Freddy Olander Keynote & Workshop

Speaker & Workshop Event with Freddy Olander

Speaking to a room full of smart women during a keynote and workshop on competition was a different experience. The level of focus, the thoughtful questions, and the depth of the discussions made the session very engaging. It was inspiring to see how insight, experience, and practical thinking shaped the conversation.

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Speaking to High-Performing Leaders

Speaking to a room full of smart, driven women on the topic of competition was one of the most engaging keynote experiences of the year. The level of focus in the room, the quality of the questions asked, and the depth of the discussions that followed made it clear that this was an audience that takes performance seriously.

What stands out in these sessions is how directly the lessons from big wave surfing translate to the challenges these leaders face. Competition, pressure, decision-making under uncertainty, managing fear and performing at the highest level are not abstract concepts in the ocean. They are daily realities. And the same is true in leadership.

What the Keynote Covers

Every keynote and workshop Freddy delivers is built around real experience. Over 20 years of big wave surfing at locations including Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, Mexpipe in Mexico and big wave breaks across the Atlantic, Freddy has developed a deep understanding of what it means to perform under extreme pressure. That understanding translates directly into practical frameworks for leadership and performance.

Key Topics

• Competition and mindset: How to approach high-stakes situations with clarity, preparation and controlled aggression. What the ocean teaches about competing at the edge of your capability.
• Fear as a tool: Fear is not the enemy of performance. Channelled correctly, it sharpens focus and drives precision. Freddy shares how he manages fear before paddling into 15-metre waves and how that translates to the boardroom.
• Decision-making under pressure: In big wave surfing, a wrong decision at the wrong moment has serious consequences. The frameworks Freddy uses to make fast, accurate decisions under extreme pressure are directly applicable to leadership.
• Resilience and recovery: Every surfer gets held under. Every leader faces setbacks. What matters is how you come up. Freddy’s approach to resilience is grounded, practical and immediately actionable.
• Team and trust: Big wave surfing is a team sport. The jet ski driver, the safety team, the crew in the water. Trust is not a nice-to-have, it is a survival requirement. The same is true for high-performing organisations.

“The level of focus, the thoughtful questions, and the depth of the discussions made the session genuinely engaging. It was inspiring to see how insight, experience, and practical thinking shaped the conversation.”

Available for Your Event

Freddy Olander is available for keynote talks and workshops worldwide. Sessions are available in English and German, and can be adapted to the specific needs and themes of your event. Whether you are looking for a 45-minute keynote, a half-day workshop or a multi-session leadership programme, the content is built around real experience and practical application.

Freddy has delivered keynotes and workshops for corporate audiences across Germany, Portugal and internationally, including CEO-level events, leadership programmes, corporate off-sites and conference keynotes. Topics consistently cover resilience, performance under pressure, risk management and team dynamics.

For groups looking to combine a keynote with an on-water experience in Nazaré, a fully customised programme can be built combining the speaking session with a Big Wave Experience jet ski tour or breathwork and performance coaching day at the Nazaré harbour.