Real Stories | Bold Conversations | Lasting Impact
Some people spend their lives studying adversity. Others have lived through it.
Emma Armstrong, better known as The Wee Glesga Poet, brings a refreshingly honest, unapologetic and deeply human perspective to the stage.
From homelessness at fifteen and the devastating realities of domestic abuse and addiction, to building an award-winning Accountancy Firm, becoming a Property Investor, and all round Entrepreneur before more recently retraining as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and discovering an unexpected career as a published Poet and Performer, Emma's journey has been anything but conventional.
Her story isn't one of overnight transformation or perfectly packaged inspiration. It's about the choices we make, the opportunities we seize and the extraordinary capacity we have to change the direction of our lives. The peaks and troughs of the journey.
Delivered with unmistakable Glasgow humour, straight-talking honesty and an ability to connect with audiences from every walk of life, Emma's keynote talks challenge perspectives, encourage conversation and leave people with something worth thinking about long after the event has ended.
No polished fairy tales. No empty platitudes. Just real life.
Emma doesn't believe that meaningful conversations should always be comfortable ones.
Her speaking style is candid, thought-provoking and frequently punctuated by the humour that has become synonymous with The Wee Glesga Poet.
She speaks openly about the experiences that shaped her, including the realities of growing up with limited resources, homelessness, coercion, domestic abuse, addiction, entrepreneurship, recovery and reinvention.
But her message reaches far beyond her personal circumstances.
Having spent seventeen years building a business in the financial sector, Emma understands the pressures of entrepreneurship, the responsibility of leadership and the realities of navigating economic and social systems.
Her subsequent work in hypnotherapy, addiction interventions and her own recovery aswell as prisons and community-based creative writing has given her a different perspective on the barriers people face, the potential they carry and the power of being heard.
She brings these worlds together to deliver talks that are as relevant to boardrooms and business conferences as they are to education, justice, recovery and community settings.
Her aim isn't to tell audiences what to think. It's to give them something to think about.
Stories that challenge thinking and inspire conversation
1. From Chaos to Choice
Adversity, accountability and the power to change direction
At fifteen, Emma was homeless. By her early twenties, her life had been shaped by violence, addiction and instability.
This keynote explores the experiences that can influence the course of a person's life, the importance of opportunity and the difficult relationship between personal responsibility and circumstance.
It's a story of survival, but more importantly, of recognising the moment when survival is no longer enough.
Ideal for: Recovery conferences, social care, criminal justice, education, charities and community organisations.
2. The Business of Reinvention
From homelessness to an award-winning business - and knowing when to walk away
Without the conventional route through university or a privileged starting point, Emma built a career in finance while working, studying and learning as she went.
Over seventeen years, she developed a bookkeeping business into an award-winning accountancy firm.
This keynote explores ambition, resilience, entrepreneurship, leadership and the less glamorous realities of building a business from the ground up.
It also examines an often-overlooked question: what happens when the career you've worked so hard to build no longer gives you a sense of purpose?
Ideal for: Business conferences, entrepreneurship events, women's networks, leadership programmes and SME organisations.
3. Beyond the Labels
Challenging assumptions, stigma and the stories we tell about people
Homeless. Addict. Survivor. Businesswoman. Entrepreneur. Investor. Therapist. Poet.
Emma has worn many labels throughout her life, and she knows how easily a label can become the only thing people see.
Drawing on her personal experiences and her work with people affected by addiction and imprisonment, this keynote challenges audiences to consider the assumptions we make about others and the opportunities that can be lost when we reduce somebody to a single chapter of their story.
Ideal for: Public-sector conferences, criminal justice, recovery services, equality and inclusion events, education and community organisations.
4. The Power of Finding Your Voice
Creativity, confidence and the courage to be heard
What began as an unexpected addition to Emma's hypnotherapy work became an entirely new chapter of her life.
A poem shared on TikTok on a whim attracted more than a million views within its first few days, and The Wee Glesga Poet was born.
Since then, Emma has published her own books, collaborated on anthologies with people in prison settings, delivered creative writing programmes and developed a growing platform for poetry, performance and social commentary.
This keynote explores how creativity can help people process experiences, build confidence, connect with others and discover a voice they may never have believed they possessed.
Ideal for: Arts organisations, education, rehabilitation services, community groups, creative industries and personal development events.
5. The Courage to Speak Freely
Independent thinking, respectful disagreement and refusing to be silenced
Emma is passionate about open dialogue, personal conviction and the importance of allowing different perspectives to be heard.
She believes we can disagree without dehumanising one another, challenge ideas without silencing people and engage in difficult conversations without demanding universal agreement.
This keynote explores authenticity, independent thought, respectful disagreement and the growing reluctance to engage with views that challenge our own.
It's a candid invitation to think critically, listen openly and have the confidence to speak for yourself.
Ideal for: Leadership events, discussion forums, corporate environments, media and communications conferences and events exploring freedom of expression.
6. Bespoke Keynotes - Your Audience, Your Story
A unique message. A tailor-made performance. A poetic experience they won't forget.
Not every audience fits neatly into a predefined theme, and sometimes the most powerful words are those written specifically for the people in the room.
Whether it's a corporate conference, an awards ceremony, a charity event, a community gathering or a special occasion, I can craft an entirely bespoke keynote that reflects your organisation, your audience and the message you want to deliver.
Combining storytelling, humour, honest reflection and original poetry, I'll work with you to understand your event's purpose before creating a unique performance, including a specially commissioned poetic verse that captures its heart.
Because sometimes the best way to make a message memorable is to say it in a way nobody has ever heard before.
Available for corporate events, conferences, celebrations, charity functions and community organisations.