SPEAKER

CREATING SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS TO HIGHER PERFORMANCE

When corporate leaders ask me how I perform under ultimate pressure, I tell them:  “The same way your teams can learn to thrive under workplace stress.”

As a Mental Health Expert and 4x World Record Freediver, I’ve discovered that the tools for mental health recovery are identical to those for sustainable high performance.  What started as my personal journey from suicidal depression to world records has become a proven methodology for helping corporate teams transform anxiety into excellence.

MENTAL HEALTH ISN’T SEPARATE FROM PEAK PERFORMANCE, IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF IT.

What I Bring to Your Organisation:

Proven frameworks for building foundational trust that eliminates imposter syndrome and decision paralysis

Present-moment mastery techniques that enhance focus and reduce burnout

Stress transformation tools backed by both neuroscience and real-world results

A unique perspective from someone who performs at world-record levels under literal life-or-death pressure

KEYNOTE

Freediving Through Fear:  Deep Lessons For Life Above Water

I help leadership teams and their organisations understand that peak performance without burnout isn’t just possible but is also sustainable.  Through practical tools and foundational practices, your team will discover how to find calm clarity within chaos giving them a competitive advantage.

In this inspiring keynote, audiences learn the revolutionary skill of moving through fear instead of being paralysed by it.  Drawing from my journey to 16 National Records and 4 World Records, I share the exact strategies that work to help you get to 80 meters underwater a well as navigate high-stakes corporate decisions.

Your team will leave with immediately actionable techniques that help them perform at their peak, even when the stakes are highest.

WORKSHOPS

Diving Deeper

My workshops take participants beyond inspiration to transformation.  Through hands-on application of stress transformation tools and present-moment mastery techniques, attendees experience how mental clarity becomes their secret weapon against performance pressure.

We explore proven frameworks for building the foundational trust that eliminates imposter syndrome, and discover how sustainable peak performance becomes not just achievable, but inevitable.  Participants leave with a personalised blueprint for integrating these practices into their daily routine, creating lasting high performance that extends throughout their organisation.

Credentials That Matter

World-Class Performance Under Pressure:

  • 4x World Records (Masters 1 Category) and 16 National Records in Depth Freediving
  • 5x World Championship competitor for Team GB
  • Advanced Oxygen Advantage & Buteyko Method Breath Work Instructor
  • Award-winning documentary subject – Light Beams for Helena (Best Short Film, London Mountain Film Festival 2024)

My Promise

In a world designed to leave teams reactive and stressed, I teach the most revolutionary skill possible: The ability to find calm clarity within the chaos and transform it into a competitive advantage.

Ready to help your team freedive through fear to reach peak performance?

GET IN TOUCH WITH HELENA

TESTIMONIALS

How to describe Helena?

She is truly a one-off.  Her story is one of survival against the odds.  Of triumph against adversity.  Of going deep, inside and in the water.  Of working out what it truly means to push yourself, and live.

I met her through a mutual friend, and was straight away bowled over by her openness, generosity of spirit and ambition for free diving and breathwork.  She shared her story with me on a podcast and it was truly a rollercoaster.  Since then she has won more free diving records, been the star of 2 films and overcome more setbacks.  But throughout she has never stopped being her.  Caring about others.  Checking in.  Being thoughtful and helpful, even when these are the furthest from her priorities.  It is just who she is.  Recommending Helena is unnecessary.  She recommends herself.

British Orthopaedic Association Annual Congress, 2023

Helena gave an incredible talk. It was insightful, moving and inspiring.  She bravely shared her story, opening up important discussions around a sensitive issue.

Two ears – two eyes – one breath

Whether it’s a breathing workshop or a motivational talk.  This lady will stop time from the moment she opens her mouth.  She doesn’t just have a story, she also knows how to tell it, and you will be, for that very short period of your life encapsulated.  Helena made us think about the most basic human need – the breath.
So listen, observe and take a breath.

Keynote Speaker at Pink Petro’s HerWorld, 2019

“Helena’s unforgettable speech at Pink Petro’s International Women’s Day event in London was one to remember.  As the MC of the event, I told the audience that they would not have heard anything like Helena’s story before… and how right I was!

She shared her compelling story in an articulate, poignant, compulsive yet funny way which had the large audience gripped.  Whether it was revealing her life-long mental struggle with depression and anxiety or depicting what happens during one of her championship freedive’s, Helena had the crowd in her hand and you could hear a pin drop.  What a fantastic person and an even better story!”

Sixth Form @ Downe House School, 2018

“What a great pleasure to have Helena back at Downe House to share her fantastic story.

Helena gave an incredibly inspiring talk on her journey from mental illness to full recovery and acclaimed success, making even the darkest hour a precious moment in the build-up of the accomplished, compassionate, empathic individual she is.

It was a tremendous opportunity for our girls to experience the power of resilience and enjoy at the same time, the breath-taking pictures of Helena’s dives!

Thank you, Helena”

Keynote for Skanska Commercial Graduates @ The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, 2018

“Helena’s talk was  unforgettable and thought provoking . She showed  that  we can all overcome really difficult moments in our own  personal or business life when we can share our experiences and are willing to help and support  each other.

People are at the very heart of all high performing teams whether it is an international freediving competition  or running a construction business.  We need both oxygen and cash to keep us all healthy.”

Keynote for Skanska Commercial Graduates @ The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, 2018

“Helena Bourdillon is a Great Britain freediver and she made a fantastic link about being in the zone to be able to perform at your best, and this aligns perfectly to the behaviours needed to deliver Skanska’s laser focus plan. She also spoke of overcoming her mental health issues by channelling her mind into freediving so it is no longer a chronic disease.”

Keynote for Skanska Commercial Graduates @ The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, 2018

“Helena managed to tackle and present the difficult topic of mental health really well.  Generally, people do not like to talk about mental health, however she managed to make it less of a “taboo” by making the talk relevant to the audience and at the same time including occupation and personal history.  I have seen a few presentations on mental health and well-being and none of them had as many questions afterwards which shows that she developed a genuine interest in the subject matter.

The afternoon “breathing exercises” were a really good way to focus everyone after lunch and everyone seemed to have fun as well.  Learning to do something as basic as breathing properly could benefit some of the attendees in the long run as well.”

Keynote for Skanska Commercial Graduates @ The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, 2018

“Very interesting to have a guest speaker talk about real life experiences outside of the construction industry but with related content”

 

Mulberry Freedivers, Selsey, 2017

“It was our immense pleasure to have Helena talk at the launch of Mulberry Freedivers.

I am not sure what I expected but I was blown away by an honest, frank yet often entertaining account of how freediving helped change and continues to help her on a personal level.

Great imagery and explanation of the sport and a true inspiration for what it is possible to achieve even in a person’s darkest hour!

I came away inspired and many of the club members have since spoken to me about how Helena has inspired them and to reach for their dreams.”

 

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Olympia June 2025

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