The most inspiring women leader of the year-2026

Brenda Dempsey, widely known as The Book Navigator and Publisher, is an award-winning Author, Master Coach, Educator, and Publisher who transforms entrepreneurs into authoritative, high-impact authorpreneurs. Holding an M.Ed, Dip.SEN, and CPNLP, and recognised as Publisher of the Year 2025, Brenda is celebrated for helping leaders amplify their voice, elevate their position, and turn their story into a powerful business asset.

As a Leader of Leaders, Brenda’s work goes far beyond traditional publishing. She guides entrepreneurs through The Author’s Adventure®—a distinctive, end-to-end journey that moves clients from brand clarity to publishing excellence and into a booming, sustainable business. Her approach ensures that a book is not just written, but strategically positioned to build global authority, attract ideal clients, and accelerate long-term growth.

Through her proven framework, Brenda empowers entrepreneurs to gain clarity and confidence, establish undeniable credibility, and create a lasting legacy. For those ready to turn their story into a business breakthrough, Brenda Dempsey stands as a trusted navigator—bridging publishing, personal brand, and business growth with purpose, precision, and magnetism.

Please share the beginning of your career journey with us?

“I have always believed that learning carries responsibility—and that belief was forged long before I ever imagined running a company or publishing books.

I began my professional life as a teacher. Not in theory, but in practice—standing in classrooms day after day, responsible for young minds that were watching far more closely than they were listening. Teaching taught me something early on: presence matters. Intention matters. And if I didn’t give my best—not occasionally, but consistently—then what exactly was I modelling?

Over the years, I taught hundreds of children, and in truth, they shaped me just as much as I shaped them. They taught me patience, humility, and the quiet weight of influence. They showed me that belief—real belief—can fundamentally change how someone sees themselves. That insight never left me.

As my career evolved into leadership development, coaching, and eventually publishing, I began to notice the same pattern repeating—not just in schools, but in boardrooms, businesses, and creative spaces.

I kept meeting extraordinary people.
People with depth.
With lived experience.
With hard-won learning.

And yet, so many of them were holding back.

They would say things like, “It’s just my story,” or “Others know more than me,” or “Who would want to hear this?” What I saw instead were people whose work shaped minds, influenced emotions, and changed lives—quietly, one conversation at a time—but never reached as far as it could.

That was the moment my work became clear.

I wasn’t here simply to publish books.
I was here to help people understand that their learning had value beyond themselves—and that withholding it came at a cost.

I didn’t set out to disrupt an industry.
I set out to make sure important work didn’t stay hidden”- Brenda Dempsey.

Key Offerings: A Purpose-Led Publishing and Authority Platform

“At the heart of Brenda Dempsey’s work is a deeply held belief: if your work teaches, it deserves to travel. Knowledge, in her view, is not meant to remain contained—it is meant to reach, to resonate, and to serve on a global scale.

Her company works with authors, CEOs, founders, educators, coaches, consultants, and thought leaders whose work already makes a meaningful difference—often quietly, one conversation at a time, behind closed doors or within small communities. What draws them forward is a desire for more reach: broader audiences, deeper conversations, and the confidence to step onto global stages without losing their authenticity.

The role her organisation plays is clear—to help clients expand their influence without diluting who they are.

Clients are guided through a structured, values-led journey designed to turn lived experience and expertise into authority, impact, and legacy. This includes:

• Authority and positioning, helping individuals clearly articulate what they stand for—not as performance or branding, but as truth.
• Book creation and publishing, transforming insight, experience, and knowledge into books that educate, challenge, and inspire readers worldwide.
• Message and brand alignment, ensuring that as a client’s voice scales, it remains unmistakably their own.
• Business and impact integration, where books become strategic gateways to speaking opportunities, media presence, programmes, partnerships, and wider influence.
• Legacy-led expansion, supporting authors in moving from simply having a message to leading a meaningful conversation in their field.

This is not publishing for the sake of publishing. The focus is not on books that sit quietly on shelves, but on books that teach, shape thinking, move emotion, and inspire action.

Because when knowledge remains locked inside one person, the world is poorer for it—and Brenda Dempsey’s work exists to ensure that important work is seen, heard, and carried forward”- Brenda Dempsey.

What are your long-term goals, and where do you envision yourself in the coming years?

“My long-term vision is rooted in stewardship.

