Heather Hansen
Founder | Global Communication Specialist
TEDx Speaker | Trainer | Author
Global DISC Licensed Practitioner
HEATHER HANSEN helps top global professionals show up, speak up, and inspire action in a changing world. She is on a mission to unmute leaders and teams so they can be more innovative, inclusive and efficient while adapting to modern challenges.
Heather’s primary areas of expertise:
- Accent Bias and Linguistic Inclusion
- Pronunciation and Presentation Skills
- Cross-cultural Leadership Communication
- Global Language and Communication Policy
- Virtual Leadership Communication
Heather is a leader in the field of global English communication where she is known for being an outspoken advocate for global voices. She fights against microinequities related to language and accent in international teams, and helps companies build UNMUTED communication cultures where every voice is heard. She is currently NASA’s external consultant and trainer on accent bias and linguistic inclusion.
Originally from the United States, Heather has spent half her life abroad. Thirteen of those years have been in her current home, Singapore, where she first moved in 2006. Her work has taken her to 18 countries on four continents, and her clients come from every corner of the world. She was an early adopter of online technology and has been coaching and training her global clients online since 2012. She published her first fully-online course, the Pronunciation Mastery Program in 2013.
Heather’s 2018 TEDx talk titled 2 Billion Voices: How to speak bad English perfectly has had over 200,000 views and is used by many university professors and English language specialists in their own teachings. Heather is also an External Industry Expert in Communication for National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Executive Education programs.
Heather’s views on global communication have been featured in national media outlets across the globe: National Public Radio (NPR) in the USA, ABC Radio National in Australia, and multiple print and radio outlets in Singapore, including The Straits Times and CNA 938 (93.8 FM). She regularly appears on global podcasts and webinars.
Currently pursuing a PhD in Linguistics at Nanyang Technological University, Heather is also author of the Amazon-bestselling and award-winning book, Unmuted, published by Bloomsbury Business (UK) in March 2022. This book outlines her framework for successful global communication in multinational companies. She is also the author of Powerful People Skills and has contributed to three other books published by Marshall Cavendish International.
Watch Heather’s 2018 TEDx Odense talk: 2 Billion Voices: How to speak bad English perfectly
Heather in the media:
Quartz – QZ.com (June 2021): The case for celebrating “Bad English” in the workplace
ABC Radio National (May 2021): Bad English
NPR’s Rough Translation podcast (April 2021): How to speak bad English
CNA 938 Money Mind (March 2021): Accentism
See all of Heather’s media appearances
Heather’s publications:
