
Mark Pollock
It is tough to deal with uncertainty and change. Your people won’t do it by chance. With a high-impact catalyst you can help them act with the courage to make it happen. Mark Pollock is that catalyst and that’s why leaders worldwide have asked him to support their teams to remain resilient, adapt to change and collaborate with others for 20 years. As a speaker, Mark is best known for his 2018 TED Talk focused on resolving the tension between acceptance and hope delivered jointly with his fiancée, Simone George. It has gathered over 2 million views and has been subtitled in 17 languages.
Mark Pollock's videos
What Mark Pollock's clients say
"We require our global teams to maintain a winner’s mindset over time. Mark’s leadership insights resonated with our nternational team and provided a catalyst for further reflection at LinkedIn."
"If you are looking for inspiration and impact, look no further than Mark Pollock, he stands out when it comes to leading through a crisis."
"Mark spoke with honesty, openness and humour and it was a keynote that none of us will ever forget,"
"Inspirational, insightful and impactful were how our senior leaders described Mark’s keynote at a previous event at ICON. That’s why we invited him back again and again,"
"Outstanding! Mark is a skilled natural conversationalist, deep thinker, engaging speaker and resilient leader."
"Mark’s words continue to influence how we confront challenges individually and within our teams across our organisation."
"Mark’s session was exactly the mix of theory and practice that I hoped Mark would deliver to prompt our team to think about their wellbeing."
"At a time of relentless uncertainty, we invited Mark into EY to share his insights into turning challenges into opportunities. It was outstanding and we look forward to having Mark deliver another session in the coming months."
"As part of our ongoing collaboration with Mark through our Applied Science division, we invited him to share his perspective with our colleagues at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. During a session called ‘Collaborating to Solve Complex Problems’ Mark and his colleague Paula Cunniffe provided deep insights into creating a culture of trust for high-performance. We look forward to working together further in the coming months."
"At Paypal, we work hard to find ways to achieve more together and, over 6 months, Mark prompted our leadership team to think deeply about how to adapt, perform, and collaborate better. The impact has been excellent, and we look forward to working with Mark and his colleague Paula Cunniffe again soon."
"Uncertainty and change has swept through the airline industry and we are facing that challenge head on at Avolon, as Mark says “Dealing with the Facts”. To support our employees to remain resilient and adaptive to the evolving situation, we engaged Mark to work with us through his ‘Challenge is the Opportunity’ webinars co-hosted with Paula Cunniffe. Everything from the opening presentation to the interview and interactive Q&A worked excellently. The learning and mental diversion for all was hugely impactful, insightful and worthwhile."
"With Mark’s deep understanding of how to navigate a path through crisis, we asked him to contribute to our most recent CEO Council at Bank of Ireland. Co-hosted with his colleague Paula Cunniffe, Mark prompted us to consider how we, as leaders, turn challenges into opportunities and provided a mental model for doing it – facts, acceptance and hope. This isn’t just a personal resilience story, it’s a leadership lesson."
"Mark used his story to encourage us to think differently about how we decide to respond to challenges, regardless of where they come from."
"It was a privilege to have Mark address both our customers and our Management Team at Google. He delivers that rare combination of inspiration, perspective and practical insight that forces his audience to really reflect on how they rise to their personal challenges and set goals that seem unachievable. He delivers his message in a deeply personal, humorous and memorable way that lands with his audience. It was a pleasure for all of us to spend time in his company. Inspiring."
"Mark presented at our Global Sales Partners Conference in Twitter and was exceptional. His ability to link his personal story to people’s everyday life and work challenges was excellent. The session was not just about listening to an incredible story, it was a chance for everyone to really think about themselves. There is something in this talk for everyone."
"Mark opened our global launch meeting in Rome. His motivational speech on “Mindset” really captivated and helped to motivate the entire launch team! Mark’s inspirational story about mindset and perseverance linked directly to the launch plans and his three themes (e.g. competitor vs. spectator, realist vs. optimist, and collaborator vs. soloist) made the talk very relevant to our journey ahead with the product launch."
"Mark spoke at our first ever global managers meeting at Dr Martens in London. Mark’s powerful talk around perseverance, teamwork and collaboration really resonated and mirrored our own brand values. Mark’s delivery connected with our entire team and was continuously referred to over the whole event. We would absolutely recommend Mark as a truly inspirational individual who encouraged us all to re-frame our thinking and approach"
"Mark was a speaker at National Geographic’s Extreme Explorers dinner in Davos in January 2016. His personal story and insights were incredibly powerful, and clearly had a profound impact on everyone in the room. He embodies the spirit, resilience and determination that are the hallmarks of what it means to be an explorer."
