Stef Reid MBE

An inspirational trailblazer who defies limits and embraces high performance.

Stef Reid is a World Champion long jumper, four-time Paralympian, triple Paralympic medallist, five-time world record holder, keynote speaker, TV broadcaster, trustee, actor, fashion model… and the first amputee to walk London Fashion Week in a custom-made stiletto running blade. Naturally.

With once bronze and two silver medals from the Paralympic Games, one silver and one bronze from the Parapan American Games, three bronze and one silver from the Paralympic World Cup, two bronze and a gold from the IPC World Championships, one gold from the IPC European Championship, and a gold from the Disability Athletics Challenge, it’s fair to say that Stef’s trophy cabinet is bulging.

She has an honours degree in biochemistry, and away from the track she works as a broadcaster, actor, model, and professional speaker. She was even a finalist on Celebrity MasterChef (2018).

Stef is also an award‑winning high‑performance speaker who works with global organisations to help teams thrive through uncertainty, build resilient habits, and perform at their best under pressure. “I help people bend without breaking.” When organisations navigate change, Stef helps their people adapt faster, perform better, and win…even when things don’t go to plan.

Booking is easy with Great British Talent. To find out availability and fees for Stef Reid any other talent for your corporate event or project, contact our Great British Talent agents via [email protected], or call us on +44 1753 439289.

Alternatively, fill out our talent enquiry form here – we’ll aim to respond within the hour. Our knowledgeable team of experts can handle all aspects of your booking to ensure it runs flawlessly.

Type Of Speaker

Disability Diversity Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Female Speakers High Performance International Women's Day Motivational Olympians Resilience Speaker Sport Virtual Speakers

More About Stef Reid MBE

Stef Reid was born in New Zealand to a Scottish father and English mother, grew up in Toronto, moves to Dallas, Texas with her Canadian husband – fellow Paralympian Brent Lakatos – and then settled in the UK in 2010.

Her talent and passion for sport was spotted early, and at 12 she was already dreaming of playing rugby on the world stage. However, when she was 15, Stef was involved in a boating accident, where she suffered severe propeller lacerations. Whilst her life was saved, her right foot had to be amputated. This accident put an end to her dreams of being a rugby superstar. But with the help of a carbon fibre running leg, she found a different sport.

Initially, Stef shifted her focus from sport to studies, studying biochemistry from Queen’s University in Canada. It was whilst at University that she joined their athletics team “just to see how fast” she could still run. After graduating, she put her plans of medical school aside and chose to focus on her childhood dream of being a professional athlete.

After a glittering 18 year Paralympic career, Stef announced her retirement in 2022, and is now on a mission to inspire others to find their version of High Performance.

Her success on the sporting stage has moved to other industries, and she became the first amputee to walk the London Fashion Week catwalk, and competed in Dancing on Ice in 2022, making it to the quarter finals and proving that you can learn to ice skate with a prosthetic foot.

She has also shown her skills as an actress, with Stef taking on an acting role in The Energy Within, sponsored by BP.

In 2018, Stef was awarded an MBE for services to Paralympic Sport. Alongside elite athletics, she completed an honours degree in biochemistry, became a trustee for the Women’s Sport Trust and Variety Children’s Charity, and serves as an ambassador for London’s Air Ambulance Charity and The Leprosy Mission UK.

Stef Reid | Adaptive Mindset Framework

With insights shaped by world‑class competition and grounded in behavioural science, Stef’s Adaptive Mindset Framework equips audiences with the tools to lead with confidence, sustain motivation, and accelerate through change.

Your AI rollout is stalling: People don’t resist AI because they dislike technology. They resist uncertainty. I help people move from fear to curiosity so they experiment, adapt, and discover opportunities instead of avoiding change.

Your people are exhausted: Performance isn’t sustainable when resilience runs out. I show teams how to perform under pressure without burning themselves out.

Innovation has plateaued: Your biggest competitive advantage isn’t technology. It’s perspective. I demonstrate how organisations that embrace different ways of thinking solve problems others don’t even notice.

Your culture isn’t unlocking everyone’s potential: Diversity and inclusion aren’t just about representation—they’re about performance. I help organisations create environments where people feel confident bringing the full breadth and depth of their experience, knowledge and perspective to the table, leading to better decisions, stronger collaboration and greater innovation.

Stef Reid | Motivational Speaking

Stef is an international speaker with a portfolio that includes corporate keynote speeches, event hosting, guest lecturing, and even consulting with the Vatican! Stef inspires and challenges audiences through her message that excellence is possible for everyone. Some of her recent adventures include being a pundit for Channel 4, and working as a BBC reporter for the Invictus Games Australia in 2018.

