Sarah Wells

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• The Pursuit of Excellence: How to Cultivate Unstoppable Excellence in Yourself and Your Organization

  Excellence isn’t reserved for a select few — it’s a mindset that anyone can adopt, no matter who you are, or where you begin.

  In this transformative keynote, Olympian Sarah Wells reveals how to cultivate excellence within ourselves and organizations. She will share the core principles that drive excellence, including the power of believing in yourself, the courage to do things differently, and the resilience to rise from setbacks. By going all in on our unique strengths and experiences, we can unlock success in ways only each of us as individuals can achieve.

  Through compelling stories and real-life examples, Wells will help audiences understand that excellence isn’t about perfection, it’s about breaking free from limiting beliefs and constantly striving to outperform who you were yesterday. With more than a decade of competition at the highest level, along with a master’s degree in leadership and innovation from the Smith School of Business, she delivers powerful, research-backed insights that unlock the mindset and practical tools to cultivate excellence in everything we do.

  Discover how to make excellence your daily standard and watch it transform not just your work but every facet of your life. Key takeaways include:

  • Excellence is for everyone: Learn how to adopt an excellence-driven mindset, no matter who you are or where you start, unlocking your potential for growth and success.
  • The power of going ALL IN: Discover how believing in yourself is the foundation of achieving greatness, and how this belief can propel you to break through limiting beliefs.
  • Excellence is contagious: Discover how surrounding yourself with high standards can elevate your performance and create a ripple effect in your organization.
  • Courage to be different: Understand the importance of daring to take unconventional paths and leaning into your unique strengths to create success only you can achieve.
  • Strength in setbacks: Gain practical strategies for turning failures into learning moments, understanding that resilience in the face of setbacks is key to long-term success.

• Overcoming Hurdles: Embracing Change and Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

  Change is constant, and how we respond to it defines the trajectory of our success.

  In this inspiring and transformative keynote, Olympian Sarah Wells invites audiences to reframe the way they think about obstacles and setbacks. Drawing from her journey as an elite athlete, she will share the essential mindset shifts that empower individuals and organizations to not just face adversity, but use it as a catalyst for growth and innovation.

  Wells knows firsthand that success is not about avoiding hurdles but mastering the art of overcoming them. Through engaging stories of resilience, grit, and excellence, she will reveal how cultivating a mindset of adaptability and excellence helps you thrive in uncertain times, sharing three powerful strategies to help audiences embrace life’s detours and turn them into stepping stones toward a reality greater than ever imagined.

  This keynote offers more than just inspiration — it provides actionable tools and  strategies that audiences can apply immediately. Wells will show how excellence, resilience, and a willingness to face challenges head-on can transform obstacles into opportunities. Attendees will leave with renewed confidence, armed with the skills to embrace change with grace and turn setbacks into successes.

  Key takeaways include:

  • Unexpected changes can lead to even better outcomes, if you’re willing to embrace new opportunities.
  • Lean into your strengths during change, as they provide the best path for leading others through uncertainty.
  • Believe in yourself, even when plans change, because your adaptability will keep you moving forward.
  • Your past experiences and skills are powerful tools that help you thrive in the face of change.
  • Your unwavering commitment and energy inspire others to stay focused, even in uncertain times

• The 16 Stride Factor: Supercharge Your Organization with Innovative Thinking.

  In today’s fast-paced world, true success doesn’t come from following the same path as everyone else — it comes from embracing what makes you unique and daring to think differently.

  In “The 16 Stride Factor,” Olympian Sarah Wells shares the game-changing strategy that helped her defy the odds in athletics. She’ll show how individuals and organizations alike can apply this approach to supercharge their own goals and unlock new levels of success. Wells will challenge audiences to embrace unconventional approaches, leverage their team’s distinctive abilities, and cultivate a culture that celebrates experimentation and exploration without fear of failure or a need for guaranteed outcomes.

  Get ready to break away from tradition, harness your organization’s unique strengths, and discover how to achieve success in a way that only you can.

  Key takeaways include:

  • Conformity crushes creativity: When we embrace unconventional thinking and break away from traditional approaches, we open up new paths to success that others may overlook.
  • Lead with authenticity: We inspire our teams most powerfully when we lead in a way that’s true to our unique strengths, rather than trying to mimic how others inspire.
  • Inspire boldness through action: By taking risks and not being afraid to try, we encourage those around us to step outside their comfort zones and make bold moves too.
  • Failure fuels growth: Whether or not our experiments go to plan, each effort provides valuable lessons that drive future innovation and evolution.

• Charting the Course to an Amazing Race: Equipping Your Team with Courage to Conquer Every Mile

  What could your team do if they believed anything was possible? What if every setback fueled your next breakthrough? What if every challenge revealed a hidden opportunity? Sarah Wells’ story is a testament to that possibility.

  As an Olympian and a contestant on The Amazing Race, Wells has transformed trials into triumphs, mastering a four-step system to help teams chart their own course to an amazing race! Her high-energy keynote will share her proven system to transform fierce competition and unexpected roadblocks into unforgettable achievements. Through vivid storytelling and hard-earned insights from both the track and the world’s toughest race course, Wells will guide audiences to:

  • Adopt a champion’s mindset: Cultivate unwavering belief in your goals — empowering your people to take bold action and stay the course, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
  • Turn setbacks into stepping stones: Master the art of reframing every challenge as a springboard for innovation and growth, so your team sees roadblocks as the fuel for their next big win.
  • Drive outstanding results: Discover how to identify and amplify individual and collective talents, unlocking extraordinary performance and breakthrough results.

  This session is a game‑changer for any organization seeking to energize teams, accelerate performance, and achieve breakthrough results. Get ready to revitalize your ambition, ignite your passion, and set the pace for an amazing race — your race — toward a future where nothing can hold you back.

  Key takeaways include how to:

  • Embrace a champion’s mindset: Equip your team with the confidence and habits to take bold action even when the path is uncertain.
  • Transform setbacks into accelerators: Turn every challenge into a catalyst for creativity, innovation, and forward momentum.
  • Harness unique strengths: Identify and amplify individual and collective talents to unlock breakthrough performance.
  • Sustain unstoppable momentum: Build the tools and practices needed to maintain energy, collaboration, and progress mile after mile.