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Biography Highlights
- Experienced Consultant: Previous leader at KPMG LLP, managing projects with clients including Lloyds, Mastercard, The London Stock Exchange and Tesco
- Seasoned Entrepreneur: Founder of 3 businesses, including a tech start-up and global public speaking business. Current Founder and CEO of ImagineThat – The Business School For Nomadic Entrepreneurs
- Speaker and Writer: Published in the World Financial Review and previous guest lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, Edinburgh University and Somerville College, Oxford University
Biography
Niluka Kavanagh – Business Leader, Futurist, Explorer
“Empowering organisations and leaders to navigate the future of work through socio-cultural and generational lenses.”
After graduating from Oxford University, Niluka began her career as a consultant at KPMG, working with global clients including Lloyds Bank, Mastercard, The London Stock Exchange, and Tesco. She founded both the firm’s first Behavioural Science Unit and KPMG FutureThinkers, a tech and future of work initiative which hosted speakers from HSBC, The BBC and more.
After leaving KPMG, Niluka transitioned into entrepreneurship, successfully running two businesses while working from over 14 countries around the world, including Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Tokyo, and Valencia. Her tech start-up was featured on BBC Radio 4 and in The Scottish Sun, while her public speaking coaching business helped over 500 clients improve their presenting skills worldwide. Her experience of building businesses while working from anywhere led her to create ImagineThat – The Business School for Nomadic Entrepreneurs, which now has a thriving community of over 800 members.
With a unique background spanning both corporate and entrepreneurship, London and the rest of the world, Niluka also helps organisations navigate the Future of Work and the rapid changes happening today. She specialises in the socio-cultural shifts shaping today’s workforce, particularly the changing priorities, mindsets, and demands of Gen Z and Millennials – and what leaders must do to retain and engage top talent. She also speaks on topics such as how to make remote work a success, the creator economy and personal brands, building resilience in the face of uncertainty (drawing on her own travels) and the differences between corporate and entrepreneurship.
Niluka has lectured at top universities including Trinity College Dublin, The University of Edinburgh, and Somerville College, Oxford. Her work has been published by The World Financial Review and Cambridge University, and she hosts the YouTube channel @BreakingBoundarieswithNiluka. She holds a BA Honours from The University of Oxford and an accounting certificate with CIMA.
Videos
Speaking videos
Popular Talks
The Future of Work: Key Trends Reshaping Careers and Businesses
The world of work is evolving rapidly, from AI advancements to shifting employee expectations. This holistic talk provides an overview of the key trends shaping the future, what they mean for businesses, and how leaders can adapt to stay ahead.
Gen Z and Millennials at Work: What They Want and How to Lead Them
The next generation of workers has different priorities – flexibility, purpose, and personal growth. This keynote unpacks the mindset shifts of Gen Z and Millennials, helping leaders attract, engage, and retain top talent.
Building Culture in a Remote World: Keeping Distributed Teams Engaged
As remote and hybrid work become the norm, company culture can no longer be tied to physical spaces. In this talk, Niluka shares practical strategies to build a strong, connected, engaged and motivated workforce – wherever they are in the world.
Young Talent, Workplace Angst, and the Changing Definition of Success
Many young professionals feel disillusioned with traditional career paths. This talk dives into the root causes of workplace angst, the evolving definition of success, and how companies can better support and develop young talent.
Corporate vs. Entrepreneurship vs Intrapreneurship: Rethinking Career Paths in a Disruptive World
The traditional career ladder is no longer the only path to success. This session compares the corporate and entrepreneurial mindsets, helping professionals and leaders rethink work models in an era of flexibility and innovation. Niluka explores the rise of solopreneurship and the age of side-hustles and explores whether corporate and entrepreneurship are as opposed as we may think. She also looks at what it means to be an “intrapreneur” – an entrepreneur within an organisation.
The Creator Economy and Personal Branding: Why It Matters for Businesses
From YouTube to LinkedIn, individuals are becoming their own brands – and businesses can no longer ignore the shift. This session explores the rise of the creator economy, why personal branding is a competitive advantage and how everyone (no matter what level) can start to build their personal brand.
Lessons from a Nomadic Entrepreneur: Building Mental Resilience At Work
Working from anywhere sounds like freedom, but it requires discipline, adaptability, and strong mental fitness. Drawing from her own personal experience of living around the world, Niluka shares lessons on resilience, productivity, maintaining balance and managing uncertainty.
Niluka'S
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