Delivering powerful, memorable sessions that build clarity, confidence, and connection

“I laughed. I cried. I cringed. 

The full impact of Dr Liz O’Riordan’s keynote didn’t hit home until I had a chance to reflect later – It doesn’t matter if you look like you fit in, if you don’t FEEL like you do. Liz talked candidly about feeling like an outsider and shoehorning her behaviour into what was expected. Talking to the audience later, this was so common. I spent a lot of time last night thinking about the talk and what I need to do next.”

Bil Kirmani , Cardiac Surgeon

How can Liz’s approach improve your communication, connection, and performance?

Dr Liz brings a rare mix of humour, honesty, and heart. She gets audiences involved, keeps them laughing, and guides them through powerful moments that land hard and stay with them long after the event ends. People don’t just listen to Liz, they feel moved, connected, and changed by what she shares.

How can Liz help you?

Dr Liz O’Riordan knows what it means to lead under pressure and what happens when control is taken away. As a consultant breast surgeon, she made life-and-death decisions daily. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. Suddenly, the person holding the scalpel became the one on the table.

That experience changed everything she thought she knew about leadership, communication, and resilience. Today Liz helps leaders and teams see their world from both sides: the one with authority and the one that depends on it.

Her talks combine surgical precision with humanity, offering practical lessons on leadership under pressure, high-performing teams, and finding strength when the plan changes.

She will work with you to create bespoke content to help achieve your goals. Whether you want a keynote, a workshop, a panel discussion or a fireside chat, she’s ready to help.

Keynotes

Every speech is tailored to your needs, but the most popular keynotes are:

Quality Care and Communication

Healthcare professionals strive to do the best for their patients, but Liz had seen first-hand what happens when a patient leaves a clinic and has to fend for themself. Simple changes, such as starting difficult conversations around sex and death can have a massive impact on the perceived quality of care. Key messages:

  • How to make a difference when there’s no extra time.
  • What being part of a team really means.
  • It’s the little things that matter; you can start tomorrow.

The Doctors’ Doctor

The medical workforce is burnt out. They don’t know it, but the public does. Liz leads healthcare professionals to protect the non-negotiables before they become a patient themselves, with the help of her ‘CPR toolkit’.

Key messages:

  • Seeing your culture from both sides of the table.
  • How control and vulnerability coexist in great leadership.
  • What strength really looks like when you have no control.

Resilience and Reinvention

Liz’s story is not about “bouncing back” – it’s about redefining success when life forces you to change course. It’s about learning to protect the non-negotiables so when curveballs hit, you don’t fall apart – with the help of her ‘CPR toolkit’.

Key messages:

  • Reinvention when your identity changes overnight.
  • Leading through personal and professional disruption.
  • What strength really looks like when you have no control.

Communication and Psychological

In an operating theatre, a single miscommunication can be fatal. A team cannot function if they aren’t communicating honestly and without fear. As a patient, Liz felt the effects of this when she was on the receiving end. The parallels with corporate life are striking.

Key messages:

  • How to create an environment where people speak up.
  • Listening as a leadership skill.
  • Closing the gap between intention and impact.

Leadership and Perspective

What happens when the leader becomes the led? Leaders often think they understand what their people need until they’re on the other side of the table. Liz explores how perspective, humility, and empathy transform leadership and take it to the next level.

Key messages:

  • Seeing your culture from both sides of the table.
  • How control and vulnerability coexist in great leadership.
  • The real meaning of empathy and authority under pressure.

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Testimonials

“Liz captivated our audience with her authenticity and wisdom. Her story resonated deeply, leaving attendees inspired and empowered.”

“A truly transformative experience. Liz’s talk was the highlight of our conference.”