Sir Clive Woodward OBE
Motivational Leadership Speaker
Clive’s unparalleled experience and outstanding record for success make his story a unique one. His previous roles include professional head coach to a Rugby World Cup winning team in 2003, and Team GB’s Director of Sport (delivering Team GB’s most successful Olympic Games in the modern era at London 2012). Using his background and career as a businessman, athlete and coach, Clive tailors his speeches to provide thought provoking, engaging and entertaining presentations which he carefully crafts to inspire, motivate and challenge organisations and individuals over a range of topics from his collaborative leadership model to change thinking and ‘The DNA of a champion’.
BIOGRAPHY
Clive was honoured to become England’s first full-time professional head coach in 1997. His first objective was to play a style of rugby which would get 70,000 fans at Twickenham off their feet going nuts. With the players he had, he knew they could not only challenge the dominant southern hemisphere nations but actually become the world’s number one ranked team. Clive aimed to do so by applying the same principles he had developed within his own business.
In a period which saw the team achieve 22 consecutive wins at Twickenham, 14 consecutive victories home & away against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, 3 Six Nations Championship wins including a Grand Slam in 2003 and becoming the world’s number one ranked team in 2002 – Clive and the team were able to culminate it all by winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Clive could not be more proud of the players and coaches’ determination, will and attitude in pursing this achievement.
Having led the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand and joined Southampton FC as Director of Football, in 2006 Clive was delighted to accept the role of Team GB’s Director of Sport in 2006. As Team GB’s Director of Sport Clive worked in close partnership with key stakeholders in British Sport to support the national coaches and athletes at the Beijing & Vancouver Olympics as well as deliver Team GB’s most successful Olympic Games in the modern era at London 2012.
Since then Clive has moved into Business and Sport consulting and also established his reputation as a popular and respected commentator for both ITV Sport and Sky Sport’s rugby coverage and as a journalist within the Daily Mail’s award winning sports team. He also joined the BBC team covering the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 bringing his insight into the inclusion of Rugby as part of the Games.
In 2016/17 Clive will be covering England’s tour of Australia with Sky Sports and the Six Nations with ITV Sport.
Clive continues to support the development of athletes and coaches via his position on the IOC’s Entourage Commission, which he has held since 2012. Clive also supports aspiring athletes and coaches through a bespoke scholarship programme in partnership with investors from the corporate world. Clive is also the Director of Sport for APEX 2100 which aims to become the leading altitude performance centre at 2100m in Tignes, France. The facility will also incorporate a residential academic school providing a first class education for talented young British Athletes.
SPEAKING TOPICS
TALENT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
DNA OF A CHAMPION
Based on the notion that “Great Teams Are Made of Great Individuals”, Clive has identified four criteria, which he believes characterise a champion individual or team in both business and sport. ‘The DNA of a Champion’ details each of these criteria, but also how they can be coached to achieve high performing teams.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED
ONE TEAM
Focused on “creating an environment so good that everyone wants to be a part of and nobody ever wants to leave,” One Team encapsulates the collaborative leadership model Clive successfully applied to the World Cup winning England rugby team and Team GB at London 2012.
SPONGE V ROCK
MAKING LEARNING STICK
A successful coach and leader is one who can effectively capture and share their knowledge. Clive believes teams who assume they have all the knowledge are likely to come second, whether in sport or business. Winning individuals and teams seek out continuous learning to further expand their skill-set in response to changing environments and new developments.
100 THINGS 1% BETTER
CHANGE THINKING
Clive’s reputation as an innovative leader is driven by his determined approach to challenge the traditional school of thought and find new, different ways of operating. In ‘Change Thinking’ he highlights where his inspiration for change originated and illustrates how effective change creates a dynamic and responsive culture.
WINNING DOESN’T HAPPEN IN STRAIGHT LINES
SUCCESS FROM SET BACKS
Success is not always a continuous series of victories. It is important that individuals and teams learn how to improve from their set-backs and it is how they are handled, that is the making of a great team.
VIDEO