Paul Tolley is an elite performance and mental health speaker whose career combines frontline military leadership, senior corporate delivery and deeply personal experience of adversity. A former RAF fast jet pilot, Paul operated in some of the most demanding environments imaginable, where clarity of thinking, trust and accountability were non-negotiable. Alongside his flying career, he achieved at a high level across multiple disciplines, including captaining the RAF Combat Shooting Team and qualifying as a scuba diving instructor, reinforcing his reputation for composure and focus under pressure. These early experiences shaped Paul’s understanding of what true high performance looks like when the stakes are real and mistakes are costly.
Following his RAF career, Paul transitioned into the corporate world as a Big 4 management consultant at Deloitte, specialising in operational management and complex transformation. He became known for stepping into strategically critical, high-risk programmes and turning them around, often in challenging environments where confidence was low and pressure was high. As a qualified Deloitte Coach, Paul also delivered the firm’s Operational Excellence training and worked closely with senior leaders to build resilient, high-performing teams. His ability to translate elite military performance principles into practical business behaviours quickly set him apart as a trusted operator and adviser.
Paul currently works as a Senior Operations Delivery Specialist, where he has led the transformation of a struggling £35m software managed service into a high-performing operation. His work focuses on sustainable performance, behavioural change and creating cultures where people can consistently deliver under pressure. In parallel, Paul works as an elite performance coach with professional cricket teams, supporting athletes and coaches to manage stress, sharpen decision-making and maintain performance across long seasons. His credibility across both business and elite sport allows him to speak with authority to diverse audiences, from boardrooms to dressing rooms.
Alongside his professional success, Paul brings a rare level of openness and authenticity. His RAF career ended due to serious physical illness, followed by a period of profound personal challenge, including the breakdown of his marriage on the day he was awaiting cancer test results and becoming a single parent to two young children while recovering from further illness. These experiences had a significant impact on his mental health and reshaped his view of performance and resilience. Today, as a qualified Mental Health First Aider, Paul helps organisations design and deliver effective mental health and wellbeing strategies. His talks balance practical tools, honest storytelling and gentle humour, creating space for conversations many organisations know they need to have. Audiences leave with clarity, perspective and actionable insight they can apply immediately, whether at work or in life.
