Linda Plant

Self-made entrepreneur, star of BBC1 The Apprentice, with a formidable career spanning fashion, property, and digital ventures inspires students that age is no barrier to success!

Linda Plant catapulted her career from humble beginnings to become one of Britain’s most formidable business leaders.

She began her career at just 15, selling women’s fashion on market stalls in Yorkshire. Over time, she grew the business into 14 retail outlets before launching a knitwear brand called Honeysuckle. Linda was one of the first women to float a company on the London Stock Exchange — a trailblazer in every sense — but what sets her apart is her staying power. She’s an advocate for women in business, a role model for female students showing leadership, and great resilience, having broken barriers & built success in multiple industries.

Whether launching a fashion brand, developing luxury properties, or mentoring the next generation, Linda is proof that success is not about luck, it’s about grit, intelligence, and relentless drive. She brings decades of experience, and insight, into what it takes to build real, sustainable success. Linda is proof that success is not about luck, it’s about grit, intelligence, and relentless drive.

Linda is passionate about education and inspiring the next generation. She spends time working directly with young people, sharing real-world experience and creating space for open conversation. That means listening to their ideas, encouraging questions and giving them the confidence to talk through their ambitions, challenges, and plans around business and work. It’s not about lectures or theory. It’s about perspective, honest discussion, and helping the next generation develop clarity, resilience, and belief in their own ability to move forward. After all, age is no barrier to success!

Since 2015, you’ve seen her as one of the fierce interviewers on BBC One’s The Apprentice, where she advises Lord Sugar and grills the ‘Final Five’ candidates as one of his trusted advisors. Her unstoppable passion for business and entrepreneurship has earned her multiple awards and she’s a revered judge and panellist for top female entrepreneurs on HSBC’s Panel of Forward Ladies and a Prince’s Trust Mentor.

She’s a powerful keynote speaker who blends real-world business insight with inspiring storytelling, empowering audiences with practical advice and a no-nonsense, can-do attitude. Her talks are known for cutting through the fluff and delivering grounded, practical takeaways that empower people to act. Her signature keynote talk ‘Yes You Can’ distils her lessons into a motivating and practical philosophy that has inspired audiences worldwide.