Deborah Meaden

Deborah Meaden is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, TV personality, writer, and inspirational business speaker. She is best known for appearing on BBC’s Dragons’ Den (2006-).

She champions ethical and fair practices in both her personal life and her business investments, believing that caring for the environment is crucial for our wellbeing.

She is a popular keynote speaker, offering talks on business, the environment, investing, selling and retail, and other financial matters.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden for your next event.

Type Of Speaker

Business & Finance Female Speakers Media Nature & Wildlife Presenters Speaker Sustainability Sustainability

More About Deborah Meaden

Deborah Meaden has always known she wanted to run her own business. After studying at business college, she launched her own class and ceramics import company, supplying stores such as Harvey Nichols. The was just her first foray into the world of entrepreneurship. She went on to run a franchise for the Italian clothing brand Stefanel, and a prize bingo concession at Butlins.

But she didn’t stray too far from the family work in amusement arcades; starting on the shop floor, she soon worked her way up to Managing Director, growing the company to provide high-quality UK holidays for over 150,000 people every year. After buying out the company, she eventually sold it in 2005 for an impressive £33m.

After this, she acquired textile mill Fox Brothers, collaborated with BBC conductor Charles Hazlewood to form ‘Play the Field’, a weekend of classical music, and launched ‘the Merchant Fox’ online store selling luxury, British-made goods.

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DEBORAH MEADEN | INVESTMENTS

Deborah has made many investments over the years, either on Dragons’ Den or via her own route, including:

– Omni Pet Food

– Seep: a biodegradable household cleaning range

– Sibstar: a flexible debit card and app that helps those with dementia to safely manage their finances

– Sooper Books: an award-winning children’s book streaming service

– Kerbo Charge: an EV vehicle charging cable channel

– Mood Bears: soft toys made to present an emotion, making it easier to understand and express feelings

– Solar Buddies: child-friendly sunscreen and lotion

– March Muses: Christmas decorations of colour

– Dock & Bay: quick-dry towels

– Getfussy: refillable natural plastic free deodorant

– Thelittleloop: ethical and sustainable clothing

– Hope & Ivy: a fashion brand epitomised by hand-drawn prints and embroidery

– Rehook: a tool used for bicycles and cycling problems

– FitMix: an auto-DJ mixing system

DEBORAH MEADEN | MEDIA WORK

Best known for appearing on Dragons’ Den (2006-), Deborah has seen her media personality bloom across television, radio, podcasts, and print media. She has appeared on GMTV (2009), Would I Lie To You (2010), Loose Women (2011-2017), Lorraine (2011-2019), Alan Carr: Chatty Man (2012-2013), Strictly Come Dancing (2013), Good Morning Britain (2014-2016), The Chase (2015), The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off (2023), and Taskmaster (2024).

Deborah has featured on various BBC Radio 4 shows, and co-presents BBC Radio 5’s The Big Green Money Show, covering actions being taken by businesses in response to climate change. She has also appeared in print publications including The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Times, Woman & Home, The Mirror, Daily Express, The Independent, The Observer, ELLE Décor, and Marie Claire.

Deborah’s experience in business, finance, and investment, as well as her growing media personality has seen her become a popular guest on podcasts. To date, she has appeared on the likes of Humourology, Tea With Twiggy, Comfort Eating With Grace Dent, 6 Degrees With Jamie Laing and Spencer Matthews, One of the Family With Nicky Campbell, Happy Hour, My Wardrobe Malfunction With Susannah Constantine, and Trolled With Tracy Ann Oberman.

DEBORAH MEADEN | WRITER

Deborah has written several successful finance books, for adults and children, including:

– Common Sense Rules: What you really need to know about business (2010)

– Why Money Matters: An unmissable, illustrated non-fiction book about money for 6-9 year olds (2023): this went on to be named a Financial Times Book of the Year 2023 and won the Made For Mums Toy Award for Best Non-Fiction Book

– Deborah Meaden Talks Money (2024): an empowering introduction to finance for young people

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