Bourne confidence coach shortlisted for prestigious TEDx speaker award
A trailblazing confidence coach from Lincolnshire has earned a coveted spot as a shortlistee for the highly competitive ‘Best TEDx Speaker 2026’ category at The Speaker Awards.
Bourne resident Ricky Locke, 37, revealed in his TEDx talk how developing what he calls “magical resilience” helped him rebuild his path to success after his dream of performing magic and speaking full time disappeared overnight when the UK entered national lockdown.
The married father of one had taken redundancy after working 15 years in retail leadership, only to discover nobody was booking speakers or magicians due to the pandemic.
“Sitting in my dining room, with my head in my hands, I wondered how I would survive and support my family; then one question crept in: ‘What happens next?’” said Ricky, who is Co-Director of the Confident Club.
“That spark of curiosity changed everything – allowing me to choose possibility over panic, which is the central message at the heart of my talk. I hope my story inspires everyone who watches to get from where they are to where they want to be in life.”
The Speaker Awards, celebrating its fifth year, shine a spotlight on the most inspiring and innovative speakers from across the industry. Entries have been rigorously evaluated by a panel of judges including prominent bookers, bureaus, strategists and coaches.
With hundreds of entries submitted across the categories this year, the standard of competition was exceptionally high. Judges noted that, in several categories, only single-digit points separated shortlisted candidates – highlighting both the strength and depth of talent recognised at The Speaker Awards.
“Hearing that I had been shortlisted for ‘Best TEDx Speaker 2026’ – recognising an idea that changes how people see the world – was an exhilarating moment for me,” said Ricky, who is now an international presentation coach and host of the UNLOCKED podcast, as well as a certified Jack Canfield Success Principles Trainer.
“The calibre of speakers across all the award categories is so high this year and I’m genuinely honoured to be featured alongside them,” he added.
The winners are set to be announced at a gala evening in London on Friday, 3 July.
Elliot Kay, CEO & Co-Founder of The Speaker Awards and The Speaker Summit, said: “The quality of applications this year was staggering and demonstrates the powerful impact of professional speakers. The judging process was tough, so we’d like to congratulate Ricky for achieving this impressive milestone. Every speaker who entered should be extremely proud of the difference they are making in the world.”
Watch Ricky's TEDx talk, ‘Magical Resilience: How Curiosity Unlocks Possibility’, at www.rickylocke.com/tedx