Alicia Richardson

Alicia Richardson is a trailblazing female motivational keynote speaker whose powerful voice and lived experience challenge the status quo of workplace inclusion. As Founder of Create Connect and Host of the Black Create Connect Podcast, Alicia is a dynamic presence on stages across the UK and beyond. Her mission is to empower underrepresented talent and inspire cultural change in organisations through authenticity, action, and creative storytelling. Alicia’s voice resonates deeply because it is not only informed by research and strategy, but by resilience, passion, and real-world application.

After earning a degree in International Business from the University of Hertfordshire, including a formative year at San José State University in California, Alicia launched her career in operations before pivoting to recruitment and delegate sales. Her drive and determination led her to senior roles, where she began embedding DEI at the heart of employer branding and talent strategy. Alicia held influential positions such as Senior Talent, Employer Brand & DEI Lead at Depop, DEI Consultant at SyncD, and Leadership Coach at AWE, where she delivered impactful sessions to global companies like Salesforce, HP and TripAdvisor. These roles solidified her as a trusted leader in aligning corporate culture with inclusive practices.

Alicia’s most notable achievements include founding Black Create Connect, a vibrant, cross-platform community and podcast spotlighting over 100 Black professionals, and growing its network to more than 30,000 members. Her TEDx talk on recognising personal value further cemented her status as an empowering speaker. In 2024, she took her commitment further by launching Create Connect full-time, an employer marketing agency that connects companies to talent through community, content, and culture-first events. Through adversity – including redundancy and the decline of DEI budgets – Alicia has demonstrated unwavering resilience and innovation.

People book Alicia because she doesn’t just speak on inclusion – she lives it. Whether she’s addressing inclusive leadership, community-led recruitment, or authentic employer branding, Alicia offers audiences practical insights laced with emotional intelligence and truth. Her sessions go beyond inspiration – they drive impact. With a unique ability to engage, educate and energise, Alicia equips organisations to evolve from intent to meaningful action. In every keynote, Alicia embodies empowerment, reminding audiences that culture isn’t just created – it’s connected, nurtured, and led from within.