High-performance speakers bring a unique blend of expertise, motivational strategies, and dynamic delivery to captivate your audience and memorably convey key messages. They can spark innovation, reinforce company goals, and provide actionable insights tailored to your industry. Sharing powerful stories and proven strategies empowers employees to embrace change, boost productivity, and foster a positive organisational culture. Investing in a skilled speaker transforms your event into a catalyst for growth and success.
Hiring a high-performance speaker through us at Great Business Speakers can elevate your event by delivering transformative insights and actionable strategies that drive excellence in individual and organisational performance. Our speakers are experts in unlocking potential, fostering resilience, and inspiring innovation, offering audiences practical tools to achieve sustained success. Whether in-person or virtual, a high-performance speaker energises the room and leaves a lasting impact, empowering attendees to exceed their limits and contribute to a culture of success.
Discover our High-Performance Speakers below, or contact the team at Great Business Speakers to enquire or book. +44 1753 439 289
R. Michael Anderson’s unique combination of real-life experience of founding, scaling and exiting three software enterprises, matched with his masters degree in psychology, is the reason he’s trained leaders at some of the most successful companies in the world including Microsoft, PwC and Salesforce.
In addition, he’s authored a number of best-selling leadership books, contributes to entrepreneur.com and was once named Social Entrepreneur of the Year.
His popular book Leading the Next Normal: A Guide to Building an Engaged, Resilient and Agile Virtual Workforce (2021) teaches managers and executives how to successfully navigate the chaotic world we currently live in.
Given he’s 6′ 8″ tall, you can’t possibly miss Michael, and it also explains why, in a former life, he was a professional basketball player!
Phil Jones MBE is Managing Director of Brother UK, an Information, Communication and Technology business supplying products and services to hundreds of thousands of UK enterprises.
Starting as a fax salesperson at Brother UK in 1994, he worked his way up through the business to be appointed its leader in 2013. What makes him unique is that he is leading a large business and can share relevant insights for B2B audiences based on the very latest insights and experiences as a leader.
Appearing at over fifty business conferences, sharing his views around Leadership, Effective Thinking, The Winning Patterns of Successful people and Workplace Culture, he describes himself as a ‘practivational’ speaker, keen to provide practical insights and actionable outcomes for a keynote audience or as MC for a conference.
Awarded an MBE in the June 2016 Birthday Honours List for Services to Business, he is a fellow of the IoD and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, among a list of other business accolades.
Phil Holdcroft is a former combat pilot whose 20-year career saw him dodge bullets on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan and extend to executive senior leadership of Defence, shaping Britain’s future on the global stage.
With an inspiring story like no other, Phil Holdcroft triumphed over adversity in every chapter of his remarkable life. He has made it his mission to share his powerful and transformative lessons, equipping others with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to achieve extraordinary results.
Phil is committed to pushing the limits of what is possible; he has tested his mind and body through record-breaking feats, as an elite endurance athlete and extreme adventurer, including rowing unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean.
The most daunting challenges have been thrown at him by life itself. Phil talks openly about ‘unravelling’ when his youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia. An event he describes as “more harrowing than the terrors of battle or the fiercest of ocean storms”.
Perry McCarthy is quite simply unique. He is an ex-Formula One driver, a bestselling author, and he was the original secret racing driver from BBC’s Top Gear – The Stig.
He is now a popular keynote speaker, and has carried out over 1,500 appearances, combining his famous sense of humour with his experiences in motor sport.
His attitude and his story has been inspirational; the 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill once said of Perry, “I have constant admiration for how he turns a no hope situation in to some sort of triumph”.
International motivational speaker Penny Mallory is an expert in psychological performance and works within, and alongside, world-class teams to overcome obstacles and improve their performances.
Her experience ranges from world championship rally drivers to young offenders, and focusses on improving their mental performance, orchestrating change and building outstanding individuals and teams.
She works with organisations, teams (including Formula 1) and individuals on mental performance and also hosts development programmes and workshops. Penny was also the first woman in the world to compete in a world rally car – the Formula 1 of rallying.
