What is The Chimp Paradox?

'The Chimp Paradox' is a mind-management model created by British psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, introduced in his 2012 book of the same name. It personifies the emotional brain as an impulsive “chimp” and the rational brain as the “human.” By recognising and managing the chimp, people can strengthen emotional control and wellbeing. Peters’ book has sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide, making it one of the UK’s most popular self-help titles. Its appeal lies in simplifying neuroscience, helping people in sport, business and education understand reactions and develop practical tools for better decision-making and personal growth.

How Can The Chimp Paradox Help You?

The Chimp Paradox is widely used by businesses, organisations and individuals to boost performance and wellbeing. Its techniques help teams and leaders improve resilience and communication. For example, Chimp Management notes that its programs help improve wellbeing and performance in corporate settings. By recognising “inner chimp” triggers, employees learn to manage stress and conflict more effectively.

Research and expert opinion emphasise that The Chimp Model addresses common personal and professional issues (like anxiety, indecision and burnout) by simplifying neuroscience for lay audiences. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, NHS leaders credited Chimp Paradox training with helping staff reflect on how they were feeling and cope with unprecedented challenges (Source: NHS).

In short, The Chimp Paradox teaches practical emotional skills - harnessing self-awareness to make better choices, enhance teamwork, and create more dynamic, resilient organisations. By giving audiences a clear model for managing their “inner chimp”, it inspires motivation and lasting behaviour change in business, government and beyond.

Who Are the Top Expert Speakers on Chimp Management?

This official selection of the Best Chimp Paradox Speakers is based on vetted data collected from 291 motivational events, exclusive speaker evaluations and audience feedback. These leading experts bring the Chimp Model to life through engaging keynotes and workshops. Top speakers include:

• Steve Peters: Psychiatrist and author of The Chimp Paradox, renowned for his work with British Cycling and Olympic athletes.
• Dr Sarah Caddy: Director of Chimp Management and NHS GP, healthcare leader specialising in mental resilience.
• Jess Wall: Founder of Breaking Down Walls and Psychological Skills Mentor at Chimp Management.
• Dean Leak: High-performance coach, former psychological skills coach in UK Olympic sports (supported medal-winning athletes).
• Leonie Lightfoot: Psychological Skills Mentor at Chimp Management; former Coach Development Manager for England Athletics.
• Dr Anna Waters: Managing Director of Chimp Management, sport psychologist (PhD) and former professional jockey.
• Stephanie Fairhurst: Skills Mentor at Chimp Management, veteran marketing executive (ex-Reuters) and serial entrepreneur.
• Adam Wright: Psychological Skills Mentor with Chimp Management and former IT executive with 20 years in the tech sector.

Each of these speakers is celebrated for making the Chimp model practical and relatable. Their diverse backgrounds - from elite sport to business and healthcare – allow them to connect with corporate and education audiences alike.

Steve Peters

Dr Steve Peters is a sought-after keynote speaker on leadership and high performance due to his unique background as a psychiatrist working with elite athletes. He is best known for authoring The Chimp Paradox and for his groundbreaking role as the consultant psychiatrist behind British Cycling’s Olympic success. Peters has applied the Chimp Model for over 30 years, working with top sports teams (including cycling and snooker) to “manage emotions, thoughts and behaviours” for peak performance. His career highlights include supporting multiple Olympic gold medalists and serving as an expert advisor to international sports agencies.

As a speaker, Peters combines real-world science with engaging stories and humour, helping audiences - from boardrooms to locker room - understand how their brains work. He explains how to tame the inner chimp with relatable examples (even Sir Chris Hoy calls him “the most important person in my career”). Steve’s talks are praised for being inspiring and down-to-earth; his ability to simplify neuroscience makes him a powerful Chimp Paradox speaker for any audience.

Steve Peters’s Official Speaker Topics:

• How the Human Mind Works
• Peak Performance
• Emotional Management
• The Chimp Paradox

Steve Peters’s Official Testimonials:

“Steve Peters is a truly inspirational speaker with content that resonated so well with our delegates. His expertise and engaging approach…connected with the delegates and motivated them. It certainly put the icing on the cake for our event.” - Intercontinental Hotel Group

Dr Sarah Caddy

Dr Sarah Caddy is a General Practitioner and Director of Chimp Management with a decade of experience in healthcare and performance coaching. She combines clinical expertise with Chimp Paradox principles to advise businesses and public-sector teams on stress and wellbeing. As a practising GP, Sarah understands personal pressures; this insight, along with her leadership skills (former NHS executive), makes her an authority on health and resilience.

