Assessing the impact of certain decisions and considering the importance of focus, prioritisation, and performance is a key concept for the speakers delivering ‘Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?’ to a variety of individuals, teams, organisations, and more.
Where did 'Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?' come from?
The question was famously used by the British Olympic Rowing Team after setting a Crazy Goal of securing gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, which they successfully achieved. Ben Hunt Davies, who was part of that historic Men's Eight, and Harriet Beveridge further popularised the term through their book of the same name.
What does it actually mean?
It stands as a strategic approach to performance, sorting through activities to identify which are peripheral and which should be focused on to contribute to the progression of the team.
What is the impact of the concept on businesses?
According to an Economist Study, the Harvard Business School identified that 90% of senior executives from organisations with revenues of over $1 billion claimed to have failed in reaching all their strategic goals because of poor implementation. This is where Ben and Harriet's theory shines, allowing for businesses to analyse and therefore successfully act on the decisions that truly matter.
Who helps deliver the concept?
With a deep understanding of performing under pressure, instilling the right mindset, and encouraging focus on what truly matters, these are the speakers bringing the message to life:
1. Ben Hunt-Davies
Olympic Rowing Gold Medallist
Ben Hunt-Davis is a former Olympic rower and a key member of the historic British team that won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. As co-author and director of Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?, Ben translates the principles behind that victory into powerful lessons for business and personal performance. Drawing from his elite sporting experience, he now works as a motivational speaker and performance expert, helping individuals and teams stay focused on what truly drives success. Through storytelling, practical tools, and real-life insight, Ben brings the question "Will it make the boat go faster?" to life in meaningful ways.
Official Testimonial for Ben Hunt-Davis
"Just a quick note to say a very big thank you for the fabulous talk you gave at the conference on Friday. Everyone I have spoken to thought your session was outstanding. Of particular note was the way in which you related your rowing experiences to our theme of the day, something that is often overlooked by many ‘inspirational’ speakers." - Partners’ Conference, Ernst & Young
2. Harriet Beveridge
Performance Coach & TED Speaker
Harriet Beveridge is a keynote speaker, performance coach, and Associate Director at Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?, where she leads performance programmes that help individuals and teams achieve meaningful results. As co-author of the book alongside Ben Hunt-Davis, she plays a central role in bringing its core message to life through engaging, practical, and inspiring delivery. Her TED talk, 'Make 'Em Laugh', and her BBC Radio 4 contributions allow Harriet to combine sharp insight with humour, drawing on her background in stand-up comedy to connect with audiences. Her work helps people focus on what truly matters, turning performance theory into real-world, lasting impact.
Official Testimonial for Harriet Beveridge
"Her sense of humour shone through. She is a wonderful personality and applied her content to fit our audience so it was highly relatable" - Castleton
3. Dr Cath Bishop
Olympic & World Champion Rower
Dr Cath Bishop is an Olympic silver medallist, World Champion rower, and former diplomat who brings a rare combination of sporting excellence and global leadership to her role as a Senior Performance Consultant and keynote speaker with Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? Her experience competing at the highest level and working in international political zones equips her with the skills and knowledge to guide individuals and teams through high-pressure environments. Cath helps clients focus on what truly drives performance, challenging them to align actions with purpose. Through her speaking, coaching, and bestselling book The Long Win, she inspires others to undertake meaningful pursuits in everything they do.
Official Testimonial for Dr Cath Bishop
"As a team, we have been struggling with momentum, and Cath's speech was a perfect injection for us. The feedback we've had from the team has been overwhelmingly positive. Cath helped to make our event a huge success." - Rolls-Royce
4. Steve Ingham
Performance Scientist & Consultant
Steve Ingham is a leading performance scientist and Director of Athlete Now, with over 25 years of experience helping elite athletes and teams reach their full potential. As a Senior Performance Consultant at Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?, he brings deep scientific expertise to the practical challenges of high performance. Formerly Director of Science and Technical Development at the English Institute of Sport, Steve supported Olympic champions up to Rio 2016. He is also a consultant at Supporting Champions and author of How to Support a Champion, using his insights to help individuals and teams focus on what truly drives success.
Official Testimonial for Steve Ingham
"Throughout my career, Steve has made innovation and ideas useful. He has been my go-to scientist for preparation and performance." - Dame Jessica Ennis Hill
5. Kate Richardson-Walsh
Olympic Gold & Bronze Field Hockey Player
Kate Richardson-Walsh is an Olympic gold and bronze medallist, and one of the most respected leaders in British sport. With a record-breaking 375 caps for England and Great Britain and 13 years as captain, she knows what it takes to drive high performance under pressure. As a Senior Consultant at Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?, Kate brings her experience of elite sport and team leadership to help organisations build strong, focused, high-performing teams. A European Hall of Fame inductee, coach, author, and co-founder of Be Create Inspire, she empowers others to achieve collective success by focusing on what truly matters.
Official Testimonial for Kate Richardson-Walsh
"Kate was amazing, her talk was so inspirational, and she was so humble and honest. The feedback from our customers and staff following the event and Kate's talk has been so positive, they really took so much away from it, as did I." - Sarah, Events & Education Manager, Straumann Group
Hire Your 'Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?' Facilitator today!
Looking to streamline your boat and learn to efficiently assess which decisions will progress your team? These speakers are guaranteed to leave audiences motivated, focused, and equipped with the right tools to inspire powerful, performance-driven results. Contact Champions Speakers today by calling 0207 1010553 or filling out our contact form.
An image of the official speakers who deliver 'Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?' workshops.
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