2025: A Year I Won’t Forget in a Hurry Reflections on speaking, storytelling, education and being 10% braver Every December invites reflection. Here’s mine – human first, slightly chaotic, and including a crocheted octopus. 2025 was a year of voice, reach and making...
Back in 2008, when my eldest was in Reception, I nominated her fantastic teacher, Miss Jenkins, for the New Teacher of the Year Award — and she won. Teachers are special.Teachers are powerful.Teachers change lives quietly and consistently. The Teachers Who Transformed...
Results Day can feel like the most important – and most stressful – day of your life. Whether you’re celebrating, shocked, or somewhere in between, the emotions hit hard and fast. I know from experience that grades can feel like a verdict, but they’re really just a...
When I first got the letter, I thought it was a joke. Standing alone in the kitchen I couldn’t speak, let alone call Ed so I took a photo of it, uploaded it to ChatGPT and asked, “What’s this?” ChatGPT replied: “The University of Hull are offering you an honorary...
MILTON KEYNES, UK. July 1st, 2025 – Inspirational speaker, author, and teaching advocate Jaz Ampaw-Farr is set to receive two honorary doctorates this summer, recognising her outstanding impact on public life, education, and leadership. The University...
In short: Feeling you’re not enough? It might be a simple typo! My friend Charlie is a proper legend. Every conversation we have results in laughter, a mindset shift or both. She’s accidentally cool and always coming out with corkers, I call Charlie-isms. Like the...
From the care system to the red carpet – this powerful new film celebrates the everyday heroes who choose empathy over exclusion. Milton Keynes, UK. 3rd June 2025 – Re-Story Your Life, a short documentary based on the lived experience of...
Interview with John Rose at Inspiring Leaders Conference June 2025 At the Inspiring Leadership conference, John Rose caught up with international speaker, author, and advocate Jaz Ampaw-Farr to talk about the teachers who changed her life, the unseen power of small...
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes before a keynote? Here’s a glimpse into my two-keynotes-in-a-day adventure in Manchester!5am alarm ⏰ Outfit crisis 👗 Hair rebellion 💇♀️ Last-minute slide tweaks 💻 Taxi driver banter 🚕 AV check panic 🎤 Pre-keynote...
The New Year is often a time when we’re all thinking about making changes, but for organisations, it’s a constant conversation. Last month, I was honoured to deliver keynotes for stand-out organisations—McCarthy Stone and Babble from the corporate sector, and...
Ever had one of those moments scrolling through social media where suddenly you’re neck-deep in comparison quicksand? You know the feeling – everyone else seems to have Instagrammable, colour-coordinated home decor and children who eat vegetables out of...
There’s something magical about a 5 am start when you know you’re heading to meet education legends…From psychology workshops to brave commitments, these incredible educators weren’t just showing up… they were stepping up!And let me tell you,...
I asked Chat GPT to come up with a SWOT analysis based on what it knew about my business in 2024. It was pretty helpful – and considerably more accurate than the AI image it generated of me! My next prompt was: “Based on everything you know about me...
Even Father Christmas knows when to delegate… Feeling overwhelmed with the thought of Christmas festivities? I’ve got a little something to help with that! If you have two minutes, you’ll want to watch this video! Spoiler alert: It features me singing! It will...
What if we only used words to describe kids that we were happy for them to wear on a t-shirt? At 16 I saw my ‘rap sheet’ – everything every professional had written about me. As I stood looking down at a pile of paperwork poured onto the surface of an old,...
What if everything you want was on the other side of one ten-minute courageous conversation? Maybe one with yourself! I’ve had literally thousands of conversations with people just like you who have unlocked their own potential with small acts of bravery. I wasn’t...
✨ What happens when you put 4,000+ brilliant minds in one space? Magic! I had the honour of speaking at (LINK FOR LINKEDIN) Karren Brady’s Women in Business & Tech Expo at London’s ExCeL, where my keynote was ranked in the top five alongside some absolute...
Here’s to WILD, Audacious goals! Here’s a sentence I can’t believe I’m actually writing… The short film about my childhood has been submitted to The Netflix Documentary Talent Fund. PINCH ME! 💃 In the last two years, there have been thousands...
You’re human first. Last week a friend told me they were having a ‘non-work day‘. It gave me the ick! That’s assuming that work is the standard and most important thing and we define ourselves based on whether we are on it or not! Life came before work! ‘Oh I’m...
Fancy a communication cocktail so potent it’ll make your head spin? (In a good way, I promise!) All you need is three ingredients – and there’s not a cocktail cherry in sight! Growing up in an under-resourced community (my term for ‘disadvantaged’) with...
