TED talk speaker and inspirational Paralympian, Wendy Smith, has quickly become one of the most sought after speakers on the circuit. An advocate for optimism, she uses her platform to promote a simple ideology; "there is no such word as 'can't'". Wendy has dedicated her speaking career to decreasing stress and increasing hope in her audience, improving their personal and professional lives. Having competed in elite sporting competitions, she has experienced first hand the benefits of remaining calm under pressure, especially when faced with the possibility of coming first.
Wendy's famed TED talk revolves around the power of "I can". Since it was first published in 2014, the video has gained nearly 50,000 views, a testament to Wendy's incredible reach as a speaker. In the video, she invites someone from the audience up onto the stage, to demonstrate how saying "I can't" and "I can" affects the muscles. With the room in shocked silence, her practical example leaves the audience with a lasting impression. Wendy is adept at audience interaction, and can instantly put her guests at ease before wowing them with her demonstrations. A speaker like Wendy is interactive, engaging and highly impactful.
When Wendy was caught in a high speed motorbike accident, her life was changed forever. Suffering an injury to the spine, she saw the experience not as a hindrance, but as an opportunity to become a Paralympian. The expert athlete, basketball coach, psychologist and qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming trainer now uses her journey to inspire others, through insightful techniques. As one of the top UK sports coaches and neuro trainers, she increases people's self awareness, opening their eyes to the power of their thoughts. Wendy is world renowned as the key to high performance teams.
With the belief that to change your life you need to be proactive, Wendy encourages audiences to take control of their journey. She is highly results-driven, meaning that an event featuring Wendy is guaranteed to produce positive change in her audience. Aside from being an influential speaker, Wendy is also an author, having published 50 Ways To Change and the Quick Fix Guide To Wheelchair Basketball. Both pieces of work are highly regarded in the world of sport, by coaches, athletes and fans alike. By stepping out of our comfort zones, Wendy believes that anything is possible.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from Virtual Events & Webinars:
"The event went really well! Wendy's talk was very engaging and interesting and tied in nicely with the themes we had outlined for what we wanted to have covered. Feedback has been positive and we are definitely happy with how it all went!" - 4C Associates
“We used Wendy as a guest speaker to round off our Wellbeing Week. Wendy was really friendly, approachable and had an amazing and very inspirational story. Wendy stayed on the call for a Q&A which made the event much more personable which was fantastic. Her approach at looking at both physical and mental health and how they interlink was extremely insightful and something we found beneficial as it is something that can affect both your personal and professional lives! This is the second time we have worked with Champions and it has been an absolute pleasure.” - Amy, CMS Distribution
“They loved the session! Some great comments from the whole team. The feedback has been excellent." - Rhiannon, Fuel and Paypal
"We had our 2nd talk from Wendy today, she was great and so inspiring. Just wanted to say a big thank you to her!" - Susannah & Louisa, MMR Research
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Thank you very much for all your help and assistance in organising the event for us and for accommodating our requests and always responding in a timely manner. It's been a pleasure to work with you. Equally, the talk went down very well internally with feedback such as 'great talk, Wendy's comments really resonated with me' and 'it was really fantastic and has had a hugely positive impact on us all'. - Francisca, Director of Legal Counsel Europe, Scotiabank
"Wendy is one of the most eloquent passionate and genuine speakers that you will come across. Speaking from her heart, she sparks fire in others. She has the ability to lift the spirit of those who hear her and have them want to fulfil their potential. What a gift! I feel very fortunate that Wendy spends some of her time with on the 'be the best you can be' schools project."- David, Olympic Gold Medallist, Co-Author & Co-Director Of The Project
"After spending many years in a special military environment it was a pleasure to meet Wendy and to continue to work in partnership with her. Wendy’s expertise with how the mind and body work as one system is not only interesting but insightful. Many of the delegates that partake in training are quickly immersed in their own self and belief systems that enable them to fully reflect on how they live their daily lives and what impacts they have made through lives assumptions and conclusions. It is not only group work but the more personable one to one sessions where people are provided with tools for life. When working with Wendy you will be assured that if you are willing to listen with your eyes and your ears, Wendy will provide you with choices that enable you to grow as an individual or group without limitation." - John, Advanced Tactical Resources Limited
"Wendy Smith attended a prestigious and highly sensitive ceremony held in recognition of the outstanding achievements made by vulnerable young people in the capacity of a special guest. In the presence of other dignitaries she presented herself as a model of professionalism yet inspiration through her personable demeanour and motivating words. She demonstrated flexibility in her communication, motivation through her emotive expressions and encouragement in her empathy. In my experience, Wendy is someone who has an innate understanding of the different challenges that vulnerable young people and adults are faced with in the course of their personal and professional life and provides them with the reassurance throughout her own experiences that there is always a way forward."
"A great speaker and even better individual - I would definitely be looking to bring Wendy back again and will highly recommend her to anyone." - Kashif, LAC Awards Organiser
"Wendy was great today and everyone really enjoyed her talk." - Bianca, Verve
"We absolutely LOVED Wendy! Our team really responded to her & loved that she felt very relatable. Her message of positivity, failing forward, stress management, and believing in yourself is exactly the message our team needed at this time."
"The talk was very well received and very engaging." - Eimear, SSE Generation Ltd
"I’d just like to relay our thanks for arranging for Wendy to speak to us. The session was thoroughly enjoyed by all! She is a real life SuperWoman! Her positivity radiates – even through a Teams screen!" - Siobhan, Partner, HR, CPC Project Services
"We were grateful to Wendy for attending and making such a memorable and motivational speech. It was inspirational and honest, and I think we all felt humbled by her positive attitude and strength. She is an amazing person, and I could have talked to her for hours." - Sopra Steria
How to hire Wendy Smith
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Wendy Smith for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