I am building an ecosystem for people who carry insight—people who feel the responsibility that comes with influence and want their work to reach further without losing integrity. In the coming years, that means expanding globally, supporting authors as they step onto international stages, enter new markets, and contribute to conversations that genuinely shape how people think, feel, and act.

Personally, I see myself increasingly in the role of a guide—someone who helps others hold both courage and care as their reach grows. I believe that influence, when handled well, is not about ego or visibility. It is about service, responsibility, and the impact we leave behind.

My measure of success has become very simple:
that important work is no longer hidden,
that voices with depth are heard,
and that the people I support grow their influence in ways that are aligned, ethical, and lasting”- Brenda Dempsey.

Who has been the most significant source of inspiration in your life?

“Inspiration, for me, has never been abstract. It has been lived, breathed, and experienced—often quietly, sometimes challengingly, always meaningfully.

First and foremost, my greatest inspiration has been my family—especially my four remarkable children and my eight resilient, bright, and endlessly curious grandchildren. They are my constant reminder that what we do today echoes far beyond the present moment. Through them, I’m reminded daily of the responsibility we carry as adults, leaders, and role models—not just in what we say, but in how we show up, how we listen, and how we live our values when no one is watching.

Before I ever became an entrepreneur or publisher, I was a teacher. I had the privilege of teaching hundreds of children, and in truth, they taught me just as much—if not more—about myself. They taught me patience, intention, consistency, and the power of belief. Standing in front of a classroom, I understood something profoundly: if I didn’t give my best, if I didn’t act with integrity and care, what kind of role model would I be? That question shaped not only my teaching, but my entire professional life.

Alongside lived experience, books and thinkers have been lifelong companions and catalysts. One such influence was Darren Hardy, whose book The Compound Effect beautifully illustrated how storytelling keeps us turning the page while quietly embedding powerful lessons along the way. It reaffirmed my belief that learning sticks not through instruction alone, but through narrative—something I now weave intentionally into everything we do.

I’ve also been deeply shaped by coaches and mentors who modelled both excellence and humanity. My first coach, Lenka Lutonska, helped me step into a new level of self-belief and leadership at a pivotal time. Richard Woods challenged my thinking and sharpened my strategic lens. And Brené Brown inspired me through her courageous choice to lead with vulnerability—one of the most powerful and often misunderstood emotional intelligence skills there is. She showed me that strength and softness are not opposites, but partners.

During my years in education, Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence ignited my fascination with introspection and self-awareness. It validated what I was witnessing daily: that emotional intelligence is not a “nice to have,” but a foundational skill for leadership, learning, and life. This understanding deepened through my practice as a reflective practitioner—pausing not just to do better, but to be better.

Educational theorists also left a lasting imprint. Jerome Bruner’s spiral curriculum reinforced the power of revisiting ideas—not as repetition, but as expansion. Each return deepens understanding, sharpens insight, and builds mastery. Likewise, Lev Vygotsky’s emphasis on communication profoundly shaped my thinking—particularly his recognition that speaking aloud, even to ourselves, validates understanding and sparks curiosity. It gave language to something I instinctively knew: voice is not just expression—it is development.

Finally, and unequivocally, I am inspired every single day by my team and my clients.
My team—who often crack the whip far more than I do—bring integrity, grit, humour, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. They hold the standard high not because it’s demanded, but because it’s who they are.

And my clients… they are extraordinary. They are people who dare to be seen, who choose growth over comfort, and who bring their brilliance into the light with courage, commitment, and heart. Guiding them is not just my work—it is my privilege.

If there is one thread that runs through all my inspiration, it is this: brilliance already exists. My role has simply been—and will always be—to help create the space, structure, and belief for it to shine” – Brenda Dempsey

Please list some of the notable recognitions and accreditations?

“Recognition is always an honour—but for me, it has never been about personal validation. Every accolade we have received represents collective brilliance. It reflects the courage of clients who trusted the process, the dedication of a team that leads with heart, and the influence of mentors and guides who shaped my thinking along the way.

In 2023, our work was recognised by the Independent Publishing Guild, acknowledging our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the publishing space. This mattered deeply to us because DEI is not a checkbox or a campaign—it is woven into how we work, who we amplify, and the voices we choose to champion. We believe publishing should reflect the world as it truly is: rich, diverse, nuanced, and powerful.

