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Olympic gold medallist & speaker

Helen Richardson-Walsh

Transform team performance with Helen Richardson-Walsh, speaker and Olympic gold medallist. Helen works with organisations to build resilience, enhance leadership, and promote diversity, delivering insights from her psychology background and decorated international hockey career.

Trusted by Toptal, Roche, BT

Helen Richardson-Walsh

Speaker Biography

Key topics about

  • Gold Medalist at Rio 2016 Olympics with GB Women's Hockey Team
  • First same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together
  • Awarded MBE for contributions to hockey
Helen Richardson-Walsh, a renowned midfielder, began her international hockey career for Great Britain (GB) in 1999 at 17, quickly making her Olympic debut in 2000. She played a pivotal role in the GB women's team's success, participating in four Olympics and winning gold in Rio 2016. Helen's illustrious career includes a Commonwealth bronze, two silvers, a bronze at London 2012, and a European Championship in 2015. Helen and her wife, Kate Richardson-Walsh, also made history as the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together. Despite facing career-threatening injuries, including back surgeries and ankle procedures, she overcame these challenges and depression, returning to lead the GB team to victory. After nearly 300 international appearances and an MBE award for her contributions to hockey, Helen now plays at club level in the UK. She is an ambassador for several organisations, holds a psychology degree, and has a master's in Organisational Psychology. In 2021, she joined Tottenham Hotspur Women as a Performance Psychologist.

Helen's Showreel and Videos

Topics, Sessions and Talks

Belonging Boosts Performance: Inclusion’s Impact in High-Pressure Settings
Helen Richardson-Walsh, one half of the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic gold, shares her journey of inclusion in elite sports. She emphasizes the importance of psychological safety and belonging in unlocking both individual potential and team cohesion. By embracing her authentic self, Helen thrived alongside her teammates. Attendees will learn practical strategies for fostering inclusive cultures that empower individuals, celebrate diversity, and enhance overall performance in their organizations.
The Inner Game: Mental Tools from Elite Sport
Helen Richardson-Walsh, an Olympic gold medalist, shares her experience of performing under extreme pressure. Through compelling stories and insights from sport psychology, she presents effective mental strategies utilized by elite athletes. Attendees will gain practical tools to maintain composure, adapt to challenges, and excel when it counts. This talk is designed for anyone eager to elevate their performance, unlock their potential, and cultivate sustainable high performance in high-pressure situations.
Winning Together: How to Win as People and Teams
Helen Richardson-Walsh highlights that a consistently high-performing team is built on its members. She explains that an empowered culture, aligned with a shared vision and values, drives both individual and collective success. By valuing each member's role, teams can collaboratively define their culture. Helen will share effective processes and psychological tools to improve self-awareness and team dynamics. Attendees will learn how to unlock their team's potential, ensuring consistent performance and leveraging strengths for collective success.
Strong Enough to Struggle
Helen Richardson-Walsh shares her personal journey of overcoming mental health challenges after career-threatening injuries in her keynote. She emphasizes that true resilience involves recognizing difficulties, cultivating healthy habits, and seeking support rather than merely pushing through. Attendees will gain practical tools and insights to protect well-being in high-pressure environments, fostering a culture of safety and support that enables individuals and teams to perform at their best.

Why We Recommend Booking Helen

Helen's journey from overcoming career-threatening injuries to Olympic gold showcases unparalleled resilience and determination, making her an inspiring figure for any team or business. Her experience in high-pressure environments, both on the field and in her role as a Performance Psychologist, provides invaluable insights into team dynamics and mental toughness. Booking Helen as a speaker will not only motivate your team but also equip them with practical strategies for achieving excellence, regardless of the challenges they face.

Check Helen's availability

Trusted by Toptal, Roche, BT

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frequently asked questions

Got Questions About Booking a Speaker?

What topics does Helen Richardson-Walsh specialise in?
Helen Richardson-Walsh specialises in discussing hockey, psychology, performance psychology and more.
What is Helen Richardson-Walsh's speaking style like?
Helen delivers inspiring, authentic sessions that energise teams. Her storytelling, Olympic experience, and engaging style foster reflection, motivation, and genuine connection, leaving audiences empowered and ready to tackle challenges.
Does Helen Richardson-Walsh offer virtual speaking engagements?
Yes, Helen Richardson-Walsh offers virtual speaker bookings for webinars, online conferences, and remote or distributed team engagements.
Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

Can I request autographs, personal greetings, signed merchandise, or fan mail from the speakers?

Sorry, we do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, or any non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.

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