Samantha Collins

Brainstormer, Change agent, Connector, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Parent

Dr Samantha Collins is the founder and CEO of ASPIRE, an internationally-recognized and award-winning leader in leadership education, coaching, events and research related to women as business, diversity and social leaders. Samantha has been a coach for 10 years and was named One of the Top Ten Coaches in the UK by the Independent on Sunday and the Association for Coaching. She was also named one of the Top 200 Women in the UK to Impact Business & Industry by HM The Queen. She has contributed to The Financial Times, CNN, The Times and the BBC Global Business Report. Her PhD thesis examined the future world of work for senior women in law, banking and accountancy firms and she is the author of a soon-to-be published book, Go MAD – Women Leaders Making a Difference. She is also the winner of an Ogunte Women's Social Leadership Award in the category of Leader in the Workplace 2010. Samantha is passionate about making a difference for women both in and outside of the boardroom which is why she started The Aspire Foundation. This not-for-profit foundation offers pro-bono coaching and mentoring to senior leaders working in charities, social enterprises and community projects that support women and girls across the world. Samantha addresses executive boards, women's conferences and men and women within corporations. Topics include: • 'Unconscious Bias or Conscious Leadership' • Creating Your Visionary Life and Work • Making a Difference as Role Models • Leadership Presence and Profile • The Modern Feminist • Wake Up and Get on with It! - A New Era in Gender Diversity Originally from the UK, Samantha now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Robert, and 2 sons, Jake and Charlie.

I am passionate about making a difference for women both in and outside of the boardroom which is why I started The Aspire Foundation which offers pro bono mentoring to women leaders in nonprofits.

The Aspire Foundation harnesses a new generation of business leaders’ ambition to make a difference through an innovative, charitable mentoring program with the goal of having a positive impact on one million women and girls by 2015 and we are well on our way—with 250 mentors and mentees working together in 14 countries, having a knock-on effect to the lives of more than 240,000 women and girls so far. The Aspire Foundation works by senior business women offering their corporate, executive, or entrepreneurial experience and expertise to senior influencers of change and aspiring leaders working in not-for-profit organizations including charities, social enterprises, government, entrepreneurial and community projects that are supporting women and girls across the world.

Coaching - Life and Leadership, Gender Diversity, Leadership Development, Women's Development

I came to TED talks like most people – via the recommendation of a friend. I listen to TED speakers when I need inspiration and they always deliver. I was delighted to discover that TED was doing a conference devoted to the ideas of women – a true passion of mine. I’m really looking forward to attending the conference and meeting like-minded women to share ideas and get inspired! Through my work with The Aspire Foundation, I have met some amazing women who are really making change happen in our world. I want to do whatever I can to help empower these women and others like them to do the work they were born to do. Aspire’s Heroine’s Quest program is the next step for us in this process. We want to help guide more inspiring women to achieve their life’s passion and we hope this program will enable us to do that. I look forward to connecting with some inspirational women at the TED Women’s Conference and hopefully start some life-long friendships.

Seeing the extraordinary in ordinary women. I have a genuine passion for the influencing power of women and I love to meet women who are creating change and help those who want to do so.