Former AFL premiership player — on mental health, performance pressure and stepping away from the sport.
Tom Boyd was one of the most-watched young footballers in the country when he was drafted at seventeen, then signed by the Western Bulldogs in one of the most-discussed contracts in AFL history. He played a critical role in the Bulldogs' 2016 premiership victory before retiring from football at twenty-three, choosing to speak openly about the mental health challenges that had run alongside his sporting career.
The speaking he does today is shaped by both the very public chapter inside elite sport and the years since spent working through what he learned. He talks carefully and credibly about expectation, identity and the long work of finding a different definition of success. The tone is measured rather than performative.
For event organisers, Tom is a strong fit for mental health programs, men's wellbeing initiatives, leadership events in male-heavy industries, sporting events and in-house audiences where the brief is an authentic, current-generation voice on performance pressure and recovery.
Tom Boyd is a keynote speaker based in Victoria who speaks on inspiration, mental health & wellbeing and sport. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
In 2020, Mental Health is one of the most important topics in Australian culture. In this moving keynote, AFL Premiership player Tom Boyd shares first-hand his personal experiences struggling with anxiety and depression while under the microscope of the AFL and the media.
Tom shines a spotlight on one of the most difficult subjects being discussed in workplaces today and shares techniques and strategies he personally used to overcome some of the most challenging moments in his life.
In his vulnerable, authentic and heartfelt presentation, Tom provides messages of hope and optimism for anyone facing Mental Health conditions.
When performance is paramount in your career, how do you ensure you take care of yourself? Is more always better? What are the risks associated with pushing yourself beyond your capacity, and what are you really sacrificing?
In this intimate keynote, Tom shares lessons from his experiences living and working within one of the most scrutinised and high pressure industries.
As his AFL career skyrocketed, Tom went from being a moderate social media user, to the target of social media scrutiny.
Tom tried multiple techniques to manage this chaos before learning the valuable lesson of feeling comfortable internally, before effectively managing anything externally.
In this insightful keynote, Tom shares lessons on dealing with criticism, the up and downs of social media, and the key to breaking free from his scrutiny: developing empathy towards those targeting the negativity.
Tom was an exceptional storyteller, engaging, authentic, and incredibly impactful. He gave our team a meaningful insight into his journey and created a strong connection with the audience. His openness during he Q&A was greatly appreciated, and the team absolutely loved having him speak.Ray White Real Estate Ferntree Gully
Tom was engaging, humorous and down to earth. I had great feedback from the men in attendance. Tom spoke on his journey and whilst not mental health heavy, put bits and pieces in there that men could relate to and think about.Murrumbidgee Mens Group
Excellent, Tom was engaging with a valuable message about wellbeing. Highly recommended!Goulburn Valley Safety Group
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