Arbonne certainly know how to celebrate! I loved being at the Liverpool ACC speaking to the incredible audience about owning your truth.** I also discovered that I can stand on one leg for an hour. (I took a break here to Google the Guinness World Record for standing...
Great news, lots of schools have talked about being in a trust or MAT and if they could join as one link! We want to make sure this is affordable for everyone who wants to come. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Jaz do her “The Power of Everyday...
I’ve been added to Fast Forward 15’s Shero’s List! 🏆 And I’m over the moon about it! In my keynote “Re-Story Your Life,” I always encourage my audience to embark on their own S/Hero’s Journey. Why? Because you’ve worked too hard to settle...
Celebrate Your SOUL, Not Just Your ROLE Join Me for a Special Virtual Keynote!Everything I am and everything I’ve achieved, I owe to five Everyday Heroes who changed my life.They were teachers, mentors, and school staff who saw potential in me when I...
Watch the full keynote Yeeha! My clients are special, which is why I bring my professional videographer with me on the day to record and create a video for the keynote for you to share! You have access for seven days so do reach out to your event organiser to get your...
Arbonne Fest was an event to remember! I loved being at the Liverpool ACC speaking to the incredible audience about owning your truth. What an incredible journey it was, even with crutches in hand! The energy was electric as I spoke about: The key takeaway? Believe in...
Stop confusing bravery with courage. Firefighters are courageous. They run towards danger while the rest of us flee! **Bravery is when you’re terrified, full of self-doubt but you still choose to take the first step. That’s why I encourage 10% braver. You don’t have...
Go beyond mediocrity and drive real change. You’ve heard of resilience. But have you heard of the VIP version: ambitious resilience? This isn’t about just getting by or even thriving – it’s about driving real change in your life and the world around...
Wow, what a day! Ed and I had the honour of bringing some positive disruption to the corporate world with a roomful of executive PAs. We came armed with our 10% Braver philosophy and enough energy to light up a city, determined to show these fabulous humans that their...
Happy New Term! Below are two videos – a highlights video and my full IBSC keynote at Harrow School. I’ve had lots of requests for the video of my full keynote, and the good news is that you have access to watch and share from now until the end of...
Watch the full keynote Yeeha! My clients are special, which is why I bring my professional videographer with me on the day to record and create a video for the keynote for you to share! You have access for seven days so do reach out to your event organiser to get your...
What a day! Bloomfest was a blast 💥 I’m always appreciative of the opportunity to speak into people’s lives so it was a huge honour to deliver the opening keynote on Fearlessness. I don’t usually share my keynote in full, but I’ve had so many amazing...
BLOG POST COPY Watch the full keynote Yeeha! My clients are special, which is why I bring my professional videographer with me on the day to record and create a video for the keynote for you to share! You have access to the link for seven days so do reach out to your...
Want to know how to be a better leader? It’s simple: be human first, professional second. Human-first leadership values authenticity, connections, professional vulnerability and intentional work-life balance. It’s about inviting people into a space where how we...
Success Stories Are Overrated! This week, I’m delivering the opening keynote at The International Boys’ Schools Coalition. I don’t know if I’m more excited about standing in the Great Hall or being Steven Bartlett’s warm-up act! (Yes, THE...
It was an honour to speak at the Fast Forward Graduation recently. Thank you to Fay Sharpe for having me, it was great to meet the Everyday Heroes from your organisation! Watch the full keynote Yeeha! My clients are special, which is why I bring my professional...
Watch the full keynote What a total privilege it was to speak at the Elevate woman launch for Academy Transformation Trust recently. Their program championing women in leadership looks an incredibly exciting and is all about meeting people where they are. My keynote,...
There’s a mahoosive difference between telling a story and storytelling. People often show up to my keynotes assuming they’re going to hear my story. But actually it’s never just my story. My focus is on taking my story to our story and ending on YOUR story. And...
Humans are awesome! There I said it. With so much negativity in the news at the moment, your nominations for my Mindset In Morocco giveaway has given my team’s faith in humanity a huge boost this week! The heart-warming nominations that the Be Human First team...
When I ask people to raise their hand if they are a success in my keynotes the response is always stilted. People hesitate, nervously glance around and then nudge their neighbour, “Go on Maureen, you put your hand up!” This is your friendly reminder to take a moment...
I am so excited to announce that I’ve been shortlisted for two awards this year. The first is Best Showreel and the second is the prestigious Booker’s Choice Award.Both awards are fantastic, but I’m especially grateful to be shortlisted for the Booker’s Choice...
Telford International Centre – 650 Everyday Heroes and the Youth Sport Trust at their National Summit all about School Games. For me team sports = belonging. At school, it taught me the essence of what it means to be part of a family – connecting,...
