Speaking & Partnerships
Looking for a unique voice to bring the juice to your next event or initiative? Look no further than The Gentle Beast*. Iona’s keynotes, workshops, and breathwork events will help you get more brave women in every room.
*Iona’s client called her The Gentle Beast. It stuck.
We need more brave women in the room
At Brave Thing, we believe every woman has someone in her life who needs a braver version of her to exist: her daughter, her colleague, the best friend she hasn’t met yet.
We also believe something in her life needs her braver: the project she’s leading, the title she wants, the stage she was born to stand on.
But we’ve got a problem:
📌 75% of women have imposter syndrome (KPMG)
📌 50% more women struggle with depression than men (WHO)
📌 30% of women skip presentations due to body image issues (MHA)
📌 62% of women say critical feedback rocks their confidence (ADAA)
📌 60% of women don’t apply for jobs if they aren’t 100% qualified (HBR)
At 29, Iona found out she was going to be an aunt to a little girl. Iona did not want her niece to know the highly-functioning invisibly-struggling version of her who fought depression and imposter syndrome throughout her glittering career as an All-American athlete, talent acquisition expert at Google, and creative director. She did the Brave Thing.
Iona knows how strong women tick and the struggles they face. She also knows to help them upgrade to a braver identity and live their version of a brave life.
The blunt, honest, and kind way Iona’s keynotes and workshops address pressure, perfectionism, fear of failure, loneliness, and imposter syndrome offers permission, relief, tools, and inspiration to women who want to keep their razor sharp edge and live a life packed full with hope, joy, and purpose.
Choose from Iona’s topics or partner with us to create a bespoke experience for your event, or team.
“Our crowd absolutely loved Iona. She had us laughing, crying, and leaving inspired…all in less than 45 minutes. Book this rising star ASAP! Her authenticity is so
refreshing.”
Michael Stone, Vice President, PEF Chattanooga, sponsored by Volkswagen
Let’s work together
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Kenotes
Iona will deliver her signature talk, The Brave One, which can be tailored to your company initiatives and participants.
Strong and smart women don’t finish first, brave women do. But fear, perfectionism, and self-criticism can block women from living their version of a brave life.
In this blunt and heartfelt talk, participants will learn that -
● someone needs a braver version of you to exist
● a rock bottom could be the making of you
● love, inspiration & purpose live close to home
● anyone can trade in a beige life for a brave one
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The Brave One™ Workshop
Women struggle with imposter syndrome, confidence gaps, and using their voice. This hamstrings their self-image, sense of purpose, and career advancement.
The Brave One Method™ is Iona’s signature 5-step proprietary method, combining potent frameworks, breathwork techniques, visualization, and prompts to help women upgrade to a braver identity and become the bravest woman in the room.
The Brave One™ can be delivered as a one-off or workshop series
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Own The Room
So many women are terrified of public speaking and don’t speak up in meetings.
In Own The Room, Iona will teach the Cool Calm Crush Method. Participants will learn how to control nerves and anxiety with breathwork, master their body language, and increase emotional connection with clients and colleagues through storytelling.
Participants will have the chance to practice integrating what they’ve learned in breakout rooms. Iona will also facilitate Q+A.
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Micro Brave
Becoming the bravest woman in the room and cultivating a braver culture takes time and practice. How can we make stacking confidence and expanding emotional resilience potent, but bitesized?
Microbrave is a series of 20 short-form videos (up to 3 minutes each) where Iona will share a weekly concept or breathwork tool from The Brave One Method™ for participants to reflect on, and integrate. Microbrave topics will be lightly tailored to your company, initiative, and participants. Microbrave videos will be delivered in Slack, or your company’s preferred communication platform.
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Bespoke
Iona can tailor all experiences to fit your event or initiative like a glove.
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Leave this one empty 😊
Our Commitment To You
We don’t just inspire women. We give them the tools to become the bravest woman in the room
We bring the juice to your events and initiatives
Companies and events partner with Brave Thing because Iona knows how strong women tick, and how to help them open up, connect, and grow. She’s spent the last 5 years transforming the way people think about strength and vulnerability and she’s the go-to expert for helping people be braver in their life, work, and relationships. When you partner with Brave Thing, we bring expert insight, a fresh take on big topics, and a voice people can relate to, and trust.
Bravery As A Superpower
Upgrading Identity & Self-Image
Building Trust Through Vulnerability
Breathwork and Visualization
Expanding Emotional Intelligence
Managing Imposter Syndrome
Loneliness & Belonging
Taking Risk
“Iona’s talk was extraordinary. Authentic, kind, and brave. The truest hour in all my 43 years here.”
Uncommonly Brave Keynote, Skadden Mental Health Awareness Month
Why Iona is your secret weapon
Iona was an All-American athlete, has a bachelor of science in psychology, and worked for 7 years in journalism, advertising, and marketing. The whole time she fought invisible wars, like so many women do. She understands the pressure strong women feel, their fear of losing their edge, and the desire for greater purpose. She has the gift of gently but firmly showing women that bravery is the answer.
As a leading voice on bravery, Iona’s known for her vivid storytelling that cracks the toughest hearts open, frameworks that stick in people’s heads, potent breathwork tools they’ll actually want to use, all delivered with a dash of cheeky Scottish humour.
Iona believes we all have someone in our lives who needs a braver version of us to exist and that people, companies, and cultures grow at the speed of BRAVE.
It’s her mission to help you get more brave women in every room.
Do The Brave Thing