Speaking Engagements
Tanya Hicks: Speaker Topics Inspired by the Sparkly Alien Empowerment Series
Tanya Hicks is an award-winning author, advocate, and international speaker reshaping how the world sees sensitivity, neurodivergence, leadership, and power. Through her visionary framework—Authenticity Architecture™—Tanya brings soulful science, radical self-trust, and deep nervous system wisdom to stages across the globe.
Her keynotes are not just talks. They’re activations. Invitations. Resets.
They help audiences remember who they are and reclaim how they lead, connect, parent, and create.
✨ Why Audiences Love Tanya:
- Deeply relatable, radically real
- Research-backed and soul-led
- Sensory-aware and trauma-informed
- Engaging, humorous, and emotionally intelligent
- Every talk feels like a homecoming
Whether you're hosting a summit, retreat, or international event—Tanya delivers impact, insight, and inspiration in every room she enters.

📸 liz.morris_photographer

📸 liz.morris_photographer
Each topic below is grounded in lived experience, neuroscience, and empowering insights from Tanya's books, workshops, and neurodivergent-affirming programs. These talks are designed for educators, therapists, health professionals, parents, leaders, creatives, and sensitive changemakers seeking to lead, live, and connect more authentically.

The Power of Feeling Safe: Creating Emotional and Sensory Safety for a Life of Freedom and Joy
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The Science of Feeling Safe: Brain, body, and connection — rooted in polyvagal theory and mindfulness awareness
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Physical, Emotional, Sensory & Relational Foundations of Safety: Integrating neurodivergent sensory needs and yogic grounding principles
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The Oxytocin Connection: Belonging begins in safe relationships — from co-regulation to connection
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Sensory-Friendly Spaces: Creating havens for nervous system nourishment using Pratyahara (sensory modulation)
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Trauma Recovery: Rebuilding trust through compassion, presence, and slow re-patterning of the nervous system
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Breath, Movement & Self-Soothing: Daily tools based in Pranayama, mindful movement, and somatic anchoring
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Emotional Safety in Relationships: Cultivating relational trust through radical authenticity, consent, and compassionate boundaries
Audience: Therapists, educators, families, support workers, school staff, community leaders

Connection Without Compromise: Building Relationships Anchored in Authenticity, Trust & Mutual Respect
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The Nervous System of Connection: Safety before intimacy through attunement, co-regulation, and inner anchoring
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The Oxytocin Effect: The biology of trust and why presence matters more than perfection
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Boundaries as Bridges: Using Brahmacharya (moderation) and compassionate clarity to foster deeper trust
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Repair & Growth: Healing relational wounds with mindfulness, nervous system awareness, and radical honesty
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Recognising Healthy Relationships: Practicing discernment, reciprocity, and inner knowing
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Deep Belonging: Building community and love that aligns with your authenticity, not your mask
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Relational Energy Literacy: Understanding how your energy responds in different relational dynamics
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Communicating with Compassion: Navigating difficult conversations with grace and groundedness
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Attachment Meets Autonomy: Balancing connection with self-trust and spacious independence
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Friendship & Kinship in Adulthood: Reimagining meaningful connection outside traditional norms
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Navigating Relational Trauma: Tools for reclaiming trust and building safety in relationships again
Audience: Counsellors, couples, social workers, community builders, adults navigating relational trauma

Raising the Sensitive Leaders of Tomorrow: Empowering Parents to Lead with Authenticity and Connection
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Leading with Love: Authenticity as your parenting compass, rooted in Ahimsa (non-violence) and radical presence
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Creating Safe Spaces: Emotionally & sensory secure homes guided by Pratyahara (sensory withdrawal), supporting safety and regulation for neurodivergent nervous systems
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Supporting Emotional Expression: All feelings welcome, embracing mindfulness, non-judgement, and validating diverse communication styles
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Guiding Through Challenge: Strength, Sisu & regulation tools infused with Dhyana (meditation), Svadhyaya (self-reflection), and a deep respect for individual nervous system capacity
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Cultivating Confidence: Identity, strengths & celebration with an emphasis on neurodivergent pride, playful self-discovery, and Santosha (contentment)
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Thriving Through Change: Transitions, routines & self-trust aligned with Tapas (discipline) and brain plasticity, fostering courage and adaptability
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Family Wellbeing: Co-regulation, joy, and sustainable self-care designed around collective energy, authenticity, and sacred nervous system nourishment
Audience: Parents, carers, family workers, educators, early intervention teams

