Belinda Parmar OBE

Belinda Parmar OBE is an expert in Human Leadership in AI, a diversity campaigner, CEO of The Empathy Business, and a Non-Executive Director for the Ministry of Defence.

As one of the world’s leading authorities on empathy, technology, and business performance, she uses the science of empathy to change the way companies transform their organisations, focussing on leadership, operations, and communications.

She has spent over 20 years helping global companies, including Lexus, Lloyds Bank, Barclays Bank, AGL, Toyota, and Aston Martin, turn empathy from a soft aspiration into a hard commercial advantage.

She is the creator of the Global Empathy Index which was published in the Harvard Business Review- the first index to measure empathy and inclusion at scale.

Booking is easy with Great British Talent. To find out availability and fees for Belinda Parmar OBE or any other talent for your corporate event or project, contact our Great British Talent agents via [email protected], or call us on +44 1753 439289.

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Type Of Speaker

A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) Creativity, Change & Innovation featured Female Speakers Leadership & Teamwork Speaker Virtual Speakers

More About Belinda Parmar OBE

Belinda Parmar OBE works with large companies to implement hundreds of ‘nudges’ and interventions that organically build an empathy revolution and give people simple practical ways they can create more inclusive cultures. Her focus is on belonging and diversity and creating more courageous cultures.

Belinda was Empathy-In-Residence at Barclays, Lloyds and Centrica and she created the first-ever Empathy Hub in Europe’s largest bank. Belinda was chosen in 2019 to speak at Davos as she is a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum.

Her Empathy and Empowerment Programme that she completed for one bank, saw her train over 200 fraud and complaints advisors, delivered a 9% uplift in net promote rates, and a 7.5% reduction in call handling times. Her work with AGL produced a 20.9% reduction in customer complaints and $1.7 million in cost savings.

As AI absorbs more cognitive work, Belinda helps leaders identify what only humans can do and build it deliberately.

A qualified barrister, OBE recipient, and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, she is currently writing a leadership playbook for Penguin Random House on turning empathy into a practical toolkit for the AI era. Audiences leave with a framework for making the leadership calls AI cannot make for them and the confidence to lead the transition rather than be led by it.

Belinda Parmar hie business speaker book at agent Great British Speakers

Belinda Parmar | OBE for Service to Women in Tech

Belinda was awarded an OBE in 2015 by the Queen for her services to women in technology. In 2020, she was chosen as one of the top 20 Global Public Figures in Diversity and in 2021 she was voted a top 20 Diversity Champion.

Belinda has a law degree and a languages degree and believes that the magic in companies happens when you combine rational and emotional thinking to drive change.

Belinda Parmar OBE | Little Miss Geek

Belinda is the author of Little Miss Geek which is used in schools to inspire young women to become tech pioneers and is currently shortlisted for Woman of the Year 2022 in the Women in IT Awards.

Below: Inspiring girls to be tech pioneers: Belinda Parmar at TEDx Thessaloniki

Belinda Parmar OBE | Awards & Recognition

-Global Leaders in Consulting 2023 – ALM Consulting 2023
-Best Business Consultancy 2022 – CEO Monthly 2022
-Leader of the Year, HR Awards, Shortlist, 2022
-Woman of the Year, Shortlist, 2022,
-Women In Marketing 2021, nominee
-Top 20 Diversity Champions in 2021
-Top 20 Global Diversity Figures in public life in 2020
-Changemaker 2020 Finalist in the Drum
-Awarded in 2020 a Champion of Change commendation by Management Today
-Listed as one of the UK’s most influential women in tech in 2020 & 2021
-Received an OBE in 2015 for services to women in technology
-Spoke at Davos in 2020 & 2019 on Responsible Leadership, Empathy and Mental Health
-Pioneered the first Global Empathy Index published in the Harvard Business Review
-Set up the first ever Empathy Hub within an organisation at Europe’s largest bank
-Chosen to be a Young Global Leader for The World Economic Forum
-Been voted by Forbes as one of the most innovative women on Twitter
-Chosen by Cranfield as “Boardroom ready” and “One to watch”

Belinda Parmar speaking at Davos from great British Speakers

Belinda Parmar OBE | Keynote

Human Leadership in an AI World: Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way we live and work, yet it cannot replicate the essence of what makes us human: our ability to connect, to feel, and to lead with empathy. In this keynote, Belinda explores what human leadership means in an AI-driven world, drawing on her experience working with organisations across the UK, USA, Australia, and South Africa, and how leaders navigate complexity where trust, technology, and human judgement collide.

Belinda will answer three big questions:

1) Can AI fake feelings, and what does that mean for trust in organisations?

2) How can leaders use empathy as a measurable, practical tool rather than a soft skill?

3) What does human leadership look like in the age of algorithms, automation, and constant change?

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book transformational leadership speaker Belinda Parmar OBE for your event.

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Testimonials

Belinda is a natural speaker – her delivery is clear, controlled and engaging. She was able t0 seamlessly apply the talk to topics relevant to the finance industry. When asked challenging questions, Belinda answered with honesty and passion. Our feedback in the room was fantastic and undoubtedly everyone had some great actions to take away with them.
Janus Henderson Investors

Your presentation on Human Leadership in an AI World really resonated with our people. I particularly love that shift from inspiration to action. I feel empowered to do instead of just talking about it now. Thank you and what an amazing event.
Novartis

Just wanted to give you some feedback on Belinda, who spoke at our IWD event today as we really couldn’t have asked for a better speaker. She took the time to prep with us (more than once), she really listened to our goals for the event and tailored her content with examples to match our audience expectations. Her delivery on the day was incredible; personable, funny, authentic and solicited really strong feedback from our attendees. We would absolutely recommend her to other businesses looking for someone to speak in her area of expertise and please don’t hesitate to contact me if anyone needs a reference.
Bullhorn

Belinda led a half-day empathy workshop for our AB inBev Direct-to-Consumer People (HR) team and it was the perfect session to upskill our team members on this important quality. Belinda really stepped in and got to know our team, our organisation and the individuals in the session, which meant the workshop was perfectly tailored to our specific needs and challenges. It was clear that during the session, the team responded to this and instantly connected and felt safe with Belinda. Belinda is a true expert when it comes to Empathy, but her super-power is bringing this to life within a corporate environment, to draw out the “so what?” and bring people on the journey with her. Whilst we loved the session, the whole team were left wanting more and I know this is therefore only the start of us working together with Belinda! Thank you again Belinda and team.
DTC, AB-InBev

Just wanted to feedback what a great session we had with Belinda yesterday. She was a really engaging presenter and got the audience really interested in a subject that is quite unusual for scientists. The site manager (whose budget I used to pay for this) said “I walked around the Technology office after lunch yesterday and colleagues were talking about the session and how insightful it was.”
Infineum

I had a chance to participate in a talk with Belinda Bianca Parmar OBE as ABB’s Explore. Own. Accelerate. -program. What an inspiring hour we had!❤️ Loved every second!
ABB

Belinda has far exceeded my expectations in terms of content and delivery. I also really appreciated her patience with the technology set-up, and her openness in tailoring her presentation to the ABB context. I have had several messages from employees who have mentioned listening to “one of the best presentations” they have had this year.
ABB

It was an empowering session and I personally found Belinda’s way of influencing and storytelling very inspiring. I will be applying the lessons learned in my professional and personal life.
NHS