About Dr Lucy Hone

Why do some people thrive through uncertainty, challenges and change while others feel overwhelmed and stuck?

I’ve spent nearly two decades answering that question. As a resilience researcher and bestselling author who has lived what she teaches, Lucy translates cutting-edge science into practical tools that leaders and teams can use immediately, not just in crisis - but every single day.

Dr Lucy Hone is best known for her hugely popular TED talk, Three Secrets of Resilient People. Translated into 23 languages and viewed more than nine million times worldwide, it is now ranked among TEDx’s Top 100 “Must Watch” talks. She’s also a bestselling author, respected researcher and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Canterbury. Dr Lucy’s work regularly features in international media including Oprah Daily, the BBC, The Guardian, Vogue, CBS and The New York Times, and her latest book, How Will I Ever Get Through This?, became an overnight best-seller.

As the world faces a new era of work, Dr Lucy’s expertise is in high demand. She equips leaders and organisations with the skills to navigate uncertainty, challenges and change by replacing overwhelm and fatigue with realistic optimism, clarity and confidence. Trusted by companies ranging from Amazon and Apple, Deloitte and KPMG, GSK and Nestlé, to the World Business Forum, the United Nations, National Defence Forces and global hospices, her evidence-based tools help people perform under pressure, stay steady and committed through change and communicate more effectively when the stakes are high.

Describing herself as a “pracademic,” Dr Lucy is a rare mix - an academic who can laugh and be wholly relatable, and a social-media communicator who’s scientifically tested the tools she teaches. It’s a winning and unique combination!

Dr Lucy’s work goes beyond a keynote. Through workshops, webinars, deep-dive masterclasses, advisory, guest blogs and resources, she helps teams build their resilience muscle over time - future-proofing their ability to navigate disruption, handle uncertainty and stay steady through ongoing change. These extended learning options help her tools stick, giving teams a shared language and creating lasting impact.

Audiences love her and the way she leaves them feeling hopeful, strong and confident, ready to face anything. As she says, “I’m real, not perfect, we all are! But I’ve also learned - from my studies, research, conversations with thousands of clients, and my own lived experience, how incredibly adaptable humans are. We all want to thrive!”

“Dr Lucy Hone is one of the most highly sought-after speakers in New Zealand, with popularity growing at pace across Australasia. Her storytelling and authenticity set her apart.”

— Louise Ryburn, CEO, Celebrity Speakers

“Your advice on how companies and colleagues can better support someone grieving was invaluable. You speak with such warmth and clarity, on a subject that is so important and yet often overlooked.

— Amanda German, White Balloon, UK

“Lucy and her work have been a ‘game-changer’ in my grief process… Her words gave me hope that we would somehow recover and might even grow.”

— Julie, mother of Mary-Lou, UK

“Not only was Dr Lucy’s content quite brilliant, the way in which she delivered it was simply outstanding. Communicating such emotionally complex material with clarity and compassion takes unique talent.”

— Andy Reid, Auctioneer, Australia

“Lucy ran a Workshop for our Senior Leaders. They were hugely engaged and appreciated the tools enabling them to lead resilient teams within our business.”​

— Beca Senior Leadership Team

“Dr Lucy Hone is considered to be one of the key figures in the field of resilience today. Her pioneering work and compassionate approach resonate deeply with those facing real hardship.”

— Prof Ilona Boniwell, University of East London

From elite sports teams to corporate and community groups, this is what my work looks in action.

Large indoor community meeting or workshop with many people seated at tables, some standing, with green decorations and banners on the walls.
A television interview set with two people, a man and a woman, standing in front of a camera and lights, with a black backdrop and white curtains, in a studio.
Group of adults sitting at a long conference table, engaging in a discussion with colorful sticky notes, papers, and cups, in a meeting or workshop setting.
A woman giving a presentation in a conference room with a large screen behind her. The screen displays a slide with the text 'Burn it off (get outside and get moving)' and a message about making a plan to reduce impact.
A woman is pouring from a fabric-covered cup into a large pot, surrounded by colorful fabric-wrapped bottles with tags, as a group of women and girls observe in a room with fluorescent lighting.
A man in a red suit giving a presentation on stage to a large audience in a conference hall with blue curtains and lighting.
Classroom or workshop setting with students lying on the floor, some writing or drawing, and a woman standing at a podium with a laptop, near a large screen and chairs.
Large auditorium filled with people attending a conference or seminar, seated in tiered seating, with some taking notes or using laptops.
Group of five women sitting and kneeling around colorful paper cards on the floor, engaging in an activity or discussion, in a room with white chairs and gray carpet.
People sitting around a conference table engaged in discussion during a meeting or conference.
Three women speaking at a panel, with an audience listening, in front of a backdrop featuring cherry blossom trees and a purple sports jersey.
A large group of students, mostly girls, are gathered indoors, smiling and celebrating, some with their hands raised or holding objects, appearing happy and excited.
A woman in a polka dot blouse standing at a lecture podium with laptop, papers, and water bottles, giving a presentation in a classroom or conference room.
A woman sitting at a desk with a laptop, notebook, and coffee mug, in front of a blue banner that reads 'New Zealand Wellbeing Resilience' and a colorful circular wall art with green, pink, and blue shapes, in a room with green checkered floor and a
A smiling woman wearing glasses and white headphones, sitting at a desk with a laptop and microphone, in front of a white bookshelf filled with books and decorative items in a cozy indoor setting.

It’s easier to make sense of life looking backwards...

My life has been a series of connected dots - unexpected turns that, at the time, didn’t always make sense.

I’m a born-and-bred Londoner. Studied in Edinburgh. Met my husband in Portobello. Moved to a sheep farm in Dorset, chasing space and simplicity. When my mother died, I came to Aotearoa New Zealand to visit my sister. That was meant to be a six-month stay, but it’s now been over twenty years.

For a long time, I worked as a writer - curious about how different people thrive in contrasting circumstances. But I wanted to know more. A scholarship led me to retrain in applied wellbeing science and resilience at the University of Pennsylvania. Then came the Christchurch earthquakes. I wanted to understand more. So I pursued a PhD in psychological flourishing.

And then Abi died. And nothing made sense. I wanted her. I wanted anything but this. I went searching for research and tools to help me cope actively with grief. But there weren’t any. So I filled that gap by building what I needed. And now I share it - with others trying to find better ways to live, love, lose and keep going.

Lucy sitting on a wooden bench against a plain white wall, wearing a green sweater and a dark blue beanie, holding her coffee cup and smiling.