Mark Pollock

Following Mark's impactful contribution to our Global Conference in 2017, we asked him back to talk to our staff worldwide during this period of unprecedented turbulence. Switching from the in-person to on-screen format, Mark managed to engage even more directly and powerfully with our teams . I cannot think of anyone we have had present over the years who has been more inspiring and speaks with such resonance to so many of us. Co-hosted with his colleague Paula Cunniffe it went down universally well, my favourite moment was when Mark reminded us that sometimes the challenge chooses us and what we decide to do about it is what counts - exactly what we needed at this time.

"I was honored to meet with Mark Pollock in Ireland this year, where we engaged with teachers and students at St. Patrick's College to discuss the ways technology is changing how students learn. Mark is an extreme adventurer and athlete who has raced to the South Pole — and even more incredibly, he was the first blind man to ever do so. Mark is a brilliant example of the fact that we can always achieve more than what we think is possible."

"It was a privilege to have Mark address both our customers and our Management Team at Google. He delivers that rare combination of inspiration, perspective and practical insight that forces his audience to really reflect on how they rise to their personal challenges and set goals that seem unachievable. He delivers his message in a deeply personal, humorous and memorable way that lands with his audience. It was a pleasure for all of us to spend time in his company. Inspiring."

"Mark presented at our Global Sales Partners Conference in Twitter and was exceptional. His ability to link his personal story to people's everyday life and work challenges was excellent. The session was not just about listening to an incredible story, it was a chance for everyone to really think about themselves. There is something in this talk for everyone."

"The rule of seven is one of the oldest concepts in marketing, the rule states that you must hear something seven times before you act. Mark is a rule breaker in so many ways, but most importantly his message to be a competitor or spectator, realist or optimist, collaborator or soloist was a onetime hit with our team at LinkedIn. I have heard Mark speak many times and each time I come away with a renewed sense of purpose and willingness to act. Mark's drive to build radical collaboration hubs is one of the most important efforts in his drive to find a cure for paralysis however it's also the biggest lesson he has for those he interacts with."

"Mark's fascinating contribution was a perfect fit at our global conference to celebrate 30 years in business. His experiences of making decisions in difficult circumstances aligned with the challenges faced by our Brunswick people and our clients. Mark's insights into resilience, innovation and leadership prompted action across our international team at Brunswick. He is truly an inspiration and a fantastic example of what we can all achieve through sheer hard work, determination and imagination."

"Wow. On behalf of the entire Microsoft CDS team, my sincerest thank you for joining us at our START event in Seattle on our special Culture Day. Your story is inspirational and motivational, and you brought everyone in the room to their feet. The response our global team had to your message was incredible, and we can all only hope to be as positive, persistent and proactive as you are with every challenge we may face."

"At Facebook we aim to support and empower employees, create a network of allies and contribute to the differently-abled community. So, Mark's depth of experience and ability to communicate made him a natural choice for our recent event in EMEA. In partnership with Paula Cunniffe, who co-hosted the session extremely professionally, Mark provided a perspective on how to consistently build resilience and respond to challenges, using stories from his personal experience with tools to use in our own lives. We look forward to seeing him again soon."

"Mark joined us at our National Conference to share his insights into individual decision making in tough circumstances, and the importance of collaborative working. Using his own field of endeavour to bring the session to life, he prompted us to focus on the decisions we make when we face challenges, rather than the challenges themselves. It is this kind of thinking that led us to invite Mark to speak at our conference, where he delivered a very powerful speech that left a lasting impression."

"Mark's contribution was a perfect fit for our ITU Science and Triathlon World Conference in Edmonton, Canada. But most of all, it was an inspiring and motivational speech that made us all realise the challenges and life experiences we all have to face everyday, and a different approach to those. His experiences of taking decisions in difficult circumstances aligned perfectly with the challenges faced by our coaches, athletes and officials, and therefore we feel really inspired by Mark's talk. I'm absolutely convinced that Mark's insights into resilience, innovation and collaborative leadership impacted the rest of our meeting."

"During our recent conference at Facebook's EMEA Head Office, we explored practical ways to respond to challenges, change and uncertainty. Mark used his story to encourage us to think differently about how we decide to respond to challenges, regardless of where they come from. Feedback from the team about his talk was incredibly positive. From my perspective, it was both inspirational and full of valuable insights which can be applied to the work the legal team does here at Facebook."

Mark Pollock has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt as he has dealt with challenges in his life. And, during my recent LinkedIn Live interview with him, Colleagues from across our global team at Unilever, as well as public subscribers worldwide, tuned in to learn about building resilience, collaborating with others and achieving more together. Our expectations were high and Mark delivered an incredible session. He is clearly a thought leader in this space and we look forward to working with him again soon.

"Our Jade Directors at HSBC are constantly seeking ways to support our clients and in the process optimise our performance. To help us do that Mark delivered an inspiring and informative online masterclass, co-hosted with his colleague Paula Cunniffe, called 'Exploring Performance Potential'. Our colleagues across Asia Pacific not only enjoyed the session, but were prompted to think differently. Their feedback has been very positive."

“At an exciting time for our new international team at LinkedIn, Mark helped us reflect on how to create a culture of high-trust to achieve more together. During an initial keynote followed by an interview style masterclass with his colleague Paula Cunniffe, they prompted us to consider how we’re approaching challenges – as soloists or collaborators? The feedback has been extremely positive and we look forward to working with Mark again soon.”

“What does it Mean to be Human in the 21st Century? Is a cross-disciplinary lecture series designed to help us reflect on how we understand ourselves, the world, and our place within it. For the finale of our most recent series, explorer Mark Pollock and human rights lawyer Simone George, discussed the tension between acceptance and hope when faced with life’s toughest circumstances. Mark and Simone’s presentation was powerful, emotional and challenging which led onto a deep conversation on-stage with Ian Robertson, neuroscientist and clinical psychologist. This session was exactly what we envisaged happening through our collaboration with Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute in partnership with The Dock, Accenture’s global research & incubation hub in Dublin.”

“What an incredible contribution Mark made to our week of events across Asia Pacific at Google. As we explored our individual and collective purpose on the DEI team, Mark provided a perfect perspective on how to remain resilient in the face of uncertainty. Inspiring and challenging in equal measure – excellent.”

“As part of our ongoing collaboration with Mark through our Applied Science division, we invited him to share his perspective with our colleagues at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. During a session called ‘Collaborating to Solve Complex Problems’ Mark and his colleague Paula Cunniffe provided deep insights into creating a culture of trust for high-performance. We look forward to working together further in the coming months.”

“Wow, so powerful! Challenging us to think and behave like explorers was spot on and overlapped perfectly with our focus on being open, brave, collaborative and curious. Thank you from the entire team at CSM LeadDog.”

“At LinkedIn we are on a rapid growth curve requiring our global teams to maintain a winner’s mindset over time. With Mark’s track record of doing exactly that across multiple sectors, we invited him to share his experience and research into building resilience and collaborating with others to deliver extraordinary performance. Combining a keynote and a facilitated interview, Mark’s leadership insights resonated with our international team and provided a catalyst for further reflection at LinkedIn.”

“At Dropbox we are always striving to achieve more for our staff and customers. Mark is a living embodiment of someone who does that on a daily basis. The way he connected his story with our people was inspiring, impactful and exactly what we needed to motivate our people for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Thank you.”