"An amazing, humbling experience. Mark held a room of over 400 people and you could not hear a pin drop – his messages on continuously reinventing yourself and using challenges to define your future was done in an engaging, perceptive, inquisitive and humorous way. His insights truly connected with the audience on so many levels and left them with one enduring quote “…sometimes you do not choose a challenge, it chooses you…”. Mark is proof that it’s one thing to read the theory but quite another to live it."
"Mark’s contribution was a perfect fit at our global conference at CDB Aviation. His experiences of creating multi-national teams aligned perfectly with our international audience. And, Mark’s insights into innovation, collaboration and leadership informed many of the discussions across our teams from Europe, Asia and the US for the rest of the conference and continues to do so during our day to day work."
"Thank you for your presentation at our 2018 Partners’ Conference. The story, your response and the manner in which you have turned such adversity into a positive is awe-inspiring enough. But the real message for me lies in your delivery which is laced with humour, warmth and humility. As you may have detected, building our community is very important in the business we’re building and the characteristics you displayed, coupled with your inspiring messages, will serve as model behaviours for everyone who heard you."
"As part of our vision to change lives through physical activity and sport we invited Mark and his colleague Paula Cunniffe to contribute to our first virtual GM Moving conference. Focusing on how to bring people together to solve complex problems, the session couldn’t have been more aligned with our efforts to create collaborations with multiple agencies across systems. And, as we took a step into the unknown with our first online conference, Mark and Paula’s thought provoking contribution launched the day perfectly."
"Mark opened our virtual conference at Cisco EMEAR, titled ‘Making It Happen’. I had high hopes and expectations and they were all exceeded significantly. Since the session, so many of our business partners have commented on how much they appreciated Mark’s input and how we used his insights to set the tone for the conference. Most importantly, Mark is living proof that we are able to overcome any challenges."
"Mark and his co-host, Paula Cunniffe, provided us with an insight into how to adapt to the circumstances that we are now operating in – an excellent, impactful intervention at this time."
"I was honored to meet with Mark Pollock in Ireland this year, where we engaged with teachers and students at St. Patrick’s College to discuss the ways technology is changing how students learn. Mark is an extreme adventurer and athlete who has raced to the South Pole — and even more incredibly, he was the first blind man to ever do so. Mark is a brilliant example of the fact that we can always achieve more than what we think is possible."
"During our recent away day in Belfast, Mark spoke to our team who had travelled from across the UK. He was truly inspiring, sharing insights into resilience and adaptability while showing how important it is to be both competitive and collaborative if you want to succeed – a powerful message for the challenges and constant changes we face in our business. The entire team were not only fully engaged on the day, but since Mark’s talk, we have reflected on what he said and has undoubtedly shaped how we think about what we do at all levels of the team. Truly inspirational."
"“The rule of seven is one of the oldest concepts in marketing, the rule states that you must hear something seven times before you act. Mark is a rule breaker in so many ways, but most importantly his message to be a competitor or spectator, realist or optimist, collaborator or soloist was a onetime hit with our team at LinkedIn. I have heard Mark speak many times and each time I come away with a renewed sense of purpose and willingness to act. Mark’s drive to build radical collaboration hubs is one of the most important efforts in his drive to find a cure for paralysis however it’s also the biggest lesson he has for those he interacts with.”"
"At the European Investment Bank, we have a clear understanding of our mission to improve the state of EU countries through strategic investment. And, Mark joined us in Luxembourg to help our employees face the challenge of implementing that vision. His insights into resilience, innovation and collaboration were powerful, emotional and uplifting in equal measure, an excellent contribution to our event."
"Mark’s fascinating contribution was a perfect fit at our global conference to celebrate 30 years in business. His experiences of making decisions in difficult circumstances aligned with the challenges faced by our Brunswick people and our clients. Mark’s insights into resilience, innovation and leadership prompted action across our international team at Brunswick. He is truly an inspiration and a fantastic example of what we can all achieve through sheer hard work, determination and imagination."
"Whenever we gather our demonstration team together, we seek to motivate and inspire them to each personally impact the business when they are back in the trade environment. We took the opportunity to bring Mark into the meeting to deliver a powerful message, that we hoped would resonate with the team throughout a key trading period. We certainly got the reaction we were looking for thanks to the compelling way in which Mark delivered such a personal experience, blending moments of real pain with great hope and at times humour, ensuring the team left the meeting with a renewed enthusiasm and belief to think differently and approach their challenges head on – Thank You Mark!"
"Mark spoke to our global team during our sales development conference at LinkedIn. His experiences of remaining resilient when faced with challenges and creating collaborations that have never been done before was exactly the message that we were looking for. Mark connected with everyone in the room, despite the multiple nationalities involved and his messages filtered into many of our discussions over the remaining days at the conference."
