John Lees
Transform career management and talent retention with John Lees, UK's leading career strategist. John equips professionals to navigate workplace transitions and make strategic career decisions. Author of 15 books including the bestselling How To Get A Job You Love, he has worked with CIPD, Lloyds Banking Group, and The British Council.
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
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As the author of 15 career books, including the bestseller How To Get A Job You Love (twice selected as WHSmith Business Book of the Month), John brings substantial credibility to his work. His career insights appear regularly in Harvard Business Review online, The Times, and The Guardian, while his television appearances include BBC and ITV programmes focused on employment success.
John equips organisations to address critical talent challenges through specialised programmes that transform career management practices. His corporate work spans major institutions, including The British Council, CIPD, Lloyds Banking Group, and Marks & Spencer, where he develops frameworks for career realignment, structured career conversations, and talent retention strategies that respond to today's rapidly evolving workplace demands.
Audiences leave John's presentations with practical tools to make better career decisions, actionable strategies to overcome career barriers, and renewed confidence to pursue meaningful work aligned with their strengths and values.
Book John Lees to give your team the career clarity and strategic direction they need to thrive in today's complex professional landscape.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
John Lees emphasises the importance of taking control of your career in today's evolving work environment. He discusses managing the next 18 months of your professional life, assessing your learning curve, and identifying key career drivers. Attendees will learn how to map their organisation to uncover missed opportunities, recognise transferable skills, and connect authentically through impactful storytelling. Ultimately, participants will gain insights into how to effectively communicate their value and navigate their career paths.
John Lees will guide attendees in understanding career decision-making by identifying personal career drivers and motivations. He will emphasise the importance of aligning individual strengths with organisational needs and building essential relationships. Participants will learn to effectively communicate their energy and strengths authentically, without feeling disingenuous. Additionally, John will share strategies for influencing others, seeking mentorship, and gathering support within their organisations. Attendees will leave equipped with practical tools for advancing their careers.
In this talk, John Lees addresses the challenges of self-promotion and career uncertainty. He emphasises the importance of resilience and offers strategies for protecting it. Attendees will learn the career two-step, which combines reflection and action, and discover tools from positive psychology to enhance confidence. John also explores innovative networking techniques and authentic communication, teaching participants how to effectively convey their strengths and share energising stories. By the end, attendees will feel empowered to navigate their career paths with clarity.
In this talk, John Lees explores how to effectively communicate your skills and achievements without coming across as exaggerated or aggressive. He covers the essentials of managing structured career conversations, what to prepare beforehand, and how to address career anxieties when feeling unchallenged in your role. Attendees will learn strategies for requesting difficult changes and how to present constructive plans during appraisals, equipping them with the tools to navigate their career discussions confidently.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
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