The Art of Self-Liberation: Reclaiming Your Power & Thriving in Authentic Freedom
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Breaking Free from Conditioning & "Shoulds": Undoing internalised expectations through Tapas and conscious awareness
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Radical Self-Acceptance: Honouring all parts of yourself with Ahimsa, curiosity, and pride
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The Power of Choice: Building a life aligned with your values, desires, and inner truth
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Nervous System Nourishment as Resistance: Rest, regulation, and sensory sovereignty as liberation
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Redefining Success: Choosing joy, connection, and fulfilment over external metrics
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Living Unmasked: Embodying your truth with confidence, compassion, and spacious authenticity
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Healing the Inner Critic: Rewiring shame and perfectionism with mindfulness and self-inquiry
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Owning Your Story: Turning lived experience into embodied wisdom and inner strength
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Creating Safety Within: Building self-trust and stability through grounding, routine, and emotional literacy
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Embracing Uncertainty: Navigating change and the unknown through intuition and embodied presence
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Soul-Led Living: Aligning your daily life with your deepest truths, passions, and inner guidance
Audience: Women, neurodivergent adults, healing communities, empowerment practitioners

From Burnout to Belonging: The Oxytocin Leadership Model for Sensitive Trailblazers & Change-makers
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Why Traditional Leadership Fails Sensitive People: The cost of masking, over-functioning, and performance-driven systems
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The Cortisol Myth vs. The Oxytocin Effect: Understanding hormonal balance and sustainable leadership
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Belonging as a Leadership Strategy: Rooted in trust, relational safety, and the power of community
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Leading Without Losing Yourself: Boundaries, Svadhyaya (self-inquiry), and authentic voice
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Motivation & Momentum: Dopamine, joy, and designing leadership with nervous system regulation at the centre
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Regulated Leadership: Tapas (disciplined care), Pranayama (breath practices), and co-regulation as leadership tools
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The Movement for New Leadership Models: Building slow, inclusive, and integrity-led legacies of change
Audience: Corporate teams, non-profit leaders, educators, social entrepreneurs, mental health professionals

Nervous System Alchemy: Harnessing Your Body’s Wisdom to Break Free from Overwhelm & Live in Flow
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Understanding Your Nervous System & Sensory Profile: Exploring the unique rhythms of neurodivergent wiring through the lens of interoception, proprioception, and sensory integration
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Flow States & Emotional Regulation: The chemistry of energy supported by Dharana (focused attention) and mindfulness principles
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Dopamine, Oxytocin & Cortisol: A triad for balance – using awareness to shift states with compassion and curiosity
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Breath, Nutrition & Movement: Practical tools grounded in Pranayama (breath control), mindful eating, and intentional movement to support neuroplasticity
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Rhythms, Seasons & Cycles: Aligning with natural energy fluctuations through Ayurveda-inspired seasonal awareness and yogic concepts of balance
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Rewiring for Ease: Daily practices for nervous system support, integrating Tapas (discipline), Santosha (contentment), and self-inquiry (Svadhyaya)
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The Language of Overwhelm: Understanding physical, sensory, and emotional cues
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Reclaiming Rhythm: Using ritual and intuitive structure for sustainable energy
Audience: Health practitioners, coaches, creatives, burnout survivors, neurodivergent individuals

Beyond the Box: Unleashing Creativity, Innovation & the Genius of Thinking Differently
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The Divergent Brain: Why creativity and ND wiring go hand in hand — from monotropic focus to sensory perception
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Flow & Curiosity: Building momentum through dopamine, mindfulness, and playful exploration
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Creativity as Liberation: Expression as healing, identity-building, and self-honouring
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Courage to Create: Working with the nervous system to overcome fear, shame, and perfectionism
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The Creative Nervous System: Understanding how sensory input, movement, and rhythm support ideation
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Play as Innovation: Using Lila (the yogic concept of play) to unlock experimentation and bold thinking
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Vision to Reality: Turning creative sparks into tangible impact through intentional structure
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The Role of Stimming, Daydreaming & Divergence in Creative Flow
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Collaboration Without Compromise: Navigating team projects while honouring your energy
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Sustaining Innovation: Balancing energy through Santosha (contentment), cycles of rest, and authentic pacing
Audience: Creatives, educators, innovation teams, ND adults, start-ups
Each talk can be tailored for keynote delivery, breakout sessions, panels, or workshops. Tanya speaks with warmth, humour, and visionary clarity — making science accessible, emotions valid, and authenticity magnetic.
Watch Tanya deliver a keynote session at the 2025 Global Women Changing the World Summit and Awards in London, complete with the venues laptop ceasing to work and all. As they say, they show must go on, and indeed it did, leading to a standing ovation at the end.