Sarah Wells

Excellence isn’t reserved for a privileged few—it’s a mindset that anyone can adopt, no matter who you are, or where you begin.

In this transformative keynote, Olympian Sarah Wells will reveal how we can all cultivate excellence in ourselves and in organizations. Sarah will share the core principles that drive excellence: the power of belief in yourself, the courage to do things differently, and the resilience to rise from setbacks. By going all in on your unique strengths and experiences, you can unlock success in ways only you can achieve.

Through compelling stories and real-life examples, Sarah will help audiences understand that excellence isn’t about perfection, it’s about breaking free from limiting beliefs and constantly striving to outperform who you were yesterday. With more than a decade of competition at the highest level, along with a master’s degree in leadership & innovation from the Smith School of Business, Sarah delivers powerful, research-backed insights that unlock the mindset and practical tools to cultivate excellence in everything you do. Join Sarah to discover how to make excellence your daily standard and watch it transform not just your work but every facet of your life.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

• Excellence is for Everyone: Learn how to adopt an excellence-driven mindset, no matter who you are or where you start, unlocking your potential for growth and success.
• The Power of Going ALL IN: Discover how believing in yourself is the foundation of achieving greatness, and how this belief can propel you to break through limiting beliefs.
• Excellence is Contagious: Discover how surrounding yourself with high standards can elevate your performance and create a ripple effect in your organization.
• Courage to Be Different: Understand the importance of daring to take unconventional paths and leaning into your unique strengths to create success only you can achieve.
• Strength in Setbacks: Gain practical strategies for turning failures into learning moments, understanding that resilience in the face of setbacks is key to long-term
  success.

Change is constant, and how we respond to it defines the trajectory of our success. In this inspiring and transformative keynote, Olympian Sarah Wells invites you to reframe the way you think about obstacles and setbacks. Drawing from her journey as an elite athlete, Sarah will share the essential mindset shifts that empower individuals
and organizations to not just face adversity, but to use it as a catalyst for growth and innovation.

Sarah knows firsthand that success is not about avoiding hurdles but mastering the art of overcoming them. With her three powerful strategies, you’ll learn how to embrace life’s detours and turn them into stepping stones toward a reality greater than you ever imagined. Through her engaging stories of resilience, grit, and excellence, Sarah will reveal how cultivating a mindset of adaptability and excellence helps you thrive in uncertain
times.

This keynote offers more than just inspiration—it provides actionable tools and strategies that your audience can apply immediately. Sarah will show how excellence, resilience, and a willingness to face challenges head-on can transform obstacles into opportunities. Attendees will leave with renewed confidence, armed with the skills to embrace change with grace and turn setbacks into successes.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

• Unexpected changes can lead to even better outcomes, if you’re willing to embrace new opportunities.
• Lean into your strengths during change, as they provide the best path for leading others through uncertainty.
• Believe in yourself, even when plans change, because your adaptability will keep
  you moving forward.
• Your past experiences and skills are powerful tools that help you thrive in the face of change.
• Your unwavering commitment and energy inspire others to stay focused, even in uncertain times.

In today’s fast-paced world, true success doesn’t come from following the same path as everyone else—it comes from embracing what makes you unique and daring to think differently. In “The 16 Stride Factor,” Olympian Sarah Wells shares the game-changing strategy that helped her defy the odds in athletics. She’ll show how individuals and organizations alike can apply this approach to supercharge their own goals and unlock new levels of
success.

While most 400m hurdlers at the Olympics take 15 strides between hurdles, Sarah broke the mold by crafting a strategy that played to her strengths—taking 16 strides
instead. This unconventional approach, tailored to her unique abilities, was key to her Olympic success. In this dynamic presentation, Sarah will challenge you to embrace unconventional
approaches, leverage your team’s distinctive abilities, and cultivate a culture that celebrates experimentation and exploration without fear of failure or a need for
guaranteed outcomes. Get ready to break away from tradition, harness your organization’s unique strengths, and discover how to achieve success in a way that only you can.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

• Conformity Crushes Creativity: When we embrace unconventional thinking and break away from traditional approaches, we open up new paths to success that
  others may overlook.
• Lead with Authenticity: We inspire our teams most powerfully when we lead in a way that’s true to our unique strengths, rather than trying to mimic how others inspire.
• Inspire Boldness Through Action: By taking risks and not being afraid to try, we
  encourage those around us to step outside their comfort zones and make bold moves too.
• Failure Fuels Growth: Whether or not our experiments go to plan, each effort provides valuable lessons that drive future innovation and evolution.