““It was such a privilege to hear Jillian’s remarkable story. She is a woman gifted with many qualities, but what shines through above all is her authenticity. She does not sentimentalise or sensationalise the events of her life; she does need to do so. Instead she speaks the truth with a simple clarity and honesty that captivates and touches. She has witnessed and experienced many extreme things, but she distils all of her various life experiences into some simple urgent truths; as such, she is a living embodiment of the power and resilience of the human spirit. For young people today, who may well have anxieties about their future and who are besieged by consumerist messages from the media, it is hard to imagine a better voice to offer welcome reassurance and an enlightened perspective. Students were inspired to ‘do something’ following her talk and quickly organised a magnificent concert that raised over £1000.” ”

“I would like to thank you for your informative and inspiring presentation to our students, we were fortunate to have had someone of your professional expertise to take the time out from your busy schedule. You most certainly had a positive impact on the students and would like you to share some of the feedback. 'How Public Speaking can transform a life was a true eye opener for me; Very inspiring and fascinating story of a journey that is so very rare; Jillian has gone from the bottom of society to the top'; Jillian has really opened my eyes towards my lifestyle choices and my behaviour. Attitude has been a big thing for me as I always had a bad attitude towards anyone in authority. I will go home today with a lot of thoughts about what must change and how I can use my voice positively to change my life rather than the other way round."

“I was very fortunate to hear you talk at my school recently and your presentation on achieving success through public speaking. Your example was truly inspirational. Since your visit, I have already made changes to my life in the hope of achieving new success. There was much within your presentation with which I could compare to my life, the fear and uncertainty of rising above millions of people with the same aims and goals in life, and would like to thank you for spreading your message of achieving personal success. You have already made a difference in my life and I hope your influence does not end after only one brief encounter.”

"Jillian Haslam didn't get to where is today by chance or coincidence, but as the result of her intelligence, hard work and most importantly because of her determination. This characteristic was apparent from the moment she began her talk, yet it is not the defining memory of her lecture for that surely must be her sincerity and humility. Not many motivational speakers begin by thanking the audience and go on to thank the teachers present for the work they do. However, as she explained, without her teachers she could not have achieved all she has, nor would she have been inspired to now work towards changing lives. The term inspiring is often over-used, yet she truly deserves the epithet as her talk was by turns stirring, moving and encouraging. Her focus was not on telling a rags to riches story that glorified her own achievements, but on outlining how each person can apply similar strategies to their own life and decision making processes to enable them to move towards their goals; in doing so she held her audience totally captivated.”

“It was an absolute pleasure to have you as a speaker at the TEDx event held at The HeriotWattUniversity. The attendees were inspired at the end of your talk and we are excited to share it with the rest of the world. If you visit Edinburgh again in the future, the team would definitely like to go for a meal with you! Motivational talks such as going from Campus to Corporate to Succeed are much needed these days and I will positively be in contact very soon in order to arrange this. Thank you again. ”

“Jillian spoke at Canford School’s annual Festival of Ideas which this year took on the theme of Borders and Boundaries. She spoke inspiringly to our Year 9 and 10 pupils. She created a palpable connection with all the members of a large audience in the Layard Theatre. Her warmth, strength, humanity and humility were felt by one and all and she held the attention of a young audience simply by telling her extraordinary story and encouraging the students to make the absolute best of all the opportunities and privileges that come their way. She spoke movingly about her childhood in the India and, most importantly, was truthful but not in any way indulgent: her story of taking initiatives and crossing borders and boundaries was relevant to all members of the audience, regardless of their background. She also spoke to the entrepreneurial instinct that is latent in many of our pupils, showing that doing well in business and caring for humanity need not be in opposition. Most importantly she used her experience to show our pupils that success involves a willingness to take on all kinds of tasks and not to find anything beneath their dignity. In a week that was designed to open minds to the complex world beyond the school she brought a message that was inspiring and hopeful.”

