00:00 Hello and welcome to tomorrow, the
00:03
00:03 Future Forum podcast. I’m Ollie Barrett
00:06
00:06 and here at the Future Forum, our job is
00:09
00:09 to bring people together across
00:11
00:11 different industries, across different
00:13
00:13 countries.
00:14
00:14 Executives, future leaders, innovators
00:17
00:17 to shape the future together.
00:20
00:20 Our guest today is someone who has spent
00:22
00:22 their whole career in environments where
00:24
00:24 performance really matters, where the
00:27
00:27 margin for error is small and where the
00:30
00:30 stakes are high.
00:32
00:32 From her role as a officer in the Royal
00:35
00:35 Air Force to her job today leading GB
00:39
00:39 Snowsport. She chairs British Surfing.
00:42
00:42 She’s on the board of the British
00:44
00:44 Olympic Association and she’s helping to
00:46
00:46 shape the 2027
00:49
00:49 Invictus Games. Alongside that, she is
00:52
00:52 highly entrepreneurial as a co-founder
00:55
00:55 of Sported Bank and a soon-to-be
00:57
00:57 published author, too.
00:60
00:60 Victoria Gosling, welcome to tomorrow.
01:03
01:03 >> Oh, thank you. It’s great to be here.
01:05
01:05 >> Now, Victoria, thank you so much for
01:07
01:07 being with us.
01:08
01:08 I’d like you to give us a glimpse of the
01:10
01:10 future. You’re so close to some of the
01:12
01:12 top performers of their time.
01:16
01:16 What do you see?
01:17
01:17 >> Well, look, Ollie, I think I you know,
01:18
01:18 having taken Snowsport from a place
01:20
01:20 where everybody just remembered it for
01:22
01:22 Eddie the Eagle, um we set a really
01:24
01:24 punchy vision to become a top five
01:26
01:26 nation by 2030. And in the past few
01:28
01:28 years, we’ve we’ve clearly now got we’ve
01:31
01:31 sort of 10 world champions, the first
01:33
01:33 ever gold medal for Britain, uh 18
01:35
01:35 Crystal Globes, um plus 250 podiums in
01:38
01:38 the last seven years. Looking forward,
01:40
01:40 what I would say is building on that
01:42
01:42 performance, you know, I think the
01:44
01:44 reality is when we set that target for
01:47
01:47 2030, we weren’t facing into COVID or
01:50
01:50 Brexit, which clearly hindered us. Um
01:53
01:53 so, in the next sort of 5 to 10 years, I
01:55
01:55 would hope that we I can absolutely see
01:57
01:57 that we we can achieve that middle
01:59
01:59 target judging by the performances we’ve
02:01
02:01 had this far.
02:02
02:02 >> So a lot there that I want to explore in
02:05
02:05 our conversation. If you look back
02:07
02:07 across your career in the military,
02:10
02:10 entrepreneurship, especially world-class
02:13
02:13 sport.
02:15
02:15 What have you learned about how the very
02:18
02:18 best performers really do what they do?
02:23
02:23 >> Do I I think um when I look back across
02:26
02:26 my career, I think some of the values
02:28
02:28 that underpin leadership or the
02:30
02:30 principles of leadership, whether it’s,
02:32
02:32 you know, selflessness, commitment,
02:33
02:33 resilience, courage,
02:36
02:36 they all go across the different sectors
02:38
02:38 that I’ve worked in and um some of the
02:40
02:40 best performers are those that actually
02:43
02:43 can cross-fertilize, can come out of
02:45
02:45 their lane, can learn from other people
02:47
02:47 and then take that best practice back
02:48
02:48 into their own organization.
02:51
02:51 It’s also the individuals who are able
02:52
02:52 to, you know, see talent and and promote
02:56
02:56 talent and you know, in my own case,
02:58
02:58 promote talent, you know, and not only
03:00
03:00 alongside me but above me because
03:03
03:03 that way um you can achieve an awful
03:06
03:06 lot. And in the military, it’s these
03:08
03:08 individuals who are able to bring
03:10
03:10 together diverse teams, you know, I
03:13
03:13 think the power of success or the
03:14
03:14 success that I’ve seen has come from,
03:17
03:17 you know, having a a really truly strong
03:20
03:20 diverse team aligned to a common purpose
03:23
03:23 and um facing into it with an
03:25
03:25 conqueror’s spirit.
