How do you manage the pressure of being in the hot seat, day in day out? Viv speaks to Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of The Guardian since 2015, when she became the first woman to hold the position in the newspaper’s …
How do you find the courage to keep changing the course of your career and try something new? Viv speaks to Amy Poon, who grew up in her family’s famous Poon’s restaurant business, and pursued various careers including art dealing …
How can you use disappointment to fuel your future success? Viv talks to Maria Semple, who wrote the bestselling novel, Where D’You Go, Bernadette, after bouncing back from the disappointment of her first novel not making it big. Her new …
How do you cultivate self-belief when barriers get in the way of your goals? Viv talks to I.Stephanie Boyce, a solicitor who went on to become president of the Law Society – the first person of colour to hold that …
How can you develop a leadership style that is calm and non-forceful? Viv talks to Sanna Marin, the former Prime Minister of Finland, who was the youngest ever elected female leader of a country, when she took that position at …
How do you build the confidence to risk being more off-the-cuff in professional life? Viv talks to Cariad Lloyd – the actress and comedian – about making things up on the spot whilst being both in control and really, really …
Welcome back to How to Own the Room with Viv Groskop: the podcast where inspirational women reveal the secrets of brilliant speaking. Yes! A new series of How to Own the Room is about to land. So make sure you’re …
One Ukrainian Summer — Viv Groskop’s funny and poignant new memoir is coming out on May 23. “Levi’s, black bread, dumplings and the glorious naivety of youth. A travel memoir that captivates and delights. Fabulous.” — Nina Stibbe on One Ukrainian Summer Autumn …
My new book One Ukrainian Summer is coming out on May 23 and I’m going on tour. Come and see me at these events… Tues 14 May 6pm — How To Academy at The Conduit, London Thursday 16 May 12pm — Gliterary Lunch, …
How do you swap a soul-crushing job for one that sustains you? Viv talks to the writer, Carrie Sun, whose new memoir, Private Equity, is about to be released in US and UK. The story draws on Carrie’s own experience …
How do you find the confidence to pursue the work you want and ace an interview? Viv chats to Kate Stephens, the CEO of Smart Works, an amazing charity with celebrity backers whose mission is to help marginalised women break …
How do you find the self-belief to pursue a brilliant idea, convince investors in your vision and pick yourself after setbacks? Viv chats to Joanna Jensen, the founder, former CEO and now brand ambassador of Child’s Farm, a family skincare …
How do you connect with audiences on a deeper, truer level? Viv talks to award-winning journalist and author, Angela Saini, about combatting pseudo-science and reaching people by peeling back the layers of thinking. Her celebrated books include: Inferior: How Science …
How do you create the best panel experience? Viv talks to professional moderator, Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako, about managing nerves, getting the best out of interviewees on stage and handling feedback. Based in her home city of Hamburg, Germany, Alexandra hosts an …
How do you learn to say no and do what makes you happy? Viv talks to the actress, Patsy Palmer, best-known for her role as Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, who now lives in Malibu, California. Exuding chill vibes from the …
How do you find your voice and your confidence when people expect you to be only one thing? How can you overcome thoughts that keep you small? Actress and writer Evanna Lynch joined the cast of the Harry Potter series …
How do you bounce back from a major knock to your confidence? How do you maintain focus and poise even when you’re exhausted or overwhelmed? In this fourth in our series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to …
Can you be “too confident”? How entitled is too entitled? In this third of a series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to broadcaster and journalist James O’Brien, LBC presenter and author of How They Broke Britain (coming …
What happens when you swivel the lens away from yourself? In this second of a series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to Olympic athlete and world champion javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, star of I’m a Celebrity and …
Can you be both insecure and confident at the same time? In this first of a series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to award-winning comedian Tom Allen, star of The Apprentice: You’re Fired and Bake-Off: Extra Slice, …
How do you achieve and stay authentic? Viv talks to Angela Cretu, CEO of Avon, one of the biggest beauty brands in the world. Growing up in Communist Romania she says she learnt about gender and social equality, while ideas …
How do you follow a dream? Viv talks to the fashion legend, Lucinda Chambers, who worked at Vogue from the age of 21, eventually working her way up to become fashion director at the iconic magazine. Chatting in Lucinda’s beautiful …
It has been a busy week. But I have achieved the following: — Had a little party to myself over Happy High Status: How to Be Effortlessly Confident making June Books of the Month in the “i” newspaper. — Reminded people …
How do you simply get things done? Viv talks to the American writer, Curtis Sittenfeld, whose new novel, Romantic Comedy, is already a bestseller and has been selected for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. They chat about feminist breakthroughs, navigating the …
This week’s article on our confidence in the post-Covid era came out in the Guardian on Wednesday and I’ve had hundreds of messages and outpourings along the lines of “Finally someone is saying what I’ve been feeling…” So thanks so much …
