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April 14, 2022January 17, 2024

Meet Melbourne’s Top 10 Motivational Speakers

It takes more than a knack for public speaking to earn the title of Motivational Speaker. You know when you meet a true one – that moment someone captures your attention so powerfully and passionately, with a presence so commanding, so captivating, that you’re engrossed in every single word. You’re inspired to act. You feel like you have unlimited potential and the capability to make anything happen. Their impact is enormous, and their unique ability to make a lasting impression sets them apart from the pack. So how can you find one of these truly inspiring Motivational Speakers in Melbourne? We’re here to help!

Besides being one of the most liveable cities on earth, Melbourne is lauded as the ‘sporting capital of the world’ and famed for its rich cultural diversity, its vibrant arts scene and its cosmopolitan social life. It’s no wonder then that it’s also home to some of the world’s best Motivational Speakers.

Whether you’re looking for a global sporting hero to inject some team spirit, a Military Commando to share his learnings on leadership and performance or advice on maintaining unrelenting focus from one of the world’s toughest endurance athletes, Melbourne’s Motivational Speakers are world-class.

Melbourne’s Top 10 Motivational Speakers

1. Dr. Jessica Gallagher
Jessica Gallagher was the first Australian athlete – Olympic or Paralympic – to medal at both a Summer and Winter Olympic Games. As a sight-impaired high-performance athlete in the dangerous world of Alpine Skiing, Jess shares the practical ways she shaped her risk appetite and turned fear into a must-have component of her mindset, skill and performance. She gives audiences tips and tools to create positive and sustainable habits to live their best life, and she does it with rare style. Read more about Jess here.

2. Dylan Alcott OAM
When Dylan Alcott retired from tennis after the 2022 Australian Open, he did so with 15 grand slam singles titles, eight grand slam doubles titles, four Paralympic gold and two silver medals to his name. He was also the first male in history, of any ability, to claim the illustrious Golden Slam. But it’s his off-field efforts to alter the way people with disabilities are perceived in the wider community that really sets this Aussie legend apart, and that helped earn him the 2022 Australian of the Year award. With a unique and incredibly moving story to tell, Dylan inspires audiences worldwide to be the best versions of themselves. Read more about Dylan here.

3. Tiffany Hall
Tiffany Hall is Australia’s most famous ninja. Celebrity trainer, founder of lifestyle program TIFFXO.com, author, podcaster, TV regular, martial arts expert and mum, Tiff has many titles tucked under her 6th Dan Taekwondo black belt. As a respected and passionate health and wellness authority, Tiff is a wonderful role model for audiences of all ages. She’s also a dynamic speaker, intent on helping others shine, galvanising them into action to become happy, healthy and confident. Read more about Tiffany here.

4. Cathy Freeman OAM
Who can forget that iconic moment at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, when Cathy Freeman OAM won gold in the 400m and proudly waved both the Australian and Aboriginal flags on her victory lap? As the first Indigenous Australian to win a gold medal and the first Australian woman to run under 50 seconds, Cathy’s achievements have been recognised with an Australian of the Year title and awards including World Sportswoman of the Year. One of Australia’s most admired and respected athletes, Cathy is a national treasure recognised for her modesty, free spirit and passion for family and country – the Cathy Freeman Foundation, which she established in 2007, has so far helped over 1600 indigenous children in remote communities receive an education. Her passion and conviction are unparalleled, and her story will motivate and inspire. Read more about Cathy here.

5. Samantha Gash
If Samantha Gash looked remarkably comfortable in the uncomfortable surrounds of the latest season of Survivor Australia, it’s because she’s no stranger to tough conditions. She was the first woman, and the youngest person at the time, to complete the Four Deserts Grand Slam – one of the world’s toughest endurance competitions that spans 1000kms across the hottest, coldest, driest and windiest deserts on earth. Combining that grit and focus with her experience working for the largest international law firm in the world, Samantha now uses running as a vehicle for social change. Using authentic storytelling and dramatic documentary footage to share her journey, Samantha teaches teams how to manage industry disruption and how to become comfortable in discomfort. Read more about Samantha here.

6. Mark (Squiz) Squirrell OAM
From the world’s most brutal war zones to the summit of Mt Everest, Mark Squirrell’s journey from military commando to International Aid Worker is equal amounts inspiring and enthralling. His thrilling recount of his career, and the knowledge he shares about leadership, teamwork and communication, is priceless for leaders and aspiring leaders alike. Squiz’s use of authentic footage and Virtual Reality goggles in his keynotes, workshops and team building activities make his presentations a truly unforgettable experience. Read more about Mark here.

7. Rachael Robertson
Battling extreme and hostile conditions to lead a team of eighteen strangers in Antarctica for twelve months is an excellent way to develop advanced leadership skills. If you don’t have the time or the means though, let Rachael Robertson share her remarkable journey to building a resilient and respectful team in a challenging environment. You could just read the book she wrote about her experience, ‘Leading on the Edge’, but then you’d miss out on the full power of her captivating and humour-filled presentation, full of unique insights that will fire up your team to face challenges head-on and take the next step in their leadership journey. Read more about Rachael here.

8. Lisa McInnes-Smith
Through her study and practice in Sport Psychology, Lisa McInnes-Smith has developed unique concepts around peak personal performance, passionately inspiring people to elevate their performance with simple, practical steps. She’s presented to more than 2 million people across 26 countries, authored seven best-selling books and is the first person outside North America to be inducted into the international Speaker Hall of Fame. Lisa’s uplifting and thoroughly entertaining presenting style can inspire even the most uninspired team to greatness. Read more about Lisa here.

