Damian Hughes and Jake Humphrey are two of the UK's most respected voices on leadership, high performance and sustained success, combining expertise from elite sport, business, psychology and broadcasting. Together, they have built a reputation for helping individuals and organisations unlock their potential by sharing practical lessons from some of the world's highest achievers. Their partnership brings together Damian's academic and performance psychology expertise with Jake's experience interviewing leading figures across global sport, making them highly sought-after motivational speakers for businesses, leadership teams and conferences around the world.
Damian founded Liquid Thinking in 2006, a consultancy specialising in leadership, organisational change and high performance. He has also been a member of the coaching staff for the Scottish Rugby Union and the Canberra Raiders, applying psychological principles to elite sporting environments. Alongside his consultancy work, Damian became Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change at The Manchester Metropolitan University and established himself as a leading author with books including 'Liquid Leadership: Inspirational Lessons from the World's Great Leaders' and 'The Winning Mindset: What Sport Can Teach Us About Great Leadership'. Jake began his broadcasting career as a presenter for CBBC before joining BBC Sport, where he presented 'Football Focus', 'Final Score' and major sporting events. He later became the lead presenter for BBC Formula 1 coverage before fronting BT Sport's coverage of the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League.
Beyond their individual careers, Damian and Jake have become widely recognised through their collaboration as co-hosts of 'The High Performance Podcast', launched in 2019, which features in-depth conversations with world-class performers from sport, business, entertainment and beyond. They have also co-authored the bestselling books 'High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best', 'High Performance: The Daily Journal. 365 Ways to Become Your Best', 'How to Change Your Life: Five Steps to Achieving High Performance', 'Game Plan: Level Up Your Mindset. Own Your Future' and 'Micro-Habits: Tiny Changes That Supercharge High Performance'. Damian's book 'Peerless' was nominated for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, while Jake received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from the University of East Anglia, was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk by Her Majesty the Queen and was named one of LinkedIn's first Influencers.
Damian and Jake are exceptional motivational speakers because they combine academic research, real-world leadership experience and exclusive insights from conversations with the world's highest performers. Damian explains the psychology behind resilience, culture, change and winning behaviours, while Jake's interviewing expertise uncovers the mindset and habits that drive sustained excellence. Their evidence-based approach, engaging storytelling and practical frameworks provide audiences with actionable strategies that can be applied immediately in business, sport and everyday life. Rather than relying on theory alone, they demonstrate how consistent behaviours, purposeful leadership and high-performance habits can transform individuals and organisations, leaving audiences inspired and equipped to achieve lasting success.