03:26
03:26 >> So
03:27
03:27 on that it must in your own mind
03:30
03:30 sometimes feel like a bit of a conundrum
03:32
03:32 because in the military rules must be
03:36
03:36 followed. Uh there’s a very direct
03:38
03:38 literally line of command. Um and
03:41
03:41 similarly in sport, we don’t go around
03:42
03:42 breaking rules. And yet in innovation,
03:45
03:45 entrepreneurship, presumably a lot more
03:48
03:48 bending of the rules and I don’t mean in
03:49
03:49 regulated industries here, but you see
03:51
03:51 where I’m going.
03:52
03:52 >> I do see where you’re going, but I but
03:53
03:53 I’ll bring you back on that slightly.
03:55
03:55 So, you you talk about the military.
03:56
03:56 People have this perception it’s all
03:57
03:57 about rules and following rules, but the
03:59
03:59 reality is um
04:01
04:01 some of the best leaders are within the
04:03
04:03 military you have to do that this. It’s
04:05
04:05 it’s mission command. So, you know,
04:07
04:07 effectively you have a mission that you
04:10
04:10 are to achieve. So, the mission is set
04:12
04:12 out very clearly um
04:14
04:14 and then it is about empowering and
04:17
04:17 enabling the team to to get there whilst
04:20
04:20 removing distractions. So, you have to
04:23
04:23 be quite If you find yourself in in a
04:25
04:25 coalition operation, for example, you
04:26
04:26 have to be really innovative in how you
04:28
04:28 get to the end state because
04:30
04:30 it doesn’t always go your own way.
04:32
04:32 You’re constantly thinking about
04:35
04:35 you know, what’s the enemy going to do
04:36
04:36 next? Okay, how do we react to that?
04:38
04:38 What’s the inject that’s incoming?
04:41
04:41 Good example being we arrive out in the
04:43
04:43 desert, you know, we we ended up sort of
04:46
04:46 misplacing the camp cots or somebody
04:48
04:48 didn’t put them on the plane. At the
04:50
04:50 same time time uh we get up there, we
04:51
04:51 have a sandstorm, everything gets
04:53
04:53 trashed. You have to find a way to
04:55
04:55 resolve that innovatively, quickly, and
04:58
04:58 with the right sort of end point. And I
05:00
05:00 think that skill of being agile and
05:02
05:02 versatile and flexible is what you
05:04
05:04 require to be an entrepreneur as well.
05:07
05:07 You’ve got to constantly think outside
05:08
05:08 the box and find the quickest way to get
05:11
05:11 to the result that you need,
05:12
05:12 particularly when you’re in a you know,
05:14
05:14 let’s face it, sometimes in a hairy
05:16
05:16 situation.
05:17
05:17 >> Yeah.
05:18
05:18 Um
05:19
05:19 I want to explore a bit more how um
05:21
05:21 these different worlds learn from each
05:23
05:23 other.
05:24
05:24 Um
05:25
05:25 you have just had and by the way, before
05:27
05:27 we talk about the Olympics and the
05:28
05:28 Winter Olympics, at some point you
05:31
05:31 decided and this is quite personal, you
05:33
05:33 decided you’ve been a group captain,
05:35
05:35 you’ve led RAF Benson, literally
05:37
05:37 thousands of people, military and
05:38
05:38 civilians under your command,
05:40
05:40 and then you decide it’s time for a
05:41
05:41 change. Why?
05:43
05:43 >> That found me. The change found me. It
05:45
05:45 was like a sliding doors moment. So, um
05:48
05:48 when I was in the military, um, you
05:50
05:50 know, we took quite a few, um,
05:52
05:52 well, we we ended up with two big
05:54
05:54 conflicts with Afghanistan and Iraq. Um,
05:57
05:57 and as a result, we ended up with, you
05:59
05:59 know, a number of wounded, injured, and
06:01
06:01 sick service personnel. Um,
06:03
06:03 on the back of that, I ended up feeling
06:05
06:05 responsible for having to do something,
06:07
06:07 and because sport, I had a passion for
06:09
06:09 sport. Um,
06:11
06:11 so I ended up setting something up
06:13
06:13 called the Combined Services Adaptive
06:14
06:14 Sports Association, which was all about
06:17
06:17 getting military wounded, injured, and
06:19
06:19 sick back into sport. Because of that,
06:21
06:21 my side hustle, I call it, um, I got
06:23
06:23 known as a guru of adaptive sport. So,
06:26
06:26 when we sent, uh, Harry, Prince Harry,
06:29
06:29 out to America to have a look at what
06:31
06:31 was the Wounded Warrior Games, which was
06:33
06:33 the games for the wounded, injured, and
06:34
06:34 sick American service personnel,
06:37
06:37 he loved it so much that he decided he
06:39
06:39 wanted to bring it back to the UK and
06:41
06:41 make it bigger, better, and
06:42
06:42 international.
