Motivational speaks on career progression, networking and mentoring
UK
Expert in business networking & branding and founder of WeAreTheCity, a networking site for women to connect and grow
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About Vanessa
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Our speaker Vanessa Vallely is a recognized expert in person-to-person business networking, online branding and a sought-after motivational speaker.
In 2008, Vanessa launched the networking site: www.wearethecity.com (WATC) as a vehicle to help other Women connect and grow both personally and professionally. Today, WeAreTheCity experiences over 5 million hits per month and an average of 260,000 unique visitors.
WATC has become the Little Black Book for UK’s female workforce. Its 30,000+ members rely on this fantastic site to inspire, motivate and provide them with the direction they need to take their careers or businesses to the next level.
The motivational speaker Vanessa Vallely works tirelessly to further the Diversity Agenda. Women in Banking & Finance (WiBF), recognized her achievements with the ‘2011 Women’s Champion Award’. Furthermore in 2009, Vanessa co-founded the citywide diversity forum, The Networks of Networks (TNON). The TNON includes the Diversity heads and heads of women’s networks from 48 firms.
Global corporations, universities, charities and radio broadcasters invite Vanessa Vallely to speak on career progression, networking, mentoring and profile as well as her 25 years of experience in the City and Financial services. Vanessa has also keynoted at some of the largest trade shows and in countries such as India, the Middle East and the US.
As evidence to the success of the knowledge she shares with others, our keynote speaker Vanessa Vallely is on every watch list following top women, such as: Financial News Top 100 Rising Star across Europe, Africa and EMEA, Financial News Top 100 Women in Finance as well as The International Alliance for Women’s Top 100 Global Women who are making a notable difference to female empowerment. In 2013 she received honours such Brummel’s Top 30 Inspirational Women in the City, as well as being awarded the Global Leadership Award at Columbia University from US network Womensphere. Vanessa’s latest achievement is being cited as 1 of 50 Women of Influence by UK’s leading magazine, Good Housekeeping (Nov 2013).
Vanessa has recently released her first book, “Heels of Steel” which tracks her amazing career climb to the C-suite. As well as being an autobiography, the book also imparts 13 chapters of tips and advice aimed at helping the next generation to achieve career success. This book is currently in the top 10,000 business books on Amazon.
The ambitious speaker Vanessa Vallely is committed to community work, serving as a Non Executive for Prostate Cancer UK and she is also the Pearly Queen of the City of London, which represents a fundamental aspect of London’s heritage.
See keynotes with Vanessa VallelyWatch speaker Vanessa Vallely in action
How do you prepare for speaking engagements?
It depends on what keynote I am delivering, if it’s any one of my usual four, I tend to think about how I will make my content resonate with a particular audience. If I need to concentrate and prepare I will tend to take myself out of my normal working environment, invariably somewhere tranquil.
What is your main motivation for being a keynote speaker?
My speaking career evolved from my corporate and business experience. I have always enjoyed sharing tips and telling stories. I am extremely passionate about the key topics in my keynotes and I think that comes out when I am on stage. Passion is contagious. My only thought when I am speaking is how I can share my experience to help other individuals, again it is something that I live and breathe so it is something that I don’t have to think about consciously, it just comes out in me and invariably motivates and inspires my audiences.
How do you engage audiences while sharing your personal corporate experience?
I like to connect learning points with stories – people remember salient points that way. I have had a 25 year career, and I run two businesses therefore I have lots of stories. I present rhetorical questions to my audience and I keep them engaged with questions they might ask themselves. My talks are practical and contain direction and structure for individuals who want to enhance their career, I don’t do theory, instead I do: “Here are some tips, mix them up with what works for you, now let’s get up, focus and make it happen.”
Do you have some tips for females who aspire to conquer the corporate world?
I would advise anyone regardless of gender to focus on building relationships. People buy people and it’s not who you know, but who knows you! Networking is the key in terms of progression as well as nurturing the relationships created in that environment. It is not about just meeting them and never following up. I would also suggest seeking the help of mentors, never be afraid to ask someone to help you and on the flip side, offer your help in abundance.
I am a true believer that together we are stronger and that collaboration drives progress far quicker than what we try to achieve on our own. On a final point, I would add that there will be times that people doubt your capability or tell you that you won’t ever achieve your dreams – my advice is that, you, and only you are a true judge of your own capability, thank them for their opinion and carry on regardless!
Do you have a favorite experience from your speaking career?
I have many. As I write this I have just completed 2 keynotes in Mumbai. I was interested to see how the content from my signature talks, The Power of Profile and Heels of Steel would resonate overseas, however they did and the feedback has been excellent. I also love the follow ups I get after I have spoken, especially when someone emails to say they followed my advice and lead them to their own success – surely having the opportunity to play a part in the success of someone else’s future has to be the best job in the world!
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