Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Sudanese-Australian Writer, Broadcaster and Award-winning Social Advocate with a Background in Mechanical Engineering
Biography
Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a Sudanese-Australian writer, broadcaster and award-winning social advocate with a background in mechanical engineering. Yassmin published her best-selling memoir, Yassmin's Story, with Penguin Random House at age 24, following up with her first fiction book for younger readers, You Must Be Layla, in 2019. The sequel is scheduled for release in 2021. Her TV show Same Same, co-created with Tania Safi, was optioned for production by Little Dot Studios in 2019. In 2020, Yassmin co-wrote the sold-out immersive theatre production at Kensington Palace, United Queendom, and was awarded the prestigious Keesing Studio International Development Residency by the Australia Council. Beyond her fiction work, Yassmin’s social commentary has appeared in the Guardian, TIME Magazine, Teen Vogue, Huffpost, London’s Evening Standard, The Australian Financial Review and The Independent, with her work on the Sudanese Revolutions of particular note. Her critically acclaimed essays have also been published widely, including in the best-selling It’s Not About The Burqa and The New Daughters of Africa. Yassmin has also appeared at literary festivals around the world, including the Jaipur Literary Festival in India and Colorado, Hay Festival in the UK and the Dalkey Book Festival in Ireland. Yassmin’s broadcasting portfolio is diverse: she presented the national TV show Australia Wide, a podcast on becoming an F1 driver, and a series on Breaking Barriers for Virgin. After hosting the internationally released documentary, The Truth About Racism, she created Hijabistas, a series looking at the modest fashion scene in Australia. Yassmin is also a regular contributor to the BBC, the hugely popular Guilty Feminist podcast and various media outlets around the world. Yassmin is a globally sought-after advisor on issues of social justice, especially concerning people of colour and Muslims in diaspora communities. She has travelled to over 24 countries across five continents, speaking to governments, civil society and multinational companies on inclusive leadership, tackling unconscious biases and achieving genuine cultural change. Her internationally acclaimed TED talk, What does my headscarf mean to you, has been viewed over two million times and was chosen as one of TED’s top ten ideas of 2015. Soon after, Yassmin became a lightening rod for national and international discussions on race, gender and faith after an appearance on a panel show went viral, garnering over 12 million views in less than a week. She challenged the orthodox conception of feminism in Islam and spurred on a global conversation about being a young Muslim woman of colour in the West today. Yassmin founded Youth Without Borders at the age of 16, then started Mumtaza a decade later, focusing on women of colour. She has been awarded numerous awards for her advocacy, including the 2018 Young Voltaire Award for Free Speech, FYA’s Changemaker of the Year in 2017 and Queensland Young Australian of the Year in 2015. As part of her advocacy, Yassmin has served on the Boards of the Queensland Museum, ChildFund Australia, the Australian Multicultural Council, The Council for Australian-Arab Relations and the domestic violence prevention organisation, OurWatch. Yassmin was also Head of Media for the Australian Youth G20 Summit and the Gender Ambassador for the Inter-American Development Bank. Yassmin started out as a race car chassis designer and was Team Principal of the UQ Race Car Team at 19. She graduated Valedictorian with First Class honours from mechanical engineering at 20, then went on to work as one of the few female engineers on oil and gas rigs around Australia, before pivoting to focus on her writing and broadcasting career. Through all her work, Yassmin is an advocate for transformative justice and a fairer, safer world for all. She is currently based in London.
Speech Topics
The Role of Faith and Culture in Leadership and Society
Unconscious Bias: What is it, and How Can We Deal with It?
Women in Male Dominated Industries
Challenges, benefits, experiences
Changing and Creating Culture in Workplaces and Communities
Transformative Leadership
The world is changing at a rapid pace, and the importance of inclusion and diversity is clearer than ever. Leading an organisation through transformational change however, is no easy feat. Yassmin Abdel-Magied expertly combines personal experience and research to inform leaders on the tools of transformative leadership, the common mistakes leaders can make, and how to be a just and empowering leader for the 21st century. Key takeaways: •You will learn about the difference between intention and impact, and how to bridge that gap •You will learn how to focus on the root causes of challenges, rather than the symptom •You will learn to pinpoint a keystone change, a required step of transformative change
Valuing Diversity and Beating Bias
Unconscious bias, diversity, the importance of diverse teams and how to challenge and change our workplaces and communities. We've all heard about the concept of 'unconscious bias', but what does it actually mean? In this engaging and informative talk, Yassmin Abdel-Magied will use personal experience backed up by research to illustrate the impacts of bias on both our workplaces and community. She will also share what we can all do about it, so that we can create safer, fairer, and more productive workplaces for all. You will learn to: • identify your own biases, as well as the biases that inform your company and industry culture • understand the impact of biases on those around you and your business performance • challenge these biases and their impacts to both improve your workplaces and community
Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can inquire about Yassmin Abdel-Magied's availability or get a customized quote by contacting Key Speakers directly. Our team will help you determine fit, logistics, and budget options for your upcoming event.What is Yassmin Abdel-Magied's speaking fee?