A keynote for Everyday Heroes! It’s not every day you get to stand on stage in your hometown and speak to the incredible adults who taught your actual children. This was a great opportunity to thank them for the outstanding work they do. As you know, leaders in...
Entries are now open! GO GO GO! I’ve only ever bought a lottery ticket once in my life – and I won £20! I was over the moon and disappointed at the same time because the jackpot that week was £11 million, and Ed and I had already invested a considerable amount...
There are only 10 hours left on our early bird discount of £1475, down from £1695 for Mindset In Morocco. A Luxury 5-day mindset retreat, 28th October – 1st November 2024. To secure your space you only need to pay the £200 deposit. You could spend the next 10 hours:...
And that time I tried to (and failed) bribe the BBC! Did I tell you about that time I tried (and failed) to bribe the BBC? Every 20 years I appear on a reality TV show. It’s kind of a hobby. When I was 20 I was a picker on ITV’s dating show Blind Date hosted by Cilla...
Still time to get our 20% Discount Early Bird Offer Just experienced half term? How was it for you? With three young kids, school holidays were a military operation of allocating child care, spending quality together, working and, the 2 minutes and 43 seconds I might...
The doors are now open and you can reserve your space with a 20% Early Bird Discount! If you’ve been following my exploits on social media, you’ll have seen my recent trip to Morocco, where I crafted an amazing retreat in collaboration with Intrepid Travel. Well, the...
Meeting the behavioural science legend that is Rory Sutherland! The best thing about speaking at conferences is being able to hear and learn from the other speakers! I was lucky enough to be warmup act at ITV’s Big Day Out Conference for the behavioural science legend...
Check out my Behind The Scenes video above to get a feel for how great the Tropic Leaders event is! One of my highlights of 2023 was meeting the phenomenal everyday heroes (or should I say sheroes) of @Tropic Skincare.Susie Ma and I have something in common in that...
Today’s invitation: Stop scrolling social media and comparing your backstage with everyone else’s front stage! You know that morning pep talk you give yourself? The one where you look in the mirror and mentally prepare yourself to face the challenges of the day...
Clue: It’s about with-ness ”We agonise over the gap of who we are and who our children need us to be.” Cole Arthur Riley In my first 10 years of parenting 3 kids, mum guilt was real. It nibbled at my toes and crept up in the back of my throat and came out through my...
What an absolute thrill it was to be invited to speak at the KAO event in Edinburgh, celebrating the amazing salon owners! My keynote was all about helping them be 10% braver in business and as a cherry on top, I even got to indulge in some spirited Scottish dancing!...
We had the honour of speaking at the stunning South Lodge for an Exclusive Collection Event – which was all about powering up your potential in HR. Ed delivered his Power Of Your Voice session, while I brought my 10% Braver keynote to the stage. We loved...
Nature, nurture, now – three powerful forces shaping the narrative you are currently living. Nature – who you are at your core – your DNA. Nurture – the ‘shoulds’ of your upbringing based on your culture, gender, society, parents, heritage,...
Strap yourself in Maureen! Here’s a message from your future self: Stop living as if you have spare lives hanging up in your wardrobe! My trick for reminding myself of that daily is to do a ‘pre-mortem’ on myself! In Bronnie Ware’s fabulous book “The Top Five...
This was a Positive Disruptor Day like never before – a takeover by incredible young minds! I had the privilege of spending the day and guiding an interactive workshop with care-experienced young people. When a client hands you the reins to create a conference...
Gen Z are such an encouragement to me. There’s something amazing about seeing young people attack a challenge without fear and with creative gusto! It was an honour to be asked to follow Claudia Winkleman, and deliver the closing keynote at the historical Guild Hall...
Ed and I were chuffed to be invited to speak at the amazing Utilita Bowl. We weren’t playing cricket, but we were doing something even more exciting! We were helping Southampton City Council leaders discover their leadership voices and recognise the impact that they...
One of my highlights of 2023 was meeting the phenomenal everyday heroes (or should I say sheroes) of Tropic Skincare! Susie Ma and I have something in common in that we’ve both failed on the apprentice (can I get a whoop whoop) and we’ve both gone on to create...
Want to know what keeps me going? YOU! The connection, engagement and questions I receive as a result of my keynote make the blood, sweat and tears all worth it! After keynotes, I tend to get mobbed and don’t always get to spend the 1-1 time that you deserve with you....
We have spent the week in beautiful Marrakech, so I thought I’d give you a quick backstory about how this came about. Over a year ago I spoke at a conference at Google which was attended by all of the travel industry greats including the incredible Intrepid Travel. We...
It’s fair to say I’ve never visited a more glamorous garden than the Jardin Majorelle. Designed by the fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Whilst our tour guide whisked us passed the queue (perks of being with Intrepid) I was surprised to see so many...
