Anna Hemmings is a leading authority on sustained high performance. She helps leaders and teams achieve excellence and maintain it over time.
She combines proven strategies from elite sport with behavioural science to deliver practical, business-ready tools. As a result, her work drives immediate and lasting change.
The Power of Mindset
Anna’s journey demonstrates the true power of resilience and determination. Early in her career, a national coach told her she was not strong enough to succeed.
However, she proved them wrong by becoming a three-time World Champion and Olympian by age 24. She showed that mindset can overcome perceived limitations.
At the peak of her career, Anna faced another major challenge when diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Medical experts warned she might never compete again.
Despite this, she fought back to full health and returned to win three more world titles. She also competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
She retired with 11 World and European Championship medals, including nine gold medals. As a result, she became Britain’s most successful female kayaker and received an MBE.
High Performance Specialist
Following her sporting career, Anna transitioned into leadership and performance coaching. She now helps organisations build the mindset, habits, and culture required for sustained success.
As an accredited leadership coach, she founded Beyond the Barriers, a consultancy focused on resilience and high-performing teams. Through this work, she supports organisations worldwide.
Importantly, her expertise sits at the intersection of elite sport and corporate performance. With over 15 years of experience, she understands the realities leaders face daily.
She works with teams managing stretch targets, constant change, and limited resources under pressure. Consequently, she brings practical tools that help teams stay focused and perform consistently.
Speaking
With over 18 years of speaking experience across more than 40 countries, Anna delivers high-impact keynotes. She goes beyond storytelling to create meaningful and practical learning experiences.
She connects elite performance principles directly to business challenges, making her content highly relevant and actionable. As a result, audiences gain tools they can apply immediately.
Clients consistently praise her warmth, authenticity, and ability to shift both mindset and capability. She creates an engaging environment that inspires action and builds confidence.
Moreover, Anna works closely with event organisers to tailor each session to specific goals and audiences. This ensures both a seamless experience and lasting impact.
Beyond keynotes, she offers podcasts, fireside chats, and interactive workshops. These sessions reinforce learning and help organisations embed high-performance habits over time.
