Annabelle Williams captained the Australian Paralympic Swim Team and managed to balance her sporting career with a highly successful and demanding corporate career as a lawyer. Annabelle competed in two Paralympic Games, broke five world records and won numerous medals for Australia, including gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Annabelle was an M&A lawyer at top-tier law firm, Allens Linklaters, and in-house counsel for the Australian Olympic Committee. She is a strong advocate for the rights of athletes and, at the age of 24, was awarded with the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to sport. Annabelle is the Founder & CEO of “Grit & Gold”, a Director of Swimming Australia, a Member of the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal and International Cricket Council Code of Conduct Commission. She graduated from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she delivered the Valedictory Address and is a highly recognised and respected sports broadcaster, having most recently anchored Australia’s coverage of the Tokyo Paralympics and Birmingham Commonwealth Games, both of which won Logie Awards for most outstanding sports coverage.
Annabelle Williams is passionate about building belonging in the worlds leading workplaces and helping people and organisations to unlock a growth mindset, develop resilience, embrace diversity, inclusion, courage and kindness to unleash their full potential.
In a fun fact, Annabelle was briefly Charlize Theron’s stunt double in Mad Max 4: Fury Road!
One of the earliest lessons we learn as a child is the importance of being kind. Fast forward to our adult lives, it’s one of the first things we forget when we’re under pressure. Goals, deadlines, and everyday stressors can make us easily overlook the importance kindness plays in our lives.
Studies tell us that kindness triggers moral elevation (a positive emotion experienced when witnessing a virtuous act) and is highly contagious. So how can we leverage that to fuel growth for ourselves and those around us? Better yet, how do organizations inspire a culture of kindness?
Annabelle is a perfect example of a life defined by the courage and kindness of ‘everyday superheroes’. She has been the beneficiary of regular acts of kindness from a huge number of people – even strangers. Annabelle teaches us how giving and receiving simple acts of kindness can empower us and create a path to achieve our full potential.
Key Takeaways:
– Identify blind spots that may be preventing a culture of empathy and kindness.
– Understand how kindness is crucial to business success.
– Develop strategies to become more courageous and uplift those around you.
Let’s face it, there is a big difference between someone who sees a challenge as an opportunity and someone who views a challenge as a roadblock. Having a growth mindset means believing that our abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
So how do you transform the perceptions of those who weren’t born with an innate ability to see possibilities and positive outcomes? How do you create and cultivate a love of learning and resilience in the face of adversity?
Growing up with a disability and training as an elite athlete has taught Annabelle that challenge equals opportunity. Through grit and determination she’s realized that anything is possible. Annabelle teaches us strategies to develop a winning mindset, including how to identify and leverage opportunities and how to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Key Takeaways:
– Learn to identify roadblocks and their source.
– Understand how to transform challenges into opportunities.
– Develop an empowered mindset – where you feel confident that you can achieve your goals.
The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means ‘bouncing back’ from difficult experiences.” It’s a lifelong skill that anyone can learn. So how can embracing an idea like inclusion build resilience in your organization? How can you create an environment of acceptance where everyone is focused on providing equal opportunities for success?
As an athlete, corporate lawyer, board director, sports administrator and broadcaster, Annabelle is a trailblazer… .
Key Takeaways:
– Learn how small changes in behavior can shift your mindset.
– Understand the true meaning of ‘inclusion’ and why it’s critical to an organization’s culture.
– Develop the skills necessary to overcome challenges and and thrive despite setbacks.
Annabelle believes that a story can go where quantitative analysis is denied admission: our hearts. Data can persuade people, but it doesn’t inspire them to act; to do that, you need to wrap your vision in a story that fires the imagination and stirs the soul. The best leaders are the best storytellers. As an international speaker and award winning broadcaster, Annabelle understands the power of connecting with audiences using energy, authenticity, humour and transparency to make them feel engaged and encouraged. She is a true believer in the power of storytelling to unite, inspire and motivate!
Are you hoping to feel comfortable, confident and excited talking to audiences large and small? Do you want to inspire your team to act? Do you need assistance wrapping your vision in a story that fires the imagination and stirs the soul? Do you hope to build a sense of belonging within your organization? Has your leadership reached a plateau? Are you looking to take company growth to a higher level? Annabelle will work with you to achieve goals like these – and more!
Drawing on Annabelle’s personal journey as an athlete, she will share her experience transitioning from an elite sports career to finding a new purpose in the corporate world. Annabelle will guide you through proven techniques to discover your true purpose and harness its extraordinary power. Learn how to wake up each day with unwavering motivation, align your personal passions with your business endeavours, and build a high-performing team that thrives. Through captivating stories and expert insights, Annabelle will equip you with the tools to inspire and motivate others, creating a dynamic work environment that fuels success.
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