Strap yourself in Maureen! Exciting News ahead… Today’s blog post is coming to you straight from the heart of Morocco, and it’s no ordinary update! I’m thrilled to share something special Ed and I have been brewing up with the fantastic team at...
One of my highlights of 2023 was meeting the phenomenal everyday heroes (or should I say sheroes) of Tropic skincare. Susie Ma and I have something in common in that we’ve both failed on the apprentice (can I get a whoop whoop) and we’ve both gone on to create...
It might look like I’m in Beijing but I’m actually in sunny Bracknell at Wellington College for a fantastic event with The Circle Trust. I had the honour of speaking to the whole school family! That’s right, every adult in school! Everyone gathered together for a day...
Anyone who knows me will know that I have a huge passion for education. Which obviously happens in schools but you never really graduate from the school of self improvement. This is why continued personal and professional development is so important. Here’s a sneak...
Thanks so much Wimbledon High School GDST! It was such a treat to spend the day with your Everyday Heroes! If you’ve already watched my TEDx Talk, “The Power of Everyday Heroes,” you’ll know that I owe everything I am today to the five teachers who changed...
Watch the full keynote Yeeha! My clients are special, which is why I bring my professional videographer with me on the day to record and create a video for the keynote for you to share! You have access for seven days so do reach out to your event organiser to get your...
How’s your week panning out? As I’m typing this, Ed is on stage delivering the closing keynote at the college of policing conference. Later on today, he’s meeting me in London where I’m speaking at a social mobility event at the House of Lords. I’m delivering a...
Meet Dave, my Comparisonitus Cactus 🌵 Dave isn’t your ordinary cactus; he’s my personal reminder to steer clear of the endless scroll and the dangerous game of comparing my backstage to everyone else’s front stage. Social media has a way of distorting...
It was such a thrill to speak at a conference beneath a famous aircraft! Inspiring a room full of incredible women about mental health and leadership in aviation & aerospace was an honour. The room was filled with the energy of trailblazers and innovators, and it...
I’m on record as saying if there’s going to be a revolution in Education, it’s going to start in the North, and this keynote proved me right! Delivering a keynote in the North Tyneside Council Chamber to a room jam-packed with everyday hero leaders in education was a...
10% Braver looks different for everyone. 10% Braver looks different for everyone. You don’t have to achieve firefighter levels of courage, it’s about being braver than you were yesterday. Small steps = MAHOOSIVE change. Ready to say goodbye to self-doubt? Join my 10%...
Whenever I hear the ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’ vibe, I always think of the raw deal Maureen and Ken next-door-but-one get if you‘re not very nice to yourself! This V-Day, before you rush out to buy flowers/M&S Dinner for 2/a sleeping bag to hide in...
Goals used to feel like a luxury I couldn’t afford. I had a tendency to live as if I was surrounded by scarcity – an old story left over from being a kid in foster care, a homeless student and a newly qualified teacher! Even when I started teaching, and the...
When tasked with embedding ambitious resilience in a class of 30 six year olds I called on the great British stand up comedian Peter Kay. In one routine, he discusses biscuits – a subject close to my heart. Peter compares the weakling Rich Tea biscuit (which...
What an honour to celebrate the wins of care-experienced children and young people! My childhood in foster care would have been so different if Virtual Schools had existed back then. Thank you @Tower Hamlet Virtual School and @BT for hosting such a fab event....
*2024 Update – now triple! I just won Speaker of the Year at the GTex Awards! Thank you, Sam Allcock, for this lovely write-up of my awards! Check it out on Business Mole. Jaz Ampaw-Farr, an extraordinary local woman from Milton Keynes, has once again been...
I’ve massively struggled with this one. I felt that taking time out for myself was indulgent. But ask yourself, who wants a bitter, twisted, exhausted human showing up for them? Not me! When you insist on filling up the cups of others while paying your own cup no mind...
I kicked off 2024 in style in Carlisle with over 300 Everyday Heroes for the fantastic Changing Lives Learning Trust. They are aptly named too as their work really does change lives! It’s inspiring to see the dedication and passion that educators bring to their...
“I’m not good enough.” How many times have you uttered those words to yourself? The secret to knowing your worth is to start believing in yourself. It sounds simple. But it can be hard to break free from the special kind of criticism we save for ourselves. One way to...
It’s time to stop using the word ‘just’ to describe yourself. Make this small shift for big change. It’s important to listen to the way you describe yourself and watch out for the word ‘just’ sneaking in. Here are my previous top three: “I’m...
Breaking News: You can eat all the chocolate you like! Ever noticed how the moment you vow to never eat something again, it becomes the forbidden fruit? Declaring ‘Right, that’s it no more Spotted Dick for me’ is actually a plan for tomorrow’s breakfast!! Last...
