Sir Dave Brailsford

David was excellent.

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Sir Dave Brailsford – BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s Coach Award

Sir Dave Brailsford is one of the most influential figures in modern sport, best known as the former Performance Director of British Cycling and mastermind behind the philosophy of marginal gains. Under his leadership, Team GB became the most successful nation in Olympic track cycling history, dominating the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games. Later, as General Manager of Team Sky (later Team INEOS), he guided riders including Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas to multiple Tour de France victories. Knighted in 2013, Sir Dave remains a world-renowned authority on high performance, leadership, and organisational transformation

Speaker Topics:

Marginal Gains
British Cycling
High-Performance Teams
Leadership
Personal Development

Credentials and Impact

Dave’s career in elite sport began in 1998 when he joined British Cycling as a consultant. His impact was quickly recognised, and by 2003, he was promoted to Performance Director, where he pioneered the philosophy of marginal gains and oversaw a decade of unprecedented dominance. Building on this success, he transitioned to professional road cycling in 2010 as General Manager of Team Sky, later rebranded Team INEOS Grenadiers. Under his leadership, the team produced multiple Tour de France winners and became one of the most successful outfits in cycling history.

In recognition of his achievements, Dave received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award in both 2008 and 2012. His influence was further honoured with an MBE, a CBE, and ultimately a knighthood in 2013. He was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame in 2016 and has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Chester and Sheffield Hallam University.

Today, Dave serves as Director of Sport at INEOS, applying his expertise across cycling, Formula One, sailing, and football. His advisory roles and board-level contributions continue to extend his influence beyond sport, guiding organisations to adopt winning systems that deliver long-term, sustainable results.

Publications and Media

Dave has been widely featured in leading outlets, including The Guardian, The Times, and Financial Times, where his philosophy of marginal gains has been analysed for both sport and business audiences. He has appeared in BBC and Sky Sports documentaries such as Inside Team Sky and Britain’s Cycling Success. More recently, he has spoken on leadership podcasts like High Performance and been interviewed by international broadcasters, including CNN and BBC World News.

Why Book Dave?

Booking Sir Dave Brailsford gives audiences the chance to learn from one of the most successful performance leaders in modern sport. From his early transformation of British Cycling to guiding multiple Olympic triumphs, Sir Dave has consistently demonstrated how small, strategic improvements can lead to extraordinary results. His philosophy of marginal gains is as relevant in boardrooms as it is on the track, offering a proven framework for long-term success.

As a speaker, he is engaging, practical, and inspirational. He translates decades of elite coaching into lessons on leadership, resilience, and building winning cultures. His keynote speeches reveal how incremental change can unlock innovation and sustainable performance. Whether addressing executives, educators, or sports professionals, Sir Dave equips audiences with the mindset and tools to achieve excellence and consistently outperform expectations, making him one of the most sought-after voices in high performance and organisational transformation.

To book Dave to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry