Speaker
Helen Richardson-Walsh
Helen Richardson-Walsh is one of the most experienced members of the GB women’s hockey team. Over the course of her 17 year career she has amassed 19 medals including an Olympic bronze at London 2012, the European Championship title in 2015, World Cup bronze and Commonwealth silver. All before reaching the pinnacle of her sport with an Olympic gold at Rio 2016. Helen is a much in demand speaker.
About Helen Richardson-Walsh
Helen Richardson-Walsh was, at the age of 16, the youngest ever woman to represent GB hockey at an Olympics in Sydney. She has now competed at four Olympic Games. In Rio, all of her hard work, sacrifice and passion for her sport paid off when she and her teammates won the Olympic Gold Medal in the finals of the Hockey. Her role as part of the senior leadership group played a central role in propelling the women’s game to victory in 2016.
Alongside Head Coach Danny Kerry and a close knit team of senior players they put in place team values and processes to create a winning culture within the squad. Central to this was working as a team to identify the key behaviours which they had to live and breathe every single day. They also had to create an environment that encouraged respect and support for each other, even while they were battling for selection.
‘Be the Difference, Create History and Inspire the Future’ was their team mantra, and in winning gold in Rio she feels immense pride that they have done just that.
As she stepped on to the podium alongside her team mate and wife, GB captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, they also entered Olympic history as the first same sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing for the same team. Her experience of the support she received from her team mates around mental health, as well as her sexuality, has also made Helen a passionate supporter of inclusivity whether in the workplace or society. Describing hockey as her ‘safe place’ she can share the experiences of what an inclusive environment can mean for personal performance, as well the importance of a team culture where diverse characters are encouraged to bring different skills to the table and given the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Like Kate, she is a highly intelligent and experienced presenter who is more than happy to deliver keynote speeches on the themes of leadership and motivation, take part in Q&As, host and deliver team building hockey taster sessions.
- High performance
- Motivation and goal setting
- Psychology and behaviours of a winning team
- Leading change
- Fighting back and mental wellbeing
- Inspiring a generation
- Diversity and inclusion
Testimonials
"Inspirational and engaging."
Chesham Preparatory School
