Nine-time adventure race champion and MNZM who survived leptospirosis on life support — then raced on
Steve Gurney is a New Zealand household name: a professional adventure athlete at the top of his game for two decades, awarded an MNZM for services to endurance sport, a published author of three books, and the inventor of a record-breaking Pod bike, a kayak with wings and an anti-gravity paddle levitation device. He raced in the mountains, jungles and deserts of the world — until Borneo nearly killed him. While competing through Borneo's jungles, Gurney contracted leptospirosis from bat guano and ended up on three life-support machines. Against medical odds, he recovered and returned to competitive racing for another decade of wins.
Gurney's presentations are not standard adversity stories. He brings a framework drawn from studying high achievers, applying research into mental excellence, and using methods he tested on himself — in the Christchurch earthquakes, in hospital, and on race courses that most people would not attempt. He connects real-life adventure stories to practical strategies for teams: risk management, resilience building, goal achievement and the determination that sustains performance through sustained difficulty.
Steve works closely with clients to tailor sessions to their specific workplace problems and desired outcomes. Commonwealth Bank and Air New Zealand have both brought him back. He likes to make mole-hills out of mountains — and the audiences who have heard him tend to believe, afterwards, that they can too.
Steve Gurney is a keynote speaker based in New Zealand who speaks on inspiration, motivation and resilience. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Steve’s entertaining and educational personal stories of emerging triumphant from adventure-gone-wrong, jungles, deadly animals, hospital.
In the current climate tending toward over-regulation, Steve shares stories and strategies to instead develop intelligent teams, family and an empowered society that can manage risk for itself instead of the unsustainable
Leave delegates highly motivated to live life on purpose. Challenging audiences to examine their limiting beliefs and their bucket lists. “Life truly begins at the edge of your comfort zone”
Studying the strategies of society’s high achievers. Learn the latest goal-achieving techniques
Having lived and thrived through the Christchurch quakes “Mr Resilient” is ready to shake up your team with some constructive and uplifting motivation techniques, and resilience-building stories.
By blending real life achievements, experience and methods Steve was able to engage our people in honest and challenging conversations about "lifting the bar". Steve has a no nonsense and honest approach to conversations and change that people respond to, he's engaging and entertaining and challenging. We've already booked him for our next session.Commonwealth Bank Grp Australia
Steve was inspirational, a real catalyst for positive change throughout our team. We look forward to him coming back next year.Air New Zealand
Your personal accounts of how you obtained and sustained peak performance have contributed to advancing the development of sport in New Zealand.New Zealand Olympic Committee
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