Lucy Cooke
Transform leadership and sustainability strategies with Lucy Cooke, speaker, zoologist and bestselling author. Lucy works with organisations to apply animal behaviour insights to workplace dynamics and environmental challenges, delivering powerful frameworks for clients including J.P. Morgan, Deloitte and Disney.
London, United Kingdom
Enquire Now
Send us your event details
.svg){kind=icon}
Lucy's credentials include a Master's in zoology from New College Oxford, where she studied under Richard Dawkins. She has authored four books, including the feminist paradigm-shifting bestseller Bitch: What does it mean to be female? and the New York Times bestseller "A Little Book of Sloth." As a BBC Wildlife Magazine columnist, she also writes the popular "Female of the Species" column.
Through her work, Lucy helps organisations understand leadership dynamics by drawing parallels between animal behaviour and workplace environments. Her research on pack mentalities provides actionable frameworks for team building, while her insights on sustainability offer businesses practical approaches to environmental challenges based on natural systems.
Audiences leave Lucy's presentations with concrete strategies for fostering inclusive leadership models, practical tools for implementing sustainable business practices, and a renewed perspective on gender dynamics in professional settings. Her engaging delivery makes complex scientific concepts accessible and immediately applicable. She has spoken to a range of businesses, including J. P Morgan, Gartner, Deloitte and Disney.
Book Lucy Cooke to give your organisation the evolutionary edge that comes from understanding the profound business lessons hidden within the natural world.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Leadership in nature takes many forms, often defying human assumptions. Lucy Cooke explores how dominance, cooperation, and adaptability play out in the animal world, from the matriarchal societies of elephants to the rule-breaking behaviours of alpha females. Drawing on evolutionary biology and animal behaviour, she challenges traditional leadership models and offers surprising insights into what truly makes an effective leader.
Nature offers powerful lessons in collaboration, from the coordinated hunts of wild dogs to the social structures of meerkats. Lucy Cooke examines the evolutionary advantages of teamwork, exploring how animals work together to survive and thrive. With a mix of science, storytelling, and humour, she uncovers the key ingredients of successful group dynamics and how they apply to human teams in business and beyond.
Biology has long been used to justify gender stereotypes, but modern science tells a different story. Lucy Cooke dismantles outdated myths about sex and gender in nature, revealing a world where females are dominant, males nurture, and diversity is the norm. By understanding the true complexities of evolutionary biology, she provides a fresh perspective on gender roles and the importance of challenging ingrained biases.
In her insightful talk, Lucy Cooke explores the misconception of the "alpha" model in wolf hierarchies, revealing that successful animal societies thrive on teamwork rather than dominance. Drawing from groundbreaking research, she highlights parallels between animal behaviour and leadership styles of both successful and unsuccessful leaders. Attendees will learn essential leadership lessons, refined over 3.5 billion years of evolution, to enhance their own leadership skills and build effective teams.
In this fascinating talk, Lucy Cooke challenges the negative perception of sloths, highlighting their resilience over 60 million years. She draws inspiration from sloths and other enduring species to share valuable life lessons. Attendees will discover how these insights can foster a better, happier, and more productive workforce, ultimately transforming their approach to work and life. Join Lucy to learn how nature's survivors can inspire personal and professional growth.
In her talk, Lucy Cooke highlights the octopus as a symbol of innovation, having thrived for over 330 million years. She emphasises that adaptability, rather than strength, is crucial for success in today's rapidly changing world marked by AI, economic shifts, and climate crises. By examining lessons from nature's resilient survivors, such as urban raccoons and cooperative meerkats, attendees will gain insights into embracing flexibility, innovation, and collaboration to future-proof their success.
Featured Projects
Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide To Sex, Evolution And The Female Animal
Life In The Sloth Lane: Slow Down And Smell The Hibiscus
.svg)
Book
.svg)
.svg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
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.
If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.