9. Debbie Lee
Debbie Lee is a pioneer of women’s football with more than 30 years’ experience at elite and community level. She has worked tirelessly to improve the representation and participation of women in the AFL and was instrumental in establishing the AFLW. Currently National Women and Girl’s Action Plan Lead at the AFL, Debbie’s previous roles include General Manager of Women’s Football at the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Football Clubs. She also had a distinguished 302–game playing career, representing Victoria 16 times (6 as captain), was a 6-time All Australian, 5-time Helen Lambert Medallist (equivalent to Brownlow) and 2-time premiership player. Debbie is also an AFL Life Member, and the first woman to be inducted into the AFL’s Hall of Fame. Read more about Debbie here.

10. Dr. Louise Mahler
Dr. Louise Mahler is the leading authority on the psychology of face-to-face engagement. She combines years of professional performance on the European opera stage with an award-winning PhD in Business to teach people the skills to ‘be heard’ in hostile environments. As a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Louise coaches her audiences on the mind-body-voice connection she calls Vocal Intelligence. When she takes to the stage, her audience is treated to a transformative, candid and interactive presentation, filled with large doses of humour, reflection and passion, leaving them energised to achieve things they never thought they would. Read more about Louise here.

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With so much Melbourne talent on offer, it was difficult to limit our list to the Top 10, so if you have a brief for us we’d be happy to provide you with a curated list of Motivational Speakers specific to your needs. Get in touch with us for a chat to get the ball rolling!

March 28, 2022August 8, 2022

Your Essential Productivity Checklist for Managing Hybrid Work Like a Pro

Essential Productivity Checklist for Managing Hybrid Work Like a Pro

“You don’t get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” – Jim Rohn

Though the idea of 9-5, Monday-Friday seems destined to be relegated to the rear-view mirror, there’s no doubt that the post-pandemic office recall has begun. Workers are dusting off their office finery, topping up their train cards and preparing once again for peak hour pandemonium. But don’t pack away the Ugg boots just yet. Thanks to the success of the covid remote work mandate, and much to the delight of many, it looks like hybrid workplaces are the way of the future. To help you manage the transition like a pro, we’ve got your essential productivity checklist covered – follow this, and you can have your cake and eat it too. Whenever and wherever you like!

Results of the world’s largest work from home experiment, otherwise known as Covid-19, showed that flexible work arrangements can be a resounding success.

Recent research conducted by Deloitte Access Economics found that businesses that have adopted hybrid work have 6 per cent higher income, are 22 per cent more likely to see higher productivity and are 28 per cent more likely to be innovative than those without hybrid work policies. They also show improved customer service and more engaged employees. That’s excellent news for businesses, because the fact is, employees have had a taste of remote work and they’re keen for more.

The Australian Government’s WGEA study found that an astounding 92% of employees want access to some form of flexible work arrangement as covid restrictions ease. In fact, the global EY 2021 Work Reimagined Employee Survey reports that 54 per cent of employees would actually consider leaving their job if they’re not afforded some flexibility post-pandemic.

Thankfully, it seems the majority of businesses are onboard the hybrid bandwagon, with nearly four in five employers surveyed in the WGEA study stating that they now have a formal flexible work policy or strategy in place. Michael McQueen, trend forecaster and best-selling author, believes that this shift to flexible workforces will see offices increasingly being used for specific purposes such as team building, collaboration and key meetings, and home offices being used for individual, focused work.

While the hybrid work model is still an evolving phenomenon, productivity seems to be the key to success. The checklist below will help you transition to your new work mode, setting you on the right path to achieving that holy grail of work-life balance…

Your Hybrid Work Productivity Checklist:

1) Tech up: Your employer should ensure you have the digital tools, resources and training you need to succeed in a hybrid work environment. Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Asana, SharePoint… they’re prime productivity boosters, and they’ll help smooth the transition between work and home. And don’t forget to sync and save as much as you can to the Cloud so that you (and your workmates) have access to the documents you need no matter where you’re working from. According to Trevor Long, our go-to-guy for technology insights and one of Australia’s leading tech experts, there are plenty of ways tech can help your home office work like a dream – a Mesh Wifi network like Netgear Orbi or Google WiFi, for example, will help provide high-speed internet to every corner of your home… pure gold if your Wifi box is miles from your workspace!

2) Commit to a work schedule: Let your workmates know when you’ll be in the office and schedule collaborative work and face-to-face meetings accordingly. A good place to start is by working out which tasks you’d like to do synchronously (in real-time) – like group brainstorming, and which you’re good to do asynchronously – think more focused, independent tasks.

3) Timing is everything: A hybrid work schedule allows you the flexibility to schedule the tasks that require the most focus, creativity and brainpower for when you’re most alert and energetic. Productivity coach and Time Management expert Donna McGeorge believes we’re at our most productive and creative when we structure our day around our natural internal rhythms and cycles. Our body clocks are designed for greater mental agility in the morning, so block out a solid 2-hour slot in the morning to tackle your most important tasks.

4) Work on your connection: We’re not talking about NBN (though obviously that’s pretty handy). Remote work, even if it’s super productive, can be fairly isolating. Building meaningful connections with your workmates enables greater communication, and – importantly – makes work a more enjoyable experience. Take the time to catch up face to face when you’re in the office, and stay in touch with your team online when you’re at home. As Mark Sanborn says, “In teamwork, silence isn’t golden, it’s deadly.”

