Kate Richardson-Walsh OLY, MBE, former captain of the GB and England women's hockey teams for 13 years, led her teams with solid leadership, culminating in an Olympic gold medal win at the Rio Olympic Games alongside teammates Helen Richardson-Walsh and Sam Quek. Today, as a motivational speaker, she is here to unlock your team's performance with her award-winning approach, honed both on and off the field.
Following a disappointing performance at the 2014 World Cup, where the team finished 11th, a focused effort was made to rebuild the team's culture. Kate developed a plan that fostered positive behaviour, a shared sense of purpose, and a distributed leadership model to maintain these values. The victory in Rio was significant for the team and a notable personal achievement. It was also a significant moment for inclusion, as Kate and her wife Helen Richardson-Walsh became part of the first same-sex married couple to win an Olympic medal together.
Kate is the most capped female hockey player in GB history, with her career spanning over 17 years and including more than 370 appearances for her country. Her achievements include a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, a gold medal at Rio 2016, her fourth Olympic Games, and numerous accolades such as being shortlisted for the FIH World Player of the Year Award, winning GB Hockey’s Athlete of the Year, the Hockey Writers’ Player of the Year twice, and receiving an OBE for services to hockey and sport in 2017. Kate was also a nominee for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2016.
After retiring from international hockey, Kate has focused on coaching, promoting grassroots development, and leveraging her extensive experience in leadership, teamwork, and performance. She is an ambassador for the Women’s Sport Trust and Access Sport, supporting disability hockey, and is involved with the British and European Olympic Athlete’s Commissions. With her wife Helen, Kate also coauthored the bestselling book Winning Together: An Olympic-winning Approach to Building Better Teams, described as “Powerful … Essential reading for anyone that’s part of a team” by Matthew Syed.
Kate Richardson-Walsh's story is one of resilience, leadership, diversity, and the power of a unified team ethos. In her speaking engagements, she champions the need for flexible leadership, inclusion, and the lessons of high-performance sports from her hockey days. Kate’s talks also blend personal experiences of leadership, team building, and goal setting. As a female leader who reached the pinnacle of her career, she also speaks passionately about equality of opportunity for women and advocates for greater flexibility in how we view leadership.
Kate is a fantastic choice if you need a motivational keynote speaker, an experienced conference host, or someone to deliver Q&As or give an after-dinner speech at your next team event. Contact PepTalk today to enquire about Kate's speaking fees and availability.
High-Performance Leadership Workshop
Book Kate's new workshop, High Performance: The Winning Leadership Formula, exclusively at PepTalk. In this 90-minute workshop led by Olympian Kate Richardson-Walsh, OBE, with support from an experienced facilitator, your leadership teams will explore the keys to creating a culture where teams thrive, and high performance is not just expected but the norm.
As captain of the England and GB women’s hockey teams for 13 years and an international player for 17, Kate was an integral part of the GB Women’s hockey squad, unanimously voted in her by her teammates for her ability to lead by example, nurture talent and bring the best out of people. In this talk, Kate shares her personal experiences of leadership, team building, goal setting and high performance anyone can take and put into action in their own teams.
Kate Richardson-Walsh speaks passionately about equality of opportunity for women and the need for flexibility in leadership styles. She admits her early leadership attempts were underwhelming until she found her unique style, emphasizing that "you need to see it to be it." Kate highlights the importance of diverse leadership in inspiring confidence in women. Married to her GB teammate Helen Richardson-Walsh since 2013, she describes hockey as her inclusive, accepting "safe space." Attendees will learn about the value of diverse, inclusive teams and the importance of authentic leadership.
This speech explores the inspiring journeys of athletes preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It focuses on their rigorous training, personal sacrifices, and the mental and physical resilience required to compete at the highest level, celebrating their dedication and the spirit of the Olympic Games.
In this PepTalk, attendees will learn the importance of fostering an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. This engaging keynote provides practical strategies for promoting acceptance and equality, highlighting the significance of Pride and #IDAHOBIT. Through inspiring stories and actionable insights, participants will gain tools to combat discrimination, support LGBTQ+ colleagues, and create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Celebrate the strength and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community and empower your team to be allies and advocates for equality.
