Founder & Managing Director of Equality Forward, Global Director of Performance, Culture & Talent at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer & Author of ‘The Fix’ and ‘How Work Works’

Michelle King is a renowned thought leader on diversity, equity, and inclusion, celebrated for her work in reshaping workplace cultures worldwide. As Founder and Managing Director of Equality Forward, she equips leaders with the strategies to build truly equitable organisations. She also hosts the popular The Fix podcast, which has amplified global conversations about tackling invisible barriers at work. Recognised with awards including LinkedIn Top Voice for Equality, Michelle is a sought-after keynote speaker who inspires audiences to rethink workplace systems and create cultures where every individual can thrive.

Michelle began her career in 2002 as an HR Consultant with PwC before progressing to senior roles with Fonterra, Suncor Energy, and BHP Billiton. These early positions equipped her with deep expertise in workplace culture, corporate affairs, and people strategy. She then moved into global leadership, serving as Head of Integrated Strategy for Gender Innovation and Senior Manager of Development for Diversity and Employee Engagement at UN Women, where she shaped international initiatives advancing gender equality.

Building on this, Michelle became Director of Inclusion at Netflix, integrating inclusive practices into the streaming platform’s worldwide operations. She later served as Managing Director of ECCI and Chief People Officer at ODI Global, guiding executive teams on organisational change. In 2025, she was appointed Global Director of Performance, Culture and Talent at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, continuing her mission to transform workplace culture at scale.

Beyond her corporate work, Michelle has empowered the next generation of women leaders through her role as Advisory Board Member for Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation campaign. Her impact has been recognised with awards including the Inspiring Innovator Award from Women Tech Founders, LinkedIn Top Voice for Equality, the Axiom Business Book Award Silver Medal, and Porchlight’s No.1 Business Bestseller accolade. She also holds a PhD from Cranfield University and five degrees from the University of California.

Michelle is a prolific voice on workplace equality, contributing regularly to Forbes and other leading outlets. She is the author of ‘The Fix’ and ‘How Work Works’, both acclaimed for addressing systemic barriers and workplace culture. Her insights reach wide audiences through The Fix podcast, with more than 100,000 downloads, and she has featured in major media platforms including the BBC, Bloomberg, and The Economist, sharing expertise on leadership, gender, and inclusion.

Why Hire Michelle King?

Booking Michelle King means securing a globally respected authority on workplace equality who combines academic expertise with real-world leadership. She has advised and spoken for top organisations, including Amazon, LinkedIn, Dior, Netflix, and Travis Perkins, delivering presentations that move beyond surface-level diversity discussions to uncover and address systemic cultural barriers.

Michelle’s talks are both practical and inspiring, offering leaders tangible steps to build workplaces where all employees can thrive. She brings credibility from her global leadership roles at Netflix, UN Women, ODI Global, and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, alongside her award-winning research and recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice for Equality.

A captivating storyteller, Michelle delivered the TEDx Chelsea Park talk “It’s Not You, It’s Your Workplace,” which continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. Whether addressing gender denial, intersectionality, or leadership development, Michelle empowers audiences with the tools and vision to create lasting change.

To book Michelle to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.