"At our first virtual global team day in AMCS, we wanted to give employees some perspective s on how to deal with the challenges presented by Covid-19. Having heard Mark speak previously at live events, I felt that he would contribute greatly to that effort – he did not disappoint, mixing story and theory brilliantly."
"What a fantastically inspirational session with Mark Pollock and his colleague Paula Cunniffe. We invited Mark to share his deep insights into how we adapt, perform and collaborate with our multi-cultural team across Europe. Combining personal experiences with the neuroscience of human performance, Mark left us with practical and actionable guidance – relevant to both our professional and personal lives."
"Mark Pollock has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt as he has dealt with challenges in his life. And, during my recent LinkedIn Live interview with him, Colleagues from across our global team at Unilever, as well as public subscribers worldwide, tuned in to learn about building resilience, collaborating with others and achieving more together. Our expectations were high and Mark delivered an incredible session. He is clearly a thought leader in this space and we look forward to working with him again soon"
"What a fantastically inspirational session with Mark Pollock and his colleague Paula Cunniffe. We invited Mark to share his deep insights into how we adapt, perform and collaborate with our multi-cultural team across Europe. Combining personal experiences with the neuroscience of human performance, Mark left us with practical and actionable guidance – relevant to both our professional and personal lives."
Available for
Languages:
- English
Mark Pollock's 2025 biography
About Mark Pollock
Everything Mark Pollock does is about inspiring leaders and their teams to build resilience, optimise performance and collaborate with others so that they achieve more than they thought possible.
Unbroken by blindness in 1998, Mark became an adventure athlete competing in ultra-endurance races across deserts, mountains, and the polar ice caps including being the first blind person to race to the
South Pole. He also won silver and bronze medals for rowing at the Commonwealth Games and set up an international motivational speaking business.
In 2010, a fall from a second story window nearly killed him. Mark broke his back and the damage to his spinal cord left him paralysed. Now he is on a new expedition, this time exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide to cure paralysis in our lifetime.
Chairman of Collaborative Cures and founder of the global running series Run in the Dark, Mark has been involved in catalysing collaborations worth over $100 million on his mission to cure paralysis. He was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader, served on the Global Futures Council on Human Enhancement and the Advisory Board of Cybathlon. In addition, he is a Wings for Life Ambassador (Europe) and was on the Board of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (USA) for a decade.
Currently Mark is pursuing a Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance (Sport) at Dublin City University, he is author of ‘Making It Happen’ and is the subject of the acclaimed documentaries’ Blind Man Walking ’and ‘Unbreakable – The Mark Pollock Story’. Mark has been awarded honorary doctorates by The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and also from Queens University Belfast. Furthermore, he holds a diploma in Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century from Harvard University, degrees from Trinity College Dublin and UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School.
Articles and podcasts
Mark Pollock's 2025 talks & topics
Adversity & Challenges – Maintaining a Resilient Mindset Under Pressure
Sometimes we choose our challenges, sometimes our challenges choose us. What we decide to do about them is what counts. Deciding to be a competitor, a realist and a collaborator offers your people a chance of maintaining a resilient mindset under pressure. Mark Pollock’s keynote on adversity and challenges uses the power of active decision making to deal with challenges, regardless of where they come from, to help your people become more resilient.
Leadership & Motivation – Leading Through a Crisis and Developing Intrinsic Motivation to Move Forward
Uncertainty and change typify a crisis and it’s difficult to lead in such circumstances. By providing your people with insights into the resilience, attitude and decisions of others facing extreme circumstances you will help them to develop the intrinsic motivation to move forward. Mark Pollock’s keynote on leadership and motivation delivers deep insights for leaders to navigate through the crucible moments they face and lead others to achieve more.
Mindset & Performance – Challenging Expectations to Perform at a Higher Level
It is tough to deliver world class performance. Your people won’t do it by chance. With a high impact catalyst you can help them act with the courage to make it happen. Mark Pollock’s keynote on mindset and performance is that catalyst – it challenges your people to examine expectations of themselves and others to perform at a higher level.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Creating and Motivating Dispersed Teams Across Disciplines and Geographies
Galvanising a disparate group of people around a common goal is not easy. Yet when it happens, when we collaborate, that is when major breakthroughs happen. Mark Pollock’s keynote on collaboration and teamwork provides your people with insight into how high performance teams get things done when others can’t.