5) Mirror your workspace: Replicating your office workspace at home, in terms of organisation and ergonomics, will help get you in the right frame of mind. If you your inbox is to the left of your screen in the office and your phone to the right, set up your home desk like that too. Consistency helps focus your brain power on the right tasks.

6) Double up where you can: Invest in two of everything where possible so you don’t need to lug it all around. Laptop charger, mouse, keyboard – leave a set in the office if you can, or have a separate work bag that’s office-ready and doesn’t require constant shuffling about. Don’t forget that work gear is tax-deductible if your employer won’t fork out for it.

7) Make the most of the extra time: A recent Productivity Commission report found that full-time workers in Australian major cities used to spend an average of 67 minutes per day commuting. Make the most of that extra time when you’re on a home day! While it’s tempting to have a sleep in & roll around in your pj’s ‘til go-time, don’t. Do something that’ll fuel your health and happiness – exercise, passion project, family time… whatever it is, schedule it in and commit to it. It’ll set you up beautifully for the workday ahead.

8) Don’t get distracted: While doing some dinner prep and squeezing in an episode of Bridgerton during your lunch break is a definite perk of working from home, try sticking to your work schedule. Close your door, put your headphones on and snooze your notifications to stay on task during scheduled work blocks (try a distraction-blocking app if you don’t have the willpower!).

While this productivity checklist seems deceptively manageable, there’s a huge pay-off if we can nail it and make the transition to hybrid work a smooth one. Not only will we get that aspirational balance we crave on a personal level, but according to Deloitte, a hybrid work future could see Australia’s economy grow by $18 billion over the next decade, and create more than 42,000 extra full-time jobs.

So if it’s good for the economy and it’s good for the people, we’re all for the move to a hybrid workforce. And if it also happens that your laundry basket is clear and you’ve smashed through Season 2, then all power to you!

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We can introduce you to a number of experts who tackle productivity and other factors critical to hybrid work success, including Donna McGeorge, Michael McQueen, Trevor Long, Andrew May, Chelsea Pottenger, Rob Pyne, Dr Paige Williams and Gihan Perera. All are captivating motivational speakers that can inspire your team to succeed regardless of which location they’re working from. If you’d like to engage any of these speakers, get in touch with us for a chat!

March 18, 2022August 8, 2022

Green is the New Black: Businesses Doing Well by Doing Good

“When the wind blows there are those that build walls and then there are those that build windmills.” – Chinese proverb

Gone are the days when the quest for profit comes at the expense of people and the planet. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability aren’t just nice-to-haves on the annual report anymore – these days doing well by doing good is where it’s at, and if you’re not actively looking to implement positive impact initiatives, you’ll be held accountable. We take a look at the new era of good corporate citizenship, and some clever initiatives bettering more than just the bottom line.

Global movements like the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Global Compact and B Corp certifications are helping to drive commitment to CSR, while high-profile activists like Greta Thunberg are fuelling the green crusade and ‘eco-anxiety’ amongst consumers. The result? More and more people are actively choosing sustainable and ethical brands.

Recent research by IBM showed that sustainability is important to nearly 80 per cent of the general population – not only that, but of those people, 70 per cent would pay a premium of 35 per cent for brands that are sustainable and environmentally responsible.

While sustainability and ethical practices are important to most people, it’s Millennials – the largest adult cohort in the world – that are the most vocal and dedicated. It seems that if you want their business, and you want their help to run your business, you need to show a genuine commitment to the greater good.

The Millennial quest for good goes beyond simply buying on beliefs, with research by US-based Cone Communications showing that two-thirds of millennials won’t even take a job at a company with poor CSR practices – in fact, the survey of 1000 people found that 75 per cent of millennials would take a pay cut to work for a responsible company, with 83 per cent saying they’d be more loyal to a business that enables them to contribute to solving social and environmental problems.

While there’s been a marked rise in big brands like Patagonia, Intrepid Travel and Ben & Jerry’s achieving BCorp status, eco-minded Australian Millennials are setting up ethical social enterprises that operate like a business – but with a purpose. You’ve heard of KeepCup and Thankyou – they’ve received plenty of press coverage and strong consumer support for their purpose-driven products. Other businesses you may not have heard of, like The Sweetest Gift that employs & trains organ transplant recipients, and HoMie – an award-winning shop selling ethical merchandise and providing clothing and training to homeless young people – are also doing incredible good.

Another local brand out to prove that small business can make a big difference is local Melbourne start-up Good Edi. Born out of a shared passion for sustainability, big ideas and really good coffee, Good Edi was created by Melbourne duo Catherine Hutchins and Aniyo Rahebi.

With more than 20 years experience in food processing and packaging, it just didn’t sit right with Catherine and Aniyo that their cherished daily habit added 2.7 million disposable coffee cups to Australian landfill every single day. So they set out to fix the problem, creating the world’s first totally waste-free coffee cup that’s good for the planet, and good for you. Made from ethically sourced, grain-based vegan ingredients, the Good Edi cup can be eaten (it tastes like a waffle cone!) or thrown into the compost or general rubbish where it will break down naturally in a few weeks.

Winning first place in the 2020 HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program, a new initiative designed to support sustainability start-ups, allowed Good Edi to kick off production in June 2021. Around 10,000 Good Edi cups have been distributed since then, with coffee roasteries and café owners praising this unique and tasty solution to minimising waste.

With socially conscious consumers prepared to pay a premium for products produced and discarded responsibly, and investors looking to invest in business that have good ESG (Environment, Sustainability and Governance) metrics, there’s hope that clever initiatives like the Good Edi cup will continue to garner support.

