Available to book
Boost leadership resilience with Sarah Furness, speaker and combat helicopter pilot. Sarah works with organisations to develop high-performance under pressure, resilience skills, and courageous leadership, delivering battlefield-tested insights from her pioneering RAF career and bestselling books.
Sarah Furness, after completing her studies at Cambridge University, pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a combat helicopter pilot in the RAF. Rising to the rank of Squadron Leader, she took charge of operational combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, where she achieved the remarkable feat of being the first female helicopter pilot to fly and lead UK Special Forces missions in Iraq.
Sarah made two significant discoveries while on the battlefield and at home. First, she realised that resilience and exceptional performance under pressure are not innate qualities but skills that can be developed. Second, she observed that humans possess an extraordinary capacity to excel and lead when faced with intense pressure as long as they possess the necessary knowledge and tools.
Now, as a keynote speaker, Sarah has dedicated herself to a singular mission - to unveil the secret behind outstanding resilience, high-performance, and courage in adversity. She aims to share this invaluable knowledge with others, empowering them to thrive even in the most challenging circumstances.
Sarah’s bestselling books, Fly Higher and The Uni-Tasking Revolution, delve into practical techniques for achieving peak mental performance and building strong leadership skills. Fluent in “alpha male” environments, Sarah brings a relatable, grounded approach to her work, which is both inspiring and impactful.
Topics, sessions and talks
In her talk, Sarah Furness discusses how our team's performance under pressure reflects training rather than character. She challenges the myth of multitasking, highlighting its detrimental effects on performance and stress levels. Attendees will learn to prioritise by focusing on one task at a time, collaborate effectively to avoid duplication, and adopt rigorous training to make behaviours automatic. These strategies lead to greater productivity, improved decision-making, fewer errors, and reduced burnout, ultimately enhancing overall performance.
Individuals do not require constant supervision; instead, they must learn to trust themselves in order to build their resilience. In this session, Sarah Furness shares the secrets to building internal strength and self-trust by helping teams understand how to take ownership of their choices.
In this talk, Sarah Furness challenges the notion of imposter syndrome, suggesting it is a natural part of the human experience that can help us recognise knowledge gaps and unique strengths. She emphasises that mistakes should be viewed as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. By embracing our errors and fostering a culture of brave behaviours, organisations can enhance creativity, confidence, and collective intelligence. Attendees will learn how to cultivate a growth mindset and improve the success of change initiatives.
Sarah Furness argues that true psychological safety requires bravery, encouraging leaders to leverage it for more intuitive and emotionally intelligent leadership. By asking "brave questions" and embracing challenges, leaders can transform groupthink into collective intelligence. Attendees will learn how to foster greater team cohesion, trust, and authentic leadership, ultimately boosting self-confidence within their teams.
As a speaker, Sarah offers your team insights into building resilience and excelling under pressure. Her unique experiences leading in extreme conditions will inspire and equip your team with practical tools for outstanding performance, fostering a culture of courage, leadership, and adaptability in your business environment.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Sarah Furness, email sarah.furness@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Sarah's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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