Inspirational
Business Speaker
 Diversity
champion, leader, adventurer and the only disabled person in the world to
have conquered both North and South Poles. Michael provokes, stimulates
and inspires change. By connecting with his audiences in delivering
powerful learning’s, he uplifts both human and corporate consciousness.
British born with a cocktail of Irish and Brazilian blood and educated by
the Jesuits, Michael personifies the qualities of self-belief, resilience
and purpose of mind, applying real experiences with real messages to
today’s competitive business environment.
Forget the fact that he has
the debilitating muscle wasting disease Muscular Dystrophy for a moment.
In May he received the prestigious 2005 Business Traveller of the Year
Award in Dubai. He was included in The Queen’s 2004 Christmas Day
Broadcast reinforcing diversity as a strength and earlier that same month,
honoured by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace for his significant
contribution to national life. A business consultant specialising in
developing leading-edge organisational change in the area of diversity and
inclusion, he is also the disABILITY Champion for Hilton Hotels.
First and foremost a
father, leader, motivator and change agent, his remarkable life story is
one of consistently challenging adversity. He is both inspirational in
terms of his daily battle in overcoming his physical limitations and
driven in the way he imparts his can-do ethos to his audience. Articulate
in delivery, he is living proof that the remarkable power of the human
spirit is alive and well.
Through his role as disABILITY
Champion for Hilton Hotels operating at a strategic level, he drives
organisational confidence by communicating with key industry stakeholders.
He educates and inspires both employees, customers, agencies and
professional industry bodies around DDA legislation, the practicalities,
impact and commercial opportunities, influencing both brand and business
thinking. His work with Hilton has led to further understanding of the
needs of, and matters affecting, disabled guests throughout the Hilton
estate.
As disability moves up the
corporate agenda, Michael is regularly invited to share his experiences
and insights with organisations around the world looking to learn about
integrated access and inclusive amenities but also seeking to
understand the business case in recognising the benefits of an inclusive
culture – with >10 million disabled people in the UK with a combined
spending power of >£80 billion per annum, delivering for example inclusive
conferences in the UK that are accessible-for-all is unquestionably
clear.
In April 2002, his
undefeatable will to succeed and his relentless desire to push himself to
even greater achievements led him to successfully reach the North Pole and
in January 2004 to Antarctica and the South Pole. His polar experiences
are laced with danger, incredulity and excitement. After a near fatal
aircraft incident on arrival into Antarctica and enduring 14 days on the
ice, he and his culturally diverse team reached the South Pole having been
man-hauled in the supine position the last 5kms. He ‘walked’ the final
leg, a distance of 310 metres. Facing his worst fears head-on and feeling
the cold terribly due to a woefully inefficient circulatory system and
despite severe walking difficulties having lost 65% of his muscle bulk,
Michael became the first disabled person to have reached both North and
South Poles.
In the age of new adventurers,
his infectious spirit is personified by the example of self-improvement he
continually sets. In valuing difference, engaging presentations
move people from diverse backgrounds and at all levels to make a tangible
difference in both their workplace and personal lives. One of his key
learning’s is to recognise what he calls the power within and that
the journey towards achieving one’s goals is far more important than the
final destination.
Undaunted by his debilitating
condition, this truly insightful speaker has firmly grasped life head on.
He continues to make things happen his way. Numerous magazine and
newspaper articles have covered his extraordinary exploits with many radio
and TV appearances. Sound commercial experience drawn from a business
background in performance improvement, employee motivation and sales
development enable him to customise his delivery by inspiring both small
and large groups to reach beyond.
Michael is the Executive
Director and Co-Founder of The Muscle Help Foundation whose vision is
to see a world free of muscle disorders.
“In exploring human potential,
we are intrinsically connected by muscles that bind us together, muscles
that give us the power to function and achieve, muscles that enable
ambitions and dreams to be realised” [Michael McGrath]
Strong self-belief,
meticulous preparation, focus and personal accountability are his guiding
principles. Michael’s qualities of determination, courage, resilience,
optimism and purpose of mind ensure all parties with whom he connects
achieve positive outcomes.
From
keynote addresses for conferences, seminars, corporate events and award
ceremonies both in the UK and overseas, Michael shapes and customizes each
presentation that he delivers according to client objectives. This
versatile speaker often illustrates key messages and learning’s with
stunning high quality images and high impact moments – audiences
experience a roller-coaster of emotions through his innate ability to
interpret information and then deliver using his unique blend to connect,
enthuse and inspire.
