Katty Kay

Katty Kay

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Former Lead Anchor, BBC World News America and Bestselling Author; Insights on American Politics, Global Affairs and Issues for Women

In a media saturated world, Katty Kay brings a sorely-needed fresh perspective on the state of American politics, the economy, and global affairs. Katty’s insights reflect a global mindset that is a natural offshoot of having grown up in the Middle East and her work as a journalist in Europe, Africa, and Asia before coming to Washington in 1996.

The award-winning journalist was a former anchor for BBC World News where her weekday evening broadcasts provided an update on Washington politics and global affairs to an enormous audience worldwide. Katty is also a regular guest and substitute co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe program. When she’s not busy making sense of the news from Washington and around the globe, Katty writes on the art and science of women and self-assurance –helping them turn thoughts into action to master a more confident mindset. She is co-author of three New York Times bestsellers (The Confidence Code; The Confidence Code for Girls; and Womenomics) and The Confidence Code for Girls Journal: A Guide to Embracing Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self.

Katty Kay has reported on six U.S. presidential elections, financial crashes, wars, sex scandals, and much more. Katty is proud of the fact that the day after the Brexit vote in the U.K., she wrote an article on the five reasons Trump would win the Presidency. She is less proud of the fact that the day he declared his candidacy in June 2015, she said that would be the high point of his campaign.

Katty is co-author of two New York Times bestsellers about women, success, and work. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know inspired women to understand that confidence –the lynchpin of success –is a choice; and Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success examined the workplace revolution and inspired women to take control, dream big and discover a different way of weaving work into their lives –and in the process create more profitable companies with happier and more productive employees. After The Confidence Code was released, parents everywhere asked Katty and her co-author Claire Shipman about confidence and girls. That led to three more books co-authored by Katty with Claire Shipman and JillEllyn Riley. The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, and Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self, was released in April 2018 and debuted at the #1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list. The empowering, entertaining guide gives girls the essential yet elusive code to becoming bold, brave, and fearless. The follow-up, The Confidence Code for Girls Journal: A Guide to Embracing Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self, is based on their in-depth research and will help teens and tweens tackle any challenge. And finally, Living the Confidence Code: Real Girls, Real Stories, Real Confidence, released in April 2020.

On the fun side, Katty 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 the legendary Saturday Night Live show 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, four children, two cats, and a dog.

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Speaking topics

Washington from a Different Angle

The presidency of Donald Trump has turned the political world upside-down – in America and around the world. President Trump’s way of doing things is unconventional – and that’s going down well in some quarters; not so well in others. And it doesn’t fall just along party lines. How is it playing out? What’s next? What do administration insiders say in private moments? What’s going on inside the White House? How does the rest of the world view all this? With divided government in Washington, can anything get done? How will the 2020 race for the presidency shape up – who are the candidates and what are the issues? As a British journalist in Washington, DC, Katty Kay looks at Washington from a different angle. She offers a perspective on American politics that only an outsider can provide. The veteran BBC anchor has the experience and sources to uncover the story behind the headlines and provide valuable context for her audience. Katty tailors this speech to suit the interests of each audience – delivering solid insights with charm and understated humor.

A Global Update

Global times demand global perspective. As someone who has lived in and reported from North America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, Katty Kay’s observations and insights reflect that rich global experience. In a world changing at lightning speed, Katty looks deep into the headlines from around the world to provide context and understanding. So many big issues to be dealt with simultaneously: Brexit and the disruption in the EU, trade disputes, immigration issues, terrorism, political isolationism, and the potential for political and economic tensions to erupt into armed conflict at any moment. Understanding the complex issues at play requires a constant refresh of perspective. It’s a world where big challenges abound and the landscape changes on a daily basis – but where is it headed? Katty asks that question of the political and business leaders she speaks to every day as anchor for BBC World News America. She brings those insights to her audience in this talk.

The Confidence Code

Confidence! With it, we can take on the world; without it, we don’t ask for raises, request that important meeting or take risks.  In the success equation, research shows that confidence is even more critical than competence. But what is confidence?  Where does it come from? Are we born with it or do we acquire it? And why do women have less of it than their talents deserve? This speech can be tailored to women or girls/parents and is based on Katty’s two bestselling books on the subject. Katty Kay inspires audiences with the latest scientific research and anecdotes from her own career and the many women and girls she interviewed. “Neurologists have isolated a ‘confidence gene,’” says Katty “and when I was tested, I learned I am not genetically predisposed to being confident.” Her experience is like that of so many women, even senior women, whose lack of confidence is what really holds them back. But confidence is also art – impacted by how we choose to live with our genes. The good news then is that being confident is a choice. Katty’s talk inspires audiences to take action – to go outside their comfort zones, to try new hard things, to take risks, to be prepared to fail and to discover the secret to success.

Womenomics

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, IMF Chief Christine Lagarde called the advancement of women the greatest economic opportunity of our time. She was recognizing what Katty Kay calls Womenomics, the extraordinary value of women in the workforce. Global studies show that companies who employ more senior women make more money. But too many women in their mid-thirties hit the brick wall of kids vs. career and decide to leave the workforce. We can’t afford to keep losing them.  Katty marshals evidence from employers large and small to show how it’s possible to help women meet the demands of family and career and keep these valuable contributors in the workforce. What starts as talent retention initiative becomes a profit bonus any company would be happy to have. Katty’s talk inspires women and provides a practical guide to employers.

Moderator, Discussion Leader & Interviewer

Katty Kay has interviewed scores of political dignitaries and business leaders for her news broadcasts and at top live events. The skills, grace and humor she brings to the live stage as a panel moderator, discussion leader and interviewer help create memorable experience for the audience.

Video clips

Katty Kay - Raising Confident Girls

Speaker testimonials

Thank you for joining us at the Deloitte 2017 World Meeting. It was a privilege for our most senior leaders to hear perspectives from you, David Cameron, and John Kerry. Your deft moderation of the discussion helped ensure a robust exchange of ideas on global trends and their impact on business. I know we will look back on your session as among the most memorable highlights of our time in Rome.

CEO, Deloitte Global

Thanks to Katty the event was very successful. We have gotten back a lot of positive feedback from the group. She was fantastic at the event and the topic was something all of the women could relate including me. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Katty and listening to her. She is a very down to earth person who brings a lot of knowledge and experience to any group that she has the pleasure to speak to their group.

Penske

Katty Kay was a huge hit with the attendees at NY Cash Exchange! She did a great job of creating a current events message geared to our group’s primary areas of interest and her presentation style was very polished and professional. Her humor provided a welcome balance. Perhaps the highest point was the Q&A session. She is obviously very well informed and quick minded. We would certainly book her again.

Ruzek Management

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