As for big business? The message is hitting home, with KPMG’s 2021 CEO Outlook reporting that 98 per cent of Australian leaders identify corporate purpose as driving their financial performance, while 86 per cent recognise purpose as a key part of their ‘employee value proposition’.

While the pressure to create economic value in ways that also create value for society may be driven by global movements and conscious consumers, it’s win-win all round. Happily, it seems that doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive – being socially responsible, it turns out, is actually better business.

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Strike while the iron’s hot! Corporate social responsibility is a trending topic in the wake of the pandemic, and the right motivational speaker can help inspire your team to make a positive difference. We can introduce you to some brilliant business leaders in this space, including Catherine Hutchins and Aniyo Rahebi, founders of Good Edi, Abigail Forsyth, Co-founder and CEO of KeepCup and Justine Flynn, Co-founder of Thankyou. If you’d like to engage any of these sustainability trailblazers to speak to your team about their vision, the challenges they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learnt, get in touch with us for a chat.

March 6, 2022March 17, 2022

Guest Blog: From the Battlefield to the Boardroom – Leading Your Team Out of the Pandemic.

Written by military commando and International Aid Worker Mark ‘Squiz’ Squirrell OAM.

Mark 'Squiz' Squirrell

Leading on the Battlefield

The windscreen of the lead vehicle in our three-car convoy is shattered by a bullet. The four-inch armoured glass has done its job; the bullet did not penetrate the vehicle.

We are in the Gaza Strip and stuck at the last intersection before we can travel the final kilometre to the Israeli border. Two Israeli Defence Force (IDF) tanks with barrels pointing directly at our vehicle are thirty metres to our front. Behind, we have an agitated Palestinian crowd that is preventing us from doing a U-turn.

The lead vehicle is allowed to move slowly past the tanks, but the Tank Commander clearly indicates through hand signals that my vehicle, and the third vehicle in our convoy, are to remain. Over the next hour I phone the IDF military liaison officer multiple times to request passage through the intersection. He is on board as we are a convoy of diplomats and aid workers with the right to move freely. The problem is, it’s taking a long time for his message to go up through the chain of command and then back down to the Tank Commander. We need leadership that is decisive, outside the box and relevant to our situation right now.
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Leading your team For 20 years I’ve worked as a Security Risk Manager to assist with the delivery of aid to desperate communities in war-ravaged countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The risks of kidnap, crossfire and landmines were just a few of the likely threats, exacerbated by linguistic limitations, cultural restrictions and dilapidated infrastructure. In an environment like that, trust, teamwork and leadership meant the difference between success and failure.

I often wondered, whilst attempting to navigate through unmapped parts of South Sudan or negotiating with Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka through a translator, how much easier it would be to lead teams during an emergency setting if it was back in Australia. The Covid-19 outbreak gave me the opportunity to find out.

Leading During the Pandemic

During the COVID emergency our training room was converted to an Operations Centre, and over an 18-month period we were at the forefront of Australia’s response to the outbreak, managing teams of nurses and logisticians.

Leading your team Although I had worked within a similar emergency during the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, there was still a level of anxiety and caution for the rapidly unfolding circumstances.

The COVID projects were time-critical and complex, similar to when I was delivering humanitarian aid overseas. The difference was that we now had at our disposal the latest technology, sealed and uncluttered roads and teams all hailing from the same culture. Unexpectedly though, I found myself embroiled with team dilemmas, inefficiencies and communication challenges similar to those I’d experienced working abroad.

While there were no concerns of kidnap or aerial bombardment and no translation issues, I witnessed the same levels of stress in my teams as when deployed overseas. Why? Because we were able to take on a greater workload and set bigger goals than we would have overseas. The opportunity for stress, team fracturing and things to go wrong was absolutely present, and the best way to mitigate that was to build the team dynamics, monitor and tweak the culture and, most importantly, provide decisive leadership.

Leading your team Prior to the pandemic my company provided keynotes, workshops and team building activities to strengthen workplace performance. Right now my own teams needed this more than anyone. I took them on a metaphorical journey up Mt Everest to learn about teamwork, and used Virtual Reality goggles to strap them into the front seat of the Gaza Scenario that you are halfway through. The experiences allowed for robust conversation, a calibration of thoughts about our own operational issues and most importantly, a distraction from the intense daily pressure. It worked.

Leading Out of the Pandemic

As the Pandemic unfolded there was one aspect of the change to workplaces, regardless of the industry, that made it easy on those making the leadership decisions. The changes were forced upon us by the Government. So what do we do now that those regulations are being wound back?

Leading your team As we begin moving to post-pandemic life, organisations need leadership that is decisive, outside the box and relevant to their current situation. Sound familiar? I learnt very quickly whilst ‘sandwiched’ in the Gaza Strip that the standard operating procedure that worked fine in yesterday’s circumstances was not going to resolve our current problem.

Leaders will now need to:
– Take a long-term approach and not expect team members to suddenly revert back to pre-pandemic operations;
– Acknowledge that there may be some efficiencies and mental health/morale benefits for team members working from home;
– Create other stimulus to entice team members into the office, such as entertainment or team bonding events;
– Create contemporary oversight structures to compliment the newfound autonomy;
– Use external consultants to objectively arrive at suitable frameworks to take the heat away from what will be seen as an imposition by management to team members.
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Leading Out of the Gaza Strip

We were cornered! Two tanks were blocking forward movement and a marauding crowd was building up behind. Similar situations in the past were mitigated by obtaining clearance from the military liaison officer. But that wasn’t working today.

