Cici Coleman is a presenter, actress and dating confidence coach best known as the beloved waitress on Channel 4’s BAFTA award-winning series First Dates, where for more than 12 years she has witnessed thousands of real first encounters unfold. But the woman behind the UK’s most famous waitress has lived a life defined by resilience, reinvention and radical self-honesty. At 14, Cici experienced a devastating loss that led to several turbulent years of grief, risk-taking and searching for meaning. She went on to take a bold and unconventional step into banking at HSBC, before working four jobs to fund a move to New York at 23, where she earned a full scholarship to the New York Film Academy and began pursuing acting. What followed were dramatic highs and lows: life in New York, a toxic relationship, declining mental health, visa struggles and eventually moving back home to rebuild from scratch, even working as a builder with her father and later returning to waitressing in London, serving some of her former banking clients. Then came the opportunity that would change everything: First Dates. Over the next decade, Cici became a familiar and comforting presence on British television while quietly developing a deep understanding of human behaviour, confidence, vulnerability and emotional intelligence. Those insights, combined with her own personal journey, led her to create The Dating Reset: a series of women’s confidence workshops focused on self-worth, boundaries and empowered decision-making. Today, Cici speaks about empowerment, resilience and reinvention, showing audiences that rock bottom isn’t the end of the story. Often, it’s simply the place where rebuilding begins. Her talks blend humour, honesty and practical tools, exploring how emotional awareness, clear boundaries and courageous decision-making can transform not only relationships but leadership, careers and the way we live our lives.