SPEAKER

Everyone does well when they can, but fear wears many masks including stress and anxiety and can get in our way.  It also grows strongest right at the edge of our greatest opportunities.

The challenge isn’t avoiding fear, but moving forward despite it.

Drawing on her remarkable journey from depression to breaking freediving World Records, Helena shares practical strategies for calming overactive minds, helping you to move through fear to create sustainable pathways to higher performance.

KEYNOTE

Freediving Through Fear:  Deep Lessons For Life Above Water

In today’s high-stakes environment, the relentless pressure to perform can leave us stuck in survival mode, with stress and anxiety blocking our path to extraordinary results.  Even those working hard to reach their full potential find themselves limited by an overactive mind and struggling to focus in our fast-paced world.

Helena’s keynote guides audiences to discover how finding clarity through mindfulness can unlock potential, transforming daily pressures into more productive, happier and healthier lives.

Leveraging her experiences from the depths of depression through to becoming a World Record holding freediver, Helena shares how finding clarity through present moment awareness unlocks your highest potential and demonstrates 5 practical strategies you can implement immediately.

WORKSHOPS

Helena’s workshop attendees get to dive deeper into the power of the present moment awareness.  By fully understanding the concept and trying out each of the 5 stress and anxiety reduction strategies, participants get to fully appreciate their potential and discover the best ways to integrate these strategies into daily life.  Thus immediately starting to see and feel the benefits and how to continue on with their use and rewards.

We also plunge into the 6+ elements of a Great Mental Health Practice and how the way we use “Intention” can help us painlessly incorporate more and more of these habits daily, helping us do better both within and beyond the boardroom walls, into the rest of our lives.

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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