In 2024, we were honoured to be named Regional Winner for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by the Federation of Small Businesses. This recognition was especially meaningful because it celebrated values in action—not intention, but impact. It affirmed that you can build a commercially successful business while remaining uncompromising in integrity, inclusion, and humanity.

Most recently, in 2025, our organisation was awarded Publisher of the Year (UK) by Forttuna. This recognition symbolised something we have always believed: that purpose-led publishing—when executed with precision, courage, and care—can stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best.

On a personal level, one of the most humbling moments of my career came when my book Voices of Women was shortlisted as a finalist in the Business Book Awards 2025, standing alongside names and institutions often considered giants of global influence—Forbes, Disney, and Yellow Kite. That moment was never about comparison or prestige; it was about representation—women’s voices being seen, heard, and valued on the same stage as the most powerful brands in the world.

Yet I hold all of these accolades lightly—because none of them belong to me alone.

They belong to every mentor who challenged me to think bigger.
Every coach who held space when the road felt uncertain.
Every client who showed extraordinary courage in telling the truth of their story.
Every team member who brought brilliance, care, and excellence to the work—often behind the scenes, always with integrity.

Most of all, they belong to the people who trusted us with their voices—people who turned lived experience into leadership, pain into purpose, and stories into movements.

If recognition has taught me anything, it is this: impact is never singular. It is built in community, carried forward by belief, and sustained when brilliance is shared—not claimed”-  Brenda Dempsey.

 What were the most challenging obstacles you’ve encountered in your career?

“Some of the most defining obstacles in my career were not professional at all—they were profoundly human.

In 2016, on Christmas Day, I lost my sister. In the quiet aftermath of grief, we discovered something that changed me forever: she had written more than 300 poems. Hundreds of pages of thought, feeling, reflection, and creativity—never shared, never read, never witnessed by the world.

Her voice was powerful. Her inner world was rich. And yet, she kept it silent.

That realisation brought with it a grief layered with regret—not guilt, but sorrow for what the world never got to receive, and for the stories I will never know. Words she carried alone. Wisdom that died with her. A brilliance that remained hidden.

That loss cracked something open in me.

It forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth: how many lives go undocumented, unheard, and unacknowledged—not because they lack value, but because people believe their voice is not important enough.

I feel that same ache when I think about my parents. The stories of their earlier lives. Their philosophies. Their struggles, dreams, and choices—especially my mother’s perspective as a woman navigating her world in a very different time. There are questions I will never be able to ask. Wisdom I will never fully access. And once again, I am reminded that silence, however unintentional, costs us dearly.

More recently, in March 2025, we lost two significant men far too early. Men whose stories were not finished. Men who never spoke a word of their journey. Lessons left unheard—lessons that could have made a difference to others walking similar paths. Their absence reinforced a truth I now hold unshakeably: time is not promised, and stories do not tell themselves.

And then there is Jack Mac.

Jack was taken from us at just 21 months old. In his brief life, he taught us more about love, resilience, and strength than many do in a lifetime. He showed us how to keep going when your heart is breaking. How to love without condition. How to find meaning even in the deepest pain.

Jack’s life was short—but it was not small.

Each of these losses reshaped me—not away from my work, but toward it. They stripped away anything superficial and left me with absolute clarity.

This is why I do what I do.

I am driven—unequivocally—by the belief that your brilliance must be shared with the world. That no one should leave this life without documenting that they were here, that their life mattered, that their voice was valuable, and that their story—however ordinary it may seem to them—carries extraordinary meaning.

You are here for a reason.
Your experiences matter.
Your lessons matter.
Your voice matters.

And silence should never be the legacy you leave behind.

Every obstacle I have faced, every loss I have endured, has sharpened my commitment to this message: to help people speak, to help them write, and to help them leave something that outlives them—not for fame, but for truth, connection, and impact.

Because stories do not belong in drawers, on hard drives, or locked inside hearts weighed down by doubt.

They belong in the world.
And I will continue—unwaveringly—to help ensure that they are never lost”- Brenda Dempsey.

At the heart of Brenda Dempsey’s work lies a simple yet powerful conviction: that no meaningful story should ever remain unseen, unheard, or undocumented. Through The Book Navigator, she has built far more than a publishing platform—she has created a legacy-led movement dedicated to voice, truth, and human impact.