I’m writing this from the Hay Festival in sunny Wales where I just came off stage from interviewing Margaret Atwood. As always I learn something about “owning the room” every time I do anything in front of an audience and …
How do you nurture self-belief? Viv talks to the bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson, about cultivating gentle trust in ourselves. The Pulitzer prize-winning writer of narrative nonfiction, whose latest book, Caste, explores the inner workings …
How do you keep going when your mouth turns ‘sticky’? Viv talks to the award-winning writer, Claire Fuller about lessons from life, digging back into tales from when Claire worked in marketing and a pitch ran aground. Offering tips and …
How to Own the Room podcast is back! And we’re in Series 20. I can’t quite believe it. I never thought when we first launched episodes in late 2018 with Nigella Lawson, Mary Portas and Professor Mary Beard (the first to …
Launching series 20 with a splash of colour and pizazz, Viv talks to fashion label guru, Marielle Wyse, about finding that thing you love and doing with all your heart. Having worked in TV documentaries, Marielle took time out to …
This week was the Emotion Women’s Day in Hamburg, Germany, where I was speaking about the German edition of How to Own the Room . An amazing experience — meeting 1500 readers and sharing thoughts and ideas. Incredible but also …
Thanks so much to everyone who has already pre-ordered this book — I am completely blown away by people’s support and kindness. First reviews are coming in now and I am thrilled to see that the message I am trying …
Hello! Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered the new book — and thanks to everyone who has been in touch about going on the guest list for the launch party on 3 July. I’ll leave the list open for another …
Thanks so much to everyone who has already pre-ordered my new book Happy High Status: How to Be Effortlessly Confident after last week’s launch announcement. If you pre-order a book before publication you are truly performing an angelic service for …
What is the secret of fearlessness? How do you focus if you’re feeling nervous? In this final episode of the How to Own the Room masterclass series, we dive back into the back catalogue for key tips and tricks …
In this week’s round-up of all the best tips and tricks for confidence and performance, we continue with the theme of preparation. Talking to actress Nicole Ansari (Deadwood) and her husband Brian Cox (Succession), Viv discusses their definitions of owning the room while involving other …
This week I am really excited to finally unveil my new book…. HAPPY HIGH STATUS: HOW TO BE EFFORTLESSLY CONFIDENT! This book is coming out on June 29. This is a book I have wanted to write for over ten …
Happy Easter! I hope you’ve got restful or fun plans for the long weekend. Is it possible to be fun *and* restful? I’m not sure. Perhaps I will try both at the same time. To keep you company this weekend, …
Everyone loves to feel prepared, but what would happen if you didn’t really prepare at all? How do you prepare for the moments of pressure? In this masterclass, Viv is interested in our different relationships with preparation. Writer and …
This week’s How to Own the Room podcast is a special on Imposter Syndrome. This is kind of counter-intuitive for me as I am strongly opposed to the use of “imposter syndrome” as a term. But I get asked about …
Have you ever felt like you can’t do certain things? What do you do to tackle your own self-doubt? In this 3rd episode, Viv turns traditional thinking about imposter syndrome on its head, and considers alternative outlooks from her guests. …
This is a favourite poem of mine at the moment, especially the last line. The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski Your life is your life Don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission. Be on the watch. There are ways …
Where does confidence come from? What can you do if you’re very self-conscious and you feel really uncomfortable in front of others? In this second episode of weekly masterclasses, Viv talks about nerves and confidence, and how they really do …
How to Own the Room podcast is back! Our latest series will feature masterclasses on key topics like confidence, imposter syndrome and nerves as explored through our archive of over 150 guests. I know sometimes the advice in the podcast can …
How do you work out what you want to say and what you think people are expecting? If you want to speak up, how do you know where to start? In this new batch of episodes coming up over the …
If you have been doing a bit of an eye roll at International Women’s Day this week, can I recommend an antidote? Angela Saini’s new book The Patriarchs, a brilliant journalistic historical investigation of how power structures ended up the …
Cheers! And yippee! This week, ahead of International Women’s Day, I’m celebrating the fact that HELLO! magazine has included How to Own the Room in their Top 23 Reads for 2023 alongside Brene Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Michelle Obama and Fearne Cotton. Wow. …
It’s the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This week’s best read? Ukrainian food writer and friend Olia Hercules (pictured), of course, on how her family has (barely) survived the last year. I take some heart from the BBC’s Steve …
I hope you’re cruising through February. I read this great interview with novelist Amy Bloom talking about her new book In Love. (Also: it’s not the most important thing but I completely love her hair and her look generally.) This led …
I’m preparing what I’ll be talking about for International Women’s Day during the first week of March. And I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from Gabby Bernstein: “When the voice of doubt and limitation is holding you back. …
