Wendy Smith

Paralympic Basketball Player & TED Talk Speaker - There is no such word as 'can't'

Topics:

Pressure & Stress
2
Positive Mindset
2
Overcoming Adversity

Wendy Smith is a former Paralympian, celebrated TED speaker, and expert in personal development, who has dedicated her life to inspiring others to unlock their full potential.

After a life-changing motorbike accident left her with a spinal injury, Wendy chose not to be defined by adversity. Instead, she turned it into an opportunity to reach the highest levels of sport, representing Great Britain as a Paralympian.

Known for her powerful TED talk, “The Power of ‘I Can’,” Wendy demonstrates how our mindset directly impacts our abilities – an unforgettable experience for any audience. Her interactive style, including live demonstrations, leaves a lasting impression on students and adults alike, inspiring them to believe that anything is possible with the right attitude.

Wendy’s sporting journey taught her how to stay calm under pressure, manage stress effectively, and consistently perform at an elite level. Today, she shares these lessons through her speaking engagements, helping young people develop resilience, self-belief and a proactive approach to life’s challenges.

A qualified basketball coach, psychologist and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) trainer, Wendy is also the author of 50 Ways To Change and The Quick Fix Guide To Wheelchair Basketball. Her work is highly regarded among athletes, coaches and educators.

Passionate about building self-awareness and empowering individuals to think differently, Wendy’s message is clear: there is no such word as “can’t”. She inspires her audiences to step out of their comfort zones, embrace new challenges and realise that they are capable of far more than they think.

Key Themes:

  • Overcoming Adversity

  • Building a Positive Mindset

  • Stress Management and Resilience

  • High Performance Under Pressure

  • Empowerment Through Sport

Book Wendy Smith

Featured topics include

Wendy helps young people understand how powerful their mindset can be. Using real-life stories and fun activities, she shows how changing “I can’t” to “I can” builds confidence, resilience and success. Pupils leave her sessions feeling inspired, more positive, and ready to tackle challenges both in and out of school.

Wendy tells her inspiring story of how she overcame a serious accident to achieve her dream of becoming a Paralympian. She shows pupils that with hard work, a positive attitude and determination, they can overcome any challenge and achieve amazing things in their own lives.

Wendy brings the magic of the Paris 2024 Olympics into schools, showing pupils what it takes to aim high and achieve their dreams. She talks about hard work, teamwork and believing in yourself, inspiring students to be their very best in sport, school and life.

What people say

Wendy was great. Her speech was impactful and inspiring, and the students were very engaged throughout its entirety. We will definitely be recommending her to any partners who require a speaker.

London South Bank University

If you’re looking for a speaker who engages the audience from start to finish leaving your audience enthused, amazed and inspired, I’d highly recommend Wendy. Her to the point style with no mincing of words brings her public speaking to a whole new dimension.

FSB

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