Deeyah Khan is a multi Emmy, BAFTA, RTS and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and globally recognized speaker on empathy, emotional intelligence and human-centered leadership.
For over a decade, Deeyah has explored some of the most emotionally charged and polarizing issues of our time. Engaging directly with violent extremists, perpetrators of violence and individuals who often exist on the edges of society. What sets her apart is her ability to connect with even the most hardened people in a way that opens space for real human truth.
“People may forget what you said or did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel” - Maya Angelou
Deeyah lives this idea in every conversation, every film, and every keynote. She doesn’t win people over with facts - she reaches them through the heart. She meets others in a way that makes them feel seen, heard and valued. Over the years, she has developed an extraordinary ability to create trust, build psychological safety and bring out the most authentic version of a person. Skills every great leader needs today.
Her message is clear: the human skills that allow us to build trust, navigate difference, and lead with compassion aren’t soft - they’re essential. And they are deeply transferable from her world of filmmaking into the world of leadership, culture, and performance.