We can't afford not to be changing. Disruption presents a choice between opportunity and obsolescence.
At the age of five, Holly Ransom's grandmother, Dorothy, told her, "Honey, if you walk past it, you tell the world it's okay," and she has lived by that mantra ever since, devoting her life and career to inspiring audiences around the world to stand up and lead the change they want to see.
Today, Holly is recognised globally for her unique ability to take complex ideas and problems, grind them down, and restructure them in a way everyone can understand. She is the founder and CEO of a consulting firm, Emergent; author of The Leading Edge; co-founder, chief curator, and catalyst at Energy Disruptors, winning ‘Best Conference’ in Canada for its work-up catalysing collaboration across the energy industry.
As a renowned speaker and master interviewer, Holly has led discussions with influential figures such as Barack Obama, Malcolm Gladwell, Billie Jean-King, Condoleezza Rice, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus, and the world's first humanoid robot, Sophia. She even delivered a Peace Charter to the Dalai Lama. Due to this work, Holly was named one of Australia's 100 Most Influential Women by the Australian Financial Review and was awarded the US Embassy's Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Leadership Excellence in 2019. To top it off, Sir Richard Branson nominated her for Wired Magazine's 'Smart List' of Future Game Changers to watch.
While a Fulbright scholar and part of the Harvard Kennedy School Class of '21 fellow, Holly received the prestigious Anne Wexler Public Policy Scholarship, allowing her to act on social and economic inclusion by connecting people directly with the decisions that affect their lives.
Holly’s book, The Leading Edge, is democratising leadership learning by igniting individuals, ability to accelerate change through asking better questions, thinking beyond biased answers, and establishing a groundswell for advancement.
Holly is an accomplished company director in her own right, Holly has compressed a power-packed career into a decade, spanning corporate, non-profit, and public sectors. Working with big-name clients such as P&G, Microsoft, Virgin, Cisco, and KPMG to effect and inspire actual change. Occasionally, Holly will grace Australian screens commentating for Reuters, CBS, and Australia’s ABC. Holly's fierce dedication to inclusivity and equity drives her work as Chair of Pride Cup Australia, a non-profit organisation and movement devoted to eradicating LGBTQI+ discrimination within sporting clubs while making them secure and welcoming for players and fans.
But even before all this, Holly was identified early as a dynamic thought leader and asked to Chair the G20 Youth Summit in 2014, and the United Nations Coalition of Young Women Entrepreneurs in 2016, and became the youngest director ever to be appointed to an Australian Football Club, Port Adelaide, one of the 18 teams in the professional Australian Football League.
A two-time ironwoman, when Holly does manage to find some downtime, she loves to cook, dance, and sing... despite her complete lack of talent at all three.
Talking Points
Humanising Leadership in a Tech Enhanced World
Navigating the digital age has thrown many leaders into free fall.. As humans, we can no longer win on intellect, speed, systems, or control.Humanising Leadership in a Tech Enhanced World
In the rapidly evolving digital age, leadership is at a crossroads. While technological advancements reshape industries, the workforce yearns for more than just a paycheck. Authenticity, empathy, purpose, and flexibility have become the new currency of fulfillment in work and the World Economic Forum predicts that by 2027, these ‘human’ skills will be paramount.
But how can leaders navigate this intersection, acknowledging and nurturing the essence of humanity amidst algorithms and innovations?
In ‘Humanising Leadership in the Digital Age,’ Holly reveals game-changing strategies to effortlessly blend social and emotional intelligence (EQ) – the very essence of our humanity – into your leadership DNA. With a knack for distilling intricate academic research on the human experience, Holly seamlessly connects theory to tangible leadership impact. Everyone will walk away armed with actionable skills, ready to elevate their leadership journey in the fast-paced, real-world arena.
Key takeaways:
- Uncover core practices you can embed into your organisational culture that can help bring authentic, human leadership to the fore.
- Gain actionable insights on applying emotional intelligence (EQ) principles in real-world leadership scenarios.
