Paul McGee

Paul McGee, widely known as “The SUMO Guy,” is an internationally recognised motivational speaker and expert on resilience, leadership, and personal development.

He is the bestselling author of 13 books, has spoken in over 40 countries, presented to over 1 million people and has clocked up more than 4 million views on TikTok. Paul McGee has made an impact on people across the globe.

His “SUMO” philosophy, which stands for “Shut Up, Move On,” has gained global recognition for its practical, down-to-earth approach to overcoming challenges, improving mental well-being, and fostering personal and professional growth.

Paul’s career spans over 25 years, in which time he has delivered more than 3,000 talks across 41 countries. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Microsoft, NHS, Lloyds Bank, Manchester City and the FA Premier League.

Paul is one of the UK’s leading speakers in self-help, particularly in the subjects of change, workplace relationships, customer service, leadership, wellbeing, resilience, communication and motivation. He educates companies on how to survive and thrive in challenging times, how to work under pressure and how to inspire others in the workplace.

He has appeared on BBC Breakfast television, and Question Time alongside David Dimbleby, and is a regular contributor on radio shows for the BBC.

He has had the privilege of working with one of the world’s top management gurus, the late Dr Stephen Covey, and his work has been endorsed by another of Great British Speakers’ star talents, the Elite Performance Director of the British Olympic Association, Sir Clive Woodward.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book leading self-help guru Professor Paul McGee for your next event.

Type Of Speaker

After Dinner Business & Finance Creativity, Change & Innovation Keynote Leadership & Teamwork Mental Health Motivational Personal Development Resilience Sales & Marketing Speaker Speaker Coaching Virtual Speakers

More About Paul McGee

Paul McGee’s approach is to engage his audience’s hearts and minds. He provides inspirational and entertaining content, but most importantly, offers practical tools you can use immediately to help you in your professional and personal lives.

Overcoming a debilitating illness, Paul swapped invalidity benefits for starting his own business from scratch and now has clients around the world, having spoken in over 40 countries. In 2008 he set up SUMO4Schools, a life skills programme for young people which has now been adapted and used in the largest young offenders’ institute in Europe.

Paul McGee | What is Sumo?

Paul’s SUMO philosophy encourages individuals to take control of their circumstances, reframe setbacks, and move forward with confidence. It has become an internationally recognised brand, with “SUMO” books, workshops, and educational resources used in various sectors, from corporate settings to education and healthcare.

Paul McGee Explains SUMO in 2 minutes

Paul McGee | Speaking Topics

Paul makes all of his presentations bespoke, and his material is adapted to help each client achieve their objectives. Popular keynote and workshop topics include:

* Ramp up your resilience and improve your wellbeing

* How to survive and thrive in challenging times

* Inspiring leadership in uncertain times

* How to communicate with influence and impact

* Who cares wins – building winning relationships with colleagues and customers

Paul McGee | Books

With an impressive list of bestselling books, Paul has reached a vast audience globally, with his books being translated into 20 languages and sales reaching half a million.

Some of his most popular books include:

* “SUMO (Shut Up, Move On)”: A book that has helped thousands of people embrace change and develop resilience.

* “How Not to Worry”: A practical guide to managing anxiety and stress in everyday life.

* “Self-Confidence”: A toolkit for building self-esteem and handling life’s challenges.

* “The SUMO Secrets to Being a Positive, Confident Teenager”: Tailored specifically for younger audiences, helping teens navigate the complexities of growing up.

Why Book Paul McGee?

Paul’s success as a speaker comes from his ability to connect with diverse audiences through humor, authenticity, and practical advice. He is an inspiration without being cheesy His messages resonate across industries and age groups, making complex ideas around personal development and mental health accessible and engaging.

He leaves his audiences believing more in themselves and their ability to face the future with increased confidence and optimism. Paul is very focussed and aims to work on the challenges facing employees in the 21st Century rather than the problems that surround it.

Known for his humorous approach, Paul blends motivational speaking with lighthearted anecdotes and practical wisdom. His talks are not just educational—they are entertaining, leaving a lasting impression on his audience. Paul’s content is filled with practical tips and strategies that can be applied to everyday life, making his presentations highly effective for both personal and professional development.

Paul McGee The SUMO guy - speaker at Great British Speakers

He is a Sunday Times bestselling author, and has published more than a dozen books, including How to Speak So People Really Listen, and How Not To Worry. His most famous books, S.U.M.O, and Self Confidence: The Remarkable Truth of How a Small Change Can Boost Your Resilience and Increase Your Success were both international bestsellers. His books have been translated into over 20 languages worldwide.

He combines insights from business, sport and day-to-day life. He works extensively for private and public companies such as Adidas, Harrods, Specsavers, Lloyds Bank, GSK, Virgin, the NHS, and Manchester United FC. He’s also worked with the Elite Performance Director of the British Olympic Association, Sir Clive Woodward.

Paul’s no-nonsense style enables him to facilitate enjoyable but realistic workshops, keep clients engaged, and help them to make a genuine change to their lives. He’s practical, memorable and entertaining. He gives his audiences ideas and an insight that can help them immediately and also last a lifetime. His style means that people laugh as well as learn.

He’s adaptable. Paul is happy to tailor his famous message to your particular objectives. He can adapt his way of working to suit breakout sessions, masterclasses, conferences, and keynote presentations.

He is valuable. You are investing in what Paul can help you do to increase your success, rather than simply pay for having a celebrity name.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book in-demand motivational speaker Paul McGee for your corporate event.

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Testimonials

Loved him. One of the directors wants to use him again, as do I.
PRU HEALTH

Paul McGee’s SUMO message made a huge impact on our staff, so much so we bought them all a copy of the book! Inspiring and engaging with a thought provoking message that continues to help staff in both their personal and professional lives.
Sophie Davison – Senior HR Advisor, Retail – HARRODS

Having worked with some of the worlds top sports people I’m aware how incredibly important confidence and self belief is to individual and team success. That’s why Paul’s book, SUMO is so important in helping people to achieve success in life. Read it, digest it and do what it says!
Sir Clive Woodward OBE – Ex Rugby Union Player & former Director of Sport – British Olympic Association

I’ve absolutely no doubt that your SUMO approach can help build resilience and enhance the quality of people’s lives, in both medical and educational settings. The clarity and simplicity of your explanations are accessible to everyone and I know many patients who would benefit from this approach.
Dr. Phil Hammond – GP, Journalist & Broadcaster

I saw Paul McGee present at an international conference. He uniquely addresses one of the biggest barriers to personal and business development… our own minds. The SUMO philosophy was a unanimous hit. Very, very powerful stuff!
Simon Newton-Smith – General Manager – Virgin Atlantic – South Africa

Every organisation these days needs to be looking for value for money…we made an investment in over 2,500 of our staff attending a SUMO seminar with Paul McGee. Staff were given insights and ideas that could help them be more effective at work, deal more positively with the challenge of change, and build better relationships with both the public and colleagues. The overwhelming feedback has been that the sessions were inspiring, thought provoking, humerous but above all practical in helping my staff make a positive difference. I would have no hesitation in recommending Paul McGee and his SUMO philosophy to any organisation.
Chief Constable, CAMBRIDGESHIRE POLICE

May I on behalf of everyone at Manchester United who attended your session, thank you for a great presentation. The feedback has been excellent and all very positive and I know the ideas within your SUMO message are greatly appreciated.
Club Secretary, MANCHESTER UNITED FC