So, if you were there, what would you do next?

We could wave a white flag, but that won’t have any tangible impact on the current circumstances given that those around us already know who and what we represent. We could attempt to reverse and move back through the crowd, hoping that they show some mercy. Unlikely, they have already seen one of our cars get past the blockade and aren’t too happy about that. Plus, hope is not a good strategy when things are going wrong.

I’ll give you a chance to make a phone call. Who would it be to?

The phone call is a decisive leadership decision, but you can’t call the Tank Commander as you don’t have their number. You can call your boss, Ambassadors, Israeli or Palestinian officials but it will still take a long time for the message to get down to those on the ground. So, who will you call?

If you thought that the best option would be to call the lead vehicle; you nailed it! The vehicle has now travelled the one kilometre to the Israeli border and is currently parked alongside IDF soldiers that have a direct line with the Tank Commander. We ask our lead vehicle to use the hole in their windscreen as leverage, threatening to take it to the media if they don’t get the remaining two cars out of the blockade. Within 30 seconds of making the phone call, warning shots are fired into the ground in front of us by the Tank Commander, the crowd pushes back and we’re given the hand signal to move through the intersection. Well done, you have led your team through this difficult situation.

The question for you now is this: What are you doing as a leader that’s decisive, outside the box and relevant to the new normal?

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Want to hear more?

Awarded the coveted green beret during his military service and recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his international humanitarian aid work, Mark Squirrell is one of our most courageous and well-respected motivational speakers. Squiz’s presentations include a thrilling recount of his awe-inspiring journey from the world’s most brutal war zones to the summit of Mt Everest, brought to life by the use of authentic footage and Virtual Reality goggles for a truly unforgettable experience. If you’d like Squiz to share his knowledge about leadership, teamwork and communication with your team, get in touch with us for a chat.

March 1, 2022August 8, 2022

5 Key Habits to Help Build Mental, Emotional and Physical Resilience.

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” – Robert Jordan

‘Resilience’ is a buzz word for a reason. It’s our response to adversity, how we overcome hardship and challenges – that mental reservoir of strength we tap into in times of need. Terms like ‘bouncing back’ and ‘rising from the ashes’ are all about harnessing our resilience not just to survive a trauma, but to thrive in the aftermath. So how can we build our resilience to ensure we’re well equipped to deal with whatever curveballs life throws at us? We asked McQuilty ‘Coco’ Quirke, ex-Army medic, trauma survivor and resilience expert, for some advice.

With an 18-year army career covering the war zones of East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as a medic, soldier and leader, there is no-one better equipped to talk about resilience and overcoming adversity than Coco Quirke.

Having courageously battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the horrors of war in Iraq to return to active duty, Coco’s army career was put on hold in 2011 when an improvised explosive device detonated under his vehicle in Afghanistan. Coco was catapulted headfirst 30 metres down the road, suffering multiple life-threatening injuries including two shattered vertebrae, broken bones in every limb and a traumatic brain injury. Coco had to be revived 3 times on his way to Germany for specialist treatment and spent more than 6 months in hospital undergoing multiple surgeries. Defying the doctor’s prognosis, Coco took his first steps just 3 months after the explosion, his recovery hard-fought and his attitude resolute.

On his long road to recovery, both from PTSD and severe injury, Coco worked hard on building a positive mindset. It became his priority, and eventually his saviour, as he dealt with ongoing physical and mental challenges. Coco learnt that practising good habits creates a happy brain, and a happy brain develops a positive mental mindset. And it’s that positive mental mindset that he believes is the key to building resilience.

These are the 5 fundamental habits that continue to help Coco maintain his positive mentality:

1. #take3steps
The hardest 3 steps you will take every day will be the first 3 steps you take away from your bed. Your bed is your safe place. Some days you wake up not feeling good, the easy option is to stay where you are safe, warm and comfortable.

2. #InnerVoice
Those days you find yourself wanting to stay in bed, you need an Inner Voice to help you get up and take those first 3 steps. That voice that says, “No Coco, the easy way is to lie here, the hard way is the right way. Get up and take those 3 steps.” Then you keep walking!

3. #BeTheWolf
Go out and get what’s yours. Be the Wolf is about having a fighting mindset, a positive attitude that you will achieve your goals that day. This takes preparation and starts the night before. Bring into focus your dream goal, break it down into achievable daily goals, and then adopt your #BetheWolf mindset to fight for those goals. It all starts with these ‘non-negotiables’ that you write down every morning and evening:
– Gratefuls: 3 things you are grateful for – family, wife, house, job, dream car…
– Reflection: 3 goals for the day – did you achieve them? Why not
– Goals: 3 achievable goals for tomorrow

4. #FeedTheWolf
To build a positive mindset we must feed the wolf. Nutrition is very important – we should have a balanced diet so we can work at optimum capability every day. Sleep is another critical factor, helping our body recover mentally, physically and emotionally. To help with sleep, do something meditative before you go to bed like breathing techniques, reading, listening to music, watching a candle.

5. #LiveLoveLaugh
We get so consumed by work and deadlines we can forget about those closest to us. When was the last time you played a game with your kids, watched a movie with your wife? The last time you laughed with your mates? Remember this, when you walk through adversity, those that mean the most to you will always be beside you. Make time for them.