The typical range for Yassmin Abdel-Magied's speaking fee is $10,500–$20,000. The low end of the fee range represents their standard virtual fee. The high end of the fee range represents their standard fee for a US-based in-person speaking engagement. Appearances which require an extended schedule of activities or international travel will possibly exceed this fee range. Speaker fees update frequently. To receive a personalized quote for Yassmin Abdel-Magied to speak at your event, please consult with a Key Speakers advisor for up to date information and assistance.What factors influence the speaker's fee?
Other factors that influence a keynote speaker's fee include their reputation, expertise, demand, experience, duration of the presentation, travel requirements for the event location, and any additional services, activities or customization options they offer.Are travel expenses included in the speaker's fee?
Travel expenses are typically not included in the listed speaker's fee and are quoted separately. If the speaker needs to travel internationally, fees will be higher. These expenses may include airfare, accommodation, ground transportation at home and in the event city, and meals. We can provide more detailed information about travel expenses and arrangements once you've selected a speaker.How do I book Yassmin Abdel-Magied for my event?
The speaker booking process typically involves the following steps: contact Key Speakers to confirm Yassmin Abdel-Magied's availability, fees, and any unique requirements (we can also help negotiate fees and terms); submit a firm offer to extend the invite to your speaker, with the details used to create an agreement once the speaker accepts; coordinate and finalize the terms of the booking, including contract terms and conditions; and confirm the booking by signing the contract and making the necessary payments.What types of events do keynote speakers typically speak at?
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Keynote speakers may have specific requirements or accommodations that need to be considered, such as travel arrangements, accommodation preferences, dietary restrictions, or accessibility needs. Some speakers have a performance rider we include in the contract, others have minimal requirements.Do keynote speakers offer customization options for their presentations?
Yes, many keynote speakers offer customization options for their presentations. They can tailor their content, examples, or case studies to align with your event's theme, industry, or specific audience. Discuss your customization needs with us so we can guide you accordingly.Can the speaker participate in pre-event activities such as panel discussions or Q&A sessions?
Some keynote speakers are open to participating in pre-event activities such as panel discussions, Q&A sessions, or meet-and-greet sessions. Please share your specific requirements with us during the firm offer phase, so we can work on getting you everything you need.How long is a typical keynote speech?
The duration of a standard keynote speech can vary depending on the speaker and the event's schedule. Typically, keynote speeches range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, including any Q&A sessions or interactive elements. Some speakers can accommodate half or full day sessions and extended keynotes. Discuss the desired duration with your representative to determine the appropriate length for participation.Can I provide feedback or reviews about the speaker's performance?
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Often, yes. It's worth inquiring about such possibilities with your Key Speakers representative to explore any available cost-savings options.Why book Yassmin Abdel-Magied through Key Speakers?
We provide a comprehensive service that takes the guesswork out of hiring a speaker — from speaker selection to logistics to post-event feedback. We know you have lots of responsibilities on top of finding and coordinating event speakers, so having a committed and proactive partner on your side that is an expert with the talent booking process is crucial. Every time you book a speaker with Key, your dedicated events manager will support you throughout the entire planning process. We help you negotiate contractual details such as speaker fees and travel terms so that you end up with the most favorable deal. With our highly communicative booking and proposal model, you'll never be left in the dark with the status of your speaker. To put it simply, Key Speakers is your one-stop resource for finding, booking and managing speakers for your event.
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Princess Sarah Culberson is an African princess who discovered her royal heritage in Sierra Leone in her late twenties. She is the host of the "Modern Royalty" podcast, where she delves into the lives and insights of individuals who are redefining what it means to be royalty in today's world. Her journey has captivated audiences worldwide, garnering features on CNN, GMA, and BBC, among other prominent media outlets. Her compelling story is the inspiration behind her coauthored book, "A Princess Found," which Disney has acquired to adapt into a major motion picture. With over 15 years of experience in education, Princess Sarah has been invited to speak globally at NASA, Wells Fargo, Princeton University, and many others. Her expertise has led her to roles including president and co-founder of Sierra Leone Rising, a nonprofit organization, and a businesswoman in the entertainment industry, with her work reaching global audiences. Sierra Leone Rising supports initiatives such as keeping young girls in school, constructing wells for clean drinking water, and promoting cultural understanding through coding. Her contributions have been recognized with the Trumpet Impact Award, highlighting her efforts to foster a culture of belonging on a large scale.
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