06:43
06:43 I, at the time, was due to deploy to
06:44
06:44 Afghanistan, um,
06:46
06:46 and, uh, overnight, my role changed. So,
06:49
06:49 I was asked if I could help him set up
06:51
06:51 what became the Invictus Games. So, that
06:54
06:54 was where my changing career path came.
06:57
06:57 So, I went on to help him set that up as
06:59
06:59 the military exact lead, and then I went
07:00
07:00 on to become the chief executive of the
07:02
07:02 Invictus Games in Orlando. And that’s
07:04
07:04 where my life changed the sport.
07:05
07:05 >> And you will chair next year’s, uh,
07:08
07:08 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Um,
07:10
07:10 let’s look back to briefly in the
07:12
07:12 rearview mirror. Um, the most successful
07:14
07:14 Winter Olympics ever, uh, for GB
07:16
07:16 Snowsport. How’d you do it?
07:19
07:19 >> You know, honestly, uh, it was about
07:20
07:20 setting out a really clear vision.
07:23
07:23 Albeit it was punchy. Everybody was
07:24
07:24 saying top five nation by 2030, you’ve
07:26
07:26 got no mountains, you’ve got no snow,
07:28
07:28 you’re barking mad. But the reality was
07:30
07:30 it was an ambitious vision, um,
07:32
07:32 in the knowledge that we have lots of
07:35
07:35 Brits with grit. We’ve got great talent
07:37
07:37 in snow sport. We just haven’t actually,
07:39
07:39 I don’t feel to date, really exploited
07:42
07:42 that to its full potential.
07:44
07:44 Um and then it was about the point I
07:45
07:45 made earlier, bringing in brilliant
07:48
07:48 people. So, finding the top coaches
07:51
07:51 across the globe that could could
07:53
07:53 effectively teach, you know, um whether
07:56
07:56 it’s halfpipe or or boardercross or
07:58
07:58 Alpine, you know, getting these
07:60
07:60 international coaches who are the best
08:01
08:01 in the world to come and train our
08:03
08:03 British athletes in taking them to the
08:05
08:05 next level.
08:06
08:06 >> Right. So, let’s let’s push you on that
08:08
08:08 a little bit because presumably for many
08:11
08:11 years
08:13
08:13 people who have held your role would
08:15
08:15 have said, “Look, we set some punchy
08:17
08:17 goals. We got some world experts
08:19
08:19 involved experts involved. And yet this
08:22
08:22 year was different.” What, and don’t be
08:25
08:25 modest, what
08:27
08:27 else?
08:29
08:29 >> Look, I think
08:31
08:31 the the culture of the team was insane.
08:33
08:33 It is insane. We have such a healthy but
08:36
08:36 winning mindset culture.
08:38
08:38 And it’s about focusing in on what we
08:41
08:41 can do and ensuring that actually we put
08:45
08:45 really high standards in place. We push
08:48
08:48 our athletes to the limit whilst at the
08:50
08:50 same time ensuring that it’s in a
08:51
08:51 healthy environment. Um
08:54
08:54 and we surround them with, you know,
08:56
08:56 with the best that possibly is. So, from
08:58
08:58 nutrition, you know, education, from
09:00
09:00 training, from coaching, from the
09:03
09:03 environment, it’s all got to make sense.
09:05
09:05 And you’ve got to enable these athletes
09:07
09:07 and the coaches to be able to deliver to
09:08
09:08 their best capability. But it’s all
09:10
09:10 about having the belief in the molly.
09:11
09:11 You’ve got to demonstrate that you
09:12
09:12 believe they’re capable of doing it and
09:14
09:14 you’ve got to enable them to believe
09:16
09:16 actually they’re also capable of doing
09:18
09:18 it.
