Lucy Smith

Speaker, Facilitator, Compare

Inspiring audiences & making a difference

Neurodiversity | Managing Change | Resilience

Life Stories | Social Enterprise |

Authentic storytelling that makes a difference

Hi, I am Lucy!

Some people call me the "pocket rocket". I think that is because I have passion and energy to bring out the best in an audience.

I have been working with audiences for almost 25 years in many guises - Lecturer, radio presenter, drama teacher, children's entertainer (I have been a professional fairy) facilitator, compare and speaker.

As a speaker I believe there has to be some substance behind us and I sure have that too. Not being able to settle and always saying "YES" to opportunities has led to a whole lot of experience that informs my work and my presentations.

At my core I am a purpose led social entrepreneur who loves to start a conversation about topics that matter.

I start those conversations with stories some that will surprise and some that will inspire. I talk about some difficult stuff and combine my unique expertise and knowledge.

Relatable, authentic and thought provoking

Lucy x

Neurodiversity

What is your perspective?

I come from a range of different perspectives when I talk about neurodiversity. From pedagogy, organisation development and leadership, research, personal and family and real lived experience. With a a strengths based approach I talk positively and with passion about change and neurodiversity in work, school and community.

I engage audiences to get them thinking and start conversations that will make and does make a lasting difference.

Change Management

Let me meet you at your

bus-stop

In the world of change management, it's not about imposing a new route; it's about understanding where you're starting from.

I have spent a decade working with senior leaders in transformational change where I have learned that change is often an individual journey and we will all join that journey from a different bus-stop.

I combine theory with reality and always have an eye on the future.

Life Stories

The secret change agent

A wealth of stories based on real lived experience with plenty of lessons for the future. Spilling some my secrets on here would be giving away some of my best work which you will want to hear straight from the source.

Oh, okay, let's just say I can talk about resilience, royalty, and some really fun stuff from a career in international law enforcement,

Social Enterprise

Making a difference - the torch that lights the stars

Lighting people up to make sustainable change happen is a big part of what I do. From setting up a community radio station to developing an innovative and groundbreaking conference around digital wellbeing and young people.

I talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to social enterprise, from grass roots to engagement at the highest levels right up to Downing Street.

What do other people say?

Don't take it from me, here is what others say about working with me.

Work with me

Want to work with me?

Book a call to work directly with me.

Choose from 60 or 30 minutes.

A chance to talk about your challenges, ask questions, work through a problem.

It's your call and your time.

Listen online

Podcasts, interviews and YouTube

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Apple

YouTube

Find it online

The blog

Can You See Me?

Work| Autism

February 08, 2024•2 min read

I’m feeling very overwhelmed right now, the Stress Bucket model springing to mind… Looking after my children, having to work, cleaning my house, exercising, cooking, eating, buying, driving, grabbing this, grabbing that, remembering this, completing that, and so on! Throw in Tasmanian Devil ADHD and an ASD panic attack, us parents of neurodivergent children worry and ride the Change Curve.

The GP suggested reading The 4 Pillar Plan: How to Relax, Eat, Move and Sleep Your Way to a Longer, Healthier Life by Dr. Ranjan Chatterjee (https://amzn.to/3UoNuNA - Amazon), and now I’m consciously trying to take time to empty my bucket and make small achievable adjustments to my four pillars: relaxation, food, movement, and sleep.

Since moving into our new office at The Brightwell at the beginning of the year, I’ve been managing the food and movement pillars better (if you ignore me eating all the Cherry Bakewells after the daily ASD panic attacks from my child).

Considering I can barely think straight at the moment, the relaxation pillar is my focus, which I hope will support the sleep pillar. I don’t have lots of free time which limits what I can do, but I do enjoy reading. I can get through a couple pages while waiting to collect the children from school, while they’re at their various clubs, or while winding down before bed.

The current book I’m reading is Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott (https://amzn.to/3w11CCs - Amazon). It’s a lovely story through the diary entries of an eleven-year-old girl as she navigates through secondary school and life.

"Tally is autistic, but she hides it as much as she can. She knows how uncomfortable people feel around her - they don't understand autism. They don't understand her. By masking her autism, Tally is hiding her real self. But when your real self is fierce and wonderful, it can't stay hidden forever.” - The Publisher.

If Tally’s top tips were applied to real life, I’m positive that the world would be a much better place. The third one is what sticks with me most right now: ‘When everything is going wrong, go small’. On page 253, the children in Tally’s class debate what this might mean. What do you think it means? To me, it means not stressing and trying to make progress in little, easy steps.

Can You See Me? Is an enlightening read from an autistic perspective, which makes me consider the impact my own actions and words can have.

I’m taking the third tip into February with me whilst adjusting my pillars. Wish me luck!