Optimist Performance is a leadership and performance consultancy founded by Ollie Phillips — former England Rugby 7s Captain, world record holder, and one of the world’s leading voices on high-performance culture.
We work with ambitious organisations and teams who want to go from *good to world-class*. Through keynote speaking, leadership development, and team transformation programmes, we help unlock the mindset, behaviours, and culture needed to thrive under pressure and deliver sustained success.
Our clients range from global corporates to elite sports teams, all united by a desire to perform at the highest level when it matters most.
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### **What Sets Us Apart**
Most speakers talk about performance. We’ve *lived it* at the highest level.
Our work is built on a unique combination of:
* **Elite sport experience** – leading England on the world stage, competing under extreme pressure * **Extreme adventure** – from rowing oceans to breaking world records, testing resilience in its purest form * **Boardroom credibility** – experience with organisations like PwC and private equity-backed businesses
This isn’t theory — it’s real-world insight translated into practical, actionable strategies.
What clients love is that sessions are:
* **Energising and engaging** – stories that captivate and inspire * **Deeply practical** – clear takeaways that drive behaviour change * **Tailored** – every keynote is built around your audience, your challenges, and your goals
The result? Teams that think differently, lead better, and perform when it counts.
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Reviews (6)
5.0· 6 reviews
Please note: any reviews provided by our partner, Bark are not managed or verified by Gumtree.
Ed Burrill
5.02 July 2026
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★★★★★ Keynote Speaker
Ollie absolutely stole the show at our annual conference, keeping the entire room completely captivated. He masterfully blends humor and gripping personal stories with actionable professional takeaways. The feedback was off the charts, with many delegates calling it the most engaging presentation they’d heard in years. He is charismatic, authentic, and deeply motivating—we will absolutely be booking him again.
★★★★★ Team Development
We wanted to steer clear of predictable corporate away-days, and Ollie delivered an experience on a completely different level. The program was immersive, purposeful, and highly impactful. The structured debriefs helped us translate breakthrough moments into lasting cultural changes, and the Optimist Performance team made logistics effortless. If you want to break down silos and build a high-trust culture, this is the team to hire.
★★★★★ Executive Coaching
Partnering with Ollie has been a game-changer for my leadership journey. He has a rare talent for asking incisive questions that challenge your blind spots, while providing a highly supportive environment. Since starting, my decision-making confidence has soared and my strategic vision is clearer than ever. I leave every conversation with practical tools I can implement immediately. For any executive seeking a trusted advisor, Ollie is unmatched.
★★★★★ Leadership Development
We brought in Ollie and the Optimist Performance team to elevate our senior leaders, and the results have been phenomenal. Rather than delivering a cookie-cutter workshop, Ollie took the time to understand our specific business culture before crafting a bespoke program. His enthusiasm is infectious, and he excels at guiding teams through honest dialogues. The shift in collaboration and accountability across our leadership tier has been remarkable.
★★★★★ Overall Experience
From day one, it was clear that Ollie is driven by delivering genuine value. He is highly professional, approachable, and offers a fascinating perspective shaped by his background in elite sports, corporate acumen, and extreme adventures. It is rare to find someone who pairs such a world-class resume with such an authentic, down-to-earth demeanor. The positive impact on our organization is undeniable.
L Mitchelli
5.02 July 2026
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From our very first conversation, it was obvious that Ollie genuinely cared about helping us achieve the right outcome rather than simply selling us a service. He's professional, approachable, incredibly knowledgeable and brings a unique perspective from elite sport, business and adventure. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker, executive coach or leadership consultant, you'll struggle to find someone who combines such an impressive background with such a down-to-earth style. The impact on our people has been lasting, and we'll definitely be working with Ollie and Optimist Performance again.
Paul
5.03 July 2026
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As a leadership group we have been working with Optimist for over a year to enable us function as a high performing team. The impact has been fantastic and the coaching and facilitating is excellent.
Pennie Skinner
5.02 July 2026
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From the moment Ollie stepped onto the stage, he had the audience completely engaged. His presentation was authentic, thought-provoking and delivered with genuine warmth and humour, making it both inspiring and relatable.
What impressed me most was his ability to combine extraordinary personal experiences with practical lessons that could be applied immediately, both professionally and personally. Rather than simply motivating the audience for the moment, he challenged us to think differently about leadership, resilience and our own potential.
Ollie’s passion for helping people succeed is evident in everything he does, and his delivery is both professional and refreshingly down to earth. I left feeling energised, inspired and equipped with ideas that I know I’ll continue to use. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ollie as a keynote speaker for any organisation looking to make a lasting impact on its audience.
Kate Miller
5.03 July 2026
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Ollie worked with us as a motivational speaker, focusing on bravery, culture, cohesion and kindness, and he had a genuine impact on the room. He speaks with real credibility, drawing on his background in high-performance sport, his experience of pushing himself through extraordinary adventures, and his personal recovery from setbacks.
What makes Ollie so powerful is that he does not just talk about winning or resilience in a generic way. He speaks about the power of potential: how much more people and teams are capable of when they challenge themselves, support each other properly, and create the right culture around them.
His session was energising, honest and human. He helped people think differently about courage, connection and the standards we set for ourselves and each other. He brings warmth, humour and real depth, and I would absolutely recommend him to any organisation looking to inspire its people and build a stronger, braver, kinder team culture.
