Viv Groskop

Viv Groskop is a best-selling author, award-winning comedian and host of the chart-topping podcast How to Own the Room, where she interviews icons from Hillary Clinton to Margaret Atwood about confidence and public speaking. Her latest book, Happy High Status: How to Be Effortlessly Confident, follows the success of How to Own the Room and Lift As You Climb, whilst her writing appears regularly in The Guardian and she's a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4. Through her keynotes, Viv equips audiences with practical tools to speak with authority, embrace their presence, and lead with confidence in any professional setting.

When Viv Groskop challenged herself to perform 100 stand-up comedy gigs in 100 days whilst raising three children under six, she proved something crucial about confidence: it's not about being fearless, it's about doing it anyway. That bold experiment transformed a successful journalist and Guardian columnist into one of the UK's most sought-after voices on public speaking, presence, and owning your space in any room. Her journey from print to stage, from words on a page to commanding live audiences, has given her a unique understanding of what it takes to show up with authority and authenticity.

Viv's book How to Own the Room became the definitive guide for anyone ready to speak up and stand out, spawning a chart-topping podcast of the same name that has featured conversations with Hillary Clinton, Margaret Atwood, Google's Matt Brittin, and Succession star Brian Cox. Her latest book, Happy High Status: How to Be Effortlessly Confident, offers a fresh perspective on presence and self-assurance, building on the success of her earlier works including Lift As You Climb and One Ukrainian Summer. As a regular contributor to The Guardian, a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4 programmes including Saturday Live and Woman's Hour, and a veteran of six years performing solo comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, Viv has honed her expertise across multiple platforms. She has also written and starred in five BBC Radio 4 plays, demonstrating her versatility as both performer and storyteller. Her media appearances span BBC Newsnight, This Morning, and University Challenge, establishing her as a trusted voice on confidence, communication, and culture.

Today, Viv works with organisations and individuals who want to move beyond playing small and step into their full presence. Her keynotes, including How to Own the Room, Lift As You Climb, and The Embrace of Failure, combine practical techniques with humour and compelling insights drawn from her diverse career. Whether coaching senior executives, hosting awards ceremonies, or MCing events ranging from intimate gatherings to crowds of thousands, she equips audiences with tangible tools to speak with conviction, navigate challenging conversations, and lead with confidence. Viv doesn't just teach people how to present, she helps them discover their natural authority and use it to create meaningful impact in every professional interaction.