After Dinner SpeakersLord Sebastian Coe is a double Olympic gold medallist, former London 2012 chairman and keynote speaker, sharing insights on leadership, teamwork and success.
Coe began his athletics career at age 12, in Sheffield’s Hallamshire Harriers squad.
In 1977 he made his first mark as a professional athlete, winning the 800m at the European Indoor Championship.
After a string of world records, Coe won his first Olympic medal at the 1980 Moscow Games, taking Gold in the 1,500m.
He won his second gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
As a result, he quickly became the UK’s best-known athlete, setting 12 middle-distance world records.
Sebastian Coe retired from athletics in 1990 and moved into politics.
In 1992, he was elected as Conservative MP for Falmouth and Camborne, a seat he held for 5 years.
Subsequently, in 2000, he was appointed a life peer, becoming Lord Coe of Ranmore.
Because of his sporting and political nous, Coe led London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He led London to victory over Paris, with many pointing to his rousing speech at the 2005 vote in Singapore as the decisive moment.
Despite early public cynicism, Coe helped win over the media, and London went on to host an amazing Olympic Games.
After London 2012, Sebastian Coe was elected Chairman of the British Olympic Association, a post he held until 2016.
In 2015, Lord Coe was elected President of the IAAF.
Lord Coe – Keynote Speaker:
Packing his speeches with anecdotes from his time as an Olympic athlete, an MP, chair of London 2012, and president of the IAAF through troubled times, Lord Coe demonstrates his political and strategic expertise in guiding large organisations on the global stage.
His themes include leadership, collaboration, crisis management, building resilience, handling change and challenging the status quo.
Lord Coe believes in creating a clear, strong vision for an organisation, a simple, transferable set of values adhered to at every moment by every employee, whatever their role.
He contends this vision is key in times of change and turbulence.
Throughout his career, Lord Coe has succeeded by leading from the front and turning vision into reality. He turned London 2012 into one of the UK’s most successful missions.
Lord Coe brings energy, passion, and innovation to all his work, qualities that captivate audiences worldwide.
Lord Coe’s example keynote speaking topics include:
- Change, Risk & Handling Uncertainty
- Teamwork and Collaboration & Breaking Down Silos
- Leadership & Resilience
- Innovation & Challenging the Status Quo