09:18
09:18 I think having, you know, when I came in
09:20
09:20 there were four disciplines. There are
09:23
09:23 now 12 because I insisted we merge with
09:25
09:25 Paris snow sports as well and brought
09:26
09:26 all the lessons from that. And each of
09:28
09:28 these disciplines have learned from each
09:30
09:30 other.
09:31
09:31 And I think we’ve just taken fantastic
09:32
09:32 talent. We’ve given it the best we
09:33
09:33 possibly can and we’ve enabled them to
09:35
09:35 go and deliver of true potential.
09:37
09:37 >> Is that thought there as you speak
09:38
09:38 around nurturing? And what’s interesting
09:41
09:41 to our listener here is how do you
09:43
09:43 create a really high-performing team
09:46
09:46 where you’re
09:48
09:48 this is my word pushing them very hard
09:50
09:50 and yet not
09:52
09:52 making them or
09:55
09:55 having a situation where they burn out?
09:57
09:57 >> I think it’s you have to be
09:59
09:59 values-driven as well, Ollie. So, it’s
10:01
10:01 really important that the basic
10:03
10:03 fundamentals are in place. You know,
10:06
10:06 everything to do with athlete first. So,
10:09
10:09 athlete health and well-being, athlete,
10:11
10:11 you know, in in within that, mental
10:13
10:13 health is hugely important. And and all
10:15
10:15 about not peaking too early. There’s a
10:17
10:17 whole piece around peaking too early.
10:18
10:18 And we know that within business as
10:20
10:20 well, you know, where you can just keep
10:21
10:21 going and actually you miss key
10:24
10:24 indicators because of that. Um and I
10:27
10:27 feel that we we lay out the plans. I
10:28
10:28 mean, this is 4 years in the making. So,
10:30
10:30 we’ve been on an upward trajectory in
10:32
10:32 that 4-year period, but you have to
10:34
10:34 really carefully plan out and prepare
10:36
10:36 properly over the competitions and the
10:38
10:38 camps that we set up and give them the
10:41
10:41 right environment. Bearing in mind we’re
10:42
10:42 also competing with climate change here.
10:43
10:43 So, everything is moving consistently.
10:46
10:46 And I guess my military background’s
10:47
10:47 helped because
10:49
10:49 you know, when you were going into
10:50
10:50 operational environments or deployments,
10:52
10:52 you can’t always, um you know, you don’t
10:55
10:55 always have the facts. You you you have
10:57
10:57 to be decisive with what you have.
10:59
10:59 >> So, let’s have an example on that. You
11:01
11:01 mentioned climate change, things moving.
11:03
11:03 How have you had to shift what you’ve
11:04
11:04 been doing?
11:05
11:05 >> Well, we
11:06
11:06 I’m consistently Well, we we as a team
11:08
11:08 have consistently got to think
11:10
11:10 responsibly about how we’re actually
11:12
11:12 operating, you know, can Do we need to
11:14
11:14 travel to all of those locations? Can we
11:16
11:16 actually get the most out of what we’re
11:18
11:18 doing? Um can we use the facilities back
11:21
11:21 in the UK, which we have used very well,
11:22
11:22 actually. There’s over 60 facilities in
11:24
11:24 the UK. Most people don’t know that. Um
11:26
11:26 can we try to condense where because
11:29
11:29 we’re running 12 different programs with
11:31
11:31 12 different um disciplines, You know,
11:33
11:33 how do we condense that training period?
11:36
11:36 At the same time, we’ve got to be really
11:39
11:39 agile because you can plan the entire
11:41
11:41 thing out, get to a venue, and the
11:44
11:44 snow’s melted, or there’s too much snow.
11:46
11:46 Or effectively, you know, um a
11:49
11:49 competition gets canceled. So, it’s
11:51
11:51 being able to be sufficiently flexible
11:54
11:54 and agile, and having planned out and
11:55
11:55 again the military, you know, you call
11:57
11:57 it Cal 1 2 and 3, course of action 1 2
11:59
11:59 and 3. You’ve always got a contingency
12:01
12:01 plan up your sleeve. And we train our
12:04
12:04 coaches and our athletes to be super
12:06
12:06 adaptable.
