Mike Stevenson

Mike Stevenson is a renowned keynote speaker, resilience expert and the Founder of Thinktastic, widely recognised for transforming personal adversity into powerful lessons on mental health, leadership and human potential. Known for his infectious energy, emotional honesty and ability to inspire meaningful action, Mike has built a reputation as a speaker who connects deeply with audiences from all walks of life. His work centres on helping people overcome setbacks, unlock creativity and build the resilience needed to thrive in uncertain environments. A three-time winner of the Business in the Community Award for Raising the Attainment of Young People, Mike is celebrated not only for his business achievements but also for his enduring commitment to social impact and wellbeing.

Mike’s journey to becoming a leading mental health speaker began through immense personal hardship. Expelled from school at 15 with no qualifications, he experienced homelessness on the streets of London and struggled with addiction during his younger years. These experiences exposed him to the realities of isolation, survival and emotional pressure, shaping the empathy and insight that now define his speaking style. Seeking a fresh start, he moved to Dublin and immersed himself in the city’s music and cultural scene, crossing paths with figures such as Phil Lynott and Brian Downey while navigating a politically turbulent environment. By his mid twenties, Mike had worked in 29 different roles, including as a steelworker, musician and actor, experiences that gave him a uniquely grounded understanding of resilience, reinvention and human behaviour.

As his professional career evolved, Mike founded Thinktastic, a company recognised as Scottish Small Company of the Year, and led innovative projects for organisations including M&S, Sky TV, British Gas and Standard Life. His achievements earned him the inaugural Community Mark, awarded to only 21 UK company directors, alongside the New Start Magazine Better Places Award. Mike has delivered the TEDx Talk Dour to Doer, appeared as a Leadercast speaker, contributed columns to The Sunday Times and hosted Disney Institute Masterclasses focused on innovation and leadership. Through these appearances, he has become widely respected for translating creativity and emotional intelligence into practical organisational change.

Mike is hired as a mental health speaker because he combines lived experience with practical insight in a way that feels authentic, relatable and transformative. His talks explore resilience, overcoming adversity, emotional well-being, reinvention and the importance of mindset in modern life. Audiences respond to Mike because he speaks openly about struggle while offering clear strategies for growth, confidence and positive change. His ability to blend humour, vulnerability and hard-earned wisdom creates a lasting emotional impact that inspires individuals and teams to think differently, support wellbeing and embrace challenges with greater resilience and optimism.