Katty Kay: Motivational Speaker
Katty Kay delivers insightful global commentary and confidence-focused guidance, helping audiences navigate politics, leadership, and personal empowerment with clarity and actionable perspective.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- Award-winning BBC News anchor and global correspondent spanning nearly 30 years
- Covered six U.S. presidential elections and major world events
- Regular contributor and substitute host on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
- Co-author of five books with Claire Shipman, including four New York Times bestsellers
- Leading voice on confidence and women’s leadership development
- Formats: Keynote 45–60 minutes, fireside chat, moderated Q&A, or event hosting.
- Audiences: Business leaders, women’s leadership groups, global organizations, policy-focused audiences, and events seeking clarity on politics, world affairs, or confidence-building.
- Outcomes:
- Clear, accessible understanding of U.S. politics and global dynamics grounded in decades of frontline reporting.
- Practical, research-backed strategies for developing confidence and turning intention into action.
- Engaging moderation or hosting that elevates conversations and brings out meaningful insights.
- Travels from: Washington, DC
- **Fee range: On Request
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
AMERICA FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE
Emerging from the pandemic, America is grappling with unprecedented social, cultural, workplace, economic, political, and technological change.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and its new closer ties with China – further complicate the political and economic picture for the U.S.
In this speech, veteran journalist Katty Kay gives audiences the latest news from Washington – unpacking politics and policies and their impact.
A GLOBAL UPDATE
As someone who’s worked and lived in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and (since 1996) Washington, D.C.
Katty looks at America’s challenges through a global lens. As a result, her insights are unique and refreshing.
Even-handed with a light dose of British humor, Katty reminds audiences to keep the challenges in perspective
Talent Short Bio
Katty Kay is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and respected global affairs analyst known for her sharp, accessible take on U.S. politics and international events. With nearly three decades at BBC News, she reported from Washington, D.C. as both correspondent and anchor, covering six U.S. presidential elections, global crises, financial upheavals, and the shifting dynamics shaping world politics. Her upbringing across the Middle East and extensive reporting from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the U.S. inform her instinctively global point of view, giving audiences a deeper sense of context and perspective.
Beyond journalism, Katty has become a leading voice on confidence, especially for women and girls. She is co-author of five books with Claire Shipman, including four New York Times bestsellers such as Womenomics and The Confidence Code series, which explore the research and real-world habits behind greater self-assurance. Her work blends data, storytelling, and practical guidance that resonates across demographics.
As a keynote speaker, event host, interviewer, and moderator, Katty brings energy, insight, and a journalist’s instinct for asking the right questions.
Read Full Bio
Katty Kay is an award-winning journalist and news anchor who brings an instinctively global perspective to her observations on American politics and global affairs – a result of having grown-up living and traveling all over the Middle East, as well as reporting from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. throughout her career.
During her nearly 30-years with BBC News, she was a reporter and then news anchor, bringing important news from America and around the world to a huge global audience from her studio in Washington, D.C. Katty has reported on six U.S. presidential elections, Washington politics, financial crashes, world trouble spots, sex scandals, global affairs, and much more.
Katty Kay is a regular contributor and substitute host of Morning Joe on MSNBC. Katty also writes on the art and science of self-assurance in women and girls. She is co-author, with Claire Shipman, of four New York Times’ bestselling books: Womenomics, The Confidence Code, The Confidence Code for Girls, and Living the Confidence Code.
Katty is an engaging keynote speaker on a wide range of topics as well as a brilliant moderator, interviewer, and host – for both in-person and virtual events.
Helping women turn thoughts into action and master a more confident mindset is one of Katty’s passions. She is co-author of five books with Claire Shipman, including four New York Times bestsellers – two were #1. Their first two bestsellers focus on women, success, and work.
On the fun side, Katty Kay had the distinction of being immortalized in pop culture in 2018 when her name was the answer to a question on the Jeopardy game show. In the same week, she was portrayed in a skit on Saturday Night Live which satirized a moment from MSNBC’s Morning Joe program.
Katty Kay settled in Washington, DC in the mid-90s where she lives with her husband, two cats, and a dog. They have four grown children.
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Talent Videos
Katty Kay | Where Does Your Confidence Come From?
A concise look at how confidence is built through action, experimentation, and the everyday choices that shape self-belief.
Video Summary & Key Moments
This 1 minute 47 second clip captures Katty Kay’s core message about confidence: it isn’t something people are simply born with, it’s something they build. She explains that confidence grows through action rather than waiting for the perfect moment or feeling fully prepared. Drawing from her research on The Confidence Code, she highlights that confidence is rooted in doing, trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again. Kay challenges the assumption that confidence is a personality trait and reframes it as a skill anyone can strengthen through experience.
She underscores that hesitation often becomes the biggest barrier. Rather than overthinking or waiting until every box is checked, she encourages people to take small, deliberate risks that expand their comfort zone. Kay reinforces the idea that confidence doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from motion, resilience, and seeing yourself handle challenges. The clip closes with a simple but direct takeaway: confidence grows through repeated action, and the more you practice it, the more natural it becomes.
Key Moments
- 00:18 Research insight on confidence as a behavior shaped through action
- 00:45 The role of taking risks and learning from failure
- 01:09 Why waiting for certainty reduces confidence
A Discussion with Claire Shipman and Katty Kay | Full Conversation
A 58-minute dialogue exploring the science, psychology, and practical realities behind confidence, leadership, and the habits that help women turn intention into action.
Video Summary & Key Moments
This 58-minute conversation brings together Claire Shipman and Katty Kay for a deep, research-driven discussion on confidence, drawing from their work on The Confidence Code and their ongoing exploration of how women develop and sustain self-assurance. They open by challenging long-held assumptions about confidence, emphasizing that it isn’t a fixed personality trait but a skill shaped through behavior, risk-taking, and experience. Their shared perspective integrates neuroscience, psychology, workplace research, and real-world observations.
Much of the discussion centers on why women often underestimate their abilities despite strong performance. Shipman and Kay lay out the biological and social factors that contribute to hesitation, such as fear of failure, perfectionism, and early conditioning around approval and competence. They explain how the brain responds to risk and uncertainty, and why repeated action is the most reliable path to internal confidence.
Key Moments
- 09:10 Neuroscience and social conditioning shaping confidence gaps
- 20:45 The role of risk-taking, failure, and action in confidence growth
- 33:30 Practical tools for building daily confidence habits
- 46:50 Real-world stories illustrating confidence in leadership
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Talent FAQ's
Do speakers charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
What is the typical duration of a keynote speech and what is included?
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
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Additional tips and takeaways
- Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
- There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
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