12:08
12:08 >> So,
12:10
12:10 we we often remark that the old
12:12
12:12 quotation is true, you know, the
12:14
12:14 future’s already here. Um
12:16
12:16 take us to the edge. Where is this
12:18
12:18 going? What have you seen in terms of
12:20
12:20 how we work with athletes, how we work
12:21
12:21 with technology, that gives us a clue
12:24
12:24 about where we’re heading?
12:25
12:25 >> Uh if you look at um you know, just how
12:28
12:28 far we’ve come with snow sport athletes,
12:30
12:30 for anybody that was watching the Winter
12:32
12:32 Olympics, or if if you haven’t tuned
12:34
12:34 back in to watching Zoe Atkin do the
12:35
12:35 halfpipe, and the amplitude that she
12:37
12:37 had, in it she actually had
12:38
12:38 >> Just say what amplitude means there.
12:40
12:40 >> So, amplitude is where they they
12:41
12:41 effectively they’re on skis, where Zoe’s
12:42
12:42 on skis, she goes into effectively into
12:45
12:45 a half a pipe, and then she comes out
12:47
12:47 one side, and then she’ll do a trick,
12:49
12:49 and then she’ll go back in, and then
12:50
12:50 she’ll use the speed of going back in to
12:52
12:52 come out the other side. So, the height
12:54
12:54 that she gets when she comes out of that
12:56
12:56 pipe above the ledge is the amplitude
12:58
12:58 I’m talking about. Now, Zoe hit, you
13:01
13:01 know, an amplitude that hasn’t really
13:02
13:02 been hit before. Well, it’s been hit by
13:04
13:04 the men, but not by the women. Um and
13:07
13:07 the sport, again for anyone watching
13:09
13:09 some of the freestyle disciplines, the
13:11
13:11 extreme levels that these athletes can
13:13
13:13 can do now, the tricks that they are um
13:16
13:16 achieving, both female and male, are
13:18
13:18 insane.
13:19
13:19 Looking forward, you know,
13:22
13:22 if we even dabble with technology, if
13:25
13:25 you could imagine actually, you know,
13:27
13:27 and I’ve been thinking a lot about this,
13:29
13:29 using some of the AI, using, you know,
13:31
13:31 the pressure pads, putting them, you
13:33
13:33 know, onto the athletes and then
13:34
13:34 understanding the data points
13:36
13:36 surrounding this and what movement we
13:37
13:37 could do to actually improve that trick
13:40
13:40 level, improve that altitude. I think
13:43
13:43 where we could go to next, I mean, they
13:45
13:45 they already look superhuman. So, I you
13:47
13:47 know, I very much feel that’s the
13:48
13:48 direction.
13:50
13:50 >> So, let’s keep going on that.
13:51
13:51 Where paint paint us
13:53
13:53 even more of a picture about where you
13:55
13:55 think we could be going.
13:58
13:58 >> I think that we will be achieving, um,
14:02
14:02 you know, some of the tricks within snow
14:03
14:03 sports that people wouldn’t have dreamt
14:06
14:06 previously, um,
14:08
14:08 could ever be done. I mean, we’ve seen
14:10
14:10 it advance significantly already, but
14:12
14:12 with the help of data, AI, and
14:14
14:14 technology, understanding and also just
14:17
14:17 the training, you know, I’ve been doing
14:19
14:19 as we spoke briefly about, you know,
14:20
14:20 looking at AI and brain health and
14:22
14:22 performance, understanding the most
14:24
14:24 complex organ we’ve got, the brain,
14:26
14:26 slightly better,
14:28
14:28 that again, I think, will really support
14:30
14:30 us in taking the sport to another level.
14:32
14:32 >> Right. I just want to be completely
14:34
14:34 clear and not state secrets here, I
14:36
14:36 know, but, um, how does working with a
14:39
14:39 piece of technology to observe, if you
14:41
14:41 like, and work alongside Natalie? Um, I
14:43
14:43 just really want to bring that to life.
14:46
14:46 Is there anything you’ve seen that
14:47
14:47 you’ve thought, “Actually, look, this is
14:48
14:48 where we’re going.”?