- Dive into practical strategies for navigating the emotional load of modern leadership.
- Redefine your approach to time management, with a focus on optimising energy and mindset over mere hours on the clock.
- Explore how to effectively navigate the challenges of leading in a remote or hybrid work environment with empathy and inclusivity.
Sustaining Your Edge: High-Performance Teams & Culture
Organisational performance doesn’t stem from the work of solo high performers; culture-building is the daily work-out required for exceptional teams.Sustaining Your Edge: High-Performance Teams & Culture
In a 2023 survey of 300 executives, an overwhelming 99% acknowledged the crucial role of a robust culture in achieving business goals such as growth and revenue. Yet, only 58% deemed their own culture highly successful.
Closing the culture gap means deliberately building an organisational culture anchored in robust systems, streamlined processes, shared values, and ingrained behaviours. Intentional culture-buiding empowers your organisation to thrive consistently, even as personnel change and new challenges arise.
Drawing on her experience working with some of the world’s highest-performing cultures across sport, arts and business, Holly breaks down the essence of high-performance cultures into pragmatic building blocks that every team can step up to.
Key takeaways:
- Program in the key mindsets, methods, and systems that fuel high-performing cultures.
- Learn how to embrace your pivotal role as a ‘culture captain,’ driving positive change within your team and organisation.
- Learn the ropes of being a force multiplier for cultural fitness.
- Gain inspiration and practical wisdom from tangible examples and best practices across diverse high-performing cultures, offering actionable insights for transformative leadership.
Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
In Holly’s opinion, the single most important habit any leader can be building right now is to get comfortable being uncomfortable.Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
You’ve heard the adage that there is no growth in your comfort zone – it’s true, by its very definition learning requires us to venture into the ‘new’ and tangle with the unknown. But it’s also a perfect example of a phrase that’s easier said than done.
Staying within familiar boundaries may offer a sense of security, but it also limits creativity and stifles adaptability. Research consistently underscores this point, demonstrating that the act of stepping out of our comfort zones triggers a significant boost in performance. This intentional discomfort acts as a catalyst, compelling us to explore uncharted territories and continuously expand our capabilities.
For leaders, this dynamic process is a strategic approach to enhancing both individual growth and overall leadership effectiveness in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Drawing from her own extraordinary ‘Year of Fear,’ where she confronted fears daily, and leveraging insights from guiding countless leaders through the process since, Holly not only shares her personal insights but also introduces a proven methodology. A tried-and-true approach to help you venture out of your comfort zone and build your ‘courage zone’ muscle.
Get ready to redefine your limits and embark on a transformative adventure into the heart of courage.
Key takeaways:
- Understand how embracing discomfort positions you as a dynamic and agile leader in an ever-evolving landscape.
- Learn how to systematically build your courage muscle, enabling you to face challenges with resilience and fortitude.
- Unlock the barriers hindering your next-stage growth and develop a practical plan to overcome them systematically.
- Explore leadership strategies that inspire team members to venture out of their comfort zones, fostering collective growth.
Leading Change in an Era of Disruption
Surviving disruption is one thing; Holly will help build your capacity to thrive in it.Leading Change in an Era of Disruption
In today’s fast-paced world, leaders face relentless change. Accenture’s 2024 Pulse of Change Index reveals a staggering 183% increase in the rate of change since 2019, with a 33% spike in 2023 alone. Adding to the complexity of this increase in pace is a change capability gap: 82% of HR leaders believe their managers are not equipped to lead change. 77% say their organisation is suffering from change fatigue.
This is the challenge of modern leadership: navigating rapidly-changing uncertainty and complexity while bringing your people and stakeholders along for the ride.
In defence of our leaders, this dynamic challenge requires new skillsets and tools that few have been afforded the opportunity to build and develop. Creating a change ‘gymnasium’ where leaders can build their individual and collective match fitness for this challenge is one of the most important investments organisations can make.