Here’s a resolution for you… stop ‘should-ing’ on yourself! It’s been a game-changer of a resolution in my life and is right up there with the two resolutions I make (and successfully keep) every year: 1. Give up smoking – an easy win as I’ve...
I have two gifts for you: The first is my game-changing Ditch Those Resolutions Playbook. Here’s what one phenomenal human made of it: “It’s genius! So crisp and clear! Just what I needed, thank you so much!” Gia on Facebook The second is a whopping 50%...
Click here to see me in action on stage and behind the scenes at The WAT Conference held at The Birmingham ICC. I’m ending my year with a mahousive bang! See me in action on stage and behind the scenes at The WAT Conference held at The Birmingham ICC. I...
Forget New Year’s resolutions – use my free playbook to change your life instead!I’ve made this for you. Yes, you! It’s my annual Ditch The Resolutions Playbook – because who needs resolutions when you can craft a roadmap for becoming your best self in the time...
The ICC is one of my favourite venues to speak at. It’s not just the fantastic stages and arena but the wonderful staff. I’ve spoken at the ICC several times, and from security to catering to the tech crew, I’ve yet to find anyone without a smile on...
The short version: I’m running a live Speaker Q&A and you’re invited! Yes it’s free. Yeap, those who register will get a replay. Oh yes baby, you can ask me anything. Click below and get in on the action! SAVE MY SEAT Last year, I had the...
What’s on your failure CV? That’s the question we ask everyone before they come to work with us at Human 1st Ltd. We want to know that you’ve navigated chaos without letting fear drive the bus! Success stories without sweat are just noise. Tell...
Here’s another story reframing hack and how I use it… Whenever my kids’ schools ask for donations to a trip, I pay for as many places as I can afford. As a child with parents who were not engaged in parenting, I felt a sense of dread every time we...
Growing up, music was limited to whatever the least drunk adult sang. In our house a radio was rare and a TV was a luxury that used up too many 50ps in the lecky meter.I loved singing and longed to have a go on the school piano in the hall but that was only unlocked...
My two frustrations about awards ceremonies used to be … 1. The winners who say they don’t know what to say.2. The winners struggle to say anything because they are crying. Then I won Speaker Of The Year and I did both! Karma. On the night I stumbled to...
It all started with a conversation…. Whilst being interviewed by Michelle Bookoff–Bajdek onSkillsoft’s excellent podcast The Edge I mentioned that I’d like to see some research on unwritten rules of work. 👉🏽Those things that nobody says but we all assume...
2023 brings a good news/bad news sitch. Here’s the bad news… Healthy eating is hard. Being overweight is hard.Marriage is hard. Getting divorced is hard.Balancing life and work is hard. Realising you’ve missed key moments in your kid’s life...
What’s your default setting? Human BEING or Human DOING? If making To Do Lists was an Olympic sport I’d have a lot more bling in my jewellery drawer! I used to have several lists on the go at the same time. Lists for home, work, health, my kids,...
The first Christmas present I gave my husband was a bauble I’d found on the tube. We moved into our first home a week before Christmas on a tight budget. That year our decorations were limited to a slightly tired tree and a bauble that had fallen off a drunk guy’s...
Last week I delivered a wellbeing day for The Orwell Trust. That’s 300 Everyday Heroes in total! I actually wanted to title the day “Wellbeing For Idiots (Myself Included)” because we all know what we could do to improve our physical and mental...
The impossible has happened! I’m blown over and incredibly honoured to have won awards in three categories at The Speaker Awards: 🎊 Highly Commended for Best Virtual Gig🎉 WINNER – Best Live Gig and…🏆 WINNER – Speaker Of The Year! It’s...
This moment was captured last week by Bros in Mktg at The Speaker Awards. I’d just won Speaker Of The Year, but that’s not why it’s special. I’ve always been blessed with amazing friends in absence of a family growing up. I’ve...
My Saturdays are reserved for Lovely. The goal is to look back at the end of the day and to say ‘You know what, today was lovely’ – and mean it! Today’s Lovely Saturday started with a Rubik’s Cube race with my son who beat me with his...
On the same day I was booked to do seventeen TV and radio interviews promoting the BBC TV show The Apprentice, I had to go and identify my little brother’s body. A few months earlier, the previous season of The Apprentice had been in full swing, and the...
Your past is not a script for your future. My all-time favourite mantra. As a keynote speaker, I get to hang out with thought (and action) leaders. One of the loveliest human males I’ve had the pleasure of following on a couple of occasions is Kriss Akabusi. His...
