We’re thrilled to announce that Penny Mallory will be the keynote speaker at International Women’s Day 2025, in partnership with Speakers Corner. A leading authority on mental toughness, Penny is renowned for helping individuals and teams develop the resilience, confidence, commitment, and focus needed to succeed under pressure.
After leaving home as a teenager and experiencing homelessness, Penny refused to let her circumstances define her future. She set her sights on a seemingly impossible dream – becoming a rally driver – and through relentless drive and mental toughness, she made it happen. She went on to become the first woman to compete in a World Rally Car for Ford in the the highest levels of the World Rally Championship.
At our International Women’s Day event, Penny will share how she transformed adversity into success and how developing mental toughness can empower you to take control of your career, your mindset, and your future. Ahead of her much anticipated keynote, we sat down with Penny to talk about resilience, breaking barriers, and what it truly takes to thrive…
What does mental toughness mean to you, and why is it so important?
Mental toughness means the world to me. I spent my whole life developing it – without even realising it was a thing – until about ten years ago when I discovered the concept. It was a lightbulb moment: Wow, that sums me up!
I’ve had an unusual life that forced me to build my mental toughness. I left home at fourteen and was homeless for a couple of years, hitting rock bottom. I had a dream as a child – to be a rally driver. When I found myself at my lowest point, I had a choice: stay where I was or do the one thing I had always wanted to do.
I went on to spend twelve years in motorsport and reached the top, competing in the World Rally Championship – which, frankly, seemed ridiculous. I put that all down to my mental toughness – so to me, it’s absolutely everything.
How did your early experiences shape your mindset for success?
I grew up in a highly dysfunctional house with a very ill mother. I was left alone a lot, and I desperately wanted to be noticed – especially by my father, who had disowned me as a child. When I hit rock bottom later in life, I realised that if I could get my father’s attention by becoming a Rally Champion, then that would be everything I had dreamt of.
Looking back, that deep need for recognition built an unshakable mindset in me. I became determined, laser-focused, and learnt a lot very quickly. After spending some time in such a competitive environment, I learnt from others and realised that success wasn’t just about talent or luck – it was also about mindset. I developed a way of thinking that relied on certain elements that created a mindset for success.
Persistence was crucial – when things went wrong I had to move on quickly. Failing fast wasn’t the issue; the key was recovering even faster. I also had to develop confidence in my own ability to get things done, despite how tough they might seem. I’ve always been very disciplined and made sure to practice what I preached and consistently show up.
I also had to develop a sense of control. I have felt out of control a few times in my life, and it was the worst feeling in the world and not something I ever wanted to repeat. Now I create and develop a mindset that I can control my life, my destiny, my career – everything. At International Women’s Day 2025, I’ll be breaking these areas of mental toughness down further, because they’re something every single person in the room will relate to.
What advice would you give to women facing challenges in male dominated fields?
My answer won’t be what you’re expecting. I never really noticed or cared that I was competing in a male-dominated sport. I never expected or wanted special treatment because I was a woman – I just wanted to compete against everyone.
My suggestion is to not create barriers that don’t exist. There’s often more opportunity than you realise, but many of us are guilty of narrowing our own vision. Unless you can physically see or touch a barrier, don’t assume it’s there. Carry on as if you’re just as powerful as anyone else.
In your experience, what’s the key to truly inspiring and motivating people?
When I speak, I want something I say to stay with people, to get under their skin, to irritate them in a way they can’t shake off. I want them to feel compelled to take some kind of action that moves them forward.
I can’t motivate anyone to do anything. I don’t believe anyone can. Motivation is internal. What I can do is share my story in a way that might touch a nerve and make someone think, If she did that, coming from where she started, maybe I can too.
That’s why I speak openly about my past – no filters, no barriers. My story is very relatable to others – and if even one person in the audience walks away ready to take action to become a better version of themselves, then I’ve done my job.
There’s still time to apply to join us at our International Women’s Day 2025 on March 3rd at the Park Hyatt London River Thames. Send your applications in here now!