Menu
Menu
Menu
Speaker fees:
Topics:
Derek Redmond, a talented athlete turned high-performance motivational coach, has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning the Olympics, European and World Championships, professional basketball, and performance management.
Formerly the Group Performance Director of Thomas International, the world’s largest psychometric assessment company operating in over 70 countries, Derek now thrives as a sought-after motivational keynote speaker. He focuses on diversity, inclusion, mental resilience, workforce motivation, and building high-performance teams. His story of overcoming adversity was even featured in Barack Obama’s inaugural State of the Union speech, making him a powerful voice for those seeking to achieve optimal performance and overcome challenges.
Derek first broke the British record for the 400m in 1985, earning his place on Team GB and claiming Gold in the 4x400m relay at the 1986 European Championships. The following year, he secured a Silver medal at the 1987 World Championships. In 1991, Derek became a World Champion in the 4x400m, winning Gold at the Tokyo World Championships. Despite his athletic success, Derek’s career was plagued by injury, forcing him to withdraw from the 1988 Olympic Games. His defining moment came at the 1992 Olympics when, despite tearing his hamstring, Derek made a memorable and emotional journey to the finish line with the support of his father, a moment that has become iconic in sports history. After ending his athletics career in 1994, Derek transitioned to professional basketball, playing for the Birmingham Bullets and the England National Team, where he competed against legends like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Derek has made significant contributions to performance management and high-performance coaching. He served as Director of Development for UK Athletics, focusing on sprinting and hurdles, and as Group Performance Director at Thomas International. Additionally, Derek has held roles such as CEO of Olympex, NED Board Member, and Nike Ambassador. A UCLA alumnus, Derek is also the bestselling author of Sport Is A Business and Business Is A Sport, where he shares his insights on high performance. As a speaker, Derek is known for translating the lessons he learned as an athlete into powerful and relatable messages for businesses and leaders.
Derek is now a highly respected motivational speaker, renowned for sharing his iconic Olympic injury story and his expertise in achieving high performance and mental resilience. He has spoken to over 1 million people, driven to help clients elevate their performance. Derek is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, drawing from his personal experiences, including enduring horrific discrimination and hate crimes during his inter-racial marriage to Sharron Davies, such as having a bomb sent to his home. Derek has addressed audiences in over 40 countries, focusing on diversity & inclusion, high-performance teams, workforce motivation, and mental resilience. For a speaker who can share a remarkable story and inspire audiences to reach their highest potential, Derek Redmond is an exceptional choice.
As a prominent Black athlete, Derek Redmond experienced significant racism throughout his career. At events, he shares his powerful story to educate audiences, teaching them the importance of inclusive, accepting workplaces. Diversity has the potential to spark innovation and nurture high-performance teamwork, reflecting the importance of Derek’s speaking topic.
In the world of sport, change can come thick and fast. One second you are the World Champion, the next your title has been taken and you are faced with another uphill battle to the top. Derek Redmond uses this experience of change management to impart such valuable life lessons at events. Attendees come away motivated to raise the bar in their own lives.
From goal-setting to dealing with failure, Derek Redmond’s speaking topics include a wealth of strategies for mental resilience. Having stared failure in the face at the 1992 Olympic Games, when Derek suffered a career-ending injury, he learned the importance of adaption and self-motivation. At events, audiences learn how Derek transitioned from sport to business, thanks to his mental resilience.
Derek Redmond’s knowledge of high-performance teamwork stems from his 1991 victory over the formidable American team, at the World Championships. The British team’s performance reflected Derek’s communication skills, a key factor of his speaking topic. At events, he uses this story to inspire unity in workplace teams, improving performance and wellbeing.
Derek Redmond believes that sport is a business, and business is a sport. They are intrinsically linked, so the skills of one can be translated to the other. As an athlete turned businessman, Derek uses his knowledge of maximising success to benefit corporate audiences, teaching them the secrets of ‘going for gold’.
Derek’s presentation was perfectly balanced and professionally delivered, with exactly the right amount of humour. It was packed with all the elements we wanted to make this event a huge success for our team of over 400, and everyone left on a tremendous ‘high’. He was inspirational, motivational and relevant, especially as his own experiences can be so closely aligned with those we experience in business. A consummate professional and a delight to work with.”
I would like to thank you very sincerely for your contribution to our KAM Summit, Dubai. It was really uplifting, enlightening and inspiring. This was truly one of the key highlights of our event. Not only your ambition, passion and determination is commendable, but your true spirit of “inspiring people and changing mindsets: From world class to world’s best” is highly regarded and appreciated. Once again, thank you so much for your remarkable contribution.”
Inspirational Speakers has been providing high profile keynote speakers and entertainers for over 25 years.
Address:
Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 1RD
Phone:
020 7993 2724
Sporting Champions introduces world class Inspired Athletes for the Schools and the education sector.
