Clare Kenny Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerClare Kenny

Inspirational thought leader specialising in building mentally healthy workplaces, de-stigmatising addiction, neurodiversity and inclusion

Clare Kenny is an experienced and credible TEDx and keynote speaker and panellist, known for her authentic approach to leadership and wellbeing. Having worked in some of the most challenging and toxic workplaces, Clare has personally navigated burnout, anxiety, and alcohol addiction, managing them for over two decades. The sudden... Read more

Biography

Clare Kenny is an experienced and credible TEDx and keynote speaker and panellist, known for her authentic approach to leadership and wellbeing.

Having worked in some of the most challenging and toxic workplaces, Clare has personally navigated burnout, anxiety, and alcohol addiction, managing them for over two decades. The sudden loss of her mother was a pivotal moment, prompting her to reassess her career and wellbeing priorities. This life-changing experience led to her decision to leave behind a high-pressure role and instead found a business focused on helping organisations build cultures and ways of working that foster thriving, not just surviving. A recent diagnosis of ADHD has further fuelled her advocacy for neuro-inclusion in the workplace.

With a rich blend of business and personal experience, Clare has developed and implemented bespoke wellbeing and culture strategies for organisations ranging from FTSE 100 companies to innovative start-ups. She advises global leaders on leadership, wellbeing, and cultural transformation, consistently measuring and embedding impactful change.

With a background in learning and development and leadership consultancy, Clare has held senior management positions across Europe and Asia. Notably, she led the global wellbeing strategy at Burberry and headed up wellbeing strategy at the mental health consultancy PVL.

Clare is driven by a passion to create lasting, transformative change in the world of work, combining strategic expertise with lived experience to empower individuals and organisations to thrive in today’s ever-evolving landscape.

“Clare delivered an excellent session and the topic really resonated with the audience. She was so authentic, honest and open - sharing her own challenges and how to approach them with a resilient mindset.” Caroline von Koenig, Wellbeing Lead, Fidelity International
“Clare delivered an excellent executive micro training for our top 300 senior leaders on how to disrupt the stress cycle. Clare smashed it! The session was brilliant, perfectly pitched, just what we were after.” Emily Warren, Director, Global Wellbeing Lead, Avanade
“Clare delivered a great talk.  I left feeling lighter and more centred on how I approach mental health and managing people the best way that suits them.” Team lead, Harry Potter Studios
“33 years with KPMG and the best session I have ever joined!  This has been amazing, emotional but uplifting – I have learnt so much.” Attendee, KPMG
"Clare was great, and the delivery of the session was amazing. I was engaged throughout!" Attendee, Channel 4
“Clare delivered a fantastic talk; I came away with lot of food for thought and it was great to share ideas with people in this context. She was amazing, really great delivery!” Dee Khaira, Talent Acquisition Manager, Burberry
"Clare facilitated some fantastic 'Mental Health for Leaders' talks for our store managers across Europe. We've had such great feedback from the team and it was a wonderful addition to our wellbeing month!" Sophie Dexter, Global People & Culture Specialist, AESOP
"Clare delivered a great thought-out talk based on our needs and really engaged the group to get involved and spark conversations. The workshop was well paced and balanced with the right amount of content.  We received great feedback following the multiple sessions that Clare delivered especially around people feeling inspired to take a more proactive approach to their mental health! Thanks Clare – you really hit the brief!" Nadia Ahmed, HR Coordinator, Eagle Eye

Popular Talks by Clare Kenny

  • Beyond the label: understanding addiction
    Whether it is alcohol, drugs, work, social media, pornography, shopping or food, many of us have an unhealthy relationship with something. We turn to these habits to numb ourselves or escape difficult emotions, often as a response to a society that is more stressful, overwhelming and mentally exhausting than ever...
  • ADHD & me
    The average age of ADHD diagnosis for a man is 8 years old. For a woman, it is 35. This huge gap means that many women spend decades struggling, unaware that ADHD could be the reason why life often feels so overwhelming. Seeing other women share their experiences of late...
  • Navigating grief
    “I love talking about her, by the way, so if I cry, it’s only a beautiful thing. Grief is all the unexpressed love. So, I hope the grief stays with me because it’s all the unexpressed love that I didn’t get to tell her… And I told her every day.”...
  • The science of stress
    Stress is a natural response to pressure, but when it becomes chronic, it can take a serious toll on both body and mind. We often push through without realising the physiological effects stress has on our health, performance and decision-making. But what if we could understand stress better—and manage it...
  • Why we numb, and what it’s doing to us
    In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, many of us turn to numbing behaviours -whether through work, distractions, substances or even overachievement – as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions and stress. But what happens when we numb ourselves? What are we really avoiding, and at what cost? This keynote dives...
  • Anchored leadership: stability through the storm
    In a world of constant change, uncertainty, and pressure, leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about being the steady force others can rely on. The best leaders don’t just weather the storm; they create stability in the chaos, offering clarity, confidence, and trust when everything else feels...