Ruby Wax Leadership

What clients have said

MI5

"It was an absolute privilege to have Ruby here and I know that staff took a lot from it."

GOOGLE

"Yesterday was a huge success. I hope Ruby enjoyed being at Google, as much as we enjoyed hosting her."

"We thought you were brilliant. You were lovely to work with and the audience was captivated. The reason they had you on last was to keep the delegates at the event and the room was bursting to the seams. You did a fantastic job and had everyone in the room joining in the mind exercises."

Birmingham Education Partnership

"She offered us not just a funny, moving and thoughtful performance, but was willing to share what are clearly tough memories and allow us to enter into her thinking about issues that are absolutely pertinent to the daily working lives of Headteachers. She gave us new ideas, bold and startling insights and above all, hope - no mean feat for an after dinner speech."

ENTERTAINER

Ruby Wax is available for speaking events, award ceremonies and bespoke speeches.
After performing in the Royal Shakespeare Company for 6 years Ruby had a successful 25 years working at the BBC in a variety of television programs written and performed by herself as well as script editing all series of 'Absolutely Fabulous’, including the feature film.

She has performed her own one-woman shows directed by Alan Rickman over the last 25 years, touring America, the UK, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

She has written two number 1 bestselling books [link to books page], "Sane New World" and "A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled" and recently toured her sell-out one woman shows based on both the books throughout the world.

Her TedTalks Global talk is highly respected and has been viewed all over the world in a wide variety of settings.

If you would like to discuss how Ruby can be involved in your project or event, please get in touch.

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Ruby's Videos

What's so funny about mental illness? (TED 2012)

Diseases of the body garner sympathy, says comedian Ruby Wax — except those of the brain. Why is that? With dazzling energy and humor, Wax, diagnosed a decade ago with clinical depression, urges us to put an end to the stigma of mental illness.

Ruby Wax on Mindfulness

Ruby Wax argues that by better understanding better how our brains work, we can learn to rewire our thinking and find calm in a frenetic world. Wax seeks to help us start becoming more the master, and less the slave, of our own minds.

The Lost Lectures

Characteristically candid, Ruby discusses her own experiences of mental illness and how mindfulness gave her the tools to cope. A talk that touches on neuroscience, societal intolerance and crashing courses at UCL, Ruby's moment on the podium is hilarious and moving in equal measure.

What it's like to live with depression (Time to Change)

Ruby Wax tells it like it is. What is depression? What does it feel like to live with this mental health issue? How can it affect your life?

We Are Addicted to Our Brains (Big Think)

Ruby Wax explains the structure of the brain and how a natural hormone addiction — particularly to dopamine — keeps us in a perpetual state of wanting.

Parliament Speakers

Ruby now speaks regularly at corporate conferences, where her sharp brain, wittiness and humour helps get her important messages across.

MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNER

In 2015 Ruby Wax was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for her services to mental health.
In 2014, Ruby obtained a Masters degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from the University of Oxford to increase her understanding of the brain and the science behind mental health issues. She also has a Masters in Psychology from Regents College, where she is also an Honorary Senior Fellow. In addition, Ruby is Visiting Professorship in Mental Health at the University of Surrey, and is soon to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the School of Psychotherapy at The University of East London.

Ruby is a patron for the British Neuroscience Association and brought mental health issues to the foreground in Parliament through work at the Home Office and speaking at Downing Street to raise money for neuroscience research. Amongst other charity work, Ruby is on the board of the Anna Freud foundation, and is an ambassador for Mind and SANE, has held open sessions for sufferers and set up dedicated social networking communities for mental health. She has performed a variety of one woman shows for 30 years many directed by Alan Rickman and Thea Sharrock, in a number of institutions and charities, and has become a leading speaker on mental issues, including appearances at TEDGlobal 2012, various UK National Health Trusts and Comic Relief. Recently, Ruby has been working with the UK Government on a Mindfulness Initiative, as well as working with Lord Layard on Action for Happiness. She also works with organisations such as Google on mindfulness and technology.

If you would like to discuss Ruby’s work around mental health and removing the stigma of mental illness, please get in touch.

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“Ruby’s campaigning on mental health issues, through TV, shows and her book, reveals her rare skill of being able to speak of the deepest and most painful things with openness, wisdom and humour, bringing acute observations and fresh perspectives to a field that badly needs them. There are millions of people who have loved her for her laughter, and now there are many more who, having suffered in silence, have been helped to realise that they are not alone.”
Prof. Mark Williams, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Oxford, co-founder of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy

“The silencing stigma surrounding mental illness has always been a major obstacle in our attempts to find healing solutions. Over time, society is generally beginning to realise that by bringing the issue out from the shadows and isolation, we can begin to reduce the associated fear and shame - creating a first significant step forwards towards improved mental health. Ruby has found a bridge to connect this message to people through her books and bravely "audacious” public dialogue. She has lived it personally – worked it and earned the T shirt!”
Annie Lennox

How to Be Human: The Manual

In How to Be Human: The Manual, Ruby Wax sets out to answer life’s big questions about what makes us human and how our minds work. “It took us 4 billion years to evolve to where we are now ‒ completely brilliant and yet, some might say, emotionally dwarfed. The question is: can our more empathetic side catch up in time to save us and the world? I’ve got nothing against smarts, but it’s smarts without emotional awareness that got us into this position of being able to nuke each other into oblivion and rape the earth for oil.” With a little help from a monk (who tells us how our mind works) and a neuroscientist (who tells us how our brain works), Ruby answers every question you’ve ever had about: evolution, thoughts, emotions, the body, addictions, relationships, sex, kids, the future and compassion. Filled with witty anecdotes from her own life, and backed up by smart science and practical mindfulness exercises, How to be Human is the only manual you need to help you upgrade your mind as much as you’ve upgraded your iPhone.

