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Sarah’s experiences as a combat operational commander, helicopter pilot, mother and coach has taught her that Intelligent capable people don’t always feel as strong as they look. Performance under pressure isn’t instinctive but rather a skill that can be developed with the right knowledge and tools. And it’s a skill that is developed by leveraging mistakes.
After all, leadership is complex. How do you lead high performing teams, who are robust, driven but also emotionally intelligent? How do you lean into failure so you can grow as an organisation, whilst unapologetically striving for excellence? How do we lead inclusively, when do we make bold decisions, when do we ask for help? How do you create psychological safety?
Wherever you are on your leadership journey, “getting it right” can feel like a big ask. And just when you think you’ve mastered it, the rules of game change, for our idea of “good” leadership is constantly evolving.
Don’t worry – you’re not in this alone.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Sarah followed her dream to become a combat helicopter pilot in the RAF. As a Squadron Leader she led on operational combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and she was the first female helicopter pilot to fly and lead UK Special Forces missions in Iraq. So she has a proven track record leading teams to victory in the most extreme conditions. A qualified mindfulness coach and human factors facilitator Sarah combines her military expertise with proven cognitive techniques to expertly guide you on your own journey of discovery. Translating lessons from the battlefield directly to the boardroom you’ll not only be captivated by her stories – you will leave the room, equipped with practicable and implementable tools. You’ll be ready for action. You’ll be ready to lead in the new era.
She is fluent in “alpha male” and whilst she takes her work seriously, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. In her No1 Best Selling books FLY HIGHER and THE UNI-TASKING REVOLUTION. She has a young son who she adores and who keeps her on her A game.
Every speech is written to the specific objectives to ensure the success of the event.
Nobody gets out of bed to crash a helicopter. And yet mistakes will happen. Sarah can attest to this. Mistakes are ok… so long as we learn from them, right?
But what if our traditional mindset around mistakes is precisely the reason we don’t learn from them?
Sarah will share how to change our mindset so that we learn from our setbacks and take early corrective action to avoid setbacks in the first place.
She will cover accelerated learning , creating a growth mindset culture, increased staff engagement and retention.
The number one thing that holds humans back? It’s FEAR.
It can manifest in different ways; fear of rejection, fear of failure. Let’s be clear – this is what it means to be human. It’s not going anywhere. But it can really interfere with our decision making. In a team it can lead to group think, censorship and risk aversion. In fact it’s a real buzz kill.
Whether you are looking for greater inclusivity, better teamwork, or more confident leadership, it’s the same starting point. It starts with by understanding your fear, so you can understand others….and then leaning into it, so you can lead intuitively.
Sarah will deliver outcomes for greater probability of success, collaboration and a culture where people can flourish, how to overcome imposter syndrome, improve inclusivity and cognitive diversity.
War veterans are NOT naturally cool under fire. People are NOT born with 007-esque levels of stoicism. Not even Sean Connery (God rest his mighty soul.) It’s a learned behaviour. And you can learn it too.
Discover the unique HABITS formula that Sarah has developed; proven methods used by combat pilots which have been refined through her exploration and understanding of the human mind.
You will learn practical tools including the pilots “work cycle” technique and applied cognitive techniques for greater focus, productivity, improved decision making, increased resilience under stress and reduced burnout.
Sarah is a phenomenon. She flew helicopters in combat zones for 20 years , crashing the odd one and turning those experiences, that would scare the life out of most of us, into entertaining stories. She’s now helping the world by educating us on how to perform, and
thrive under pressure.
Ex-RAF Squadron Leader, Combat Helicopter Pilot, motivational speaker and yoga warrior – just a few ways to describe Sarah Furness, who regaled our Women’s Inclusive Network today with an inspiring account of how she juggled childcare arrangements as a young mother while managing a squadron of helicopter pilots in the Afghanistan war zone.