Penny is an inspirational motivational speaker thanks to her life and career experiences and her ability to make the impossible seem possible.
Paul Adamson is a visionary business leader, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker who transformed his love for the seas into a remarkable business journey.
Following his career as a professional sailor, Paul began his remarkable transformation by becoming a pivotal figure in the revival of Oyster Yachts, an iconic British luxury yacht manufacturer. Faced with administration, he led the business into a period of exceptional growth, securing £185 million of new sales, despite the challenges of a global pandemic. This growth put Oyster Yachts back on the map and secured the business for the long term.
Paul’s expertise extends beyond the marine industry. He has supported a number of global businesses develop transformative change and performance programs, with clients including Valeo Foods Group, The Shed Distillery and Henri Lloyd.
In 2022, Paul Adamson’s life journey took an unexpected detour with the diagnosis of Follicular Lymphoma, an incurable blood cancer. The diagnosis, while a test of his fortitude, did not hold him back in any way. Demonstrating resilience, leadership skills and optimism, Paul bravely faced the challenge and is now in remission.
“Paolo Taticchi is one of the best strategists in Europe” – Jan Muhlfeit Ret. Chairman, Microsoft Europe
Paolo Taticchi is a Professor in Strategy and Sustainability, and School Deputy Director (MBA, Global Engagement, Executive Education) at UCL School of Management.
Paolo’s research on corporate sustainability and performance measurement is internationally recognised. To date he has written five business books, such as Disruption and Sustainable Transformation Strategy.
Paolo Taticchi has significant consultancy experience in the fields of strategy, education, and sustainability. He has worked in this capacity for firms of various sizes, and in a range of different industries. Today, he advises (or serves in the advisory board of) influential organisations and is one of the scientific advisors of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition in Italy.
Nick Saunders is a motivational keynote speaker and training consultant with a 25 year track record of experience. He’s been lucky enough to have a career doing what he loves – helping many, many people enjoy what they do a little more by giving them the tools to make their working lives (and home lives) more productive and gratifying.
This includes helping improve relationships in all sorts of organisations, in all sorts of industries, in all sorts of countries – including the corporate/business sector, many charities and not-for profit organisations and in education (from numerous primary schools to Oxford University).
Nick Fry is the Former CEO and co-owner of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 and was responsible for building the teams that won the 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 F1 Drivers and Constructors Championships.
Nick Fry played a key role in one the most remarkable success stories in world motorsport when, together with Ross Brawn, he bought the Honda Formula One team for £1.00 in a management buyout.
Against all odds, they then won the 2009 drivers’ and constructors’ world championships under the Brawn GP banner with Jenson Button at the wheel.
Nathalie Nahai’s expertise in human behaviour, web design, and the arts provides a distinctive perspective for analysing the intricate contemporary challenges.
Her highly successful publication, Webs Of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion, has become the authoritative guide for both corporate leaders and educational institutions. Her latest work, Business Unusual: Values, Uncertainty, and the Psychology of Brand Resilience, has been hailed as a fundamental text in the field of business.
Serving as a behavioural science advisor and the host of The Hive Podcast, Nathalie assists notable clients such as Google, Accenture, Unilever, and Harvard Business Review in conscientiously employing behavioral science principles to amplify their business strategies.
Double Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen scored back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999 as lead driver for the all-conquering McLaren-Mercedes Benz team, achieving unprecedented success in a career almost ended by a serious accident crash at the Australian Grand Prix in 1995.
With 20 Formula One race victories and 51 top-three podium finishes to his credit, he ranks among the most successful drivers of all time and is widely regarded as one of the fastest drivers of the modern era.
He remains a much-admired member of the McLaren Formula 1 team, is an official ambassador of the Formula 1 World Championship and is a familiar face to fans in Europe through his broadcasting work on Viaplay.
Today Mika is a globally sought-after keynote speaker able to inspire audiences with real-world lessons gained from his Formula One career.
