Susan Heaton-Wright | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Internationally respected thought leader in communication, leadership presence, and credibility, Susan Heaton-Wright empowers leaders to influence and inspire. As the founder of SuperStar Communicator™, she developed a unique five-part methodology enabling individuals and teams to communicate with impact, confidence, and clarity in any business setting.

A multi-award-winning businesswoman, podcaster and author, Susan draws on her experience as a former prize-winning opera singer to deliver engaging, dynamic keynotes. She also designs interactive workshops that foster learning and skill development, equipping participants with tools to deliver persuasive presentations, pitch with confidence, and build authentic professional connections.

Susan has worked with multinational corporations, professional services, and international associations, reaching attendees from over 140 countries. She has delivered keynotes and workshops globally, including hybrid and virtual formats. Named one of the UK’s Top 100 Influential Female Entrepreneurs, Susan is dedicated to advancing excellence in communication for leaders and organisations.

Susan is currently conducting major research into the impact of communication on productivity in specific industries.

Susan is available to deliver keynote speeches; lunch and learn 'bite size speeches'; breakout workshop sessions; as a panellist and/or moderator; table discussion leader and for VIP coaching sessions at conferences.

Current position (2)

CEO

SuperStar Communicator

Non-Executive Director

Foundation of the PSA

Degrees (2)

Geography

University of Durham

1985 to 1988

Opera Performance

Royal Birmingham Conservatory

1994 to 1996

Presentations

Presentations (5)

The Hidden Profit Killer: Transforming Poor Communication into Productivity

Poor communication isn’t just frustrating for leaders and organisations—it’s costly. Through my research in 2024/25, I’ve uncovered the significant impact ineffective communication has on organisations. Internally, it leads to missed deadlines, unnecessary errors, stress and wasted money. Externally, it strains relationships with suppliers and freelancers, creating delays and inefficiencies that ripple through projects.
The culprits? Information overload, irrelevant details, missed or misunderstood messages, and unrealistic expectations or deadlines. These issues don’t just hinder productivity; they affect morale and trust within teams and among stakeholders.
In my presentation, I’ll reveal actionable strategies to overcome these barriers using the SuperStar Communicator™ methodology. This proven approach equips leaders and teams with clear communication techniques that ensure the right message reaches the right people at the right time.

Communicate with impact: Women in Leadership Communication

Communicating as a leader is an essential skill for any emerging talent. For female leaders and emerging leaders, these are particularly important to ensure you lead, make an impression and engage with your teams. In this interactive masterclass Susan will use elements from her Communications methodology, Superstar Communicator™, sharing Top Tips to ensure you have presence, credibility and impact when communicating as a female leader. Women don’t need fixing: this is an opportunity to be aware of small details that could make the maximum impact for success.
Outcomes include:
• Discovering the relevance and purpose of any conversation
• Using language that enhances rather than diminishes you as a leader
• Awareness of non-verbal communication to make more impact
• Listening as a superpower
• The voice: ensuring it matches what you say
• Managing interruptions

How to demonstrate and develop credibility

There are situations in business where we need to demonstrate your credibility or personal impact. This gives clients, prospects, stakeholders, colleagues and senior staff more confidence in your abilities. In this session I share key characteristics of credibility and how to use it in an authentic way in business conversations. I also build your awareness of how your presence and confidence plays a role in credibility, even when you are not speaking.
Outcomes:
• Understand what credibility is and how to demonstrate it
• Become aware of how you respond to questions and requests from others
• Discover how positive body language can increase your credibility
• Use of voice and increasing your credibility
• Creating a first impression that is credible and positive
• Improving your communication skills so you can show credibility in different business settings
• Creating your Credibility statement to introduce yourself

Career acceleration: Raise your Visibility for Career Success

How is it that some people rapidly climb the career ladder whilst others – who might be equally as good, remain at a lower level? Having studied very successful people; watching their behaviour, actions and attitudes, I have identified key engagements these successful people do in order to be visible to decision makers. And in this time where cuts are being made, you want to be the go to person: the person who is positively noticed – and I don’t mean the loudest person: the last person standing when difficult decisions are made. Using the SuperStar Communicator™ Career Model, you will be inspired to take action on your career success.
Outcomes:
• Participants will have a plan in place of activities they can do to raise their credibility, profile and visibility within their organisation and industry.
• Plenty of ideas for raising their visibility: virtually – without this being exclusively about social media.
• Permission to ‘blow your trumpet’ and tell people your successes

Be a SuperStar Communicator

Communicating with impact and confidence is an essential skill for any ambitious person. Being able to speak and communicate in all business conversations: from presentations, business conversations, meetings, pitching and public speaking are all ways to engage with your clients and customers. Using the SuperStar Communicator™ methodology, we help you speak with credibility, clarity and influence.
The course shares key skill areas we identified as essential for effective spoken communication. Using examples, simple models and systems that are easy for participants to remember and use, everyone leaves with tools to speak with impact.

Ourcomes:
Establishing the purpose of you speaking
Who are you speaking to?
How to construct your content for the maximum impact
Tips on preparation
How to practice
Being aware of non-verbal communication
Speak so it is as easy as possible for others to listen and understand you.