Andy Puddicombe

Former Buddhist Monk, Co-Founder of Headspace, Mindfulness Teacher, Author & Global Wellbeing Keynote Speaker

Andy Puddicombe’s Biography:

Andy Puddicombe is a British mindfulness expert, author and keynote speaker, best known as Co-Founder of Headspace, the world’s leading meditation app. A former ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk, Andy is widely recognised for bringing mindfulness into the mainstream and reshaping how people think about mental health and focus. As a keynote speaker, he is calm, engaging and deeply credible, drawing on lived experience rather than theory. His most notable achievement is building Headspace into a global wellbeing platform used by millions, while helping individuals and organisations develop clarity, resilience and emotional balance.

Andy’s early career was shaped by personal tragedy and a search for meaning. While studying Sports Science at university, he experienced several bereavements that profoundly altered his outlook on life. Rather than continuing along a conventional career path, Andy chose to step away from academia and travel to Asia to study meditation. Over a ten-year period, he trained across India, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand, eventually achieving full ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist monk in the Himalayas. During this time, Andy immersed himself in rigorous mental training, often meditating for up to sixteen hours a day, developing a deep understanding of the mind, emotional awareness and compassion.

After returning to the UK in 2004, Andy began the process of translating ancient mindfulness practices into something accessible and relevant for modern life. Alongside training in Circus Arts, an experience that sharpened his communication skills and stage presence, he established a private meditation practice in London. This period laid the foundations for founding Headspace in 2010, initially as a live meditation events business. With the launch of the Headspace app in 2012, Andy helped redefine digital wellbeing, introducing short, practical guided meditations that could fit into everyday routines. The app’s rapid global growth led to widespread media attention, major brand partnerships and Andy becoming one of the most recognisable voices in mindfulness.

Why Hire Andy Puddicombe?

Today, Andy is a highly sought-after keynote speaker for corporate, education and public sector audiences. He speaks on mindfulness, mental health, leadership, performance and sustainable success, all underpinned by scientific evidence and personal insight. Andy has also built an influential media profile, featuring on major television programmes and collaborating on multiple Netflix mindfulness series, as well as publishing three internationally acclaimed books. Organisations hire Andy because he delivers clarity in complex environments, helping people navigate pressure with calm and focus. His talks leave audiences with practical tools they can apply immediately, making his work both impactful and enduring.

Andy Puddicombe’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Andy Puddicombe’s inspirational career in mindfulness:

• 2025 – Hosted and contributed to the Headspace Radio Headspace podcast series
• 2022 – Stepped away fully from the Headspace board
• 2021 – Collaborated with Netflix on multiple mindfulness and meditation series, including Headspace Guide to Meditation and Headspace Guide to Sleep
• 2015 – Published ‘The Headspace Guide to a Mindful Pregnancy’
• 2013 – Published ‘The Headspace Diet’
• 2012 – Launched the Headspace app
• 2011 – Published ‘Get Some Headspace’
• 2010 – Co-founded Headspace
• 1990s-2000s – Ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk after more than ten years of monastic training across India, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand