Menu
Michael Acton Smith is a leading voice in the mental health and wellbeing space, best known for his engaging, thoughtful, and deeply human approach to speaking on mindfulness and modern mental health. As the Co-Founder of Calm, the world’s leading sleep and meditation app, he has helped bring mental wellness into the mainstream. With a calm charisma and an ability to speak candidly about burnout, stress, and the pressures of fast-paced life, Michael connects powerfully with audiences across corporate, healthcare, education, and creative sectors. His talks inspire individuals and organisations to prioritise mental fitness as seriously as physical health.
Michael’s career began in e-commerce, co-founding the gadget and gift retailer Firebox.com in 1998. He went on to launch Mind Candy, the entertainment company behind the global children’s phenomenon Moshi Monsters, which grew to over 90 million registered users. But behind this success was a personal struggle with stress and overwhelm – a journey that led Michael to discover meditation and mindfulness. These practices not only transformed his life, but became the foundation for his next venture: Calm. Drawing on both entrepreneurial experience and lived personal transformation, Michael’s story resonates with people navigating today’s always-on culture.
In recent years, Calm has become a global wellness powerhouse, with over 100 million downloads and partnerships with world-renowned voices like LeBron James and Matthew McConaughey. The app was named Apple’s App of the Year in 2017 and reached unicorn status in 2019, valued at over $1 billion. Michael was awarded an OBE for services to the creative industries, and his work with Calm has been featured in The Guardian, Forbes, and the BBC. Alongside his business achievements, he is also a passionate advocate for mental health in the workplace and regularly delivers keynote speeches to leaders and employees seeking to create healthier, more mindful company cultures.
Michael is hired for his unique blend of personal honesty, entrepreneurial insight, and proven impact in the wellbeing industry. Whether addressing senior executives or student audiences, he brings clarity, warmth, and credibility to conversations around mental health. His ability to demystify mindfulness, while providing practical takeaways for resilience, focus, and calm, makes him a standout speaker for any event or organisation looking to inspire change and support wellbeing.
“Michael is a top-draw speaker who spoke and took questions about his entrepreneurial journey at Firebox.com and Mind Candy. The event was really well received and I would not hesitate to recommend Michael to anyone looking for an open, interesting and knowledgeable speaker about business startup, building a business, multi-channel marketing, online retailing, and online development. Thanks for a great event.”
“I saw Michael at the National B2B conference this year. He was one of the best speakers I have ever seen and heard. He adopted a creative approach and it was a truly passionate presentation. We were laughing so much that we forgot this was meant to be a business event! More companies and Chief Execs should hire Michael to open major events.”
The Mental Health Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for emotional wellbeing experts since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes athletes, psychologists, celebrities and more, to ensure that audiences of all demographics receive tailored, impactful mental health guidance.
Copyright © 2026 The Mental Health Speakers Agency. All rights reserved.