She is a skilled communicator who uses her medical background to explain how managing the inner chimp can lead to happier, healthier lives. Sarah has led projects applying the Chimp Model in healthcare settings and is currently researching its impact. Her speaking engagements empower individuals to overcome burnout and empower teams to foster high-performance cultures. Audiences value Sarah’s warm style and practical strategies drawn from both science and her own clinical work.

Sarah Caddy’s Official Speaker Topics:

• Leadership
• Improving Communication
• High Performance Culture and Teams
• Resilience and Psychological Wellbeing
• Managing Stress
• Conflict Resolution

Jess Wall

Jess Wall is a psychological skills mentor and wellbeing specialist who brings empathy and insight to her work on the Chimp Paradox. She is founder of Breaking Down Walls, a coaching practice for educators, and serves as a Psychological Skills Mentor with Chimp Management. Jess is an expert in educational leadership and mental health, helping schools and businesses train their leaders to manage stress and boost morale. Her background includes roles in communications and mental health advocacy, so she connects well with diverse corporate and school audiences. In presentations,

Jess shares real-life examples and questions that help people identify their “chimp” triggers and shift their mindset. She is praised for her warmth and practical wisdom: clients say her coaching “drives required behaviour change” through passion and insight. Jess’s ability to make complex psychological concepts accessible makes her an engaging Chimp Paradox speaker for any organisation focused on performance and wellbeing.

Jess Wall’s Official Testimonials:

“She is an outstanding coach and brings passion, enthusiasm, warmth and insight to all of her coaching interactions… She has a way of asking exactly the right questions to drive required behaviour change. I couldn’t recommend her more highly.” – Susie, Global Director of Outplacement Services, Korn Ferry

Dean Leak

Dean Leak is a high-performance coach and leadership specialist with a sports psychology foundation. He spent years in British sports, supporting gold-medal Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Working under Dr Steve Peters, Dean applied the Chimp Management model as a psychological skills coach for elite competitors. He later held senior leadership roles (e.g. Great Britain Taekwondo and British Shooting), honing his expertise in coaching teams and individuals.

Dean now translates those lessons to the corporate world, guiding executives on leadership and team culture. His extensive background in sport means he understands how to motivate people under pressure. Audiences appreciate Dean’s data-driven approach and inspirational style: he uses stories from the podium to teach executives how to manage emotions, build resilience, and achieve goals. With a blend of sports science and business acumen, Dean is a sought-after speaker on performance excellence and Chimp Paradox strategies.

Leonie Lightfoot

Leonie Lightfoot is a chartered psychologist and mentor with Chimp Management. She has over a decade of experience in sports science and psychology, having served as the Coach Development Manager for England Athletics. Leonie’s work focused on athlete development and she has tackled important issues like mental health and eating disorders in sport. As a Chimp Model advocate, she now delivers workshops and keynotes on applying the Chimp Paradox to everyday life.

Leonie’s sessions help audiences – from sports teams to corporate groups – understand the mind and maximise success. She simplifies the Chimp model so complex concepts are “easily understood”. Her sports background gives her credibility with high-performance audiences, while her engaging style (complete with humour and sincerity) resonates in any setting. Clients say Leonie’s presentations are “excellent, insightful and entertaining,” leaving large audiences motivated and talking about their “chimps” long after.

Leonie Lightfoot’s Official Testimonials:

“Just a note to thank you for your excellent, insightful and entertaining presentation… I have had uniformly excellent comments and feedback on how good you were.” – James, Consultant Anaesthetist, NHS Wales

Dr Anna Waters

Dr Anna Waters is a leading sport psychologist and Managing Director at Chimp Management. She has over 15 years’ experience working with elite sports teams (e.g. English Institute of Sport, GB Canoe) and performing artists to apply neuroscience principles for peak performance. Anna holds a PhD in Applied Sport Psychology and is known for her blend of scientific rigor and real-world experience. As a former jockey herself, she uniquely understands competitive pressure.