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A Mindfulness Guide For The Frazzled

500 years ago no-one died of stress: we invented this concept and now we let it rule us. We might have evolved to be able to miraculously balance on seven-inch heels, but as far as our emotional development is concerned we're still swimming with the pond scum. If we don't advance our more human qualities then we're doomed evolution-wise to become cyborgs, with an imprint of an 'Apple' where our hearts used to be. Ruby Wax shows us a scientific solution to these modern problems: mindfulness.

Outrageously witty, smart and accessible, Ruby Wax shows ordinary people how and why to change for good. With mindfulness advice for relationships, for parents, for children and for teenagers, and a six-week course based on her studies of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy with Mark Williams at Oxford University, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled is the only guide you need for a healthier, happier life.

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“Ruby speak[s] of the deepest and most painful things with openness, wisdom and humour, bringing acute observations to a field that badly needs them"
- Prof. Mark Williams

‘Pages and pages of practical exercises and advice on how to teach mindfulness to babies, teenagers and parents’
– Sunday Times

‘Whip-smart on the subject… she teaches the art of doing nothing in a way that doesn’t send you to sleep’
– The Times

‘An accessible guide to mindfulness from the comedian and cognitive therapist’
– S Magazine, Sunday Express

‘This frank, hilarious guide will make you laugh AND offers useful advice for everyone. Win-win’
- Look magazine

‘This gem of a read will point you towards a more contented way of life… her passion and dedication to mental health are evident in every page.’
– The Lady

‘So witty, clever and accessible you’ll be devouring every word… there’s no better place to start than with this sparkling gem of a book’
– heat

‘An accessible guide to mindfulness from the comedian and cognitive therapist’
– S Magazine, Sunday Express

‘Well timed and combines a theoretical, practical and personal account of mindfulness… an easy, uplifting, humorous read’
– The Psychologist

‘Witty and accessible’
– woman & home

‘This witty, smart and accessible read should be top of your reading list’
– Closer

Sane New World

In this book, Ruby shows us how our minds can jeopardize our sanity.

With her own periods of depression and now a Masters from Oxford in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy to draw from, she explains how our busy, chattering, self-critical thoughts drive us to anxiety and stress.

If we are to break the cycle, we need to understand how our brains work, rewire our thinking and find calm in a frenetic world.

Helping you become the master, not the slave, of your mind, this is the manual to saner living.

Buy now

"Ruby Wax has an extraordinary mind, and she has brought it to bear with trademark wit and searing honesty on the subject of that mind, and the minds of all of us. Very few will be able to read this wonderful contribution to the literature of mental health without recognising some part of themselves, and certainly of someone they know. A ruby beyond price."
Steven Fry

"I love this book more than I love Ruby. And that’s saying quite a bit…in a loud, funny voice. Yes…I love this book. And I know books. And I know love. And Ruby’s book is both."
Carrie Fisher

"Ruby Wax combats ignorance with knowledge, confusion with crystal clarity, prejudice with open-mindedness, rigidity with humour and slays the dragon of stigma in this superb introduction to the 21st century science of the mind. This book will be a turning point in our battle to bring parity of esteem to mental and physical health. Explaining in simple language the nature of mental disorder and describing evocatively what you can do about it, is a substantial contribution to making our society a better place. This manual for living must be read by everyone."
Peter Fonagy, Freud Memorial Professor of Psychoanalysis at UCL

background

Training and Education

University of California, Berkeley Studied Psychology and Drama.
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Diploma and Gold Medal – Drama.
Regents College School of Psychotherapy and Counselling PgDip in Psychotherapy and Counselling.
Coaching Development Ltd Certificate of Coaching Skills.
Kellogg College, University of Oxford Masters in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy.

Ruby Wax’s Areas of Expertise:

Change Explained Through Neuroscience.
Communication, Engagement and Rapport.
Dealing with Stress in a Work Environment, or How to Survive the 21st Century.
Diversification, Humour and Leadership
Through her directness, intuition and humour Ruby quickly establishes a relationship with her guests during interviews, creating a climate of mutual appreciation and rapport. This incredibly useful skill can be taught to any leader who wants to motivate, inspire and improve communication within their organisation.
During a typical leadership training workshop, she might include clips from her interviews with Madonna, Imelda Marcos and Hugh Heffner. Ruby demonstrates moment by moment how she gets under the skin of these individuals, relating to them on a human level, showing both samples of her many successes, and one or two of her ‘car crashes’!

As Ruby says, “when you begin to relate as one human to another it helps build better teamwork, better connections with the public, your clients, your shareholders and your employees. It’s your humanness that works as a glue to hold relationships together, not your intellect.”

Ruby uses these skills to create a bespoke and fit for purpose leadership learning experience for clients.

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