Tim Grover
Trainer to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant & NBA Champions | CEO, ATTACK Athletics | NYT Bestselling Author | Elite Performance & Winning Mentality
Charlotte Sweeney OBE
Global Authority on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Author of the UK Government's 'Sweeney Review' on Women on Boards | OBE & Bestselling Co-Author of Inclusive Leadership
Charlotte Sweeney OBE is one of the world's leading authorities on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with 25 years helping boards make inclusion work as a business discipline, not a values exercise. She authored the UK government's Sweeney Review on women on boards, co-wrote the bestselling Inclusive Leadership, and founded a consultancy ranked among the world's top ten in the field. She was awarded an OBE for services to women and equalities.
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Charlotte Sweeney OBE biography
Diversity and inclusion speaker Charlotte Sweeney OBE is one of the world’s most respected authorities on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a leader who has spent more than twenty-five years turning good intentions into measurable change. Her defining argument is that inclusion is a leadership and operating discipline, not a political position or a values exercise, and it is that rigorous, evidence-based, business-first approach that has made her a trusted adviser to boards, C-suites, and governments alike.
Sweeney built her expertise the hard way, leading diversity and inclusion inside major global organizations, including Barclays, HBOS, and Nomura, before founding Charlotte Sweeney Associates in 2012. The consultancy has since been recognized by both The Economist and The Daily Telegraph as one of the top ten D&I consultancies in the world. One of the first people to earn Chartered Management Consultant status, she was awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for her services to women and equalities, and in 2025 won the Management Consultancies Association’s Inclusion Award.
The Sweeney Review and Inclusive Leadership
Sweeney’s influence reaches to the highest levels of policy. In 2014, she authored an independent review for the UK government, now known as the Sweeney Review, on women on boards and the executive-search industry, whose recommendations continue to shape the code that search firms follow today. She is the co-author of the bestselling book Inclusive Leadership, published by the Financial Times and shortlisted for the Chartered Management Institute’s Management Book of the Year, and the creator of the Leaders FIRST framework, drawn from research with more than 3,000 senior leaders.
As a speaker, Charlotte Sweeney is authoritative, practical, and refreshingly clear, cutting through the noise and the controversy to show leaders how inclusion actually drives performance. She speaks on inclusive leadership at board and C-suite level, building diversity and inclusion as an operating discipline, women on boards and the senior pipeline, and creating cultures of genuine belonging. A regular expert contributor to the BBC and national media, she leaves audiences with a clear, evidence-based path from good intentions to real, sustainable results.
Charlotte Sweeney OBE Speaking Videos
TEDxWhitehallWomen Charlotte Sweeney OBE | Charlotte Sweeney OBE | TEDxWhitehallWomen
Charlotte Sweeney OBE
Charlotte Sweeney OBE Keynote Topics
Drawing on her bestselling book and decades advising the world's top organizations, Charlotte Sweeney shows senior leaders what inclusive leadership really looks like in practice, and why it is a core capability rather than a soft skill. She explores how boards and executive teams can lead inclusively, model the right behaviors, and embed inclusion into decision-making at the very top. Rigorous and practical, it gives leaders a clear-eyed understanding of their own role in building fairer, higher-performing organizations.
Too many organizations treat diversity and inclusion as a values statement or a compliance task, and then wonder why nothing changes. Charlotte Sweeney makes the case for running D&I as a genuine operating discipline: evidence-based, measurable, and tied directly to business strategy. She shows leaders how to move past good intentions and performative gestures to systemic change, addressing the barriers and bias built into how organizations actually work. A grounded, results-focused keynote for leaders serious about outcomes, not optics.
As the author of the UK government's Sweeney Review on women on boards, Charlotte Sweeney is one of the foremost authorities on gender diversity at the top of organizations. In this keynote she examines why the senior pipeline still stalls for women, what genuinely works to change it, and the practical steps boards, executives, and search processes can take. Drawing on real policy impact and decades of consulting, she offers a credible, actionable roadmap for building more balanced and effective leadership.
Inclusion only delivers when people genuinely feel they belong. Charlotte Sweeney explores what belonging really means at work, why it matters for engagement, innovation, and retention, and how leaders can build cultures where everyone can contribute their best. Moving beyond buzzwords, she shares evidence-based, practical approaches to embedding belonging into everyday leadership and organizational life. An insightful, human keynote for any organization looking to turn inclusion into lasting culture change.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Charlotte Sweeney OBE
Why Charlotte Sweeney?
Booking Charlotte Sweeney OBE brings audiences one of the world's most credible and pragmatic authorities on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and one who treats inclusion as a business discipline rather than a political debate. With more than twenty-five years of experience, a UK government review to her name, a bestselling book, and a consultancy ranked among the world's top ten in the field, she pairs rare authority with a refreshingly practical, evidence-based approach. She cuts through the noise to show boards and leaders how inclusion actually drives performance, and how to get from good intentions to real results. She is ideal for events on diversity and inclusion, inclusive leadership, corporate culture, and women in business. To bring Charlotte Sweeney to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Charlotte Sweeney?
Charlotte Sweeney OBE is a British diversity, equity, and inclusion expert, author, and speaker with more than twenty-five years of experience in leadership, cultural transformation, and DEI. After leading diversity and inclusion inside major global organizations, including Barclays, HBOS, and Nomura, she founded Charlotte Sweeney Associates in 2012, a consultancy recognized by The Economist and The Daily Telegraph as one of the top ten D&I firms in the world. In 2014 she authored an independent review for the UK government, now known as the Sweeney Review, on women on boards and executive search. She is the co-author of the bestselling book Inclusive Leadership, a Chartered Management Consultant, and was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to women and equalities.
What is the Sweeney Review, and what is her approach to DEI?
The "Sweeney Review" is the independent review Charlotte Sweeney authored in 2014, commissioned by the UK government, examining the voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms and its impact on getting more women onto company boards. Its ten recommendations helped shape the enhanced code that search firms follow to this day, giving Sweeney the rare credential of having directly influenced national policy on boardroom diversity. Her wider approach to DEI is distinctive: rather than framing inclusion as a political position or a values exercise, she treats it as a leadership and operating discipline, systemic, evidence-based, measurable, and tied to business strategy. This is captured in her Leaders FIRST framework, developed from research with more than 3,000 senior leaders, and it is why boards and executives trust her to deliver change that is both credible and sustainable.
What topics does diversity and inclusion speaker Charlotte Sweeney cover?
Charlotte Sweeney speaks on inclusive leadership at board and C-suite level, building diversity and inclusion as an operating discipline, women on boards and the senior pipeline, and creating cultures of belonging. Her keynotes suit events on diversity, equity, and inclusion, leadership, corporate culture, HR, and women in business, for boards, executives, and organizations. To book Charlotte Sweeney as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Charlotte Sweeney OBE as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Charlotte Sweeney OBE as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Charlotte Sweeney OBE'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 Charlotte Sweeney OBE or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Charlotte Sweeney OBE speaking fee?
Charlotte Sweeney OBE 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 Charlotte Sweeney OBE 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 Charlotte Sweeney OBE.
How can I contact Charlotte Sweeney OBE?
We only work with Charlotte Sweeney OBE on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Charlotte Sweeney OBE and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Charlotte Sweeney OBE 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 Charlotte Sweeney OBE for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Charlotte Sweeney OBE for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Charlotte Sweeney OBE is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Charlotte Sweeney OBE for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
