Will Greenwood is renowned for his ability to thrive in high-pressure and fiercely competitive environments. Beginning his career in London City's trading floor, Greenwood's determination and skill propelled him to become the second-highest try scorer in English rugby history. His pivotal role in leading England to victory at the Rugby World Cup in 2003 solidified his reputation as one of the country's greatest rugby players, known for his engaging, intelligent, and entertaining personality. One impressive feat in Greenwood's career was securing three man-of-the-match performances in a single Six Nations tournament, contributing to victories over Scotland, Wales, and Italy in 2002. His exceptional performance continued in the 2003 World Cup, where he finished as the joint-top try scorer with five tries. In 2005, Greenwood reached the pinnacle of his career by earning his first Test caps for the British & Irish Lions during their tour of New Zealand. Remarkably, he toured three times with the Lions, in 1997, 2001, and 2005. Throughout his 11-year professional rugby career, Greenwood displayed unwavering dedication, combining a strong work ethic with a relentless pursuit of personal growth and improvement.
Despite grappling with injuries, occasional self-doubt, and personal tragedy, his unwavering focus, determination, and perseverance propelled him to the top of both national and international rugby. Off the pitch, Greenwood's focus and drive have remained undiminished. Renowned for his intelligence and eloquence, he was recruited by Sky as a regular match day presenter, where he has worked for 16 years. During his time with Sky, Greenwood spearheaded the top-rated "School of Hard Knocks" series, which allowed at-risk youngsters to excel and develop through sport. Additionally, he has been a regular columnist for the Saturday Telegraph for the past 17 years, sharing his insights and opinions. Greenwood has also authored three books, including his latest work, "World Class," which delves into the themes of diversity, unity, and personal growth. Furthermore, Greenwood has proven his business acumen as a successful entrepreneur. In November 2020, he assumed the role of Chief Customer Officer at Afiniti, a data and software company specializing in artificial intelligence. Afiniti empowers organizations to engage in meaningful conversations with their customers through data and AI.
Beyond his sporting and professional achievements, Greenwood serves as a Patron for Borne, a charity dedicated to researching premature birth. Borne's mission is to eradicate premature birth globally and improve the lives of both mothers and babies. Greenwood has demonstrated his commitment to this cause through remarkable feats such as mountain climbing, country-crossing endeavours, and even reaching the North Pole. In summary, Will Greenwood's illustrious career as a rugby player, media personality, author, and successful businessman exemplifies his unwavering dedication, resilience, and passion for excellence. Alongside his professional pursuits, he remains deeply committed to charitable endeavours, using his platform to impact society positively.
In the modern era of professional sport, few can draw on experience in both business and sports. Will Greenwood's career as a trader at HSBC before committing to professional rugby has given him an unusual insight into themes that permeate both fields. The perfect storm of leadership, discipline, motivation and teamwork that led England to World Cup victory in 2003 provides an inspirational demonstration of what it takes to achieve peak performance for a sustained period. A complete change in mindset and behaviours opened the door to a performance gear change.
Will Greenwood discusses leadership, focusing on creating a vision, fostering a supportive environment, and eliminating obstacles to achieve team success.
Professional rugby players, having spent much of their careers in team sports, from clubs to national teams and even the Olympics, possess unique insights into the essence of teamwork. This experience allows them to articulate the importance of teamwork and its intricacies with a level of expertise few can match. The talk will explore what great teamwork means from the perspective of an athlete who has achieved winning results through effective collaboration. It will also offer strategies to cultivate a culture of teamwork within any organisation, drawing on lessons from the world of professional sports.