Anna’s talks emphasise optimism and team dynamics; she has spoken at major events like the Getahead Festival and to CEOs, focusing on “optimising human performance, communication, group dynamics and return to peak performance after injury”. Audiences find her presentations to be authoritative and clear – one CEO noted her talk was voted “best of the day” and credited the Chimp model for energising their leadership team. Anna’s expertise helps organisations embed resilience and science-backed motivation into their culture.

Anna Waters’s Official Speaker Topics:

• Optimising Human Performance
• Resilience and Psychological Wellbeing
• Executive Coaching
• High Performance Teams
• Leadership, Communication and Group Dynamics
• Injury and Return to Peak Performance

Anna Waters’s Official Testimonials:

“Thank you for being so brilliant on our overseas retreat. Your input was inspirational and a real highlight of our business trip. We have constantly been talking about Chimps ever since!” – Forum Moderator, YPO Greater London

Stephanie Fairhurst

Stephanie Fairhurst is a Chimp Management skills mentor with a strong business and marketing pedigree. She spent much of her career in senior roles (e.g. Global Marketing Manager at PwC, Communications Manager at Reuters) and founded a successful property development company in Europe. Stephanie’s corporate background allows her to relate neuroscience to everyday business challenges. As a mentor at Chimp Management, she now teaches teams how to use emotional skills for growth. She draws on her own entrepreneurial experiences (e.g. steering a company through the Greek financial crisis) to highlight resilience in action.

Stephanie is known for her dynamic presentations, helping companies prioritise employee wellbeing and confidence. Colleagues praise her ability to “convey complex ideas in an accessible fashion,” engaging large audiences with humour and clarity. Her mix of marketing savvy and Chimp expertise makes Stephanie an ideal speaker for leadership conferences and corporate workshops.

Stephanie Fairhurst’s Official Testimonials:

“I work alongside Stephanie… I can attest to her excellent ability to hold the attention of and engage a large audience, where her personality shines through… Stephanie has fantastic attention to detail and an ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible fashion… I would have no hesitation in recommending her.” – Aidan, Director at Malleable Mind Ltd

Adam Wright

Adam Wright is a performance consultant with a 20-year background in the IT sector. He combines his corporate leadership experience with Chimp Management’s psychological insights. Before joining Chimp Management, Adam ran his own tech consultancy and held senior roles in technology firms. This gives him a deep understanding of workplace stress and team dynamics. As a Chimp mentor, Adam specialises in helping businesses improve leadership and productivity through emotional intelligence.

He regularly delivers keynotes and workshops on the link between psychology and performance, with clients in banking, education and sports. Attendees appreciate Adam’s engaging style and humour – he keeps even long sessions interactive (“I was very engaged… his knowledge of the subject was brilliant”). His practical advice on leadership development, optimal human performance and wellbeing is highly valued. In short, Adam Wright is an effective Chimp Paradox speaker who bridges psychology and business to drive organisational success.

Adam Wright’s Official Speaker Topics:

• Leadership Development
• Optimising Human Performance
• Psychological & Emotional Well-Being

Adam Wright’s Official Testimonials:

“Thank you for an informative, uplifting and fun presentation… I feel sure… a number of ‘chimps’ are going to feel very firmly managed!” – Clive Webster, Chief Executive, Kent Catholic Schools Partnership

Book a Top Expert Speaker on Chimp Management

Hiring a Chimp Paradox expert speaker brings clear benefits. These speakers give teams the tools to understand emotions and build resilience, improving morale and performance. They show audiences - whether staff, managers or students - how to “respond rather than react” by using the Chimp Model. Learning to manage one’s inner chimp leads to better decision-making, stronger leadership and a positive workplace culture.

To explore more Mindset Speakers or book a Chimp Management keynote, get in touch with us today! You may complete our online contact form or call one of our dedicated booking agents on 0207 0787 876 to hire a speaker.

This blog post was exclusively written by Roxanna Hayes, a leading expert in Motivational Speakers, who has drawn on her insights from official data and customer feedback gathered from 291 conferences and events.