John Foley
Former Blue Angel Lead Solo Pilot; Sloan Fellow at Stanford Graduate School of Business; Bestselling Author and ‘Gratitude Guru’
Carly Fiorina
First Woman to Lead a Fortune 20 Company | Former CEO, Hewlett-Packard | Chair, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Carly Fiorina shattered the corporate glass ceiling as the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, guiding HP through a historic tech downturn. Today she chairs the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and leads The Williamsburg Institute, developing leaders through the lens of American history. Her keynotes deliver hard-won wisdom on courage, transformation, and unlocking potential at every level.
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Carly Fiorina biography
Business speaker Carly Fiorina made history as the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, steering Hewlett-Packard through one of the tech industry’s worst downturns and emerging as one of the most recognized voices in American leadership. A keynote speaker, Carly Fiorina draws on decades of experience across business, government, and civic life to help audiences unlock their full potential.
Fiorina began her career as a secretary in a small real estate firm and worked her way to the summit of corporate America. As CEO of Hewlett-Packard, she grew revenue, accelerated innovation, and quadrupled growth during a period when the technology sector faced unprecedented challenges. Under her leadership, HP earned recognition from Working Mother magazine, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Financial Times, which named it one of the world’s most respected companies. A bestselling author, Fiorina has shared her leadership philosophy in Tough Choices, Rising to the Challenge, and Find Your Way.
From the Boardroom to the National Stage
After HP, Fiorina expanded her impact into government and public service. Appointed by President Bush to chair the CIA’s External Advisory Board following the September 11 attacks, she later ran an influential presidential campaign. Today, she serves as Chair of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and founding Executive Chair of The Williamsburg Institute, a leadership development initiative rooted in American history. She is also National Honorary Chair of the Virginia 250 Commission, leading the nation’s semiquincentennial commemoration. As Distinguished Clinical Professor in Leadership at The Catholic University of America and host of the By Example podcast, she continues to develop leaders at every level.
As a speaker, Carly Fiorina delivers powerful keynotes that challenge audiences to lead with courage, solve problems creatively, and unlock the potential in themselves and those around them. Her journey from secretary to CEO to presidential candidate gives her a singular perspective on what it takes to drive transformation in any organization.
Carly Fiorina Speaking Videos
Carly Fiorina - Leadership: Unlocking the Potential in Others
Carly Fiorina - Leadership Keynote
Carly Fiorina Keynote Topics
Leadership is not defined by title, position, or power—it is defined by impact. Carly Fiorina shares her remarkable journey from a secretarial role to the helm of a Fortune 20 company, revealing the principles and choices that shaped her path. She explores how leaders at any level can be clear-eyed about their current reality, optimistic about the future, and deliberate about driving results.
This keynote offers a powerful, pragmatic framework for leadership that resonates with executives, emerging leaders, and anyone seeking to make a positive difference in their organization.
When Carly Fiorina took the reins at Hewlett-Packard during the worst technology recession in a generation, she knew that surviving would require more than strategic repositioning—it demanded a cultural transformation. She shares a candid account of how she rebuilt HP's culture from the inside out, driving innovation and performance through a commitment to diversity, accountability, and bold decision-making.
This presentation equips leaders with proven tools for navigating uncertainty, managing transformational change, and building cultures where high performance is the standard rather than the exception.
Carly Fiorina believes that leadership potential exists everywhere—in the boardroom, on the factory floor, in community organizations, and in classrooms. Drawing on her experience leading a Fortune 20 company, chairing international nonprofits, and teaching at the university level, she presents a proven philosophy of leadership rooted in human behaviors that anyone can develop and deploy.
This keynote empowers organizations to invest in their people, build problem-solving capacity at every level, and create environments where leadership is a shared responsibility rather than a hierarchical privilege.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Carly Fiorina
Why Carly Fiorina?
Carly Fiorina brings a breadth of leadership experience that few speakers can match. She rose from secretary to CEO of a Fortune 20 company, ran for president of the United States, chaired the CIA's External Advisory Board, and now leads major institutions dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders. Her keynotes are known for their candor, practical frameworks, and ability to inspire audiences across industries—from corporate executives to nonprofit leaders to university students. Book Carly Fiorina through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring a trailblazing leadership voice to your next event.
What was Carly Fiorina's impact as CEO of Hewlett-Packard?
Carly Fiorina served as CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005, becoming the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company. During her tenure, she grew revenue, quadrupled the company's growth rate, and led its landmark merger with Compaq—one of the largest technology mergers in history. Under her leadership, HP earned recognition for its corporate culture, diversity initiatives, and innovation, receiving accolades from Working Mother magazine, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Financial Times.
What is The Williamsburg Institute?
The Williamsburg Institute is a leadership development initiative co-founded by Carly Fiorina in partnership with Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary. Rooted in the history and ideals of America's founding, the institute provides innovative leadership programs that draw lessons from the past to develop effective leaders for the present and future. Fiorina serves as its founding Executive Chair.
What themes does Carly Fiorina address in her keynote speeches?
Carly Fiorina delivers keynotes on leadership transformation, building high-performance cultures, unlocking human potential, and navigating change with courage and clarity. Her presentations draw on her journey from secretary to CEO, her experience in government and public service, and her ongoing work developing leaders through The Williamsburg Institute. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Carly Fiorina to your conference, leadership summit, or corporate event.
How to book Carly Fiorina as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Carly Fiorina as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Carly Fiorina's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Carly Fiorina or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Carly Fiorina speaking fee?
Carly Fiorina speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Carly Fiorina to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Carly Fiorina.
How can I contact Carly Fiorina?
We only work with Carly Fiorina on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Carly Fiorina and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Carly Fiorina speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Carly Fiorina for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Carly Fiorina for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Carly Fiorina is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Carly Fiorina for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