“The girls (and I) found Jillian's talk most inspiring, to come through all that life threw at her in her younger years and achieve what she has today is amazing. It really made our girls, many of whom have extremely comfortable lives, really stop and think. I very much enjoyed reading Jillian's book, which is now in the school library and I know that many of the girls are keen to read it. Leicester High School for Girls, UK”

“I just wanted to say that she went to my school to talk about 'How to get to the Top' and she has really inspired me to help children who are less fortunate than me globally. I am stunned by her work worldwide and how she has accomplished it no matter of the unfortunate circumstances from the beginning. I feel honoured that she came to my School today and I just wanted to say Thank You for motivating me to be a better person, I am forever grateful. ”

“To Ms. Jillian Haslam, The Enactus fraternity of St.Xaviers College Kolkata sincerely thanks you for assisting our camaraderie as a speaker for the Outreach'18. While planning an event such as this, it is imperative to gain the participation of experts in the field. Your willingness to share your time and expertise on our theme 'Normal is just an illusion' added greatly to the success of this event. It is our collective efforts and thoughts on such notions that will bring us closer to resolve such important issues. The summit was not meant to be a single event, but a starting point for the work that must be done to mitigate this think-tank once and for all. We hope you had a great time just like our audience for the session did and we hope we have been a good host. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon and gain your insights on a varied range of topics. We also have attached a few snapshots of Outreach'18 in this mail. Once again thanking you for your time and patience, Yours sincerely, ”

“Jillian’s speech was captivating. The sixth form students and teachers present were fascinated to learn of her journey from the Indian slums to successful positions in the banking industry. Her advice was refreshing as in a world where emphasis is often give to achieving academic grades and MBA’s as a route to success, it is heartening to hear that just being yourself, being humble and a decent human being can also be so important for those aiming to reach the top. Something that is too frequently overlooked, particularly in schools where students feel so much pressure to chase the top grades and places at the elite universities. I would like to wish Jillian every success in her charity work and with all the work that she is doing to help support children in India who truly have nothing.”

“On Tuesday evening, many of the Felsted lower sixth, the library committee and parents were very fortunate to hear the Cromwell Lecture, given by Jillian Haslam. Now a very successful entrepreneur and charity worker, she told her story of how she was able to overcome her struggles in her early life to get where she is today. Her father, who was a soldier for the British Empire, decided to remain in India after the partition, and as a result Jillian spent her childhood living there. Unfortunately, her family were hit by intense poverty, something still prevalent in the Indian sub-continent today, as Jillian explained how they used to live under people’s stairways and in a slum for a very long time (as a child). Through the humble beginnings of her story, Jillian emphasised the importance of staying positive and being happy in life, regardless of where you are. She explained that she was brought up to always look at the positive side of situations and (to quote her father) to put motion before emotion, allowing yourself to have the inner confidence to succeed. Her lecture was incredibly insightful and was good encouragement for many of the students, who will be taking their final school exams next year. On behalf of the library committee & parents, we would like to thank Mrs Howorth and Mrs Zucker for organising the event and ,of course, to Jillian Haslam for an very thought-provoking experience.”

“The dictionary defines ‘motivation' as providing a reason to do something. After the lecture on ‘Living beyond fear’ by Ms.Jillian Haslam it made me rethink the definition on motivation as giving a reason to do something more. Her talk reinstated the fact that experience indeed is the mother of wisdom and the best teacher. Hearing from people who've gone through severe hardship gives you a part of their experience and I'm really grateful to Ms. Jillian in this regard. Two key points that I felt striking were her views on standing out in the crowd, in this era of a population packed with degree holders, rising from hardship to great heights is always possible if you light your path with positivity. Her humility and her views on her motherland- India was deeply igniting. As she says "Don't let life get in the way... Achieve what you deserve…” she proved to us that she has done it and gives us the inspiration to go ahead and achieve the same and more. Thank You. ”

“Jillian’s talk was motivating, inspirational and entirely cogent. Her story is incredibly moving and puts the problems of the modern world in context and teaches us a lesson in relativism. Our students were enthused and given a sense of perspective by Jillian’s ideas. She promotes resilience, a key tenet in our teachings as a school. Thank you again for speaking. We would love to have you back next year if possible – could you possibly return on Tuesday 29th January at noon and speak for 50mins (inc. questions)? ”

“ Our Sixth Form students were moved and mesmerised by Jillian's talk of challenges overcome and successes achieved. They took away with them some solid guidance on how to get the best out of every day”

“Jillian was a terrific speaker, who really engaged the pupils with her extraordinary story and energy-filled delivery. The lessons Jillian has drawn from her life, her extraordinary achievements and her dedication to philanthropy are things every pupil should hear. Several pupils sought me out afterwards to tell me that they had been inspired and changed by the experience of listening to Jillian’s talk. With every best wish. ”

“Many thanks to Ms Jillian Haslam for coming to Ballard to talk to our Year 9s and Year 6s about her remarkable life journey. Our pupils were transfixed by what she had to say, and were genuinely moved by her humility, her strength of character and sense of purpose. Her aspirational message was perfectly pitched, taking into account the sensitivities of the younger pupils and the interests and needs of the older age group. Both pupils and staff gained a great deal from listening to Jillian Haslam. Indeed it was a privilege to hear what she had to say. I would have no hesitation in recommending Jillian as a motivational speaker. She is a lady from whom we can learn a lot as we move forwards and live out our lives. ”