Michael McGrath made history in 2004 by becoming the first disabled person to lead expeditions to both the north and south poles – what makes this achievement all the more remarkable is that in 1984, aged just 18yrs, Michael was diagnosed with the muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy (MD).
The journey gave rise to a new life plan, inspiring Michael to embark on a career as an internationally recognised motivational business speaker. He has built an enviable list of clients, providing carefully tailored speeches for organisations including HMRC, PwC, Shell, Hilton Hotels and the NHS.
Leadership, courage, and trust combined with resolute self-belief, confidence, teamwork and a singularly focused obsession towards achieving desired outcomes were critical success factors – Michael McGrath draws on these experiences, giving wider business and life lessons.
Michael was made an MBE in the King’s first Birthday Honours List in 2023.
Matthew Syed is one of the world’s most influential thinkers in the field of high performance and cultural change. He is an author and highly acclaimed speaker in the field of high performance.
He has written six best-selling books on the subject of mindset and high performance – Bounce, Black Box Thinking, Rebel Ideas, The Greatest, and his celebrated children’s books, You Are Awesome and The You Are Awesome Journal – and has worked with many leading organisations to build a mindset of continuous improvement.
He is also a multi-award-winning journalist for The Times and a regular contributor to television and radio.
Matt Sims is a presenter, host, speaker, coach, consultant, and transformation leader, with a proven track record of engaging and inspiring audiences. His immense passion for continuous improvement, and his diverse skill set make him the ideal choice to elevate your event.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Matt Sims has worked with some of the world’s largest organisations including Amazon and The Royal mail to educate and inspire their employees.
Liz Johnson is one of the UK’s most well-known Paralympic swimmers, winning an impressive 13 medals at various events over her career.
Since retiring in 2016, Liz has become a popular contributor to sporting broadcasting on Channel 4 and the BBC and a familiar face on entertainment shows, including Celebrity Masterchef (2016) and The Last Leg (2021).
She is the Managing Director and Client Ambassador of The Ability People, a specialist employment company which aims to encourage employment for those with disabilities.
She is also a popular motivational and sports speaker, offering an insight into her competitive past, her broadcasting experience and her disability, aiming to inspire the next generation of sporting stars.
Matt Lindley was an RAF Pilot, specialising in flying VIPs such as The Queen, members of the Royal Family and Government Ministers, as well as flying missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Sierra Leone. He is now a commercial long haul pilot.
Matt was one of the first ever gay pilots in the Royal Air Force, and is now a very influential military figure. Matt had dreamt of being a RAF pilot ever since he was a child, and he wasn’t going to let something like LGBTQ+ prejudice stand against him. His brave journey has paved the way for change in the Armed Forces and to ensure all sexualities are represented.
Matt now runs workshops and keynotes based on lessons he has learnt whilst flying, aimed at reducing human error in the workplace. He uses fascinating case studies of aircraft accident, applies basic psychology and provides lots of ‘take homes’ for any audience.
Matt Dawson is one of England’s best-loved former rugby players, and is now a prominent sport commentator, journalist, and presenter.
He played for Northampton Saints, London Wasps, and the British & Irish Lions. He won 77 caps for England and made his mark on rugby by being part of the England team who won the 2003 World Cup.
Since retiring in 2006, he has become a national TV personality, appearing on BBC’s A Question of Sport (2004-2021), Celebrity Masterchef (2006) – which he won, and Strictly Come Dancing (2006).
Matt Dawson also works as a health ambassador for Sodexo, an international food and facilities provider, and in 2014 he was appointed as Director for Business Development.
Jenson Button MBE is a celebrated British racing driver best known for winning the Formula One World Championship in 2009.
In his on-going motor racing career, spanning 26 years, Jenson has competed in nearly 20 different racing championships, with 18 years spent in Formula One. While racing in Formula One career, he achieved 50 podium finishes, and finished the Championship in first, second and third place.
Jenson retired from Formula One in 2017 and the following year made the move to sportscar racing, winning the Super GT – GT500 Championship. More recently, Jenson has competed in the 2024 FIA World Endurance and the IMSA SportsCar Championships.