When was the last time you felt vulnerable? I asked my husband that a few years back. He thought for a moment and replied “Hmm I don’t think I’ve ever felt vulnerable!” Whaaaaaaat? Clearly, our day to day experiences had been different. Ed has always stood on the...
As a teacher, one of my favourite things was twisting the end of stories to mess with the kids in my class! I once convinced thirty-one 5 year olds that the big, bad wolf actually just had hay fever. His only crime was reacting to a heavy pollen count whilst passing...
Growing up, I lived on and off with my nan. She was the one consistent adult in my life as various ‘dads’ came and went, more often than not adding a new sibling into the mix. My nan was there to pick up the pieces with her unique style of post-war...
Growing up, I lived on and off with my nan. She was the one consistent adult in my life as various ‘dads’ came and went, more often than not adding a new sibling into the mix. My nan was there to pick up the pieces with her unique style of post-war...
Two stories and a question for you… Ethel & The Blitz My nan’s mate Ethel swore blind her ex-boyfriend was Frank Sinatra. Apparently, it was before he was famous and was working for an ironmonger in Radford. So yeah, some of Ethel’s stories needed to...
We’ve had an industrial revolution and, you know, that went well. 🏭 We’ve had a technical revolution which was by all accounts more fun than you can shake a spanner at. 🛠 We’ve had a digital revolution and in the words of The Schuyler Sisters ‘Look around, look around...
Open Table is a Team Ampaw-Farr family tradition that happens around mealtimes. Whoever is round the table can join in – family, friends, even that postman who popped in to use the loo and ended up staying for a Sloppy Joe. 🌭 Open Table is super easy and only...
Ever thought about the unwritten rules of work? You won’t find them in your employee handbook, but chances are you’re aware of, adhering to or frustrated by the unwritten rules in your organisation. Unwritten rules are part and parcel of company culture. The very...
Ready for a kind kick up the bottom? Your people-pleasing tendencies are stealing joy from your life. There, I said it! Saying yes is an act of courage, an agreement and a decision to move forward. If you’re overcommitting, regularly putting yourself last and telling...
What’s holding you back from joining the Human First Academy? Here are some frequent questions I get from people. 1. I’m not sure what’s inside. What if it’s not a good fit for me? Good question. Inside you’ll find 9 toolkits each with 6 x 10 min...
Here’s a thought… 🙋🏾 Imagine what your life could look like with more intention and less people-pleasing. Yup, that’s quite a bold statement on the weekly to-do list. But it’s not just do-able – it’s everyday behaviour in the Human First Academy. And...
You came into your role to make a difference. The problem is that it sometimes feels like the system is working against you rather than for you. It can sometimes leave you wondering if you’re good enough. Imposter syndrome making you work harder, in turn,...
WOW! That was a blast! Huge thanks to everyone who attended my Human First Workshops this week. We had people from the UK, India, America, Africa and Australia! On the 5th anniversary of my record-breaking TEDx Talk, I launched my Human First Academy – or...
Growing up in and out of foster care and on the streets is something I used to be ashamed of and hide. Crazy on two counts. It wasn’t my fault and I’ve always been a huge success! I was an incredibly resilient child and navigated the chaos of neglect, abuse and...
I came out of the shower this morning to find this slightly confusing text from my friend. “I hope you’ve got your Spandex on. That’s a race I’d pay to watch!” Then I remembered that I’d mentioned I was following Kriss Acabusi as...
Today I had the honour of being invited to join the Helena Kennedy Foundation Award Winners Event at The House of Lords. It was a huge bonus to have Gemma Oaten as my guest. Julie Mills and the team (especially Shahida) pulled together a moving and poignant event...
When the first lockdown hit, like many others, I lost my business. As a keynote speaker, I relied on events – no events meant no work. I was in the fortunate position of not about to starve so set about doing what I’d always wanted and planned to do but had no...
Here are three statements people have said to me after this week’s keynotes. “That was inspirational! You’re the antidote to apathy!” “I was about to hand my notice in but after hearing you I’ve got my mojo back.” “Do...
My husband’s role was made redundant at Christmas. I would have panicked if it wasn’t the 5th time. The other four times have resulted in him landing an even better job – often in the same organisation. This time he decided to start a new chapter and...
It’s not HIStory, HERstory or THEIRstory – it’s yours. Bronnie Ware spent most of her career working as a palliative care nurse taking care of those in their final days of life. In her book ‘The Top Five Regrets of The Dying’, she describes the...
If you’ve ever described yourself using the word ‘just’ before your job title or role, this is for you. A few years back I was sat in an auditorium listing to Sue Cowley deliver her keynote. Sue has a unique way of harnessing and embedding curiosity,...
