Andrew May

Andrew May's Biography

Andrew May inspires people around the world to unlock their full potential and wake up to a better way of living, working and leading.

Andrew May is CEO and founder of StriveStronger, a digital consultancy that partners with organisations to create cultures of wellbeing. He presents inspiring presentations and is recognised as one of the world’s leading performance strategists. Andrew works with a number of elite athletes and is the Mental Skills Coach for the Parramatta Eels National Rugby League Club.

Andrew is a former middle-distance runner who was an assistant coach at the Australian Institute of Sport in Tasmania. He has worked with multiple Olympic/international athletes in track and field, tennis, swimming, hockey, netball, basketball and AFL; culminating in working as the Physical Performance Manager for both the NSW and Australian Cricket teams.

Andrew has dual degrees in the body and brain – completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Exercise Physiology (body) and a Masters in Coaching Psychology (brain). He is exploring a PHD in performance psychology, looking at how the body and brain work together to optimise performance in high pressure moments. Partnering with Dr Tom Buckley, they launched the Research Institute to translate evidence-based materials into all of the programs and products delivered across the andrewmay.com and StriveStronger platforms.

Andrew is a serial entrepreneur, having built and sold Good Health Solutions to ACCOR (now trading as Executive Health Solutions), Australia’s largest provider of Executive Health Assessments; and in 2016 he sold The Performance Clinic to KPMG. He worked as a Partner at KPMG for 3 years and has experience consulting in banking and financial services, sales, real estate, building and construction, professional services, telcos, oil and gas, retail, mining and industrials, government and the military.

Andrew is author of the bestselling book Flip the Switch and the recently released MatchFit, which has sold more than 75,000 copies. He has a regular segment on ABC News Breakfast and appears across multiple media platforms including TV, radio, printed publications and online. His popular Business Fit Podcast is designed to support small business owners manage their physical and psychological wellbeing.

Andrew is coach and confidante to a number of Asia Pacific’s leading CEO’s and executives, elite athletes and performing artists. He trains their bodies and brains so they can show up and perform in a peak state when they need to, and just as importantly, change state and switch off and relax in between.

It is this unique background in professional sport as an athlete and a strength and conditioning coach; studying science (with degrees in both the body and brain); working in a global consulting firm; coaching high performers in mental skills; and understanding small and large business that positions Andrew to inspire individuals and entire organisations to reach their full potential.

Andrew is a self-diagnosed fitness junkie and loves swimming, cycling, weights, yoga, surfing and all things fitness. He lives in Sydney with his three children and fluffy dog, Toby.

 Andrew's presentations and tailored conference programs deliver key strategies to give your team the power to really Switch On when they need to, and to Switch Off when they can!

Speaking Topics Include

MatchFit

How to get your body and brain fit for work and fit for life.

It has never been more important to be physically and psychologically MatchFit. Maintaining fitness and a healthy body weight are critical to wellbeing and improving immune health. Combining the latest performance science and twenty years of experience, Andrew outlines the 6 Levers (Move, Fuel, Recharge, Think, Connect and Play) that help you better manage your diary and plan for what is important; build ability to cope with pressure and have more resilience; and support you in improving health and fitness levels.

Wellbeing/Performance/Motivation

 

Strive

How to adopt a growth mindset, harness passion and increase psychological resilience.

To strive is to make great effort to achieve a goal, to embrace change and step out of your comfort zone. It is about persevering in the face of rejection and struggling to overcome an obstacle. Happiness and fulfilment in life doesn’t come from having things easy, it comes from overcoming challenges, creating a sense of pride, building new capabilities and creating new opportunities. Explore the latest neuroscience supporting you to flourish during constant change and uncertainty.

Resilience/Psychology/Change

 

New Ways of Working

How to train agility, boost productivity and work from anywhere (WFA).

To thrive in the post-COVID world we need to be agile and adapt to a hybrid of WFA, WFH and transitioning back to the workplace. Companies need to plan for intermittent disruption and adopt different and more flexible ways of thinking and working; provide support in redefining personal and team operating rhythms; and creating a psychologically safe environment for employees to flourish. Old business models won’t work. Old leadership styles won’t be tolerated. And slow-moving industries will become extinct

Productivity/Disruption/Change

 

Leading With Optimism

How to lead with optimism, positivity and clarity.

Despite the constant changes, fear and uncertainty businesses are facing, it is more important than ever to lead with optimism. Leaders cast long shadows and impact much more than just revenue and profitability. Leaders impact behaviours, emotions, even lives. Leaders cast the shape of their company, its culture and ability to cope. Cognitive reserve and optimism don’t develop in a vacuum: the process requires continual learning and adaptation. Optimism and having a positive view of the future can be trained.

Leadership/Optimism/Culture

 

Bold

With the recent upheaval in the way we work and live, there has never been a more important time or a bigger opportunity to rise up and be bold. Being bold and courageous is not something we are born with; you can cultivate it. Bold leaders and bold organisations take action, live authentically, embrace technology and disruption, build accountability and tracking results. Explore what it means to be bold and why nurturing a ‘bold and courageous culture’ is going to be a major competitive advantage in the new world of work.

Courage/Confidence/Culture

CONFERENCE BOOST

Great ideas for turning up the voltage and adding value to your next event! Upsize with one of the following Conference Boost options to get even more value out of your next event.

MORNING WAKE UP

Provide a boost of energy and fun with an early morning/pre conference wake up. Activities range from soccer, touch football, basketball, kicking the footy and cricket; to yoga, kayaking, boxing, bushwalking, beach games and more. No matter how fit or how unfit your people are, we will tailor an activity session to match the participants, facilities and conference theme. This is a great way for delegates to get together outside their normal working environment. Wake Up sessions last for 30 to 45 minutes.

TEAM BUILDING/GROUP FITNESS SESSION

Outdoor activity sessions are a great way to enhance communication, team work and morale within a working group; and to reinforce key messages of the performance keynote/workshop. Sessions generally run from 60 to 90 minutes and include:

- Team clues course/survivor challenge.

- Range of team sports (soccer, cricket, AFL, football, netball, softball, basketball).

- Relaxation and flexibility session (yoga, pilates, tai chi).

- Adventure races and team building activities.

MOOD FOODS

We can arrange a variety of mood food options and high energy snacks for your next conference. These options not only add energy and flavour to an overall theme, they taste great too!

Combining a Conference Keynote with a Conference Boost is a guaranteed way to get your people to turn up, freshen up and fire up!