“Michael’s can-do presentation at our 2005 Barclays UK Banking Senior
Leadership Conference was inspirational … in particular, he really brought
to life the commercial imperatives of the diversity agenda … contributing
significantly to the overall success of the event”
Alastair
Camp, Managing Director, Medium Business & Agriculture, UK Banking
Barclays PLC
“Direct,
considered, inspired and inspirational”
[On
delivering to 1000 physicians at the Berlin ICC, ‘Energy to make a
difference’ Global Anaemia Management Conference]
Daniel
Kemmler, International Business Leader
F.
Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Pharmaceuticals Division
“The
reaction of everyone standing up at the end of your keynote delivery at
our Senior Management Conference was a massive tribute – I have never seen
that before!”
Sharon
Dance, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs
DHL
UK & Ireland
“Michael
had a significant impact at our 2005 Senior Management Conference by
providing an inspirational message to all. His strong message of the
powerful benefits to be gained by connecting with people was extremely
very well received; this will continue to add value for years to come in
our internal relationships, with our clients and with our customers.
Michael’s energy and portfolio of achievement in the face of adversity
serves as a great example to all who are privileged to hear him speak”
Paul
Kirk, Group Managing Director
Carillion Transport
“Michael is an inspiration. He
has a thoroughly positive outlook for somebody facing such adversities”
Sir Richard Branson,
Chairman
Virgin Group
“Brilliantly conveyed, summed up by that impromptu standing ovation. 500
distinguished business guests from all corners of the Middle East were
inspired, humbled and incredibly proud to have witnessed your powerfully
engaging keynote address at our 2005 Business Traveller Middle East Awards
at the Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai. Striking exactly the right chord,
guests were held spellbound by your feats of endeavor at both ends of the
earth and those thought-provoking polar anecdotes. You confidently invited
500 hardened business travel professionals including many CEO’s, Senior
Executives and their partners to stand up in visualizing your journey,
laugh warmly, cry helplessly and applaud vigorously. Half-forgotten
aspirations and personal ambitions were rekindled for many. Your courage,
ambition, personal drive and professionalism are to be commended. More of
our world must hear what you have to say. The impact it had on all
present, including myself, was profound”.
Michael McGrath was recognised on the evening by Business Traveller and
the events sponsor FedEx when he received the 2005 Business Traveller of
the Year Award, announced by Julian Gregory and presented by Kate Adie
Julian
Gregory
Managing
Director
Business Traveller UK
“Superb
presentation – keeping a lively audience like our Senior Managers &
Executive captivated for 45 minutes is no mean feat! Feedback was
overwhelmingly positive, illustrated in part by the standing ovation –
your delivery was ‘inspiring’, ‘impressive’, ‘highly charged’, and
‘engaging’. The honest and direct partnership we enjoy with you as our
‘disABILITY Champion’ is the best way to ensure that we’re doing all that
is practicable to make the Hilton experience even better for our disabled
guests”
Wolfgang
M. Neumann, Area President
Hilton Hotels UK & Ireland
"Michael
McGrath's presentation in London on the 15th December 2005 at the Royal
Geographical Society's event celebrating the achievements of disabled
explorers was inspirational. Standing on the podium, where some of the
world's greatest living explorers have spoken in the past, he held the
audience spell-bound – enthralled by the story of his efforts to reach
both the North and South Poles and lost in admiration for his ability to
use his achievements to help others with the muscle wasting disease
Muscular Dystrophy."
Mrs
Shane Winser
Head
Expedition Advisory Centre
Royal
Geographical Society
with the Institute of British Geographers
“Michael's talk in the morning was inspiring. The added power of his DVD
demonstrated what individuals can do to change if there is a strong enough
will. I have seen this in several other presentations - usually by people
doing similar things on land, ice or water - but the added sense of
overcoming the "you can't do that because of your condition" made it all
the more powerful."
On
presenting a high impact ‘on message’ 15 minute introduction at Ashridge
Business School of Management at a business forum [in January 2006]
attended by academics, L&D professionals, business managers from FTSE 100
organisations, multinationals and public sector bodies on the theme of
"Finding the Balance" [focused on organisational balance in the 21st
Century]
Peter
Coney
National Audit Office
“Thank you for a
brilliant, thought-provoking speech that was entertaining, stimulating and
moving. I will never forget it. I was in the
Ondaatje Theatre as a member of the audience at the Royal
Geographical Society. I am sometimes asked to recommend speakers and I
will certainly recommend that corporate companies contact you”
[On
inspiring the next generation of disabled explorers in further promoting
inclusive adventure, December 2005, Equal Adventure with the Royal
Geographical Society]
Tina
Fotherby, Managing Director
YES
Consultancy Ltd |