14:49
14:49 >> Um, yeah, I think, you know, if you look
14:52
14:52 at some of the advancements in just in
14:54
14:54 some of the other winter sports
14:55
14:55 disciplines with regards to speed
14:57
14:57 skating, for example. I know they’ve
14:59
14:59 been working with technology that
15:01
15:01 effectively can improve the angulation
15:04
15:04 of the body going around the track that
15:05
15:05 that can knock seconds off. We saw it in
15:07
15:07 cycling, you know, that was several
15:08
15:08 years ago and we saw all the
15:09
15:09 advancements that could be made there.
15:12
15:12 Having seen some of the, um, some of the
15:14
15:14 technology that that athletes have been
15:16
15:16 using and from different nations, you
15:19
15:19 can see a significant advancement in the
15:20
15:20 speed, the time. This is where you get
15:22
15:22 all your record-breaking success from.
15:25
15:25 And and I I feel that is definitely the
15:27
15:27 direction ahead.
15:29
15:29 >> I’m not suggesting this will happen. If
15:31
15:31 you went back into your former military
15:33
15:33 days,
15:34
15:34 to what extent do you think you’d apply
15:36
15:36 things differently now?
15:39
15:39 >> Um
15:40
15:40 >> [sighs]
15:42
15:42 >> Well, I think there’s a an awful lot
15:43
15:43 more technology. I probably wouldn’t
15:44
15:44 have to go through all the command
15:45
15:45 service writing I did because I I do it
15:48
15:48 for me, but no,
15:48
15:48 >> [laughter]
15:49
15:49 >> I don’t know.
15:50
15:50 All the papers I had to write, the
15:51
15:51 briefing notes um were continual, but
15:54
15:54 no, I I think technology now has
15:56
15:56 advanced so significantly, um it would
15:59
15:59 be really interesting to be sat at the
16:01
16:01 desk now going through all the military
16:04
16:04 planning exercises we did. And you know,
16:07
16:07 with with the with the whiteboard, etc.
16:09
16:09 Um
16:10
16:10 clearly, things have seriously
16:12
16:12 progressed. So, I don’t think it’s what
16:14
16:14 I would do differently now. I think it’s
16:15
16:15 then you know, I’d be sitting there
16:17
16:17 adapting and using the technology that’s
16:19
16:19 now available to my counterparts that
16:21
16:21 still, you know, are employed in the
16:22
16:22 military.
16:23
16:23 >> One thing we talk about a lot at Future
16:25
16:25 Forum is leaving your lane.
16:27
16:27 Uh and so we’re thriving off examples of
16:30
16:30 that. You’ve already given some examples
16:31
16:31 there. Again, without revealing too many
16:33
16:33 secrets, but we’d love to one or two,
16:35
16:35 who did you learn from on this journey?
16:37
16:37 Especially on leading GB Snowsport,
16:40
16:40 whose um
16:41
16:41 whose cutting edges were you learning
16:42
16:42 from?
16:44
16:44 >> I’ll be honest with you, Formula 1 where
16:46
16:46 I know I’m always fascinated by um
16:48
16:48 by Formula 1 and I have a friend who’s
16:51
16:51 um
16:52
16:52 who I’ve spent some time with in Formula
16:55
16:55 1, who’s there um
16:56
16:56 you know, he’s now the head of
16:57
16:57 performance at McLaren. And so, just
17:00
17:00 understanding where they are at with
17:03
17:03 technology and what they can do to find
17:05
17:05 marginal gains, it’s for us, it’s all in
17:08
17:08 this particular sport, the margins are
17:10
17:10 so fine. Um
17:12
17:12 Using some of their insights is super
17:15
17:15 helpful.
17:16
17:16 And I think, you know, they do they do
17:18
17:18 do it really well. So, I’m always
17:20
17:20 looking outside the box and trying to
17:22
17:22 find different ways, whether it’s from
17:24
17:24 the, you know,
17:25
17:25 the the equipment that we’re using to
17:27
17:27 the clothing that we’re wearing, again
17:29
17:29 to, you know, brain health and
17:30
17:30 performance. Our performance director’s
17:32
17:32 exceptional in this area. Um he’s got a
17:34
17:34 PhD in brain health and performance. So,
17:36
17:36 just learning from him actually has been
17:38
17:38 really important. He came from being a
17:40
17:40 pro rugby player. So, he’s brought a
17:42
17:42 different insight in.