In ‘Leading Change in an Era of Disruption’, you’ll garner practical tools and insights for leading successful organisational change. You’ll learn how to build your tolerance for uncertainty, frameworks for approaching decision-making and techniques for ensuring your team remains resilient, engaged, and ready for what’s next.
This is your essential guide to mastering disruption and leading effective organisational change.
Key Takeaways:
- Decode the impact of uncertainty on cognition, and learn simple tools to reduce anxiety and stress-induced uncertainty.
- Sharpen your peripheral vision for change mastery – while predicting change might be elusive, preparation is within our control.
- Uncover the the single most important habit you can build (individually and collectively) to thrive in uncertainty, and learn how to build it.
- Harness the transformative power of a growth mindset, unlocking new avenues of innovation and resilience for yourself and your team.
- Gain strategies for enabling followership and making change ‘stick’.
Activating Emergent Leadership
The future beckons us to look beyond traditional leadership and recognise the latent leaders within us all.Activating Emergent Leadership
Holly’s passion for leadership is contagious, fuelled by the idea that we’re all born with the ability to lead the change we care enough to make —a concept she delves into extensively in her book, ‘The Leading Edge.’
Within every individual lies a treasure trove of ideas, distinct perspectives, and untapped energy, eager to make its mark and propel your organisation forward. Yet, in many instances, this latent potential remains dormant, stifled by rigid hierarchies and conventional notions of leadership.
But what if we challenged those conventional notions and empowered every individual to lead from where they stand? How might this reshape your organisational culture?
In ‘Activating Emergent Leadership,’ Holly illuminates the stark contrast between traditional hierarchical models and the agile, decentralised essence of emergent leadership. This approach is not merely about adaptation—it’s about leveraging the full spectrum of your workforce’s potential to strategically position your organisation for success in an ever-evolving landscape.
Join Holly to explore innovative strategies for unleashing the latent leaders within your organisation, to cultivate a culture defined by innovation, adaptability, and collective achievement.
Key takeaways:
- Learn strategies to unlock creativity and foster a feedback-driven culture.
- Uncover the key traits of leaders who supercharge others into leadership roles, fuelling confidence and autonomy within the team.
- Explore support frameworks that encourage individuals to push boundaries and broaden their perspectives.
- Gain insights into the unique characteristics of millennials and Gen Z in the workforce and how to think about best supporting these generations to thrive.
Master interviewer and panel moderator
There’s a reason why Holly was personally requested by Barack Obama to interview him on stage in 2018, Holly is both interested and interesting.
Master interviewer and panel moderator
Professional Emcee and Event host
With a spark to light any fire, Holly brings audiences and guests along on a compelling journey, fighting complexity with curiosity, apathy with empowerment and fear with fact.
Professional Emcee and Event host
Event designer and content specialist
Holly has lived and breathed events organisation for 15 years, cofounded Canada’s number 1 conference, and has curated content for top-notch global companies.
