Former Leeds Rhinos captain, creator of the Authentic Edge Model and expert in authentic leadership under pressure. Helping leaders replace fear and armour with trust, courage and high performance ... Read more
Stevie explores what authentic leadership looks like when pressure is real. Using his Master’s research and experiences captaining an elite sports team, he shows how fear can push leaders towards control and self-protection, and how awareness, vulnerability and courage create trust and performance.
Drawing on elite sport and his own journey through injury and adversity, Stevie challenges traditional ideas of toughness and performance. He demonstrates how sustainable high performance comes from clarity, connection and psychological safety.
Stevie helps leaders understand how their behaviour shapes team culture. He shares practical ways to create environments where people feel safe to contribute, challenge, learn and perform.
Through stories of championship success, repeated setbacks and career-ending injury, Stevie explores both the physical and emotional sides of resilience and how individuals can navigate uncertainty and change.
As founder of Mantality, Stevie has spent nearly a decade helping organisations create more open, supportive and high-performing cultures where wellbeing is taken seriously.
Drawing on his experience within one of the most successful teams in Super League history, Stevie explores trust, accountability, belonging and what truly drives team performance.
Stevie speaks candidly about identity, vulnerability and the pressures many men experience, helping audiences redefine strength and create healthier conversations.
How do leaders create trust, clarity and high performance when fear and pressure are shaping the room?
Stevie Ward is a former Leeds Rhinos captain, international keynote speaker and creator of the Authentic Edge Model. Drawing on championship-winning elite sport, lived experience of adversity and Master’s-level research into authenticity, fear and leadership, Stevie helps leaders understand how their behaviour affects trust, communication and performance.
During his career with Leeds Rhinos, Stevie became the youngest Grand Final winner in Super League history and went on to win three Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and a League Leaders’ Shield. He was appointed captain at 26 and helped lead one of the most successful teams in British rugby league.
Behind those achievements, Stevie endured ten operations, significant mental health challenges and a career-ending brain injury that forced him to retire at 27. That experience gave him a rare perspective on performance: not only how success is achieved, but what happens when toughness, ambition and pressure go too far.
Stevie subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Advanced Leadership, specialising in authenticity, fear and the psychology of performance. His research became the foundation of the Authentic Edge Model, which shows how leaders respond when fear enters the room. One path creates awareness, trust, courage and commitment. The other produces resistance, control, disconnection and self-protection.
Today, Stevie works with global organisations, executive teams, elite athletes, healthcare providers and public services. His clients and audiences have included Warner Bros., Accenture, Greater Manchester Police and Melton Building Society.
Through vivid storytelling, straight-talking honesty and practical leadership tools, Stevie helps audiences recognise the armour they wear, communicate more openly and build cultures in which people can perform under pressure without losing themselves in the process.
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You can book Stevie Ward through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Stevie's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Stevie Ward's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Stevie tailored to your event.
Stevie Ward speaks on Business & Management, Diversity, Entrepreneurs, Health, Innovation & Creativity. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Stevie to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Stevie Ward for events worldwide, subject to Stevie's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Stevie Ward is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Stevie can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Stevie Ward on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Stevie can offer.
Stevie Ward delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Stevie Ward's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Diversity, Entrepreneurs, Health, Innovation & Creativity. To get a clear sense of Stevie's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Stevie Ward can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Diversity, Entrepreneurs, Health, Innovation & Creativity is relevant. Details of Stevie's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Stevie Ward is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Stevie Ward, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Stevie's current availability for your dates.