In the spirit of manifesting a positive outcome, I am writing this feature to pre-empt an influx of enquiries on the back of the unforgettable England 2022 World Cup win.
During my three years at JLA, I have been privileged enough to listen to some of the finest names in football speak about their careers and found that there are many lessons from ‘the beautiful game’ which are wholly transferable to our corporate, and even personal, lives.
I have hand-picked a few of the fantastic sporting motivational speakers whose lessons had a particular impact on me. They’ve helped lead their teams through a gruelling tournament, inspired their fellow players to collaborate in ways that went against what they’d always known, or worked behind the scenes to push the players beyond what they previously thought was possible.
Gareth Southgate
The manager of the England mens football team, and a former player himself, Gareth has been credited with building a team that defied expectations and embodied a culture of teamwork, humility and resolve. In speeches he talks about finding the balance between praise and constructive criticism, and sharing (not hoarding) responsibilities with those perhaps more qualified in his team. He shares the importance of diversity of thought to keep approaches fresh and analytical, and of cultivating a diverse team that is united in their goals, both on and off the pitch. Gareth is a man with lessons that even your C-Suite team can learn from.
For more information on Gareth Southgate please contact your JLA agent.
Alex Scott
As an ex-Arsenal captain, England Women’s National team player and now one of the premier faces of sports broadcasting, Alex Scott has a wealth of experience to draw upon. Her aptitude for hosting (demonstrated across her coverage of the Tokyo Olympics and The One Show) makes her the perfect candidate for your next awards emcee. Her positive energy and extensive experience with live broadcasting (and the unavoidable hiccups that come with it) make her a safe pair of hands for your annual celebration. Alongside hosting, Alex shines within a panel, able to speak about topics such as teamwork, Diversity & Inclusion, and achieving your potential in an environment full of peak performers.
View Alex Scott‘s speaker profile here.
Scotty Mills
Scotty Mills is best known as the highest-ranking black officer in Royal Marines history, but has also worked as an advisor to the FA, as well as guiding Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane and the England Football Team to help them reach the World Cup semi-final. An affable, energetic and approachable speaker, Scotty shares his lessons of leadership and resilience, inspiring audiences to overcome their limitations. He continues to work with the nation’s top sports teams to develop innovative leadership and team cohesion.
View Scotty Mills‘ speaker profile here.
Jill Ellis
I was lucky enough to hear Jill speak during the pandemic, and if you’re looking for experience of leading under great pressure, you’ve found an excellent speaker in Jill. For context, Jill Ellis led the United States Women’s National Soccer Team to historic back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles, even after several senior players levelled a complaint about her to the US Soccer President. Though she retained her position and went on to support the USWNT through 39 wins, five draws, and only one loss, the lessons she learned in personal resilience were hard won.
Throughout her leadership, Ellis embarked on a campaign of innovation and creativity. Her approach to trialling new formations in each game they played led to a great many losses on the pitch, but her determination, experimentation and coaching skill turned an attempted player coup into an .867 winning percentage, a shining example of the importance of consistent innovation and experimentation.
For more information on Jill Ellis please contact your JLA agent.
Jill Scott
As one of England’s most decorated players, and having fought through over 150 caps, Jill Scott can speak with authority about her experience of great change, and its potential to yield spectacular results. Her career with the Lionesses (which has spanned 16 years) has provided her with lessons on topics from overcoming adversity to keeping your cool when the stakes are ‘Euros Final’ high!
View Jill Scott’s speaker profile here.
Eniola Aluko
Eniola is well known for her impressive career in football (double-FA Women’s Cup winner, three-time Premier/Super League champion, key figure in the London 2012 TeamGB squad), but perhaps even more high profile for her impressive work off the pitch, as a qualified lawyer, UN Women UK ambassador and one of the leading voices in revealing ingrained racism and discrimination within the England coaching set up as well as issues in the wider FA.
Eniola speaks about encouraging high performance through a positive culture that supports it as well as the important lessons all organisations can learn from the experiences of the England set up.
View Eniola Aluko‘s speaker profile here.
Leah Williamson
Captain of the England Women’s National team who did indeed bring it home, Leah Williamson is the kind of high-achieving leading-through-pressure speaker anyone would benefit hearing from. She speaks on topics ranging from teamwork, leadership and adapting to fast-paced change, to mental health and championing women and diversity in a field once associated exclusively with men.
View Leah Williamson‘s speaker profile here.
Clarke Carlisle
A former footballer, former Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association and Ambassador to the “Kick it Out” campaign, Clarke has many strings to his bow. Offering a candid and honest discussion, Clarke’s powerful story of his struggles with mental health grounds the topic in an accessible way. It’s a story he has shared with many corporate audiences, particularly as the country began to wake up to the impact of isolation and the reality of mental health. He can also discuss his experience of racism throughout his career, and cover diversity and culture change in a game associated with hyper-masculine behaviour.
View Clarke Carlisle‘s speaker profile here.
This is just a smattering, so if you want to see more, please contact us to hear about the fantastic sporting speakers for your upcoming events.