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Keynote SpeakerAnna Hemmings MBE OLY

2 x Olympian & 6 x World Champion, High Performance Coach infusing the business world with the secrets of sporting success

With a staggering eleven World and European Championship medals, 9 of them gold, Anna Hemmings is Britain’s most successful female marathon kayaker and is now a leading inspirational speaker on resilience and high performance. She is known for infusing the business world with the secrets of sporting success. By the... Read more

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Popular Talks by Anna Hemmings MBE OLY

  • Getting the Competitive Edge with the Winning Mindset

    Anna’s mission is to provide clients with the key skills and mindset required to succeed at the highest level. In this inspiring speech she reveals the thinking, methodology and techniques she used to become a world champion 6 times and how those strategies can be applied directly to the business…

  • Resilience: Success in the Face of Adversity

    Helping leaders and teams to build resilience in order to sustain high performance and deliver results in the face of pressure and adversity. Having had her own struggles and overcome adversity, performed under pressure in challenging environments and worked with resilient leaders Anna knows how to equip people with the…

  • Building World Class teams

    Anna didn’t compete in a traditional team sport but she didn’t reach the highest level on her own, she was part of a professional set up and team work  and collaboration was fundamental to her success. Anna won one of her 6 world titles in the doubles giving her first-hand experience…

  • The Resilient Leaders Toolkit

    The businesses who survive and thrive through periods of adversity and rapid change are the ones who have resilient leaders who drive them forward. Resilient leaders are more effective under pressure, have the ability to think clearly and strategically in the face of challenge and create opportunities for growth. Using…

Biography

With a staggering eleven World and European Championship medals, 9 of them gold, Anna Hemmings is Britain’s most successful female marathon kayaker and is now a leading inspirational speaker on resilience and high performance. She is known for infusing the business world with the secrets of sporting success.

By the age of 24, Anna had been World Champion 3 times and competed at the Olympic Games. In 2010 she was awarded an MBE for her services to sport. She achieved this success against all the odds. She was told by the British head coach that she was not big enough or strong enough to be a great kayaker. She proved him wrong. At the peak of her career, she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was told by medical experts she might never race again. She battled her way to full recovery and went on to win a further 3 world titles and compete at her second Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.

Anna has since become recognised as a specialist in the field of resilience and the psychology of high performance. She is an accredited Performance Coach and founded Beyond the Barriers high-performance training consultancy.

Anna has worked with CEO’s, senior leaders and middle management at companies including Deloitte, Unilever and Lloyds designing and delivering resilience, leadership and high performing teams programmes. She works globally with leaders and teams helping them develop the skills, attitudes and behaviours to deliver exceptional performance.

Anna’s unique combination of experience in elite sport combined with 12 years leading a successful business and working alongside senior leaders, gives her a broad understanding of the challenges that leaders and teams face and how to overcome them to deliver outstanding results.

Anna’s sporting achievements were recognised at the Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year Awards, where she won the 2005 Champions Award and then again in 2007 when she was voted BBC London Sports Personality of the Year.

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What clients say about Anna Hemmings MBE OLY

“We loved Anna’s insight into how to maintain a winning mindset in sport and business to stay at the top of your game every day. We'll certainly be looking to use Anna again and I'd highly recommend her to anyone else.” Spencer Gore, CEO, EMG-Health
“It was one of the best motivational talks translating high performance in sports into the business world that I’ve heard. We’re all going away with many wonderful insights and take-aways.” Emma Whitaker, Communications Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids
“We were looking for an event to showcase resilience and to give an empowering message to our employees – Anna’s virtual session wholeheartedly fulfilled this purpose. She shared her inspiring journey and brought a number of skills-based techniques and solutions to dealing with challenges and building resilience. This combination made the presentation highly engaging, meaningful and motivational!” Anna Kenton, Deloitte LLP
“Anna is a brilliant speaker – the audience was completely engaged, inspired and motivated – I was spellbound. The feedback from this event was the best I’ve ever had. Anna has the ability to tell a great story whilst making useful connections to personal and business issues. There were many thought provoking ideas generated and we’re still referring back to the lessons from her story several weeks after the event.” Naomi Climer, Vice President, Sony PSE
“Anna’s top tips for ‘Getting the Competitive Edge’, learned from a career in sport, are practical, relevant and directly applicable to any business. The Lego models are a great reminder of the personal and team learnings and commitments that we made to enable us to meet the challenges that 2020 holds.” Anna Achene, Revenue Planning Manger British Airways
“Anna’s session yesterday was fantastic and very inspirational. We have received excellent feedback from staff across our locations. Anna had the audience captivated, linked everything she learnt in sport into the business world which was great.” Avril Jenkins, Risk Function, RBS
“The team were totally blown away by Anna! The focus on the importance of mindset, ambitious goals and team work was inspirational for the team. Seeing how an Olympian athlete addresses the challenges we all face day to day opened everyone's minds to the power of mindset and team collaboration. I would definitely recommend Anna to any team who are looking to grow & improve performance!” Rhian Emnanuel, Retail Financial Services Director, Coutts Bank
“I very much appreciate how you led the keynote and workshop and the impact it had on my team - there was overwhelming positive feedback, and the way in which you connected your incredible achievements with some practical techniques and strategies very much resonated with the team. A big thank you for tailoring the session for us.” Vicky Woods, Managing Director, Nestle Nutrition
“One of the highlights of our event was a powerful keynote speech from Anna Hemmings! She shared her inspiring journey, emphasizing resilience, mental toughness, and the mindset needed to overcome challenges — lessons that resonate deeply in both sports and business leadership. Her insights and the framework she applies on what it takes to be a high performing organization were truly impactful and sparked great discussions amongst our guests. A very engaging and motivating talk.” Andrew Worsley-Tonks, Partner, Head of SAP EMEA Business Consulting, IBM
“It was one of the best motivational talks translating high performance in sports into the business world that I’ve heard. We are all going away with many wonderful insights and take-aways.” Emma Whitaker, Communications Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids
“A fantastically engaging and inspirational speaker! The event was for high-level execs at Danone and the audience loved her, her energy, and her messages. I really appreciated how she tailored the talk to the specific audience - studying up on our culture, strategy, goals, challenges (she really "did her homework"!). An absolute delight of a person and speaker, couldn't recommend her more!” Sabrina Gaber, Communications Manager, Danone

How to book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY as a keynote speaker

How do I book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY for a keynote speech?

You can book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Anna's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Anna Hemmings MBE OLY's speaking fees?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Anna tailored to your event.

What topics does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY speak about?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Anna to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Anna Hemmings MBE OLY available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY for events worldwide, subject to Anna's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Anna Hemmings MBE OLY is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Anna Hemmings MBE OLY?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Anna can accommodate.

Can Anna Hemmings MBE OLY tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Anna Hemmings MBE OLY on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Anna can offer.

What languages does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY present in?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Anna Hemmings MBE OLY a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Anna's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Anna Hemmings MBE OLY speak at?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Anna's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Anna Hemmings MBE OLY is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Anna Hemmings MBE OLY, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Anna's current availability for your dates.