Event designer and content specialist
Video
Holly Ransom | Saxton Speakers
Holly Ransom is a top keynote speaker, a disruption strategist, and a change-maker extraordinaire. Holly has shared the stage with many of the greatest thought-leaders of our time, including Barack Obama, Richard Branson, Billy Jean King, Susan Cain and Seth Godin. Holly consistently receives rave reviews about her on-stage energy, warm authenticity and cutting-edge, relatable content. Holly welcomes the chance to partner with individuals, organizations and teams to create high impact events, inspiring the audience to be the change they wish to see in the world.Saxton Fireside Chat with Global Strategist & Disruption Expert, Holly Ransom
The exchange of stories and ideas is more important now than ever. In this bi-weekly series of virtual Fireside Chats you can gain unprecedented access to the world's greatest storytellers and thought leaders. In this intimate session, Holly Ransom shares her insights on leadership and our response to COVID-19.Holly Ransom on what we need to do to fix youth unemployment
A specialist in disruptive strategy, a private company director and advocate for social and economic inclusion, Holly Ransom is recognized globally for her super-human ability to synthesize and simplify complex issues, and create engaging, thought-provoking conversation.Witsup Be Inspired: Holly Ransom
After battling with depression a few years ago, Holly Ransom made it her goal to one day compete at an iron-distance triathlon, however, with an extremely hectic schedule, she was worried about the ability to fit in training. It wasn't until a colleague pointed out to her that she could do it, that she made the decision, and 100 days out from Ironman Western Australia, she dived into the world of swim, bike and run. The 26 year old's list of career accomplishments (so far) is as lengthy as the special effects credits of a Star Wars movie. She was the youngest person to be named in Australia's 100 Most Influential Women. She is the CEO of her own company, Emergent. She's the Co-Chair of the UN's Global Coalition of Young Entrepreneurs.Holly Ransom on the importance of employee engagement
A specialist in disruptive strategy, a private company director and advocate for social and economic inclusion, Holly Ransom is recognized globally for her super-human ability to synthesize and simplify complex issues, and create engaging, thought-provoking conversation.Holly Ransom: "You can't afford not to be changing"
Emergent Chief Executive Holly Ransom speaks about the importance of change, knowing where to go, and how to get there. She is recognized globally for her super-human ability to synthesize and simplify complex issues, and create engaging, thought-provoking conversation.Holly Ransom: Are the legacies of your workplace holding you back from change?
A specialist in disruptive strategy, a private company director and advocate for social and economic inclusion, Holly Ransom is recognized globally for her super-human ability to synthesize and simplify complex issues, and create engaging, thought-provoking conversation.Holly is a talented MC and interviewer. Through our international webcast series, and into the mainstage of The Outside, Holly provided a consistent and accessible voice that our explorers w ... keep reading PwC, The Outside
I cannot commend Holly enough. Holly presented an interactive leadership workshop for 70 high school students at UNICEF Day for Change: A Children's Rights Conference for Young Leaders. Her presentation was the highlight of the day and combined her expertise in the youth-led sector with her exceptional interpersonal and public speaking skills. She connected with the students via a range of media and inspired them individually to take action for a cause they cared about. I recommend Holly to anyone looking for a skilled, informed and passionate speaker her presentation will be one to remember.
Holly is an exceptional interviewer and facilitator. Her questions were poignant, articulate and well researched. Her style was the perfect balance of professional and casual/approachable. Her ability to make our Group CEO feel comfortable, coupled with the way she asked the right questions that drew out the right stories and content made her session a real highlight of the conference.
Holly was an exceptional speaker who captured the audience's attention from the very first word she spoke. Her interaction with the crowd was exceptional and her stories were intriguing and inspirational. Holly is a confident speaker and she has achieved so much in her short time. It was very interesting to hear how she has achieved it all. Holly was one of the key speakers at the Worldly Women lunch with over 900 attendees to celebrate International Women's Day. We would definitely recommend her as a keynote speaker to inspire anyone and everyone.
Holly is the most amazing young person I have ever come across in my whole life! I often scratch my head and wonder how it is possible that this human dynamo has managed to cram so much into her 22 years and create such lasting, sustainable change in the community while remaining so humble and graceful. There are too many organisations and achievements to mention. But Holly Ransom is a name synonymous with hard work and results.
A presentation that starts and ends with a standing ovation and can maintain the energy and engagement of an audience of 500 of America's most talented high school and college students is no mean feat! When Holly presented for us at the LEAP Foundation Los Angeles, her high-energy and informative session delivered exactly that. Holly commands the stage with such a presence and gains instant respect from her audience for her track record of achievement. She walks the walk of what she talks about. Her ability to break topics like goal-setting and leadership down into pragmatic steps meant students had practical takeaways
Watch this space! Holly is a 'mover and shaker' and she has already well and truly commenced a fascinating journey. I will follow her achievements and can only wonder where she will be, in say, ten years' time. Holly was invited to speak to the KPMG Audit team in Perth. Her key messages were valuable both from a professional and personal development perspective and she inspired many. Holly is passionate and she is the real deal. Her energy is infectious.
