. She equips them with a new lens through which to view challenge, change, and the capacity to adapt. Her talks foster empathy, encourage courageous conversations about wellbeing, and remind people that vulnerability and humour can coexist with strength. Organisations leave her sessions with practical insight into building cultures of resilience, supporting colleagues through difficulty, and recognising the human side of performance and productivity. Emma's story is not one of overcoming adversity in spite of circumstances, but of thriving because she chose to meet them head-on. Her impact lingers long after the applause fades, leaving audiences with a renewed sense of possibility and a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly human.