Simon T. Bailey

Simon T. Bailey is an internationally recognised speaker, executive coach, and CEO of The Brilliance Institute, with a passion for unlocking potential in individuals and organisations alike. Drawing deeply from his lived experience as the first African American Sales Director at The Walt Disney Company, Simon has dedicated his career to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. His identity and journey as a Black professional navigating corporate America powerfully shape his advocacy for racial equality. These experiences underpin his work as an impactful keynote speaker, where he addresses subjects such as Having Hard Conversations is Good Business, Next Level Leadership, Creating Customers for Life, Passion Finder, and Professional Reinvention. Simon’s approach is always people-centred, helping audiences transform workplace culture through emotional intelligence, courage, and inclusive leadership.

Simon’s journey began with a degree in Mass Communications from Morehouse College, later followed by a Theology qualification from Life Christian University. His early professional years were shaped in the hospitality industry, where he served as Sales Manager at both The Walt Disney Company and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. At Visit Orlando, he built essential skills in business tourism as a National Account Manager. These formative roles culminated in his ground-breaking leadership at Disney, where he not only led the Disney Institute sales team but also broke racial barriers as its first Black sales director. His commitment to excellence and his desire to inspire others led him to establish The Brilliance Institute, through which he now coaches leaders across the globe.

In recent years, Simon has been recognised for his exceptional influence. A seasoned TED speaker, his talk, Be the Boom! Breaking Sound Barriers in Education has inspired thousands. His credentials include LinkedIn Learning courses and a catalogue of bestselling books, including Resilience@Work: How to Coach Yourself Into a Thriving Future, Release Your Brilliance: The 4 Steps to Transforming Your Life and Revealing Your Genius to the World, and Be the Spark: Five Platinum Service Principles for Creating Customers for Life. Named one of SUCCESS Magazine’s Top 25 People Who Will Help You Reach Your Business and Life Goals, he has worked with over 2,000 businesses across 50 countries. His induction into the National Speakers Association’s CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame further solidifies his place among the world’s top motivational speakers.

Simon is frequently hired not only for his insight on leadership, adaptability, and business development, but also for his courageous stance on racial equality and culture change. Talks like Build-A-Skill, Company Culture, Leadership Teamwork, and The Art of Sales all reflect his broader mission: to create workplaces where authenticity, resilience, and representation thrive. His unique blend of storytelling, practical wisdom, and inclusivity makes him a compelling choice for organisations seeking to drive meaningful change. With Simon, clients don’t just get a speaker—they gain a strategic partner committed to unlocking brilliance in every individual, regardless of background.