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Scotty Mills is one of the UK’s most respected military keynote speakers and the highest-ranking Black Officer in the history of the Royal Marines. With over seven years of keynote speaking experience and a distinguished 32-year military career, he is recognised for his authority on leadership, resilience and performance under pressure. His lived experience of breaking barriers within an elite military institution, combined with his work across sport, business and government, makes him a highly credible and impactful BAME speaker.
Scotty’s career began as a Commando Green Beret Officer in the Royal Marines, where he progressed through some of the organisation’s most demanding roles. His early appointments included Media Operations Officer and Head of Rehabilitation at the Commando Training Centre, before advancing into senior command and strategic positions. He later became Officer Commanding Royal Marines Recruiting and Selection, Chief of Staff for the Royal Marines Reserve, and ultimately Head of Physical Training, Performance and Sport for the Royal Marines, marking a historic rise to become the highest ranking Black Officer the Corps has ever produced.
Alongside his military service, Scotty built an exceptional reputation as a performance and leadership advisor. He worked closely with The Football Association and Gareth Southgate during England’s run to the World Cup semi-final, earning the nickname Gareth Southgate’s Secret Weapon. His influence also spans England Rugby’s 2003 World Cup success, Olympic, European and World champions, and Olympians who achieved gold. Beyond sport, he has advised global organisations including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Tesla, BAE Systems, Lloyds of London, the European Space Agency and the Cabinet Office. His book ‘Never Give In: The 12 Commando Rules for Life’ reached number one on Amazon’s Movers and Shakers list in 2022, and he was awarded the Sun Military Award for Most Inspiring Serviceman, presented by Gareth Southgate.
Scotty is hired as a speaker for his ability to translate elite military and sporting performance into inclusive, practical leadership lessons. He speaks candidly about resilience, identity, discipline and belonging, drawing on personal experience as a Black leader at the highest level of the Royal Marines. Whether delivering a short keynote or an immersive multi-day programme, he equips audiences with clear frameworks, renewed confidence and a deeper understanding of how diverse leadership drives high performance.
Scotty Mills is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“We would highly recommend Scotty. He took the time before the talk to engage with the audience, get to know them over lunch and tailor his content to really resonate with our people. There were tears, laughter and even a bit of singing. It was a highlight of the day for sure. People were captivated. Thank you, Scotty. We hope to work with you again.”
“In short, Scotty’s motivational session was a roaring success. It was exactly what we were looking for and went down fantastically with everyone in attendance. I will be recommending Scotty to my EDF colleagues for similar future sessions. On a personal level, he’s an absolute gentleman to boot!”
“Scotty was incredible – if anything, he exceeded expectations. His whole presentation and journey were just so inspirational. His delivery and engagement were brilliant, and he even took the time to speak to our guests before and after his presentation – everyone was really grateful. I did express our gratitude to Scotty directly on LinkedIn to,o which he acknowledged.”
“Scotty’s presentation was inspiring as well as entertaining, fitting in with a lot of the messages and values we were celebrating at the awards. Scotty himself was so humble and happy to take questions and speak to guests throughout the evening.”
“Scotty Mills has truly left a lasting impression on the Team with his engaging, inspirational, and moving speeches. His ability to weave relatable stories into his presentations has resonated with many, making his messages both impactful and memorable. Scotty’s unique talent for connecting with his audience on both professional and personal levels is unparalleled. His speeches not only inspire but also motivate and uplift, leaving everyone feeling empowered and ready to take on new challenges. I recommend Scotty Mills for any event that requires a strong and impactful message.”
The BAME Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for Black, Asian and minority ethnic speakers since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars.
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