Sarah Furness

Sarah Furness

Sarah’s experiences as a combat operational commander, helicopter pilot, mother and coach has taught her that Intelligent capable people don’t always feel as strong as they look. Performance under pressure isn’t instinctive but rather a skill that can be developed with the right knowledge and tools. And it’s a skill that is developed by leveraging mistakes. 

After all, leadership is complex.  How do you lead high performing teams, who are robust, driven but also emotionally intelligent? How do you lean into failure so you can grow as an organisation, whilst unapologetically striving for excellence? How do we lead inclusively, when do we make bold decisions, when do we ask for help? How do you create psychological safety?

Wherever you are on your leadership journey, “getting it right” can feel like a big ask. And just when you think you’ve mastered it, the rules of game change, for our idea of “good” leadership is constantly evolving.

Don’t worry – you’re not in this alone.

After graduating from Cambridge University, Sarah followed her dream to become a combat helicopter pilot in the RAF. As a Squadron Leader she led on operational combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and she was the first female helicopter pilot to fly and lead UK Special Forces missions in Iraq. So she has a proven track record leading teams to victory in the most extreme conditions. A qualified mindfulness coach and human factors facilitator Sarah combines her military expertise with proven cognitive techniques to expertly guide you on your own journey of discovery. Translating lessons from the battlefield directly to the boardroom you’ll not only be captivated by her stories – you will leave the room, equipped with practicable and implementable tools. You’ll be ready for action. You’ll be ready to lead in the new era.

She is fluent in “alpha male” and whilst she takes her work seriously, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. In her No1 Best Selling books FLY HIGHER and THE UNI-TASKING REVOLUTION. She has a young son who she adores and who keeps her on her A game.

Every speech is written to the specific objectives to ensure the success of the event.

Sarah Furness

We had the privilege of Sarah being our guest speaker at our recent Year Beginning Meeting which took place with 250 of our Leadership team. The presentation that Sarah delivered was very inspirational and has been voted by our leadership group the best guest speaker session we have ever had at our East of England Co Op events. However what was equally impressive was Sarah taking time to walk through our brief and build a session that folded into our Leadership message that day and aligned to our values. If you are looking for an inspiring guest speaker , look no further. Thanks again Sarah

Andy Rigby, CEO East England Co-Op

Sarah is a fantastic speaker - she'll have you on the edge of your seat, locked into her exciting but relatable stories.
Having had the pleasure of watching her in action multiple times we were lucky enough to be able to secure her for an event speaking to an audience of over 60 lawyers. She is a professional through and through, ensuring the whole process was easy for us. Highly recommend Sarah both as a keynote speaker and as a moderator for panel discussions - she handles both roles masterfully and elegantly.

Dita Hendersone Legal Counsel and HG

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