Last week I wrote about doing a premortem on your work/life balance using Bronnie Ware’s The Top Five Regrets Of The Dying. As a palliative care nurse, she spent over ten years caring for patients in their last twelve weeks of life. Bronnie turned her insight...
DOWNLOAD MY FREE TOOLKIT I have a history of setting ridiculously high expectations for myself and then beating myself when I fail. Also, I’m time short, and incredibly busy with loads of really important stuff. Oh yeah, and I also have a Netflix account. You know the...
Forget Christmas Eve pyjamas – it’s all about purple undercrackers in our house. A few years back, we received a little package from my mother in law. That’s normal. What wasn’t normal was the contents. A lurid, almost glowing, pair of mini-human sized...
In December 2004, I had a teaching degree, a mountain of student debt and a fantastic group of friends who were more like family having stood shoulder to shoulder with me through tough times. My grandiose Christmas gift ideas for my ‘framily’ were...
Instead of making resolutions this year why not write a letter from your older self to your current self. Here’s mine – turns out my 90 year old self is super smart! Hey Jaz I know how partial you are to the odd list so I’ve written one for you. Do me a...
Today I got to stand on the same stage as the women from the early Suffragette movement. As he miked me up, Will, the stage manager, listed other speakers who had given speeches standing on the very same floorboards I was about to be on: Ghandi Martin Luther King...
You’re stronger, wiser and more powerful than you think. And I know that because you have a tendency to doubt yourself or talk yourself and your achievements down. It’s called being human, welcome to the club! However, the one thing we need to be completely clear on...
Full disclosure, for a large part of my life, my default setting was misery and depression. I was accustomed to waking up in the morning with a dark heavy cloud around me. I accepted that feeling as ‘normal’ and perfected the habit of disassociation to block the fog....
Ever felt like you have too much to do and too little time to do it in? I’m mum to three kids, I run my own businesses and now and again I like to make out with my husband so, it’s a yes from me. On any given day I’m juggling writing, coaching and...
My favourite awful summer job was working on The Party Bus. This involved loading up two hundred people on to four bright red, double decker buses and driving them to clubs around London all night. Our first stop was usually around 8pm at some underground basement or...
There’s one reason I stayed quiet for so long. Fear. Even when I stood up to share my story I was afraid. Not of individuals. Of the system. After I appeared on The Apprentice, a head took me on one side after I’d delivered literacy training in a school. ‘I can see...
Just over a year ago I stood in front of 300 teachers and decided to tell them the truth about themselves. It was no mean feat seeing as my default setting for my entire career had been lying. I started teaching feeling lucky to even have a job – which is...
In a world where we have apps to let people know we are safe in the event of a disaster, it’s easy to see tragedy as a normal part of life. After all, how do you contain someone who is not concerned for their own safety, let alone that of others? Like being in...
Jill Wood doesn’t look like a revolutionary. She’s softly spoken, her hair is neatly styled, and she’s not wearing any commercially produced Che Guevara merchandise. But this year she was the only head who stood her ground and boycotted SATs in her...
Paul Dix made me cry. Not once, but both times I’ve heard him speak. It’s not his dodgy jokes. It’s that when he talks, every core of his being sees you as human first. He has a way of emphasising before enrolling. Of making you feel acknowledged and...
When coaching a leadership team recently, I asked: ‘Who’s in charge of happiness round here?’ *Blank looks. Followed by someone asking what exactly I meant by happiness. Eventually, the group threw out a few names of people who seemed to be quite...
My five year old has a stunning selection of Poundland Christmas hats, the latest being an elf one with ears and a beard. As I was sitting at the breakfast wearing it listening to Christmas music last week I thought how cool it would be to get together some of the...
I definitely don’t have all the answers. What I do have is a bag full of questions and I’ve finally turned my back on Imposter Syndrome and started asking them! MY WHY is to be a catalyst for change. ‘What If?’ is a series of videos where I try...
You want to make a change. I mean you really want to. And yet every time you try you get stuck. Me too! That’s why I’ve shared this journey with you. Because the good news is, you get to choose what happens...
Mr Ruddock was my history teacher in Y8. I want to sugarcoat it, or say it wasn’t just me, or assert that I wasn’t the worst, but, the truth is: I made his life a misery. Inspired by Paul Dix’s fabulous new book: ‘When Adults Change, Everything...
What would happen if I walked into your staff room and asked: Right you fantastic bunch of heroes, who’s in charge of happiness round here? Blank looks? Confused stares? A random voice offering ‘Well I collect the lottery money each month?’ Are We Having...
You want to give 100% to life and work without losing yourself. Whenever the scales tip in either direction, guilt rears its ugly head and you start doubting you have what it takes. Which is crazy when you consider how dedicated you are to others living their best...
