Cath has unique experience of two high pressure, high stakes environments: Olympic sport and international diplomacy in conflicts.
In her rowing career, Cath competed at three Olympic Games, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens – after the disappointments of coming 7 and then 9, Cath took a long hard look at herself as an athlete and performer and turned things round to become a World Champion in 2003 and Olympic silver medallist in 2004.
As a diplomat for over a decade specialising in conflict issues, Cath was posted to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Basra in Iraq as well as leading in Whitehall on the UK civilian contribution to conflicts around the world. As a diplomat living in a red sea container on a military base in Basra with daily incoming fire, Cath learnt again how to deal with pressure and stress and find a way forward in a complex, messy world.
Drawing on this unique combination of experience, Cath understands the resilience and leadership required to manage complex challenges that come from exceptionally high pressure demands in the workplace, sporting arena and at home. Both rowing and international diplomacy offer relevant analogies for the collaboration and innovation essential to business success, and with her experience at the top end of both fields, Cath has developed practical strategies for getting both individuals and teams to focus on delivering exceptional results under the toughest of circumstances.
Cath now works as a speaker, facilitator and educator to organisations and business schools on leadership and high performance. She is the mother of two young children and in her spare time (!), the Chair of the Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club which made history in April 2015 when, for the first time ever, the women’s Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race took place on the same course and same day as the men’s Boat Race.
In her rowing career, Cath competed at three Olympic Games, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens – after the disappointments of coming 7 and then 9, Cath took a long hard look at herself as an athlete and performer and turned things round to become a World Champion in 2003 and Olympic silver medallist in 2004.
As a diplomat for over a decade specialising in conflict issues, Cath was posted to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Basra in Iraq as well as leading in Whitehall on the UK civilian contribution to conflicts around the world. As a diplomat living in a red sea container on a military base in Basra with daily incoming fire, Cath learnt again how to deal with pressure and stress and find a way forward in a complex, messy world.
Drawing on this unique combination of experience, Cath understands the resilience and leadership required to manage complex challenges that come from exceptionally high pressure demands in the workplace, sporting arena and at home. Both rowing and international diplomacy offer relevant analogies for the collaboration and innovation essential to business success, and with her experience at the top end of both fields, Cath has developed practical strategies for getting both individuals and teams to focus on delivering exceptional results under the toughest of circumstances.
Cath now works as a speaker, facilitator and educator to organisations and business schools on leadership and high performance. She is the mother of two young children and in her spare time (!), the Chair of the Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club which made history in April 2015 when, for the first time ever, the women’s Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race took place on the same course and same day as the men’s Boat Race.
What the audience can expect
Cath always delivers an engaging and interactive session to challenge how we can improve our performance levels, to give insights into how she managed to make a step-change in both her careers, notably going from being in the Top 10 in the world onto the Olympic podium in her sporting career.
Since leaving the Foreign office, Cath has become a sought after speaker at corporate events, and delivers seminars and talks to business schools, including the Said Business School at Oxford University and Imperial College Business School and offers workshops to delve more deeply into the following topics:
Since leaving the Foreign office, Cath has become a sought after speaker at corporate events, and delivers seminars and talks to business schools, including the Said Business School at Oxford University and Imperial College Business School and offers workshops to delve more deeply into the following topics:
- High performance
- Being your best under pressure
- Resilience
- Teamwork
- Presentation approach
Presentation Approach
Cath is renowned for her powerful, inspirational speeches, using her humility, honesty and humour to give insights into both these dramatic worlds that we have all seen on the TV, but rarely experienced in real life. Her lively and interactive style helps audiences to relate the stories and messages to themselves, and leaves them with pertinent questions and practical tips on how they might be able to raise the bar in their own lives.
