About Ife

Ife Thomas, a motivational speaker, author, coach, and TEDx speaker, is a renowned voice in the realms of mindset, confidence, mental health, and the power of connection. As a two-time author, her works have illuminated the paths for many seeking guidance and inspiration.

As an autistic, black woman who faced the challenge of being abandoned by her birth parents at just six weeks old, Ife has navigated through considerable darkness in her life. Yet, she chose not to let her early struggles overshadow her brilliance. Instead, Ife mastered the art of transforming her pain into an empowering force – a central theme in her acclaimed books, including her latest, Finding The Light in The Darkness.

Ife’s journey from adversity to prominence, captured poignantly in her TEDx talk Own Your Shine, is a powerful testament to her resilience and dedication. Her passion for sharing her story and insights is driven by a desire to motivate others to embrace their challenges and pursue their dreams with relentless optimism and strength.

My Journey to Radical Honesty

  • 1984 – Planted, Not Buried

    At six weeks old, my birth parents left the UK, and I was placed with a family who worked with the Save the Children Foundation.

    I wasn’t buried. I was planted.

    That family loved me as their own. They gave me roots of love, resilience, and grit roots that still keep me standing tall today.

  • 1993 – Discovering My Light

    At 9 years old I stumbled into dance. I wasn’t good, I missed steps, I struggled. But dance made me feel alive. By 14 I became an Under-14 Champion.

    Next I won a full scholarship to the URDANG Academy, where I trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre.

  • 2000s – The World Stage

    • Performed in Japan under Michael Jackson’s choreographer for a Uniqlo campaign
    • Shared stages with Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Leona Lewis
    • Danced live for millions on The X Factor and DanceX with Arlene Phillips & Bruno Tonioli

    But a devastating ACL injury ended my dance career overnight.

  • 2010/2011 – Big Brother

    Entered the Big Brother House, suddenly becoming a household name on national TV.

    After Big Brother, I toured as a Motown solo artist.

  • 2012 – Reinvention in Business

    From my living room, I built a Sales & Acquisition company
    ↳ grown to 6 staff, 2 shareholders, and one of the fastest-growing networks for chartered accountants in the UK.

  • 2013 – The Coaching Queen

    Stepped fully into coaching, building a reputation for results.

    This followed my training with Brian Tracy’s Focal Point Coaching, where I became the first UK coach for Brian Tracy Global.

  • 2014 – A New Lens: Autism

    At 30, I discovered I was autistic.

    It gave me language for my difference, clarity for my emotions, and a deeper self-awareness that became the first mirror in my Radical Honesty Framework.

  • 2016 – PowerLift Your Career

    Published my first book: Power Lift Your Career.

    Chapter 3: Build Your Core Muscle, birthed both the nickname The Confidence Queen and the framework that would later become my life’s work.

  • 2017 – The Confidence Star

    Created the Confidence Star: a star-shaped mirror etched with affirmations like:

    I am somebody.
    I am good enough.
    I can do anything.
    I like myself.

    It started with my son, but soon spread into homes, schools, hospitals, and even Starbucks cafés.

  • 2019 – Into Schools

    Donated 100 Confidence Stars to schools across Beds, Bucks, Northants, and Herts.

    Delivered assemblies to children from age 5 to sixth form, exploring how words → thoughts → feelings → wellbeing.

  • 2020 – The Mind Workout & Pivot to Virtual

    Launched The Mind Workout Masterclass.

    Experimented with my first chatbot.

    And when the world went virtual, I pivoted, bringing high-energy keynotes into living rooms and boardrooms online.

  • 2021 – Confidence on Camera & Brand Stories

    Created Confidence on Camera to help people master their message on video.

    Launched Brand Stories with a team of 12 to help leaders deliver their story with impact.

    Began delivering virtual keynotes for global brands, including Snapchat, eBay, and universities across the UK.

  • 2023 – 1st TED Talk

    Took the stage in Abuja, Nigeria, with my first TED Talk: Own Your Shine.

  • 2024 – 5-Figure Keynotes & MBA

    • Delivered my first five-figure keynote
    • Coached 30 speakers across three cohorts to become paid speakers in just 90 days. Many now earn £2,000+ per talk, becoming brand ambassadors and storytellers for global brands.
    • Started my MBA at Cranfield School of Management on a full scholarship.

  • 2025 – TEDx: Radical Honesty

    Delivered my TEDx talk in Milton Keynes, UK:
    "Radical Honesty – The Three Mirrors We Hold Together"

    1. Self-Awareness: the mirror we hold up to ourselves
    2. Truth-Telling: the mirror we hold up to others
    3. Reflection: the mirror we allow others to hold up for us

    Living with Radical Honesty collapses divergence of realities, saves emotional energy, and builds unstoppable confidence.

  • Today – The House of Leadership

    Everything I do now lives within The House of Leadership.

    Foundation: Honesty

    Pillars: Analysis · Presentation · Review

    We help leaders communicate with impact, organisations build authentic brands, and teams grow in visibility, influence, and resilience.

    Because when honesty is the foundation, growth is inevitable.

Ife Thomas has established herself as an authority on techniques and methodologies that build self-esteem and foster deep connections.

Her latest book, Finding The Light in The Darkness, has been embraced by companies seeking to inspire hope and resilience among their staff. In this book, Ife shares five transformative lessons from her life, offering practical guidance for navigating through challenging times.

Alongside her writing, Ife hosted the podcast Everything You Need To Succeed, where she delves into empowering strategies to help individuals become the best versions of themselves. Her engaging workshops, based on the lessons from Finding The Light in The Darkness, have become a sought-after experience for corporate teams. These sessions offer a deep dive into the book’s content, allowing participants to explore its themes in a way that resonates with their personal and professional growth.

Trusted By

Ife’s talks are well known for their energy, humour and infectious enthusiasm.

She often draws on her experiences of being adopted as a baby by a white family, and of feeling disconnected during her childhood as a result of her autism, and later advocating for her son, who was also diagnosed with autism.

She also talks about how she transitioned from building successful career as a dancer, performing on stages with people like Paul McCartney and Leona Lewis and working  on The X-Factor before successfully moving into the corporate arena, starting with building first business The National Accountancy Network and delving into the world of sales marketing and personal development.

Ife is committed to helping her audiences discover their strengths, abilities and superpowers, and she encourages them to dig deep and double down on those. What’s more, as an autism activist, she’s keen to empower neurodiverse communities within the workforce.

Ultimately, Ife is a positive force of nature who is able to create workforces that are happier, more connected, and more productive.

If you’re looking for an inspiring speaker to ignite your organisation, get in touch today!

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