Viv Groskop

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  • Diversity, Social Responsibility

Journalist and broadcaster Viv wrote How To Own The Room as an inspiring but also instructive look at how women from politics to comedy have overcome personal, professional and mental setbacks to become great public speakers. The book led to the successul podcast of the same name in which Viv interviews figures from a range of backgrounds and professions and looks at their experiences.


Biography

Viv Groskop is a writer, comedian, broadcaster, and podcaster. She is the creator of the How to Own the Room podcast and book, as well as books covering everything from life lessons from literature to her experiences as a standup.

A journalist for much of her professional life, Viv joined Esquire after university before moving to the Express and becoming a columnist on the Sunday Express by the age of twenty-five. An award-winning columnist and interviewer, Viv is known as one of the UK’s most prolific commentators and arts reviewers. Combining her day-job writing with working as a comedian, she performed for five years at the Edinburgh Fringe, and undertook 100 gigs in 100 nights, an experience she recounted in her book, I Laughed, I Cried: How One Woman Took On Stand-Up and Almost Ruined Her Life.

Viv is also the author of the bestselling How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking, an entertaining celebration and analysis of women public speakers from politics to comedy to campaigning. It combines a look at inspiring figures in all areas of public life with tips and revealing insights into how to speak effectively in public, both in person and on virtual platforms (how to own the Zoom). The book led to Viv’s How To Own The Room podcast, which has seen her interview figures including Catherine Tate, Margaret Atwood, Nigella Lawson, and Chelsea and Hillary Clinton. She also hosted the podcast We Can Rebuild Her, which looked at concepts of reinvention, resilience and dealing with change.

Viv has written Lift as You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition, which expands on some of the ideas from How to Own and looks at how women often view ambition, careers, and interactions with colleagues. She is also the author of Au Revoir, Tristesse: Lessons in Happiness from French Literature, and The Anna Karenina Fix: Life Lessons from Russian Literature.

A regular guest presenter on Radio 4, Viv has appeared on Front Row, Saturday Review, Saturday Live, Woman’s Hour, Today, and The World Tonight, Quote Unquote and Where’s the F in News? She’s also written four radio plays for the station and produced documentaries including It's Just a Joke Comrade about Russian satire. On television she has frequently appeared on This Morning, University Challenge, Front Row, Newsnight and Sky News.

Viv is known for her exhaustive and entertaining blogs on Downton Abbey, Poldark, and Strictly Come Dancing in The Guardian. She is a fluent Russian speaker and Trustee of Pushkin House. The independent centre for Russian culture in the heart of London.

More Details

Books

Book written by Viv Groskop
Book written by Viv Groskop
Book written by Viv Groskop
Book written by Viv Groskop

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JLA Presents


Event - 30/04/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

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We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

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Event - 06/02/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Looking Ahead to International Women’s Day

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Samira Ahmed, Eniola Aluko, Julia Gillard, and Alex Mahon

We were joined by four fantastic speakers to look ahead at International Women’s Day. With the theme of this year’s event being #InspireInclusion, we were lucky enough to hear from four women who have each blazed a trail in their respective fields: CEO of Channel 4, Alex Mahon; the former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of Kings’ Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, Julia Gillard; one of the leading voices in football, Eniola Aluko MBE; and broadcaster and journalist, Samira Ahmed.

Location

Bishopsgate Institute, London

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