Leadership and motivational talks with Tanya Sullivan
Leadership lessons from offshore sailing for teams facing real pressure.
From stormy crossings to shared laughter on deck, Tanya brings real moments from offshore sailing to the stage—delivering leadership lessons your team won’t forget.
Speaking themes
Resilience:
Building strength through adversity
Tanya shares how to stay grounded and adaptable in the face of uncertainty. Her stories teach how to bounce back, hold steady, and keep going when things get tough - together.
Leadership: How to build trust when failure has real consequences
Tanya's experience shows what it takes to make bold decisions under pressure, build trust in high-stakes situations, and empower others to step up and lead too. All in a clear, calm, and human way.
Teamwork:
No crew wins alone
Drawing on real-life moments of camaraderie and challenge, Tanya reveals how great teams communicate, support one another, and thrive - even when the conditions are far from ideal.
Leading under pressure
Teamwork and morale
Making decisions in uncertainty
Trust and camaraderie
Finding joy in challenges
Navigating change with confidence
Resilience through shared challenge
Empowering every voice
Motivation that lasts under pressure
Communication that keeps teams aligned
'It's never too late to start something new'
Tanya's talks share uplifting stories from her ocean adventures, giving your audience the tools and motivation they need to face challenges together.
Meet your speaker
Meet Tanya: your leadership and motivational speaker
Tanya Sullivan is a sailor, business owner, and motivational speaker who brings powerful lessons from the ocean into the workplace. After a successful career in hospitality, she discovered sailing, became an RYA Offshore Yachtmaster Instructor, and never looked back.
She has skippered multiple Ocean crossings and Rolex Fastnet campaigns, and competed in some of the world’s most prestigious sailing regattas. She’s led crews through storms, setbacks, and extraordinary moments of camaraderie.
Midway through her sailing career, Tanya faced and overcame breast cancer, a challenge that deepened her understanding of resilience, courage, and perspective under pressure.
Her talks inspire leaders and teams to grow stronger together. Drawing on real experiences, her talks are practical, humorous, and deeply human - offering real insight into what it takes to thrive when the stakes are high.
Why book Tanya?
Tanya Sullivan is a leadership and motivational speaker who goes beyond theory; sharing real-world lessons from offshore sailing that resonate with teams at every level.
Real-world leadership
No slides full of theory—just lived experience. Tanya shares what it takes to lead when decisions matter, pressure is high, and there’s no time to hesitate.
Memorable storytelling
From Atlantic crossings to stormy races, Tanya’s stories stay with people long after the talk ends—making key leadership lessons easy to remember and apply.
Practical takeaways
Every talk is grounded in real, usable insight. Your team leaves with ideas they can act on immediately—not just something that sounded good in the moment.
Tailored to your team
No two crews are the same. Tanya shapes every session around your people, your challenges, and your goals—ensuring maximum relevance and impact.
Tanya's talks are designed to create lasting impact - not just inspiration in the moment.
Teams leave with:
Stronger communication under pressure
More confident and decisive leadership
Improved trust and team morale
A clearer understanding of how to perform in challenging environments
Flexible formats.
Tailored talks.
Bespoke talks tailored to your event theme or team goals
Suitable for all industries and leadership levels
Available for presentations, keynotes, away days, or internal events
How it works
Step 1:
Get in touch
Step 2:
Customisation
Step 3:
Event day
Racing is like a team-building event - only there’s no escape, the stakes are real, and leadership decisions can’t wait until Monday.
Enquire now and start your booking journey
Ready to inspire your team with fresh energy, unforgettable stories, and real leadership insights?
Whether you’re planning a team retreat, conference, or leadership event, Tanya’s talks are tailored to your audience and your goals.
Other things to know
Tanya covers a range of topics including leadership, teamwork, resilience, and overcoming challenges. Her unique experiences as a sailor enrich her presentations, making them relatable and impactful. Each talk is tailored to meet the specific needs of your organisation.
Tanya brings real-world leadership experience—not theory. Her talks are built on moments where decisions matter, teams are tested, and resilience is essential. The result is a talk that feels authentic, relatable, and genuinely useful for teams facing real challenges.
Talks typically run between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on your event and objectives. Tanya also offers extended sessions and workshops for deeper engagement, giving teams more time to explore key leadership and teamwork concepts.
Absolutely. Every talk is tailored to your team, your challenges, and your event goals. This ensures that the content resonates with the audience and delivers maximum impact.
Pricing depends on the format, duration, and location of your event. For a tailored quote, simply get in touch—Tanya will work with you to create the right session for your team and budget. Request a quote here
Booking Tanya is simple! Just fill out the contact form on this website or give us a call. Tanya will assist you in securing your preferred date and discussing your specific needs.
