Mark Agnew
Keynote speaker on resilience through change
Find YourPlar Bear
A polar bear tried to get into Mark Agnew's tent in the Arctic. Now he builds resilient teams that thrive through change.
Trusted by teams at
- HRWorld Summit
- MADFEST
If you can reframe change as an exciting challenge you'll enjoy it. And if you enjoy it, you'll outperform everyone else who only sees an obstacle to endure.
Mark AgnewRecord-setting adventurer
The story
A thin tent between us and a polar bear
A deep, guttural growl woke Mark and his three teammates. The only thing between them and the bear was a sheet of nylon.
Mark kayaked the Arctic's Northwest Passage as part of a four-person team. Before he left, he worked with leading psychologists to build a framework for staying resilient when the stakes were life and death. That night, it was tested.
When your team faces change, how will they react? Will they treat it as a threat to endure, or rise to the challenge, pull together and enjoy it?
See the keynote
The Find Your Polar Bear keynote
Toughness gets you through change. Resilience lets you thrive in it.
Most teams are told to toughen up and push through. Mark shows them a better way, drawn from the Arctic and from the psychologists who prepared him for it.
Change management keynoteEndure it
- Treats change as an obstacle to get through
- Grits its teeth and waits for it to end
- Wears people out, one at a time
Enjoy it
- Reframes change as an exciting challenge
- Finds meaning, and even enjoyment, in the hard parts
- Pulls the team closer together
Built with psychologists, forged in the Arctic
The framework behind the story
Your audience laughs and gasps at the adventure, then leaves with a framework they can use on Monday morning. It comes from Mark's interviews with five specialists.
Perfect for
- Conference keynotes
- Change and transformation programmes
- Leadership offsites
- Sales kick-offs
- Company all-hands
- Virtual events
What clients say
Google, the NHS and John Lewis
It really was one of the best, most inspiring talks I've ever heard.
One of the best presentations I have heard in quite some time.
Since the event, I can tell there is pace to get onboard with new ideas.
Showreel
See Mark on stage
The Find Your Polar Bear keynote, from the growl outside the tent to a room full of people ready to take on change.
Watch the Find Your Polar Bear showreel
Questions bookers ask
Before you book
Who is Mark Agnew?
Mark Agnew is a London-based keynote speaker on resilience through change and the creator of the Find Your Polar Bear keynote. He has spoken for Google, the NHS, John Lewis, Bosch, Heineken and EY. His keynote draws on his Northwest Passage kayak expedition and a framework built with leading psychologists.
What is the Find Your Polar Bear keynote about?
It uses Mark's Northwest Passage expedition, polar bear and all, to show teams how to build resilience through change. Staff learn to treat change as an exciting challenge rather than an obstacle to endure.
Can Mark tailor the keynote to our organisation?
Yes. Mark shapes every keynote around your objectives, your industry's challenges and your company values. If he thinks a different speaker would suit you better, he will tell you.
How long is the keynote?
Usually 45 to 60 minutes, but Mark adapts it to your event. He has delivered everything from a 15-minute tone-setter to open a conference to a 90-minute interactive keynote.
Does Mark speak outside the UK?
Yes. Mark is based in London and has spoken across Europe, the US and Asia. He also delivers the keynote virtually.