He was appointed an MBE in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to motorsport and was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Rugby star turned motivational public speaker Jamie Peacock is a successful author and wellness expert who now offers leadership and wellness coaching and mentoring sessions to corporate clients worldwide.
Jamie Peacock is one of the most successful Rugby League players the UK has ever produced. During his rugby career, Jamie Peacock played over 550 times over 19 seasons including 49 caps for his country which he captained for 8 years.
At the end of his career in 2015 Jamie Peacock had become the most decorated player of the modern Super League era winning a total of 9 Grand Finals, 4 Challenge Cup Finals, 4 World Club Challenges as well as being selected in the Super League Dream Team 11 times, the World 13 twice, Worlds’ Best Forward twice and in 2011 he was recognised for his services to the game and awarded an MBE.
Jacques Villeneuve is one of the most widely renowned Formula 1 stars, a World Champion who achieved meteoric success and founded the team which is today the all-conquering Mercedes Benz F1 team.
Canadian-born Jacques won the 1997 Formula One World Championship for the Williams-Renault team, a remarkable feat given that he achieved it in only his second full season of Formula One motor racing, and against arch-rival Michael Schumacher.
In his first season in Formula One, he finished 2nd in the World Championship, an astonishing achievement in only first season at the pinnacle of world motorsport.
He is the last driver to have won a World Championship for the Williams Formula 1 team, adding his name to an impressive list of champions including Alan Jones, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Damon Hill.
It all comes down to one single moment. After only two weeks working in professional New Zealand rugby, Henry Cheetham felt a deeper sense of belonging to the team and community than anywhere he had worked or lived over the past 24 years.
Was this one of the ‘secrets’ underpinning the mythical New Zealand All Blacks, he thought.
Needless to say, this kick started his journey to uncover the universal principles underpinning the world’s best teams. Since then, he has led human performance departments in some of the most successful teams and cultures in the world.
Dan Lowes is a leading high-performance executive coach who had a 16 year career as an Officer and Fighter Pilot in the Royal Air Force, including three years as a Red Arrows pilot.
Dan graduated from the most demanding and gruelling RAF course and went on to conduct the flying tests of aspiring Red Arrows applicants.
The lessons he learned through his successful RAF career are as applicable today as workplaces become more remote and virtual. He works with organisations providing coaching and delivers keynote speeches on team development, communication and improving performance.
He has become a practitioner by thriving in one of the world’s most demanding and dynamic environments for over 16 years; surviving from time critical information arriving in the right place at the right time through effective communication lines and processes.
Damian Hughes expertly combines his practical experience and academic background in sports, organisational development, and change psychology to assist organisations and teams in cultivating a culture of high performance.
With eight bestselling business books under his belt – such as Liquid Thinking, Liquid Leadership, How to Change Absolutely Anything, How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson, and The Five STEPS to a Winning Mindset – Damian has demonstrated his profound knowledge and insights.
His 2023 books, How Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best, and How to Change Your Life, have both been number one Sunday Times bestsellers. His books have already been translated into a dozen languages.
He is also the co-host with Jake Humphrey of The High-Performance Podcast, which has featured some of the leading figures in business and sports spheres with over 100 million downloads and counting.
Claire Williams OBE is a British former motorsport executive who led the Williams Formula 1 racing team. She is one of only two women to have ever lead a Formula 1 team.
Under her leadership Williams finished 3rd in the World Championship for Constructors in 2014 and 2015, representing the team’s best performance since 2003.
After taking over the running of the team, Claire replaced drivers, switched to a Mercedes engine and increased the team’s racing budget by securing profitable corporate sponsorships, factors that helped the team’s renaissance between 2014 and 2017.
Today Claire is a global Brand Ambassador for WAE Technologies, formerly known as Williams Advanced Engineering, which is involved in the decarbonisation of heavy transport through the development of advanced, green and sustainable technologies.
Her late father, Sir Frank Williams, was the founder of the Williams Grand Prix Engineering F1 team, winning nine Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championship.