17:43
17:43 >> So, this is the second time uh in the
17:45
17:45 last uh two or three episodes that
17:46
17:46 Formula 1’s come up. So, I think we need
17:48
17:48 to weave more of this into our um
17:51
17:51 face-to-face gatherings.
17:54
17:54 I sometimes think when, for example, I
17:56
17:56 see things like London Fashion Week,
17:58
17:58 there’ll be a demonstration of a
17:59
17:59 cutting-edge thing, which actually,
18:02
18:02 although it draws huge attention and um
18:05
18:05 captures imagination, it actually
18:07
18:07 triggers a wider conversation about how
18:08
18:08 certain things could be used. And I just
18:11
18:11 wonder
18:12
18:12 if there’s anything you’ve seen in the
18:13
18:13 sporting world, uh especially with your
18:15
18:15 Invictus work, um that you think
18:17
18:17 actually these developments could impact
18:21
18:21 not just a small group of elite
18:23
18:23 athletes, but a much wider number of
18:25
18:25 people. Where does your head go?
18:27
18:27 >> Um look, for me, rather than material
18:30
18:30 benefits, I when I look at um you know,
18:33
18:33 Invictus [clears throat] athletes, for
18:34
18:34 example, and you watch a triple amputee
18:36
18:36 swimming 200 m in the aquatic center
18:38
18:38 when they’ve uh effectively thought that
18:40
18:40 life was over, or you watch um somebody
18:42
18:42 who’s been blown up and loses their legs
18:44
18:44 in um you know, 20 um
18:47
18:47 2011 and go on and win a bronze medal in
18:50
18:50 the Paralympics in the 200-m sprint with
18:52
18:52 a pair of blades, then you realize that
18:54
18:54 actually um they demonstrate anything is
18:58
18:58 possible when faced into when facing
19:00
19:00 into something with an unconquerable
19:02
19:02 spirit. So, I learn more about that and
19:04
19:04 that translatable sort of sort of head
19:07
19:07 space than than anything else. These
19:09
19:09 people set the example and set the bar
19:12
19:12 about what is actually possible when you
19:14
19:14 believe it may not be. And and and I
19:16
19:16 think that is very translatable because
19:19
19:19 when people are struggling to be
19:20
19:20 motivated because they want to do V day,
19:22
19:22 for example, I think you put a
19:24
19:24 completely different perspective on when
19:25
19:25 you watch somebody like that actually
19:27
19:27 achieve what they can.
19:29
19:29 >> Well, I was going to ask you about that
19:30
19:30 actually because
19:32
19:32 um
19:32
19:32 you wear several hats. You chair
19:35
19:35 uh GB Surfing as well as running GB
19:38
19:38 Snowsport.
19:39
19:39 Um And you’re also in the world of
19:41
19:41 business. So,
19:43
19:43 have you got any advice for a for us
19:45
19:45 mortals in terms of fitting it in?
19:48
19:48 >> No, I think for me it’s not about me,
19:50
19:50 Ollie, and I mean that. It’s about the
19:52
19:52 brilliant people I work with. I wouldn’t
19:54
19:54 be able to go into
19:56
19:56 you know, into the banking world or the
19:57
19:57 fintech world or or any of this space if
20:00
20:00 I didn’t surround myself with the
20:01
20:01 specialists. And um And actually they
20:05
20:05 enable me to bring my skill set um
20:09
20:09 to whatever it is that they’re doing
20:11
20:11 through my life experience. But these
20:13
20:13 guys and girls are the people who
20:15
20:15 actually um you know, provide me with
20:17
20:17 that support and enable me to be able to
20:20
20:20 move into their worlds.
20:21
20:21 >> well, I’ve got a question about that
20:22
20:22 because uh just give us a quick glimpse
20:24
20:24 on Sport Bank. Tell us what it is.
20:26
20:26 >> Yes, so Sport Bank is a bank that we’ve
20:28
20:28 effectively established or co-founded at
20:30
20:30 to support the um the industry of
20:33
20:33 health, sport, and leisure. Um it’s all
20:36
20:36 about how do we actually support, you
20:38
20:38 know, from the small clubs and academies
20:40
20:40 all the way through to the grassroots um
20:42
20:42 sports, to the parents of kids, to the
20:44
20:44 fans of sports, to the providers of tech
20:47
20:47 of of sports equipment. Um
20:49
20:49 But tailor making bespoke some of the
20:51
20:51 products for the individuals. Uh so,
20:53
20:53 anything from
20:55
20:55 you know, a personal trainer sort of um
20:58
20:58 of application. So, like a PT
21:01
21:01 application in finance, for example. Um
21:03
21:03 and so, we’ve been looking at this. I
21:05
21:05 did fintech sort of over a period of
21:07
21:07 about 7 years and learned quite a lot in
21:10
21:10 that.
