Peers Not Fears and the Speak Boldly Showcase

Lorraine Connell is a TEDx speaker, movement-builder, author, and founder of Peers Not Fears and the Speak Boldly Showcase—two platforms redefining what leadership looks and sounds like.

For more than twenty years, Lorraine has been helping people uncover the courage to use their voice, own their story, and lead from who they truly are. From classrooms to stages, her work sits at the intersection of leadership, storytelling, and transformation.

Through Peers Not Fears, she equips youth with the confidence and emotional intelligence to lead. With the Speak Boldly Showcase, she has created spaces where women step into vulnerability, visibility, and power. Lorraine believes leadership is not reserved for a chosen few—it is awakened through practice, voice, and brave action.

Her message is simple and radical: when people speak boldly, they change lives—including their own.