Human Enhancement – Exploring the Intersection Where Humans and Technology Collide During the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide is essential for businesses to maintain their competitive edge. By raising the consciousness of your people to the human dimension of the 4th industrial revolution, you will empower and encourage innovation at the edge. Mark Pollock’s keynote on human enhancement provides your people with insight into the transformative intersection of technology and humankind as he explores a cure for paralysis using robotics, neuro-modulation, AI and VR/AR.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities – The Resilience Cycle
- Respond to expected and unexpected challenges
- Confront the facts of their current reality
- Anchor themselves with a sense of control
- Chart a path through uncertainty
Exploring Performance Potential – The Competitor’s Mindset
- Embrace a competitor mindset to reach their potential
- Use clarity, commitment, and connection for optimal performance
- Create the conditions to enter the high performance flow state
- Treat recovery as a peak performance non-negotiable
Collaborating to Solve Complex Problems – The Trust Imperative
It is easy, even for world class performers, to work in isolation as soloists. Yet it is when we find a way to galvanise a disparate group of people around a common goal that we have a chance of making major breakthroughs. The question is how do we create the conditions for people to become collaborators?
When we’re operating in a stable environment, we need structure and hierarchy to scale existing solutions. But when challenges appear and the path forward is uncertain, we need something different. We need flatter collaborative approaches with people working together to achieve more.
The masterclass prompts participants to reflect on how to:
- Choose to be a collaborator not a soloist
- Create the conditions for collaboration
- Build trust with other people
- Develop high-trust teams
Adversity & Challenges — Maintaining a Resilient Mindset Under Pressure.
Sometimes we choose our challenges, sometimes our challenges choose us. What we decide to do about them is what counts. Deciding to be a competitor, a realist and a collaborator offers your people a chance of maintaining a resilient mindset under pressure. Mark Pollock’s keynote on adversity and challenges uses the power of active decision making to deal with challenges, regardless of where they come from, to help your people become more resilient.
Leadership & Motivation — Leading Through a Crisis and Developing Intrinsic Motivation to Move Forward.
Uncertainty and change typify a crisis and it’s difficult to lead in such circumstances. By providing your people with insights into the resilience, attitude and decisions of others facing extreme circumstances you will help them to develop the intrinsic motivation to move forward, Mark Pollock’s keynote on leadership and motivation delivers deep insights for leaders to navigate through the crucible moments they face and lead others to achieve more.
MASTERCLASSES
Mark’s 3-part ‘Challenge is the Opportunity’ masterclass series can be delivered individually or as 3 connected sessions.
Delivered in 45 – 60 minutes, Mark’s masterclasses are split into 3 parts:
Masterclass Format
Part 1 Talk: Mark delivers a short keynote to introduce his story and frame the session. (15 – 20 minutes)
Part 2 Interview: Using set questions provided by Mark, the client or MC interviews him to understand how to implement what he has proposed in his short keynote. (15 – 20 minutes)
Part 3 Q&A: Attendees ask Mark questions facilitated by the client or MC. (15 – 20 minutes)
MASTERCLASS TOPICS
Turning Challenges into Opportunities – The Resilience Cycle
The positive mental attitude industry requires us to be optimists. Yet optimists rely on hope alone and leave themselves open to becoming disappointed and demoralised if the best-case scenario doesn’t play out.
In contrast, realists manage to confront the brutal facts while also keeping hope alive. The realists have resolved the tension between acceptance and hope by running both in parallel.
During this masterclass focused on how to adapt and build resilience, participants develop a deeper understanding of how to rapidly adapt to change and deal with uncertainty.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities masterclass prompts participants to reflect on how to:
- Respond to expected and unexpected challenges
- Confront the facts of their current reality
- Anchor themselves with a sense of control
- Chart a path through uncertainty
Exploring Performance Potential – The Competitor’s Mindset
In a world where challenges are inevitable, some people are held back while others are propelled forward. Either we sit on the sidelines as spectators, or we step into the arena as competitors.
Competitors find a way to pursue success and risk failure. They define themselves by their willingness to try, displaying a mindset that values the endeavour as much as the outcome.
During this masterclass, participants reflect on the science of human performance and why recovery is a non-negotiable in reaching their potential.
The masterclass prompts participants to reflect on how to:
- Embrace a competitor mindset to reach their potential
- Use clarity, commitment, and connection for optimal performance
- Create the conditions to enter the high performance flow state
- Treat recovery as a peak performance non-negotiable
Collaborating to Solve Complex Problems – The Trust Imperative
It is easy, even for world class performers, to work in isolation as soloists. Yet it is when we find a way to galvanise a disparate group of people around a common goal that we have a chance of making major breakthroughs. The question is how do we create the conditions for people to become collaborators?
When we’re operating in a stable environment, we need structure and hierarchy to scale existing solutions. But when challenges appear and the path forward is uncertain, we need something different. We need flatter collaborative approaches with people working together to achieve more.
The masterclass prompts participants to reflect on how to:
- Choose to be a collaborator not a soloist
- Create the conditions for collaboration
- Build trust with other people
- Develop high-trust teams