Stef Reid | Speaking Topics

– The Pursuit of Excellence

– Resilience

– The Adaptive Mindset

– Motivation

– Failure

– Wellbeing and Human Performance in Business

Stef Reid Paralympic athlete World Champion Long jumper inspirational speaker book at agent Great British Speakers

Stef Reid | Signature Keynote

How to Bend Without Breaking: The Adaptive Mindset that Bites Back: Grounded in lived experience and backed by elite performance insight, Stef introduces her 4-part Adaptive Mindset Framework – a practical, empowering approach to thriving through change, overcoming obstacles, and spotting the opportunities others miss.

Stef Reid | Other Keynotes

The High Performance Power of Diversity: High performance businesses knew that original ideas and thinking helps sustain success. For them, diversity is never about just ticking a box, it is about finding that edge over your competitors. They know that the best ideas come from a diverse room. We can all learn that unique perspectives can encourage personal and professional innovation.

High Performance Habits for Mental Health and Wellbeing: High performing bodies and minds are not just for elite athletes, they are necessary for everyone, whether in their personal or professional lives. Our bodies matter because they are the means by which we take action in the real world, and our minds matter because big goals and good ideas take time, and we need to be able to ride over the bumps and through the obstacles.

Stef Reid | Workshops

How to speak so people will listen: Learn how to communicate ideas with clarity, confidence and authenticity so they capture attention, inspire action and leave a lasting impression

I’ll take the confidence with a side of Imposter Syndrome: Replace self-doubt with practical strategies that help you perform at your best, especially when the stakes are high

Creating habits that last – why change is so hard and how to do it anyway: Turn good intentions into lasting change with practical tools for building habits that survive busy schedules, setbacks and uncertainty

Stef Reid | Why Book Stef?

There are lots of speakers who can inspire an audience. Stef combines the credibility of a Paralympic world champion with the practical tools of an executive coach and the storytelling skills of an award-winning broadcaster.

Audiences will laugh, cry, think, and reflect. But most importantly, they will act. The result is a culture that:

– Approaches uncertainty with greater confidence
– Makes better decisions under pressure
– Sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat

Stef Reid | Speaking Clients

Anaplan, Barclays, Bloomberg, Boston Scientific, BP, Cisco, EY, General Electric, Google, IOC, McDonald’s, McLaren, MDRT, P&G, PwC, Rolls Royce, SAP, Sky, Snapchat, UPS, Visa.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Paralympic Athlete Stef Reid to speak at or host your next live event.

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Testimonials

It was a privilege to share the stage with Stef Reid at the SAP Max Summit. Stef delivered an inspirational keynote to SAP’s most strategic global customers on the theme of transformation. Her story included authentic advice on resilience and adaptability in the face of radical change. Safe to say, it took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster and thoroughly deserved the standing ovation she received. I would recommend Stef to any organization serious about inspiring their people or customers.
Thomas Pfiester, Head of Customer Engagement & Adoption and Member of the Extended Board of SAP SE

I first heard Stef’s story on the High Performance Podcast. I was listening with my children in the back of the car and I noticed how quiet the car had become as they listened transfixed to her story. That doesn’t happen very often. So we decided to invite Stef to our annual conference to share her story with all of our leadership team. She had the same affect – you could have heard a pin drop as Stef told her story and the impact of her messages sunk in for our leaders. Stef has a unique stage presence of warmth, humility, kindness, and humour mixed with a steely determination. She got fantastic feedback from our Top 500 leaders who all took away key messages around resilience and perspective and never giving up no matter what the challenge ahead. I’d highly recommend!
Andy Moat, People Director for B & Q

I wanted to pass on my thanks again for your speech yesterday. You could hear a pin drop in the room throughout and, whilst as the organiser I’m always thinking and planning for the following sessions, I caught myself becoming totally engrossed! I particularly loved the Dancing on Ice story and video. The feedback we’ve had so far has been excellent and the thoughts and lessons you gave were the topic of many conversations later in the day. It was a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for letting me wear the medal!
Ollie Brenig-Jones, Senior Learning and Development Partner for Formula E

Stef has worked with us on numerous occasions, bringing a magic and passion to our internal and external audiences alike. Most recently she delivered a powerful keynote speech at the Future Leaders event, which brought together many of BP’s highest potential individuals from around the world. Stef possesses an extraordinary ability to engage every person in the room, sharing her perspectives in a way that is at once engaging, energizing and thought-provoking. Stef has a natural speaking talent and an ability to make us all think again about what is possible in life.
BP

Listening to Paralympian and model Stef Reid describing how she had successfully adapted to becoming disabled was inspirational. Stef eloquently articulated the problems of striving to conform to the narrow stereotype of ‘normal’ and encouraged the audience to challenge the current paradigm. She emphasised the need to celebrate difference rather than view it as a reason for exclusion.
London College of Fashion

I had the honour of watching Stef in the Olympic stadium in 2012. Her story had everyone on the edge of their seats, laughing out loud and in the next moment reaching for their tissues. Stef is a true champion who is not only an inspiration on the track but also on the stage. She brought the house down and I’d pay to watch time after time. A joy to work with and an honour to know her.
Geoff Ramm (Another Great British Speaker!)