Invited by Hannah Wilson to create a resource for International Women’s Day on 8th March that encouraged people to #BeBoldForChange I came up with this video. In it I share how flipping and rebranding the words ‘can’t don’t won’t’...
In January 2016, I sat on a beach in Goa and made a plan. Well, two plans. 1) Remember to pack suntan lotion the next time I decide to spend a week in a remote village with no shops. 2) Become a published author, get a Ph.D. and do a TED Talk. WHAT’S YOUR SWAG?...
In the 80s social workers had a slightly bizarre dress code. They could wear any colour they liked as long as it was the wrong shade of brown. The uniform was adhered to so closely, I reckon it must have been either enforced or incentivised in some way. It was so...
I’ve been reflecting on 2016, and the enormous mindset shift I embraced in my role as a leader. One thing I noted was that my success is in alignment with my commitment to authenticity and willingness to allow myself to be vulnerable. The times I chose to hide...
I wrote an article for SchoolWeek and they published it. Also, I can juggle bananas. #justsaying Click on the image below to read it. Based on data, I believed I would never...
3 things I love about #teacher5aday: 1) It’s all about looking after yourself. What better role model could we be to our learners? 2) It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy to join in. Search #teacher5aday on Twitter or check out the YouTube channel. 3) You...
I’ve kept every resolution I’ve made on Jan 1st for the last 10 years. I keep it simple by recycling the same one every year. ‘I’m going to give up smoking.’ Some of my 100% track record may be down to the fact that I have never smoked. I’m...
We talk about a WAGOLL (What A Good one Looks Like) in reference to a piece of work that learners can take features from and use to reverse engineer success in their own writing. I’ve seen persuasive writing so through the roof, A* answers nailed and even maths...
We’re all fighting for our lives in one way or another. For some of us that can mean physical challenges around our own health or the health of those we care for. For others it can mean being held captive by the prison that is our own mind. Where our psyche only takes...
Seth Godin recently posted a brilliant article on his blog – here’s a paraphrased UK version… Assumptions are what you use to bridge a gap in your own knowledge. If they turn out to be accurate, then you got lucky and your lack of research...
As a learner, being working class poor defined my life choices, mindset and decisions – much more than being brown which didn’t really come up until I started teacher training and enjoyed being the only person who wasn’t white at Bishop Grot! School...
I nearly gave up on my dream of becoming a teacher to be a gladiator instead. I even had a name all sorted: WhirlWind Only three things stood in my way. I had never been to a gym in my life, I was completely incapable of doing a backflip and they already had a female...
A few weeks ago I was in a school about to receive a visit from Ofsted. While sharing a packet of chocolate hobnobs, one teacher said: “I just hope it’s a nice team.” If you’ve attended any of my training, you have probably heard me bang on...
A strange and bizarre thing happens around October, because, at least for me, The Apprentice really is the gift that keeps on giving! Being fired in the first week of the show was embarrassing, hilarious, embarrassing again and then even more hilarious. Now, every...
It’s true. WomenEd have ruined my life. Before getting involved, I was successfully denying being a leader and living behind my fear! My internal voice quietly reminded me that I’m an imposter and if I put myself out there everyone will realise how little...
There’s lots of conflicting advice around about being a leader. One question I have is around whether it’s good for leaders to show ‘weakness’ or not. I guess it depends on what sort of leader you want to be. I’M A MISTAK ARTIST Last week (when I make a...
Up until Easter this year I was spending a fair amount of time hiding under a rock. Then I took what felt like a huge risk and changed my #TMLondon keynote slides at the last minute. Instead of expectation and marking in literacy, I decided to go for it and be...
I once asked my six-year-old what he wanted to do when he grew up. In one breath he told me that he wanted to be firefighter and then, at the weekend, change his trousers and be a police officer until he had enough money to buy his own football kit, then leave the...
Just before Easter I accidentally joined a gang. Though it’s only been a couple of months, it’s already panning out to be a definite upgrade from ‘The Yung Blud Posse’ I joined aged 10. As an added bonus, no one has insisted I break into any houses. This new gang are...
Last year, my sister called me to tell me that she had won the lottery. Me: OMG! How much? Sister: Well, I have enough money to last me for the rest of my life. Providing I drop dead a week on Tuesday. Short Term Thinking In the Government’s recently published...
On Tuesday, I went to visit the incredible human that is Natalie H Scott, and teach in the school at the Grand-Synthe Refugee Camp in Dunkirk. When Natalie told me about working there I asked if I could go because like her I believe that children, no matter what their...
You can listen to the full interview HERE. We also had a brilliant time interviewing Jaz Ampaw-Farr this week. Jaz Ampaw-Farr began as a teacher with a passion for preventing literacy failure. She is now a literacy consultant and director of Which Phonics Ltd –...
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