Name: Ann Palmer
Role: Founder & Executive Director
Organisation: Race to Excellence
“True leadership is measured not by position, but by the impact you leave behind.”
To be named among the World’s Top Women Who Are Changing the World Through Entrepreneurship is not merely recognition of achievement, it is recognition of enduring impact. Ann Palmer stands at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and equity, building three enterprises (Fig Tree International, Race to Excellence, and Elevate Ed Global), that do more than generate revenue; they reshape systems and elevate futures.
With a career spanning over three decades across education, corporate, and public sectors in the UK and internationally, Ann has become known for transforming complexity into clarity and vision into measurable results. Her work consistently challenges organisations to think bigger, lead braver, and operate with both commercial rigour and moral intelligence.
Leadership Rooted in Purpose and Precision
As Founder and Co-Executive Director of Race to Excellence, Ann leads a specialist consultancy supporting global corporations, boards, and senior leaders to embed inclusive strategy, cultural intelligence, and accountable leadership into the core of their operations. At the heart of this work is her belief that inclusion is not an initiative, but a leadership discipline.
She is also the architect of the RACE Charter Mark, a pioneering accreditation framework that has influenced institutions far beyond its educational origins, setting new benchmarks for equity, governance, and accountability.
Shaping the Future of Leadership
Alongside her consultancy work, Ann is a trusted executive coach to CEOs and senior leadership teams, an AI strategy advisor, and a published author of Leading with AI. Her approach blends strategic foresight with human insight, ensuring leaders are not only future-ready but values-anchored.
A global conference convener, Ann is also spearheading forthcoming leadership gatherings in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, designed to connect decision-makers shaping the future of education, enterprise, and workforce transformation on a global scale.
Recognition, Influence, and Integrity
Ann’s leadership style is defined by her ability to challenge comfortably, lead courageously, and build systems that outlast individual tenures. Her influence has been formally recognised through prestigious honours, including the Freedom of the City of London and recognition during HRH The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Most recently, Fig Tree International was honoured at the Corporate Coaching & Recruitment Awards 2025, receiving both Best Global Leadership & Education Consultancy 2025 and the Client Service Excellence Award 2025. These accolades reflect the organisation’s commitment to world-class leadership development, exceptional client care, and a values-driven approach rooted in integrity, service, and measurable impact.
A Legacy beyond Titles
For Ann Palmer, legacy is not defined by awards or titles. It is measured by the leaders she develops, the systems she strengthens, and the futures she helps shape. Through entrepreneurship grounded in purpose, she is not simply building businesses she is building influence that endures.
This Women’s Day, Ann’s story reminds us that true entrepreneurship is not only about innovation, but about responsibility, courage, and the willingness to lead change that lasts.
Connect Ann Palmer on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-palmer-fcct-75158794/
