Catherine is a seasoned public speaker, with a rousing style and easy authority. Whether presenting in person or virtually, she speaks with passion and insight on subjects surrounding diversity and inclusion, leadership, politics and making change happen.
Catherine is represented for speaking by Speaking Office, a speaker management company.
Speaking Topics
Say No to Artificial Stupidity: Smarter ways to think about AI and creativity
As a veteran journalist, bestselling author, administrator of a music estate, former director of the technology think-tank Datum Future and founding member of the Society for Hopeful Technologists, Catherine is uniquely placed to unpick the impacts of AI and other evolving technologies across the creative industries and beyond, and to point to ways to realise their potential. An early adopter of new technology, she navigated the digital revolution that simultaneously expanded journalism and eroded the business models that sustained it. She has met and interviewed key innovators, spent time inside some of the biggest tech companies, written extensively and thought deeply about the perils and possibilities of AI, social media and other data-driven technologies – and how they are changing us and our world.
Key Takeaways
- Before exploring how AI can support creativity, Catherine asks the harder question first, are we at risk of outsourcing our imagination entirely, and what would we lose if we did?
- She looks at their potential use and misuse as aides to creativity, whether in traditional business settings, education and domestic spheres or the creative industries themselves
- Drawing on her own extensive history of managing technological transformations, she offers insights on how organisations and individuals can make the most of AI – and what not to do
Royally Misunderstood: The Windsors matter more than you might think
Catherine has documented the monarchy for more than four decades, spent time with the most senior royals behind the scenes, written a bestselling biography of King Charles, accompanied the then Prince Andrew to China on one of his missions as trade envoy, and has now distilled many of her insights and years of in-depth research into a new book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and their Battles, which uncovers eerie echoes in the trials and tribulations of royal women from the Tudor era to the present day. In her view, the Windsors and their institution are often royally misunderstood as a tourist attraction or form of celebrity soap opera. Her talk peels back the layers of confusion and secrecy that shroud them to reveal a monarchy with substantial influence and reach and thinning ranks of leading members confronting external challenges and existential threats of their own making.
Key Takeaways
- Catherine charts her own history with the Windsors which began with meeting then Prince Charles in 1985 and eventually gave her access to most senior royals and members of their inner circles
- She describes the startling differences between their world, “Planet Windsor”, and ours, and how these complicate everything from royal marriages to the jobs of palace PRs
- She makes the case for looking at the institution not as a sideshow but an arm of state not only in the UK but overseas territories and realms, and for understanding the royals themselves as representatives of soft power with significant reach and influence – for good or ill – and often fascinatingly different to their public images
Good Grief: How to support people dealing with loss
There is something much more damaging than saying the wrong thing to the newly bereaved—saying nothing at all. Not that there’s much value to mumbled platitudes or ill-timed expressions of sympathy. Grieving people often crave the semblance of normality that returning to work can provide and may not wish to be forced to answer questions about how they’re feeling; on the other hand, they will need more support than they may realise. Catherine talks about what she’s learned from dealing with the bereaved and from her own widowhood and other losses.
Key Takeaways
- Catherine explains how she has navigated serial losses including of her husband of three decades and what this has taught her about grief and trauma and the differences between them
- “How are you?” She reveals how unsettling this seemingly caring question can be – and lists some of the questions and acts of care that are more reliably helpful
- She talks about the impulse of the grieving to seek normality by returning to work and what every colleague and organisation needs to know – and encourages frank discussion and questions from the audience about such situations and their own experiences of loss
Difference Works: The case for not throwing out the baby with the bathwater
Until recently, organisations scrambled to show how well they were doing at implementing diversity, equity and inclusion programmes. Now a backlash against DEI is seeing programmes ditched or watered down. While some criticisms were valid – DEI has always risked being little more than a box-ticking exercise and some policies carries unintended consequences – the arguments for true DEI to organisations, the people who work in them and wider economies and societies remain powerful. These include recruiting and enabling the best talents which in turn fosters growth, innovation and dynamic work cultures. Catherine has written and researched deeply in this area and can also speak to her learning curve as co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party, not only in terms of policies the party advocated but its own tussles with these issues.
Key Takeaways
- DEI is dead. Or is it? Catherine hails the possibility of its rebirth, shorn of platitudes and focused on the real, measurable benefits to organisations and staff of recruiting, retaining and enabling the best talents
- She draws on her own experience of helming organisations and founding start-ups to highlight the benefits of drawing on wide-ranging experiences and perspectives and the dangers of groupthink
- She blends deep research with illuminating case studies and anecdotes to make the case for reinventing DEI for better organisational outcomes and in the creation of stimulating and humane working environments
Testimonials
Catherine fielded the question from the audience quite delightfully. The whole session was went very well!
LSECatherine was fabulous—razor-sharp, humorous, and extremely engaging.
The Charity AwardsInspiring! Encouraged conversation through her own openness.
Gilead