Coco’s concept is simple and powerful, and his time is now dedicated to encouraging others to build resilience by implementing good habits and creating a positive attitude. He uses his lived experience to inspire and motivate others, humbly presenting his learnings to businesses, schools, military units and sporting bodies like the NRL Cowboys, Qantas Wallabies and Australian Kangaroos.

If there’s a key message to take from Coco’s experience, it’s that people have the power to build their own resilience. Resilience isn’t dictated by genetics, it’s a set of skills that are developed and, most importantly, can be learned. And that’s what Coco does – he gives people a toolbox of techniques that help them build the capacity to cope when things go wrong. And go wrong they will. But as Friedrich Nietzsche said (and Kelly Clarkson for the millennials): what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

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Coco’s captivating journey and his passionate and humble presentation style make him one of our most popular motivational speakers. His feedback is always exceptional, and his presentations are a guaranteed event highlight. If you’d like to engage Coco to show your team how to build resilience by implementing good habits and creating a positive attitude, get in touch with us for a chat.

February 22, 2022March 6, 2022

Top 5 Winter Olympians for a Gold-Medal Worthy Event

Becoming an Olympic athlete requires much more than excellence in a certain sport. It takes a strong, resilient mindset to overcome injury and failure, strategic long-term vision and expertise in setting and achieving goals. You can bet your bottom dollar that along with the dizzying heights of success, these champion athletes have also overcome extreme adversity to reach the pinnacle of their careers – so how did they do it?

Get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it to the very top. These 5 Winter Olympians are no strangers to enthralling big crowds, and each would make a perfect addition to your next event line-up.

Lydia Lassila

Lydia’s insight into winning, goal mapping, striving for excellence, decision making, risk management and overcoming adversity is both captivating and inspiring.

Lydia has represented Australia in four Olympic Games, courageously returning from serious injury to win gold and bronze medals, capturing the hearts of a global audience in the process. She currently holds three world records, including the history-making quad twisting triple somersault that landed her in the record books as the first woman ever to accomplish the feat.

Lydia has won the Don Award, Athlete of the Year, Snowboard Athlete of the year and in 2012 was awarded an Order of Australia medal. Off the slopes, Lydia runs a successful business, has authored two books and is a mother to two boys… not a lot of down time in the Lassila household! Read more about Lydia here.

Steven Bradbury

The lasting impression you get from this genuinely entertaining Gold Medallist is that much of the prize is in the journey, and that success takes passion, persistence and teamwork.

One of the world’s most colourful Olympic Champions, Steven Bradbury created history when he won the Southern Hemisphere’s first ever Winter Olympic gold medal. He also won fans the world over for the honesty and humility he showed after his unexpected speed skating win.

Steve overcame serious injury in his journey to the top, including a race accident that required 111 stitches and a training mishap in 2000 that resulted in a broken neck. Perseverance and hard work had that same neck displaying an Olympic gold medal just 18 months later! Steve received ‘The Don Award’ for Australia’s best sporting performance in 2002, and in 2007 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to Australian Sport.

Steve is one of Australia’s most in-demand and entertaining speakers, having presented at over 650 conference and events in 14 countries over the last 10 years, receiving wonderful feedback from clients. Read more about Steve here.

Alisa Camplin

Australia’s first female Winter Olympic Gold Medallist, Alisa is a passionate high-performance mental health advocate, as well as respected leader in business, sports administration and corporate governance.

In 2002, Aerial Freestyle Skier Alisa Camplin became the first female Australian to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. She’s a tough competitor who broke nearly every bone in her body on her way to winning back-to-back Olympic medals in world-record-breaking style, and her courageous story is one of inspiration, adversity and determination. Alisa received the personal honour in 2007 of being awarded the Order of Australia Medal and became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2018.

With over two decades of accomplishments as a global corporate executive under her belt, Alisa teaches practical solutions and small changes that can lead to positive sustainable outcomes. Her powerful presentation covers mindset, resilience, goal setting, high-performance, mental wellbeing and sustained success, and is relevant to both personal and professional life. Read more about Alisa here.

Jess Gallagher

Jess was the first Australian athlete – Olympic or Paralympic – to medal at both a Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Her story is one of perspective, trust and creating a positive, empowered mindset to achieve goals.

Jess Gallagher began to lose her sight at the age of 17 due to a rare, degenerative eye disease. Letting go of her dream to become a professional netballer, Jess discovered the world of Paralympic sports and learnt to put her life into perspective. She also learnt the importance of trust – it’s a pretty handy skill to have when you’re hurtling down a mountain at over 100km/hour, with someone else acting as your sight!

Jess became Australia’s first female winter Paralympic medallist at the 2010 Paralympic Games, and has since created history by going on to medal at both summer and winter Paralympics.

As a high-performance athlete in the dangerous world of Alpine Skiing, Jess shares the practical ways she shaped her risk appetite and turned fear into a must-have component of her performances, mindset and skill. She gives audiences tips and tools to create positive and sustainable habits to live their best life, and she does it with rare style. Read more about Jess here.

Jacqui Cooper

Jacqui is the greatest aerial skier of all time. Her story is one of self-belief, passion, the ability to overcome adversity and the strength of the human spirit. Your lasting impression will be that “success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Jacqui Cooper represented Australia in the sport of aerial skiing for over 20 years, dominating and revolutionising the sporting world. She competed in 139 World Cup Events, nine World Championships and was selected to five Winter Olympic teams – the first Australian Woman in history to have enjoyed this honour. With a record five world titles, 39 World Cup medals, 25 World Cup wins and three major World Championship medals to her name, Jacqui is indisputably the greatest aerial skier of all time.

