PERFORM
UNDER
PRESSURE
WITHOUT
THE BURNOUT
Science-backed keynotes that equip leaders and teams to stay calm, think clearly, and execute when it matters most.
Dr. James Hewitt has delivered high-impact keynotes in 35+ countries for sectors including:
The difference between good teams and great teams isn't talent.
It's what happens to their focus, decisions, and communication when the pressure rises.
The problem is that most teams were never taught what to do in those high-stakes moments. They struggle, not because they lack ability, but because pressure quietly changes how people think, decide, and work together.
It Doesn't Have To Be This Way
It Doesn't Have To
Be This Way
HELLO, I’M
DR. JAMES
HEWITT
I equip leaders and teams to perform under pressure, without burning out.
My journey started with a question: what separates people who perform at their best under pressure from those who struggle and slip? I've chased the answer for two-decades, first as a full-time racing cyclist (not the most talented, but relentlessly curious), then through a PhD studying how elite performers think and execute when the stakes are high.
That path took me to Formula 1. As former Chief Innovation Officer for the performance coaching company behind 19 F1 World Championships, I helped develop methods that support clarity and execution when time is tight and consequences are high.
I continue to work with F1 teams and elite performers today, so my insights come from the cutting edge, not the archive. I bring those insights into everyday business pressure: always-on work, change, ambiguity, conflict, and relentless pace, working with organisations like PwC, HSBC, and Mercedes-Benz through my consultancy, the Knowledge Work Lab.
And my understanding of pressure isn't just professional. When I faced and fought back from cancer, I learned firsthand what high-stakes moments do to the mind and body.
After two decades studying elite and everyday performance, one truth keeps proving itself: people rarely struggle under pressure because they lack talent. They struggle because nobody trained them for that moment.
That’s the work I do now, because:
“Pressure is inevitable, performance is trainable.”
My keynotes blend storytelling, science, and live demonstrations to give leaders and teams clear frameworks, so they can spot what’s happening as pressure rises, reset quickly, and build the capacity to sustain performance without burning out.
Clear. Practical. Memorable.
I speak to senior leaders and teams who need clarity and composure when the stakes rise: big decisions with imperfect information, tough conversations, customer escalations, high-visibility moments, or periods of rapid change. Clients book me for leadership summits, sales kick-offs, and executive retreats: events where they want substance, delivered with energy.
Audiences don’t just feel motivated. They leave equipped.
I've shared these methods on some of the world's biggest stages:
- Three World Economic Forum Annual Meetings in Davos.
- The Global Leadership Summit and Nordic Business Forum, where I was one of 12 speakers, including former President Barack Obama.
- Top-ranked International Business Schools, including Duke and IMD.
MY KEYNOTES DO MORE THAN LIFT THE ROOM
Whether the goal is sharper leadership under pressure, sustainable high performance, improving attention in the age of distraction, or preparing people to thrive alongside AI, I provide audiences with a playbook, not a pep talk.
Your people won’t just hear about performing under pressure. They’ll recognise it in themselves and know what to do next.
IF YOU WANT YOUR TEAM TO PERFORM WHEN IT MATTERS MOST, I'D LOVE TO HELP.
“James’ knowledge in performance science coupled with business acumen is something that companies and individuals can draw on in a wide variety of ways; anyone working with James will very quickly be able to implement and put his expertise to use.
Needless to say, he is also a remarkable public speaker and I have seen him captivate rooms filled with 6000+ people. The world needs more people like James.”
— Johan Brear,
Chairman of the Board at Aito Ventures
Dr. James Hewitt’s keynotes help leaders and teams perform under pressure, without turning intensity into burnout. Here’s what changes:
Teams build habits that protect energy, reduce “always-on” strain, and make performance repeatable, without relying on heroics or constant urgency. A one-point increase in employee wellbeing is associated with a profit increase of USD$2-3 billion annually.6
People leave with tactics to reduce cognitive overload, reclaim quality thinking time, and make progress on work that actually moves the needle. Redesigning knowledge work to facilitate focus could be worth US$468 billion each year.7
My keynotes deliver more than a moment of inspiration. They give leaders and teams practical tools to perform under pressure, recover faster, and sustain high performance over time, without grinding themselves down.
SUSTAINABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE ISN'T ABOUT WORKING HARDER.
IT'S ABOUT WORKING SMARTER UNDER PRESSURE.
“James has a truly engaging presence and made everyone feel like he genuinely cares about the improvement of each audience member's experience.
—Mikko Manner,
Managing Partner, Roschier
“James’ insights are broken into everyday practical applications with immediate benefits for my self-leadership, and indeed the underlying performance culture of my leadership team.
—Harri Sundvik,
Chair at ICS Oy OY and ex. Vice Chairman, Global Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
“We were looking for an inspiring speaker that would be able to share new insights and a new perspective. What we didn’t expect was a total experience.
—Katherine Shenton,
Global Head of Marketing & Communications, QuantumBlack, a McKinsey company
Our team loved the practical take-aways that were dropped into the story and some of them will definitely help to boost our performance."
—Floor Bleeker,
Group Chief Information Officer, Accor Hotels
Train
Your
Brain
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READY TO
EQUIP YOUR TEAM
TO PERFORM
WHEN IT COUNTS?
Let's Talk