Public speaking & event chairing:

Or, when you need someone to stand up and say what needs to be said

Some of the most important conversations about family business are those that happen in a room full of people, on topics they might never have discussed before.

A keynote or talk that names what your audience has been living, quietly, and maybe despairingly.

A panel contribution that cuts through the noise and speaks a truth that everyone knows but nobody dares to say.

A facilitated session, workshop or hosted private dinner that leaves people thinking differently about their families, their businesses, and their own role in both.

When a group is in need of a conversation, I get hired to get that conversation started, and get it started well.

The Territory I Know From The Inside

I speak about family business not as an outside observer, but as someone who has lived it across four generations and spent fourteen years working within it professionally.

That combination - lived experience and professional depth - is what makes my stories, experiences and insights resonate across a room.

Audiences leave not just informed, but seen. Recognised. And often, quietly relieved that someone has finally said the thing out loud.

ENQUIRE ABOUT SPEAKING
ENQUIRE ABOUT SPEAKING

  • Conversations that shouldn't be avoided - and how to have them
    You may have noticed that some conversations - financial, legal, structural - sometimes just don't do anything at all to advance or improve things.

    That's because while those conversations may be necessary, another kind of conversation needs to happen first.

    Maybe about the fairness of distribution, or maybe about lacking trust owing to past decisions, or perhaps about initiating a change process while relations are still good and not yet strained or contentious.

    And there are many more conversations that should happen, but don't.

    Those conversations - the ones we tend to avoid because they seem to be too difficult - are the most common cause of problems in family business.

    This talk names the patterns, normalises the discomfort, and offers a way through.

    Succession is a family decision, not just a business one
    The mechanics of succession are well documented, but the human reality of it - the complexity, the identity shifts, the unspoken expectations - rarely gets the attention it deserves. This talk changes that.

    How to transition a founder-CEO well

    TODO: complete this section

    What the next generation actually needs
    Not necessarily a seat at the table, but a genuine understanding of what they're inheriting.

    This talk helps people see why that conversation needs to start sooner than most families think.

    For advisors: what your family business clients aren't telling you [TODO: resolve potential implicit accusation. A family member might read this and feel attacked, as if they would be witholding things from their advisors]
    A talk designed specifically for professional services audiences - lawyers, accountants, wealth managers, family office professionals - who work with business families and want to serve them better.

    Note: This list of topics is not exhaustive. Contact me for a conversation on what kind of talk your group needs.

  • Keynote
    A standalone talk, typically 30–45 minutes, suitable for conferences, association events, and professional dinners. Tailored to your audience and theme.

    Panel Contribution
    As an experienced and engaging panel speaker I’m comfortable challenging received wisdom in the room and contributing perspectives that shift the conversation.

    Facilitated Session or Workshop For audiences who want to move beyond listening into thinking together. A facilitated session gives delegates a direct experience of the kind of work The Mickel Practice does — and often sparks conversations that continue long after the room empties.

    Private Client Events For professional services firms, family offices, and advisors who want to bring Mairi in front of their clients. A powerful way to add value to an existing client relationship whilst opening a conversation about something that genuinely matters.

  • While I can deliver talks to a variety of audiences and events, time constraints force me to be selective.

    My work is intended to have the most impact I can generate, so I’m only able to accept invitations where the audience, the theme and the occasion are a genuine fit.

  • Speaking fees vary depending on the format, duration, location, and nature of the event. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and we'll find an arrangement that works.

    For private client events and advisory firm engagements, bespoke arrangements are available. [NOTE: What’s the added value of this paragraph?]

Previous Speaking Engagements