Overcoming numerous serious injuries, including multiple reconstructions of her knee, elbow, shoulder and hip and a broken back sustained during a stunning World Title win, Jacqui’s career was marked by triumph, tragedy and sheer determination. She spent twenty years planning, learning, failing, overcoming adversity, developing, reinventing, striving and succeeding, and now she shares her incredible knowledge and experience with audiences around the world.

Outside of sport, Jacqui also found the time to start her own successful company, write two books based on her experiences with IVF and create a range of gluten-free products inspired by her daughter’s Coeliac diagnosis. Her journey is unique, and her story will leave you mesmerised. Read more about Jacqui here.
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All of these Olympic athletes are captivating motivational speakers, passionate about sharing their stories and inspiring others to succeed. If you’d like to engage any of them to bring out the inner champions in your team or audience, get in touch with us for a chat.

February 10, 2022August 8, 2022

Rosie Batty to Host One Plus One Interview Series on ABC TV

Rosie Batty is the epitome of the ‘accidental leader’. When her 11-year-old son Luke tragically lost his life at the hands of his father, Rosie became a tireless and inspirational crusader against domestic violence, turning her personal tragedy into a fight to help others. Now, Rosie will host a special eight-part series of One Plus One on ABC TV, speaking with other accidental leaders who have unexpectedly forged new paths inspiring others.

Rosie’s story is well known, with her courageous campaigning against domestic violence earning her the title of Australian of the Year, as well as the Pride of Australia National Courage medal and Order of Australia honours. Her relentless dedication has also seen her inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women and named by Fortune Magazine as one of the world’s top 50 greatest leaders.

Rosie’s journey from abuse victim to high-profile leader, along with her empathetic and engaging speaking style, makes her a captivating motivational speaker. It also makes her the perfect person to host the upcoming series of the popular ABC NEWS interview program.

“With the death of my son Luke I never set out to be so widely known in Australia and I realised that my story has been an inspiration for others,” says Rosie. “Mine is just one story and there are so many other inspiring and courageous people who never sought the limelight or to have a public profile. I wanted to hear more about their stories and what impact it’s had on their lives – the good and the bad.”

Rosie will interview accidental leaders from a variety of fields in the forthcoming series of One Plus One, including self-deprecating comedian Hannah Gadsby, Dr. Richard Harris, known for his heroic involvement in the Thai Cave rescue, writer and artist Amani Haydar, cook and food writer Stephanie Alexander, performer and domestic violence campaigner Russell Vickery, gun control advocate Walter Mikac, plus more.

Annie White, Editor of ABC NEWS channel Programs, says of their new host, “We are very honoured to have Rosie join the One Plus One family – she has all the skills of a great interviewer, with empathy and curiosity in spades. Her conversations with others who found themselves in unexpected leadership roles bring new insight and understanding.”

We look forward to tuning in to ABC on Thursday February 24 to watch Rosie’s TV hosting debut, and learning more about the fascinating accidental leaders who have risen to prominence in the most surprising of ways.

If you’d like to engage Rosie Batty to share her inspirational journey to accidental leadership with your team, get in touch with us for a chat. We also have many more trailblazing women we can introduce you to, all with incredible stories to tell – perfect for your International Women’s Day 2022 event if you’re yet to secure a speaker!

December 12, 2021August 8, 2022

2022: The Great Reset

In April 2021, a study of more than 30,000 workers worldwide revealed 41% were considering changing professions or quitting in the coming year. Welcome to the Great Resignation, where the end goal of greener pastures applies as much to life in general as it does to the workplace. After two years of pandemic pandemonium, it seems the power has shifted to the people, and a deflated and exhausted population is ready to press the reset button. And for businesses to thrive in this Great Reset, they’ll need to follow suit.

In the wake of the pandemic, workers are re-evaluating their purpose, their goals and their aspirations and are making the most of the opportunity to strike a better life balance. The Great Reset is all about feeling valued, finding meaning and connection, making a conscious effort not to automatically default back to business as usual. The change train is in motion, and businesses can either get on board or get left behind.

Some of the trends shaping the Great Reset include:

A proactive and dedicated focus on employee wellbeing and health
Formalisation of hybrid workplaces and flexible workspaces
A shift to hiring for skills and capabilities rather than roles, and a focus on internal mobility, reskilling and upskilling of existing employees
An emphasis on the employee experience and creating a compelling employee value proposition, with a focus on connection, socialisation and collaboration
A commitment to building a sustainable future and creating a purpose-led organisation that employees can connect to
Creation and nurturing of diverse and inclusive teams
Greater accountability and monitoring for businesses, leaders and employees attached to remote and flexible teams.

It’s time for businesses to take stock of the current landscape and all the lessons learned over the last couple of years and recalibrate to a new normal. We’ll continue to face challenges and opportunities, but putting people centre stage, empowering their productivity, allowing them to reconnect to each other and the company they work for is the key to harnessing the potential of the Great Reset. As Winston Churchill once said, “Don’t let a good crisis go to waste”.

We have some of the best minds in the business ready to help your team get set for the Great Reset – the perfect theme for your 2022 kick-off event! From rebuilding company culture to embracing change, these keynote speakers are experts in their fields, and their entertaining presentations are guaranteed to captivate.

Dr Jess Gallagher: Are you Ready? It’s not what you see, it’s how you choose to see it.

Anthony Laye: How to Take Action, Create Your Story and Master Your Story.

Turia Pitt : Surviving against overwhelming odds and rebuilding her life to defy every expectation placed on her.

