Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis are the co-founders of Amazing If and creators of the Squiggly Careers concept, a widely recognised approach to navigating modern working life. Challenging the traditional linear career ladder, their work empowers individuals to focus on continuous learning, adaptability and personal fulfilment. As motivational speakers, Helen and Sarah are highly sought after for their ability to translate complex career challenges into simple, practical actions that audiences can immediately apply.
Before launching Amazing If, both Helen and Sarah built impressive careers within globally recognised organisations. Helen held senior leadership roles at BP, where she specialised in customer experience and thought leadership, before moving to Virgin to lead insight and marketing initiatives, ultimately becoming Head of Marketing for Virgin Red. She later joined Microsoft as Commercial Marketing Director. Sarah’s career spans influential positions, including Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Barclays, Head of Marketing Strategy at Sainsbury’s and Managing Director of creative agency Gravity Road. Their combined corporate experience gives them deep credibility when speaking to organisations navigating change and transformation.
Helen and Sarah are established authorities in career development, learning and workplace culture. They are the authors of three Sunday Times bestselling books, The Squiggly Career, You Coach You and Learn Like a Lobster, each offering actionable frameworks for growth. Their insights are regularly featured in Harvard Business Review and across major media outlets including the BBC, Women’s Hour, The Guardian and Virgin Radio. Their Squiggly Careers podcast has achieved over 5 million downloads, featuring conversations with leading thinkers such as Steven Bartlett, Amy Edmondson and Bruce Daisley. Both are Fellows of the RSA, with Helen contributing to organisations such as the Chartered Management Institute and Sarah serving on the Markers Advisory Board.
Helen and Sarah are exceptional motivational speakers because they combine evidence based insight with highly practical tools that resonate across all levels of an organisation. Trusted by global brands including Microsoft, Google, the BBC, Lego and Visa, they help audiences build confidence, develop future ready skills and take ownership of their career progression. Their TEDx talk, 'The Best Career Path Isn't Always a Straight Line', dives into their concept of a squiggly career and has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers, further spreading their expertise. Their engaging delivery, real world experience and relatable approach ensure that every session is not only inspiring but also actionable, leaving individuals and teams equipped to thrive in an increasingly complex and changing world of work.