“Jillian, Last week, we had a team meeting, where my boss asked me to make a short presentation of a project and this morning he asked me to work on another corporate communication project. Now that I have shared your video with him, he thinks I am wonderwomen ”

“Dear Jillian Haslam, My name is Giovanna da Custodia and I came to speak to you yesterday after your talk at King’s Bruton. You rendered me speechless with your story and I was thus unable to tell you how inspiring you are and how there should truly be more individuals such as yourself in the world. I would really appreciate it if you would even consider mentoring me; it would be a great honour to speak to someone with as much experience and passion as yourself. Kind Regards, ”

“Good evening Jillian, It is Narnia Wilmot writing to you from King’s School Bruton where you gave a talk last week. I was truly and utterly inspired by your story and the example of strength, determination, hard work and ambition that you show the world. you are the living embodiment of what an undying will can accomplish and you have inspired me to never give up on my dreams no matter how big they are. I spoke to you after the talk, whereby you gave me your email address and I asked if you could mentor me. I would be truly honored to receive any advice and guidance you may have with regards to building my future at university next year. It has been a tough and gruelling process considering fees and residency but you have given me a new found hope not to give up. Thank you so much.”

“Firstly, thank you very much for the talk. It was interesting, challenging and inspiring in equal measure. I know that many pupils, and particular some of the girls, were stuck by your message on resilience, even when hurdle after hurdle seems to come one’s way, and that it was up to you to make your opportunities. It was just what we were after and gave an excellent start to the year. So thank you. The other thing to thank you for is the generosity in helping to mentor the two girls. Given your busy schedule, that is incredibly generous. Once again, huge thanks and please do use me if you need a recommendation for any other schools. It would also be great to be able to welcome you back to King’s at some stage. ”

“Dear Jill, Many thanks for delivering an impassioned talk that was both cleverly structured as well as packing the punch of first-hand experience – a rare combination indeed. Our pupils were much enthused, talking about you and your significant achievements and character long after you left.”

“Thank you so much for coming to Hymers yesterday. Your talk was both inspirational and thought provoking and has made the students reflect on their beliefs and values. I am especially grateful to you. ”

“I'm writing to say another MASSIVE THANK YOU for coming to our school today. Your speech was full of passion, enthusiasm, and determination to create a change in our students. We really think you did just that.We feel very lucky for having you delivering a workshop and assembly today. All members of staff said "WOW", she's just brilliant, what a powerful woman! You are! Please keep doing what you do! You're a role model, so inspirational and you are definitely touching people's lives for the better! THANK YOU!! ”

“Our students were touched and inspired by Jillian’s incredible story. It was such a privilege to hear her speak so passionately about her journey and the lessons she has learnt through her varied experiences ”

“Could’nt find another way to contact you but thank you for a brilliant speech tonight at my daughters school. We talked about it afterwards and she was genuinely inspired by it. Thank you again and good luck in Hollywood. ”

“Dear Jillian, Thank you very much for taking the time to come and share the celebration of the success of our young people with us this week. In what must be an extremely busy schedule, we are grateful for your captivating talk in which you shared your words of wisdom, inspiration and guidance. A number of parents, students and staff commented on how much they enjoyed your speech. It was very evident from where I was sitting that you had all the girls' full attention. It was lovely to see the genuine care you gave each girl as she received her prize. A moment I know parents will treasure. Yours Sincerely, ”

“It was lovely to meet you last month, thank you so much for travelling so far to deliver such a brilliant talk. This was received very well by both students and staff. The talk by Jillian was well-targeted at her audience and she was very able to help our students see that success comes from much more than simply getting top grades; it also takes perseverance and hard-work. It was clear that Jillian had grasped their imagination from the large number of questions that were asked at the question and answer session at the end of her talk. ”

“Jillian had an ability to engage the audience with her life story, but all the time make it relevant to Sixth Form Girls. The focus was very much on resilience, titled the perfect blend. Making the point that all their actions matter, never stop working and be prepared to work anywhere and talk to everyone and to never stop learning. I have been particularity impressed with Jillian's professionalism and commitment to helping girls. Making alternations and accommodating our needs. It was a pleasure and privilege to meet Jillian, I will certainly be asking her back to talk to my Sixth Form students again”