Barbara Kendall stands as a trailblazer and inspirational icon in the world of sports, leaving an indelible mark for over three decades, both on and off the field of play.
Barbara's journey began with an impressive dedication to windsurfing, where she quickly rose to prominence. She made history as the first New Zealand female to compete in five Olympic Games, securing a gold medal in Barcelona (1992), a silver in Atlanta (1996), and a bronze in Sydney (2000). Her sporting career also saw her earning 11 World Championship medals and 25 National Championship titles.
Despite the challenges of balancing motherhood with an elite sports career, Barbara’s relentless pursuit of excellence and her ability to overcome numerous setbacks, injuries, and gender discrimination showcased her resilience and true character.
Barbara's influence extended far beyond her athletic achievements. Known as "a Force of Nature" for her visionary, proactive, and inclusive leadership, she served as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member for nine years. As the inaugural chair of the Oceania and Continental Athletes Commissions, she passionately advocated for the rights and welfare of athletes on a global scale.
Today, Barbara continues to make a positive impact in the world of sports. She serves as Vice President of the International Surfing Association and is a Global Master Educator for the IOC’s Athlete365 Career+ program. Her dynamic energy, authenticity, and captivating storytelling make her a sought-after motivational speaker, inspiring audiences with her experiences and wisdom gained from a lifetime of achievement in both sports and leadership.
Barbara Kendall’s story is one of hard work, goal-setting, discipline, motivation, determination, and passion. Her journey from an Olympic champion to a global leader and educator is a testament to her enduring spirit and commitment to excellence. She continues to inspire and lead, proving that true champions excel both on and off the field.
Talking Points
Unicorns vs Reality
What does it take to build those Unicorn moments?
Unicorns vs Reality
Cultivating Cultures
Team-building interactive workshop discovering the dynamics of your team.Cultivating Cultures
Key Concepts:
•Gain a deeper understanding of behaviours, motivators, stressors, and strengths within your team.
•Develop strategies for enhancing team cohesion and performance.
Leadership and Development
Inspired by Aristotle's quote, "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom," focusing on personal and leadership development.
Leadership and Development
Everything went fantastic!!! Barbara was absolutely amazing! Residents loved her, and I keep receiving a positive feedback from them! Thank you for introducing Barbara to our Village! Really ... keep reading Summerset
Barbara's presentation was great. They loved it and she made them smile. After a whole day of technical presentations it was great to have a positive message delivered by an engaging and fun person.
Barbara is a relaxed humorous speaker who naturally captured the audience.
I recently engaged Barbara to run a session on wellness for a group of high-performing professionals, and she was FANTASTIC! Barbara’s ability to tackle the sometimes hard, confronting stuff around wellbeing with such positive and infectious energy is one of her many superpowers. She puts the room at ease with her down-to-earth nature and genuine passion for what she does. Barbara’s knowledge and actionable little gold nuggets around keeping well went down a treat. The professional world needs more of you! Thank you, Barbara!
Barbara fitted into our function just perfectly. The feedback we have received has been superb. Barbara was a thrill to work with. The audience loved her and really responded to her.
It was a great session this morning, and everyone had lots of fun. We were all fully engaged. I really liked the way Barbara brought the subject to life in a relatable and fun way. She captured the group’s attention with her authentic and animated style. This was the most dynamic team-building workshop I’ve experienced (and I’ve been around the track a bit!), with the inclusion of the mobile app taking feedback and participation to another level. The team left buzzing and wanting more, which was exactly what I was hoping for. I’d love to work with Barbara again when the opportunity arises
