Jaz Ampaw-Farr

As a teacher, speaker, and catalyst for change, Jaz Ampaw-Farr has transformed her early life challenges into a powerful narrative of resilience and empowerment. Born into a challenging environment of poverty, abuse, and neglect, she credits five teachers with playing a pivotal role in altering her life's path. This profound influence not only helped her break the cycle of abuse but also propelled her into a successful career as an educator, wife, and mother of three. After qualifying as a teacher in 1994, she became a respected literacy expert, consulted by governments worldwide, and later transitioned into roles as a TV presenter, media expert, speaker, coach, and author.

Ampaw-Farr's journey, which she describes with compelling candor, encourages others to be 10% braver, confront obstacles, and definitively conquer imposter syndrome. Beyond her personal story, she serves as the CEO of Be Human First Ltd., where she collaborates with her husband Ed, an executive leadership consultant. Together, they offer keynotes, coaching, and workshops that emphasize authentic connection, mindset shifts, and personal journeys of overcoming adversity. Her captivating style and focus on authenticity and resilience have been recognized with awards such as Speaker of the Year and Best Live Gig.

In her role, she also actively contributes to the discussion on workplace and life balance, psychological safety, and the reinvention of engagement culture. Her recent engagements include a celebrated keynote at a school event and opening the Festival of Media Global conference in Rome, both of which earned her standing ovations. Ampaw-Farr's 2018 book, "Because Of You, This Is Me," continues to inspire by showing how simple actions by educators can have transformative effects on their students. She consistently brings this message of transformation and leadership to global audiences, including high-profile appearances on platforms like TEDxNorwichED with her talk "The Power of Everyday Heroes," and media shows such as the BBC's "Hard Spell Abbey" and "The Apprentice UK." Through her work, Ampaw-Farr not only shares her story but also equips others to drive change and foster a sense of belonging wherever they go.