Lesley Sackey

A leader in the realm of women’s boxing and the visionary tech founder of Pillow, building a new kind of safe space powering survivors to thrive after domestic abuse. As founder of Fight Forward, a social impact business, she has a mission to support women to reclaim their strength and voice after experiencing abuse.

A trailblazer in the sport, Lesley became the first British woman to win gold at the EU Championships in 2008 on first entry, proudly representing England and Great Britain on numerous international stages.

Motivated by her own personal journey out of abuse, Lesley launched the pioneering initiative The Fight Back, which gained prominent coverage on Channel 4, SKY Sports and the BBC.

Her ambitious goal to help 100,000 women “fight forward” out of abuse is rapidly gaining momentum.

“My work with Fight Forward is particularly disruptive because it challenges preconceptions about boxing. We are using what is typically considered a violent sport to heal women who have experienced violence. The program helps women reclaim consent over their own bodies and voices, connect with their bodies in a healing way, find community and connection and process trauma through physical movement”.

Lesley’s influence extends beyond the ring. She co-produced an independent documentary with BBC Sport that highlights the challenges faced by female boxers in Ghana, broadening the narrative around women in sports globally. Additionally, her expertise has been showcased as a guest trainer on Channel 4’s “How To Get Fit Fast” and as an athlete on BBC 3’s “Last Woman Standing.”

An engaging speaker, Lesley has delivered impactful presentations to diverse audiences, including leading FTSE 100 companies such as Barclays, Standard Chartered, and Facebook. Her talks center on empowerment, resilience, and transformative change, drawing inspiration from her own experiences overcoming adversity in both her personal life and sporting career.