Available to book
Helen Richardson-Walsh
LGBTQ+
High Performance
Growth Mindset
Helen Richardson-Walsh played international hockey for Great Britain across four Olympics, winning gold at Rio 2016 and earning an MBE for her contributions to the sport. A qualified Performance Psychologist, she speaks on resilience, mental health, and overcoming setbacks.
After Dinner Sports
Sports Psychologist
Olympian
Sport
IDAHOBIT
After Dinner Speakers
Helen Richardson-Walsh, a renowned midfielder, began her international hockey career for Great Britain (GB) in 1999 at 17, quickly making her Olympic debut in 2000. She played a pivotal role in the GB women's team's success, participating in four Olympics and winning gold in Rio 2016.
Helen's illustrious career includes a Commonwealth bronze, two silvers, a bronze at London 2012, and a European Championship in 2015. Helen and her wife, Kate Richardson-Walsh, also made history as the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together.
Despite facing career-threatening injuries, including back surgeries and ankle procedures, she overcame these challenges and depression, returning to lead the GB team to victory. After nearly 300 international appearances and an MBE award for her contributions to hockey, Helen now plays at club level in the UK. She is an ambassador for several organisations, holds a psychology degree, and has a master's in Organisational Psychology. She previously worked as a Performance Psychologist for Tottenham Hotspur Women, and now holds sport psychology roles with England Rugby, England and Great Britain Hockey, and British Lacrosse, alongside co-founding performance consultancy Be Create Inspire.
Topics, sessions and talks
Helen Richardson-Walsh, one half of the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic gold, shares her journey of inclusion in elite sports. She emphasizes the importance of psychological safety and belonging in unlocking both individual potential and team cohesion. By embracing her authentic self, Helen thrived alongside her teammates. Attendees will learn practical strategies for fostering inclusive cultures that empower individuals, celebrate diversity, and enhance overall performance in their organizations.
Helen Richardson-Walsh, an Olympic gold medalist, shares her experience of performing under extreme pressure. Through compelling stories and insights from sport psychology, she presents effective mental strategies utilized by elite athletes. Attendees will gain practical tools to maintain composure, adapt to challenges, and excel when it counts. This talk is designed for anyone eager to elevate their performance, unlock their potential, and cultivate sustainable high performance in high-pressure situations.
Helen Richardson-Walsh highlights that a consistently high-performing team is built on its members. She explains that an empowered culture, aligned with a shared vision and values, drives both individual and collective success. By valuing each member's role, teams can collaboratively define their culture. Helen will share effective processes and psychological tools to improve self-awareness and team dynamics. Attendees will learn how to unlock their team's potential, ensuring consistent performance and leveraging strengths for collective success.
Helen Richardson-Walsh shares her personal journey of overcoming mental health challenges after career-threatening injuries in her keynote. She emphasizes that true resilience involves recognizing difficulties, cultivating healthy habits, and seeking support rather than merely pushing through. Attendees will gain practical tools and insights to protect well-being in high-pressure environments, fostering a culture of safety and support that enables individuals and teams to perform at their best.
Helen's journey from overcoming career-threatening injuries to Olympic gold showcases unparalleled resilience and determination, making her an inspiring figure for any team or business. Her experience in high-pressure environments, both on the field and in her role as a Performance Psychologist, provides invaluable insights into team dynamics and mental toughness. Booking Helen as a speaker will not only motivate your team but also equip them with practical strategies for achieving excellence, regardless of the challenges they face.
Testimonials
Featured Projects
often considered together
Kate Richardson-Walsh
Team Building
High Performance
Transformational Leadership
Nicola Adams
Resilience
Diversity and Inclusion
Olympics
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email helen.richardson.walsh.mbe@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 Helen's availability and fees. 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 a bit about your audience.
Helen Richardson-Walsh draws on her background in organisational psychology and sport psychology to frame talks around evidence-based mental strategies and psychological tools, grounding practical frameworks in her own experience of elite competition and recovery from career-threatening injury.
Helen Richardson-Walsh MBE speaks on inclusion and belonging in high-pressure environments, mental performance tools drawn from sport psychology, and team culture and cohesion. She is an Olympic gold medallist, having won with the GB women's hockey team at Rio 2016 as part of the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together.
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