Alex Honnold
Legendary Free Solo Climber | Taipei 101 Free Soloist | Peak Performance and Risk Management Expert
Kirstin Ferguson
Australian Company Director & Leadership Expert | Author of Head & Heart & Blindspotting | Thinkers50 Leadership Award Winner | On Modern, Head & Heart Leadership
Kirstin Ferguson is one of the world's most respected voices on modern leadership and the author of the acclaimed Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership. A former Air Force officer, CEO, and company director, she won the Thinkers50 Leadership Award and champions leading with both head and heart. On stage, she gives audiences a practical, human framework for leading well and leaving a positive legacy.
Want to book Kirstin Ferguson as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Kirstin Ferguson biography
Kirstin Ferguson is one of the world’s most respected voices on modern leadership, an award-winning author, company director, and executive coach who champions leading with both head and heart. Her central idea is disarmingly human: leadership is simply a series of moments, and every moment is a chance to leave a positive legacy for the people we lead.
Leadership speaker Kirstin Ferguson argues that modern leadership is far broader than formal authority or job titles. The best leaders, she explains, integrate the rational, capable “head” qualities of leadership with the emotionally intelligent “heart” qualities, and know which balance is needed, and when. In her acclaimed book Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership, she sets out the eight key attributes of head and heart leaders and gives readers practical tools to measure and strengthen their own approach. Her most recent book, Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss, was named to the Thinkers50 Top 10 Best New Management Books of 2025.
An Unconventional Path to Leadership Authority
Ferguson’s perspective is grounded in an extraordinary breadth of real-world experience. She began her career as an Australian Air Force officer, later became a lawyer and the CEO of a global business, and has since served as a company director across many sectors, including as acting chair and deputy chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In 2017 she created the viral #CelebratingWomen campaign, which honored women worldwide and inspired spin-offs internationally. Named one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence, a Sir Winston Churchill Fellow, and an adjunct professor at the QUT Business School, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2023 and won the Thinkers50 Leadership Award the same year.
As a speaker, Kirstin Ferguson gives audiences a practical, research-based, and deeply human framework for leading well in a complex world. She speaks on modern leadership and the balance of head and heart, building emotionally intelligent cultures, seeing the blind spots that trip up even good leaders, and supporting and advancing women. Audiences leave with a clear model and concrete tools they can apply immediately, delivered with the warmth and credibility of a leader who has sat in the chair herself.
Kirstin Ferguson Speaking Videos
Dr Kirstin Ferguson - Award-winning leadership expert, bestselling author and keynote speaker
International Women's Day 2021 Speakers - Dr Kirstin Ferguson
Kirstin Ferguson Keynote Topics
Drawing on her acclaimed book, Ferguson shows why the best modern leaders combine the "head" qualities of leadership, such as curiosity, wisdom, and perspective, with the "heart" qualities, such as humility, empathy, courage, and self-awareness. She shares the eight key attributes of head and heart leaders and gives audiences practical tools to assess and strengthen their own balance.
Ferguson reframes leadership not as a title or position but as a series of everyday moments, each an opportunity to leave a positive legacy. This talk helps leaders at every level recognize the impact of their daily choices and lead more intentionally, whether or not they hold formal authority.
Based on her latest book, Ferguson explores the cognitive blind spots and biases that quietly derail even talented, well-meaning leaders. She offers practical strategies to see more clearly, challenge our own assumptions, and make better decisions in a complex and fast-changing world.
Ferguson created the global #CelebratingWomen campaign and has long championed women in leadership. In this talk she shares what organizations can do to genuinely support, sponsor, and advance women, and why building inclusive cultures is both the right thing to do and a driver of better performance.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Kirstin Ferguson
Why Kirstin Ferguson?
Booking Kirstin Ferguson gives audiences a leadership expert with a rare combination of academic rigor and hard-won real-world experience. She has led as an Air Force officer, a lawyer, a CEO, and a company director, including as acting chair of Australia's national broadcaster, and she distills those decades into a practical, research-based model of modern leadership. An award-winning author whose book Head & Heart has resonated with leaders worldwide, a Thinkers50 Leadership Award winner, and a Member of the Order of Australia, she speaks with warmth, credibility, and genuine humanity. She is an ideal speaker for leadership summits, corporate conferences, and organizations focused on culture, emotional intelligence, and developing better leaders. To bring Kirstin Ferguson to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Kirstin Ferguson?
Kirstin Ferguson is an Australian company director, leadership expert, executive coach, and award-winning author. She began her career as an Air Force officer before becoming a lawyer and CEO of a global business, and has served on numerous boards, including as acting chair and deputy chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She is the author of Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership and Blindspotting, a Thinkers50 Leadership Award winner, and a Member of the Order of Australia.
What is "head and heart" leadership?
Head and heart leadership is Kirstin Ferguson's model of modern leadership, which holds that effective leaders balance rational "head" attributes, like curiosity, wisdom, and perspective, with emotionally intelligent "heart" attributes, like empathy, humility, courage, and self-awareness. In her book Head & Heart, she identifies eight key attributes across the two and argues that great modern leadership lies in knowing what balance is needed in any given moment.
What topics does leadership speaker Kirstin Ferguson cover?
Kirstin Ferguson speaks on modern leadership and the balance of head and heart, emotionally intelligent and inclusive cultures, overcoming blind spots and bias, leadership as everyday moments, and championing women. Her keynotes suit leadership summits, corporate conferences, and organizations focused on culture and leadership development. To book Kirstin Ferguson as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Kirstin Ferguson as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Kirstin Ferguson as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Kirstin Ferguson'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 Kirstin Ferguson or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Kirstin Ferguson speaking fee?
Kirstin Ferguson 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 Kirstin Ferguson 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 Kirstin Ferguson.
How can I contact Kirstin Ferguson?
We only work with Kirstin Ferguson on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Kirstin Ferguson and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Kirstin Ferguson 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 Kirstin Ferguson for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Kirstin Ferguson for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Kirstin Ferguson is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Kirstin Ferguson for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