Gilbert Enoka: Getting the team back together and moving forward as one with a simple set of values.

Dr Louise Mahler : Break the habits that undermine your confidence and clarity.

Margie Warrell: Change, even change for the better, is always uncomfortable.

Dan Gregory : Rethink the normal; How To Make Smart People People Smart.

Kurt Fearnley : Someone who will never stop. Someone who will never give up. Ever.

Christian Boo: Mastering your communication and achieving perfect execution.

Michael Licenblat : Galvanising your team and building trust, loyalty and engagement.

Claire Madden : Understanding our times is key in our strategy to respond.

Lisa McInnes Smith: Most people are far more capable than you think, they just need a reason to take action.

Georgia Murch : Moving in the same direction, sharing the same vision and working as one.

Michael McQueen: The future success and survival of your organisation rests on the ability to anticipate, prepare for and pre-empt disruption.

Andrew May: Embrace constant change and lead with optimism, positivity and clarity.

If you’d like an introduction to any of these presenters, or would like to engage any of our other motivational speakers to talk to your team about harnessing the opportunities that lie ahead, get in touch with us for a chat!

November 29, 2021August 8, 2022

Meet the Incredible Women Blazing Trails for Future Generations

A quick Google search defines a trailblazer as a pioneer, or someone who blazes a trail to guide others. History books are full of incredible stories of trailblazing women, relentless visionaries who bravely challenged the status quo to forge a new path in their field – from activists, artists and discoverers to leaders, athletes and performers. Think Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Florence Nightingale, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rosa Parks, Jeanne Baret and Grace Hopper, just to name a few.

Luckily for us, there are some truly inspirational modern-day women blazing some pretty epic trails too. Remarkable women who are strong, determined, courageous and resilient, whose captivating stories will provide inspiration to generations of women to come. These women have stories worth telling, and we’d love to introduce you to some of our favourites…

International Women's Day 2022 On 8th March 2022, we celebrate International Women’s Day, tackling prejudice with the theme #BreakTheBias. Every single one of our incredible Women in Business speakers, all trailblazers in their own right, would make a powerful addition to your event line-up – get in touch if you’d like us to connect you!

November 29, 2021March 6, 2022

International Women’s Day 2022: It’s Time to ‘Break the Bias’

On 8th March 2022 we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), facing prejudice head on in our efforts to #BreakTheBias.

For decades, women have been dedicating their lives to creating an equal world. A world that is diverse and inclusive. A world free of bias, stereotype and discrimination. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Now it’s time to do your part to #BreakTheBias. Planning for your International Women’s Day event starts now!

Let us connect you with some of the most inspiring women you’re ever likely to meet. Women with an unwavering commitment to breaking the bias, whose enthralling stories of resilience, determination and empowerment are guaranteed to captivate your audience.

Here are just a few of the remarkable women we can introduce you to…

Anyier Yuol

Born in a Kenyan refugee camp, Anyier is an inspiring entrepreneur who is passionate about improving the representation of minority groups through the sport, beauty and fashion industries.

Elizabeth Broderick

As Australia’s longest serving Sex Discrimination Commissioner and respected United Nations adviser, Elizabeth has worked tirelessly to break down structural and social barriers faced by women and men.

Karla Grant

Karla has spent the last 16 years presenting and producing Living Black, Australia’s longest-running Indigenous current affairs tv program, fulfilling her lifelong commitment to giving Indigenous people a voice.

Tasneem Chopra, OAM

A prominent activist with a passion for addressing social justice issues, Tasneem was named the inaugural 2021 Ambassador for Women of Colour, as well as the Anti-Racism Champion by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Penelope Twemlow

Penelope is a true leader of people and operations, passionate about and actively supporting various agencies working in the equity and diversity, domestic violence, mental health and homelessness arenas.

Anoushka Gungadin

As an experienced CEO, Board Director, global entrepreneur and author, Anoushka believes that leveraging the diversity of people, culture, perspective and skill in business is the key to solving major economic and social issues.

Chelsea Roffey

Chelsea is a speaker, author, researcher and Winston Churchill Fellow who has travelled the globe examining the barriers and opportunities of diversity. Pioneering the role of women in a non-traditional domain, she was also the first woman to umpire an AFL Grand Final!

Kemi Nekvapil

Having spent her entire childhood in foster care, Kemi uses her experience of disempowerment to inspire others to fulfil their own potential and live their best life.

As we celebrate the incredible achievements of these wonderful women, we also applaud other extraordinary female trailblazers genuinely committed to breaking the bias. Each of these female motivational speakers have powerful stories to tell, and would make a wonderful addition to your IWD event line-up.

Our team here at Keynote is waiting to hear from you – get in touch with us today!

Jana Pittman	Rosie Batty AO	Dr Jessica Gallagher	Turia Pitt
Jessica Fox	Magda Szubanski	Tayla Harris	Libby Trickett
Grace Tame	Dr Bronwyn King	Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Young	Ariarne Titmus
Gill Hicks	Cathy Freeman	Mia Freedman	Rachel Robertson
Clare Bowditch	Shaynna Blaze	Sophie Delezio	Abigail Forsyth
Anna Rose	Moana Hope	Mia Freedman	Lauren Burns
Tiffiny Hall	Elaine Jobson	Emma Murray	Brooke Boney
Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Young	Jessica Watson	Karni Lidell	Sally Pearson
Grace Brennan	Tania Major	Liz Volpe	Sharon Bown
Shelley Ware	JJ Ferrari	Fabian Dattner