Helen Butters

"“I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you on behalf of our Women & Money Team for your wonderful presentations on Friday as our guest speakers. The takeaways about not being able to learn resilience only experience it, taking note of the smaller pleasures in life (pineapples) and the importance of teamwork and many more nuggets, you shared with us when exposed to extreme challenges. Your story, "Four Mums in a Boat," is not only incredibly inspiring but was also the perfect narrative to share on such a significant day. Your experiences, challenges, and triumphs resonated deeply with all who attended, sparking conversations and reflections that went far beyond the event itself. Everyone left the room feeling they could do something more than they are doing! The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how motivated and inspired they felt after hearing from you. Your story was exactly what we needed to commemorate International Women's Day, and for that, we are incredibly grateful. You hit the spot!”"

"This week, Helen shared her story of 4 Mums in a Boat at Avantor Sciences, a global partner to customers on the life sciences industry, by way of a Microsoft Teams call. In attendance were over 80 associates from 12 different countries across the globe, many of whom were non-native English speakers. First of all, throughout the organisation of the event Helen was extremely responsive and happy to meet more than once prior, to ensure a smooth run on the day. On the day there were no technical difficulties and Helen was prompt, professional and prepared with slides and Video clips to support the story. When it came to the story and its delivery, our audience was captivated, and any language barriers were broken down by Helen’s down to earth, honest narrative and the visuals she had prepared. We always survey our attendees for these sessions, and the response was 100% positive. The common themes in our feedback were “Motivation, Inspiration, Positivity, Teamwork and Resilience” and of course, a “fantastic event”. For many people this was their favourite Speaker yet and many were inspired to go away, learn more about the adventure and think about what their metaphorical ocean might be. The level of engagement was further emphasised by the number of questions once Helen had finished the presentation and she answered them enthusiastically. Thank you, Helen, for such an inspiring talk, it truly was a great event enjoyed by everyone who attended. I also thought I’d share a few other soundbites from conversations and the feedback survey: Just to say that is one of the best sessions I have been too. She was so inspiring. The speaker yesterday was fantastic, great choice...I watched a documentary on You Tube afterwards. I never heard of this even though I'm from Yorkshire. So now I'm thinking of my next big project. That was my favourite speaker session of all time. Really good speaker, It was one of the best I have been since I joined Avantor, and I have been to loads of events I really respected her desire to try to new things. I have a lot of anxiety about trying new things and Helen's absolute desire to do things she has never done, and the way she jumps in headfirst, really made an impact on me. Inspirational speaker - great choice Thanks again for the event this week – an overwhelming success."

"“To listen to Helen telling the incredible story was both humbling and inspirational and is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when you have a goal, the determination to achieve it, the resilience to keep chasing it, the willingness to ask for help and the support and trust of those around you. Not only is the story a fantastic inspiration for all women, but it is also a story that will inspire anyone. It showed me that Breaking the Bias is not just about changing people’s perceptions, behaviours and mind sets; it’s also about not allowing people’s perceptions, behaviours and mind sets stop you from achieving your potential, your goals and your ambitions.”"

"On behalf of the entire organisation, I want to offer my sincere thanks for your invaluable contribution to the Thrive Conference, held on 15 May 2025 at Cedar Court in Bradford. Your presence as a keynote speaker brought depth, insight, and inspiration to the day. You brought your unique voice and perspective to our theme of belonging, and in doing so, helped spark meaningful reflection and conversation that continued well beyond your time on stage. Our aim was to create a space where people could connect more deeply to themselves, to each other, and to a shared purpose. Your messages played a central role in achieving that. You challenged, encouraged, and uplifted the audience in ways that only authentic, thoughtful storytelling and experience-sharing can. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the conference, and your session has been consistently highlighted as a stand-out moment. Thank you for the time, energy, and generosity you brought to the day. Your contribution helped make the Thrive Leadership Conference not just an event, but a powerful experience of learning, connection, and, most importantly, belonging. It was a privilege to welcome you. With heartfelt thanks,"