Hollie Mckay

From receiving a hand-written thank you note from Taylor Swift to interviewing the Taliban, Hollie McKay has worked with people from every walk of life. Overcoming communication breakdowns with adversaries, negotiating her way across borders to safety, and witnessing historical events is just the tip of the iceberg. Join Hollie McKay in a captivating keynote where she shares firsthand experiences from her career as a war reporter, geopolitical analyst, and international humanitarian. From navigating delicate negotiations in conflict zones to bridging communication gaps between diverse groups, Hollie's stories highlight the critical role of effective communication in leadership and personal development. Attendees will learn the importance of clarity and conciseness in communication, how to use storytelling as a powerful tool to engage and connect with others, and the art of active listening to understand diverse perspectives. Hollie also delves into the nuances of conversation versus confrontation, showcasing the value of sitting down with adversaries to resolve conflicts peacefully. Discover how embracing these communication principles can transform relationships, build resilience, and drive success in any setting.

Attendees will learn…

• Clarity and Conciseness: Learn how to convey ideas clearly and directly, avoiding unnecessary jargon or complexity in communication.
• The Power of Storytelling: Explore how impactful storytelling can engage your audience and make complex ideas relatable.
• Active Listening: Discover the importance of listening actively to understand diverse perspectives and enhance communication.
• Conversation Versus Confrontation: Understand the value of sitting down with adversaries to find common ground and resolve conflicts peacefully.

As an international humanitarian, Hollie McKay has seen ordinary people, with no formal training or skills, become extraordinary at the drop of a hat — or a bomb. The human ability to resiliently withstand pain, to push through darkness, and to find threads of hope within chaos has left Hollie both perplexed and inspired. It is not only Hollie’s gift, but her expertise to share these striking stories and empower others to harness her lessons of strength, resilience, and determination no matter the odds. From Hollie’s lens, she has met the most exceptional humans imaginable – the people who enrich her spirit and teach her more about life and greatness than any Instagram influencer ever could. The people Hollie introduces during her keynote aren't collated from a Western lens of the best of the best on the planet; they aren’t top CEOs, athletes, or even the cream of the crop in Hollywood. These people will never have their name in lights, amass millions of dollars, or make TIME Magazine's 30 Under 30. These people are the beautifully ordinary, the ones who should fuel us with the desire to do better and the ones she hopes her daughter will someday look up to. There's a reason the word "extraordinary" is just "ordinary" with "extra" added to it. Going above and beyond is the key to achieving greatness, but what does that look like? Hollie McKay’s keynote offers 18 critical points on how to become extraordinary and how to apply these beautifully inspirational stories to tackle chaos in times of uncertainty.

Attendees will learn how to…

• Harness Resilience: The importance of human connection and compassion. Learn how to exhibit extraordinary resilience in times of adversity, overcome challenges, and push through difficult situations with determination and strength.
• Unleash Hidden Potential: Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Discover the power of going above and beyond expectations, unleashing your hidden potential, and achieving greatness by embracing opportunities to do something extra in your personal and professional endeavors.
• Find Inspiration in Everyday Heroes: Believe in yourself and believe in something more than yourself. Gain insights from the inspirational stories of everyday heroes all over the globe who enrich our lives and teach us valuable lessons about resilience, determination, and the human spirit, motivating you to strive for excellence and make a positive impact in your own unique way.

While conflict brings out the worst of humanity, it also brings out the very best. Survivors of such manmade atrocities teach us what it is to be brave, when there is little choice for the ordinary to become extraordinary.  I have often been struck by how ordinary people are forced to become extraordinary at the drop of a hat – or a bomb. I am both perplexed and inspired by the resilience of these people to withstand pain (physical and psychological), to find hope in the bundling of misery, and to push through the darkness. The key? Faith, hope, and the power of love and holding each other up. 

Getting to the truth, and shining a light in some of the darkest corners of the globe, is far from a straight-forward task, especially when faced with hostile governments, insurgents and powerful players who will stop at nothing from squashing the truth. But it can and must be done, both now and in the future.

Over and over again, we hear and often even see unfathomable crimes being committed by governments, gangsters, warlords and terrorists against those simply caught in the crossfire of conflict. Who is holding the perpetrators accountable? Why are so many mass murderers and rapists getting away with their crimes in the context of wartime? More must be done.

Having spent years interviewing terrorists from various factions, all over the world and with different ranks and responsibilities, Hollie can offer an unprecedented insight into what makes them tick, what they really want, and why they do what they do.

Women are playing an increasingly prominent role in today’s wars, and on all sides of the spectrum. We are seeing more female jihadists, more female fighters, more foreign terrorist wives and more females fighting for what’s right and playing visible roles in conflict resolution. Women, like never before, are crucial to preventing future conflict.

With more than sixty million people displaced from their homes and a world in disarray akin to that of World War II times, it is hard not to fling our arms in the air and back away from the world. But isolation is not the only answer, there are solutions and we need to work together with a greater focus on prevention rather than containment, to bring the world’s many wars back to balance.