Polly Williamson feels she has had two lives. The first life encompassed her dream of winning Gold Medals in the sport of Eventing. In addition to her passion, Polly was able to identify and manage risk. In her late teens, she set up and lead a sustainable business.  In the saddle, Polly needed to apply the finest judgements, taking risk tempered by experience, and always under the pressure of time.

At 18 years old Polly was selected for her first European Championships winning double gold. Polly went on to win a further 4 gold medals and 2 National titles competing across Europe and Australia. Polly also competed in a celebrity race round Aintree jumping the original Becher’s Brook! Polly secured numerous financial sponsorship agreements with high profile global companies and set up her own business producing horses for the international market, alongside training international competitors in Great Britain and Europe.

The second life embraced the need to return from traumatic brain injury. In 2011 Polly sustained a life changing accident incurring a traumatic brain injury. Her successful business was closed and her secure family life with her husband and 2 children was temporarily weakened as Polly was left struggling to know who she now was. This loss of identity – led by her damaged brain pathways – plummeted her self-esteem and confidence and needed extraordinary resilience and determination before she truly became secure in her new skin.

Her new journey was about recognising change, finding a new identity and working with her altered brain, accepting her ‘neuro diverse’ state. Starting from the depths of despair, she relearnt how to talk, walk, and think. Family and friends played a big part, but it has been the same rugged determination that has underpinned the decade-long journey back from coma.

Polly is passionate about supporting the future generation, spending 6 months volunteering at a Barnardo’s centre supporting young children and an ambassador for The Sophy Layzell Trust – a charity supporting children with an acquired brain injury. Polly is also a frequent speaker for the charity ‘Headway’.

Polly Williamson | Book: Where Did I Go?

Polly has achieved an extraordinary recovery. Enthusiastic to share her remarkable experiences with audiences globally, Polly has become the proud author of Where Did I Go?: Rediscovering My Identity, Lost After a Traumatic Brain Injury, a publication that provides an in-depth, personal and at times amusing account of what she experienced to the reader.

Writing a book was part of Polly’s healing process and a cathartic experience that helped her slowly rediscover the person she was before her accident. It helped her realise that Polly Williamson wasn’t dead after all.

Polly Williamson | Speaker 

The decade-long journey from coma to a full, successful existence saw plenty of challenges overcome. Polly talks of the strategies she used during her recovery and her first-hand experience of the publics’ positive and negative reaction to mental issues. Her story is one of pure and relentless determination and is a reminder to anyone that it is always possible to start again, even after the most significant of setbacks.

As a speaker, Polly shares her inspirational story and leaves audiences with the clear message that we all have an inner strength to overcome adversity and that a new path can be found, working with differences rather than against them.

The one-of-a-kind Polly Williamson is a humorous, sincere and heartwarming speaker, guaranteed to leave a strong impression on all her audiences with a potent reminder of what we can achieve.

Polly Williamson | Speaker Topics

– Mental Health
– Identity
– Overcoming Brain Trauma
– Determination
– Resilience
– Overcoming Obstacles
– Fighting Back From Injury
– Neurodiversity
– International Sport

Why Book Polly Williamson?

In the business world, Polly Williamson brings a fresh perspective that contrasts overt success with hidden challenge. Overcoming a traumatic brain injury, Polly is in a unique position and talks of the hidden depths the neuro diverse do offer. Her presentations are delivered with warmth and humour, reaching out to those who seek to lead, manage, and join a workforce where life has not always been straightforward. If you set your mind to it, nothing is impossible. 

Diversity in all its forms is of great value. Polly identifies that to a business nothing can be more important than people thinking differently – cognitive diversity – brain patterns that don’t always conform. The ability to encourage new and unfettered thinking can make any business or organisation great. The neuro diverse mind, be it autism, ADHD, or trauma like Polly’s must have something to offer in this equation. Polly helps businesses see that there may be challenges but great potential too.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book former European champion horse rider and brain injury survivor Polly Williamson for your next event.