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Lee Spencer, widely known as The Rowing Marine, is a keynote speaker whose impact comes from lived experience rather than theory.
His story resonates because it is real, raw, and grounded in moments where decisions truly mattered.
Lee’s early life was shaped by significant adversity, including alcoholism and domestic violence. Determined to change his trajectory, he earned his place in the Royal Marines, going on to serve on covert operations in high pressure conflict environments. Those years forged his understanding of leadership, resilience, and decision making when the consequences are real.
In January 2014, Lee lost his right leg below the knee while assisting at the scene of a motorway accident. Applying his military training, he saved his own life and was later recognised for his selfless actions. Becoming an amputee was not a turning point story of recovery. It was the start of a series of deliberate choices that redefined what most people believe is possible.
After his injury, Lee went on to row solo and unsupported across the Atlantic, breaking the able bodied world record by 36 days. He now holds four Guinness World Records, has raised more than £300,000 for charity, and was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to charity. He is also the author of his memoir, The Rowing Marine.
A natural storyteller with disarming humour, Lee connects quickly with audiences ranging from leadership conferences and company kick offs to elite sport and after dinner events. He has worked with national teams, including England’s senior men’s squad, delivering powerful perspective, energy, and practical takeaways that go far beyond inspiration.
Lee’s signature keynote tackles the quiet issue that undermines performance: catastrophic self doubt. Through setbacks, failure, recovery, and record setting achievement, Lee shows how ordinary people build extraordinary belief one decision at a time.
Key messages
• Confidence is built through evidence, not hype
• Self doubt is common but it does not have to drive decisions
• Practical ways to strengthen belief under pressure
When the stakes rise, leaders rarely fail due to lack of ability. They fail because pressure distorts judgement. Drawing on frontline military operations and extreme endurance experiences, Lee explores what happens when time is limited, information is incomplete, and consequences are real.
This keynote equips leaders with practical tools to stay calm, think clearly, and act decisively without falling into hesitation, over correction, or false confidence.
Key messages
• Making strong decisions with imperfect information
• Staying calm when others lose focus
• Pressure testing judgement to reduce costly mistakes
Many organisations talk about inclusion, but few translate it into everyday behaviour. In this keynote, Lee challenges the assumptions that shape how people are perceived, supported, and limited without intention.
With warmth, humour, and lived experience, Lee reframes disability and difference through a performance lens, showing what changes when teams focus on capability, contribution, and potential rather than labels.
Key messages
• How assumptions can quietly cap performance
• A practical and human approach to inclusion that changes behaviour
• Why perspective strengthens leadership, teamwork, and culture
You’ve inspired thousands if not millions of people. Anyone who comes up against struggles on a day-to-day basis.
There were some brilliant and inspirational stories shared and when those guys walk in it has a big impact on the group.
