Poorna Bell

Poorna Bell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author and powerhouse speaker who specialises in mental health, resilience, women's empowerment and redefining strength. With over twenty years' experience as a journalist, including her role as former UK Executive Editor and Global Lifestyle Head for HuffPost, she has authored five acclaimed books, including Stronger, her powerful exploration of powerlifting and how removing weight loss as the primary goal unlocks women's true physical potential. Trained at RADA and recognised on Marie Claire's Verified power list, Poorna has delivered keynotes for Spotify, Twitter, The Financial Times and Ernst & Young. Her sessions equip audiences with practical tools to build resilience, challenge limiting beliefs and create inclusive cultures where mental wellbeing and authentic strength thrive.

After turning to powerlifting during a period of profound grief, Poorna Bell discovered something transformative: when she removed weight loss as the primary goal of physical activity, she unlocked a level of strength and confidence she never knew possible. That personal revelation became the foundation for her third book, Stronger, a powerful exploration of how women can reclaim fitness from diet culture and tap into their true physical potential. Over twenty years as a journalist, including her tenure as UK Executive Editor and Global Lifestyle Head for HuffPost, Poorna has built a career amplifying voices, challenging taboos and creating space for conversations that matter, from mental health advocacy to diversity and inclusion.

Poorna's body of work spans five books, including her debut memoir Chase the Rainbow, praised by Matt Haig as "candid, warm, sad, surprisingly funny, raw, brave, bittersweet" and described by Arianna Huffington as a book "everyone must read". Her follow-up, In Search of Silence, won Red's Big Book Awards 2019 and examines what makes a meaningful life beyond societal expectations. As a freelance journalist, her writing appears regularly in The Guardian, Red, Stylist, Grazia, Women's Health and the Daily Telegraph. Recognised on Marie Claire's Verified power list for using her platform to inspire others and open difficult conversations with honesty, Poorna has also judged prestigious awards including The British Book Awards and The Mind Media Awards. Trained in presentation at RADA, she has spoken at literary festivals including Cheltenham and Henley, delivered keynotes for Spotify, Twitter, The Financial Times and Ernst & Young, and addressed mental health at the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit and for the NHS.

Poorna equips audiences with practical tools to build resilience, challenge limiting beliefs and redefine what strength truly means. Her sessions move beyond theory, drawing on lived experience and extensive research to show how organisations can create inclusive cultures where mental wellbeing thrives and individuals feel empowered to show up authentically. Whether speaking on imposter syndrome, women's empowerment, the intersection of physical and mental strength, or diversity in the digital world, Poorna creates lasting impact by connecting personal narrative with actionable insight. Her collaborations with brands including NatWest, Bupa, Lululemon and Sport England's This Girl Can campaign reflect her ability to translate complex conversations around identity, body image and resilience into messages that resonate widely and drive meaningful change.