21:10
21:10 >> Right, so I think I’m getting the gist,
21:12
21:12 but what is it? Is it a bank? Do I
21:14
21:14 borrow money from it? What is it?
21:15
21:15 >> It will be So, it’s going through its
21:16
21:16 banking license application at the
21:18
21:18 moment. Um and the intention is it will
21:20
21:20 be a bank.
21:22
21:22 >> Well, this is very intriguing.
21:24
21:24 However, in a parallel universe,
21:25
21:25 Victoria Gosling says to herself, “I
21:28
21:28 don’t actually know anything about
21:29
21:29 financial services. I have a military
21:31
21:31 background. I’ve worked in sport.” Red
21:33
21:33 light, do not proceed. And you get stuck
21:35
21:35 in.
21:36
21:36 What’s going on?
21:37
21:37 >> I think it’s the people again. It comes
21:39
21:39 back to the individuals that approached
21:41
21:41 me and they could understand that I I I
21:43
21:43 I understand what the consumer wants
21:45
21:45 from a sporting perspective if they want
21:47
21:47 to bank. That’s the difference. So, I
21:49
21:49 bring that customer experience.
21:51
21:51 >> It’s a very interesting point because
21:52
21:52 you said they they approached you and
21:54
21:54 that’s the point, isn’t it? You know, in
21:55
21:55 some instances, um
21:57
21:57 you know, these things spark in all
21:59
21:59 sorts of ways.
22:00
22:00 I’ve got multiple choice questions for
22:02
22:02 you.
22:02
22:02 >> Go for it.
22:03
22:03 >> Pick a number between 1 and 10.
22:04
22:04 >> Eight.
22:06
22:06 >> What’s something
22:07
22:07 about high performance that most people
22:10
22:10 prefer to ignore?
22:12
22:12 >> Selfish.
22:14
22:14 >> Well, that’s a That’s That’s Carry on.
22:17
22:17 >> So, effectively, if you want to really
22:20
22:20 excel in in sport in a high performance
22:24
22:24 elite environment, you have to be
22:26
22:26 selfish.
22:27
22:27 >> All right, define selfish then.
22:29
22:29 >> So, in a you have to effectively Well,
22:31
22:31 selfish self-centered because there’s a
22:33
22:33 lot of self-less commitment, but at the
22:36
22:36 same time, you have to
22:38
22:38 um
22:40
22:40 you have to forego an awful lot and you
22:43
22:43 also have to put yourself first. So, put
22:46
22:46 yourself in a high-risk environment. You
22:49
22:49 you have got to be uber focused
22:52
22:52 and you cannot divide your attention
22:55
22:55 in multiple ways. So, I think as an
22:57
22:57 individual in a high performing sport,
22:59
22:59 you have to have an element of of that
23:02
23:02 about you where where you’re going to
23:04
23:04 put yourself number one and first
23:05
23:05 because if you find yourself divided,
23:07
23:07 diluted, or distracted, you’re really
23:09
23:09 going to struggle.
23:10
23:10 >> Love that. And
23:13
23:13 sounds like what you’re suggesting is
23:14
23:14 that it is possible to have that
23:15
23:15 component without it spilling into every
23:18
23:18 part of your life.
23:19
23:19 >> Yeah, 100%. So, look, that some of the
23:21
23:21 best sportsmen and women in the world
23:24
23:24 will tell you that they they have to
23:26
23:26 sacri- So, you could almost you could
23:27
23:27 spin that and say, “Well, it’s it it say
23:29
23:29 it’s selfless commitment in a way at the
23:31
23:31 same time.” But, you you you effectively
23:35
23:35 have to forego going to weddings, going
23:37
23:37 to parties, get you know, drinking
23:39
23:39 alcohol, eating when you want to eat.
23:41
23:41 You Christmas Day, you’re training,
23:43
23:43 right? So, you So, it can be So, when I
23:46
23:46 say selfish, it’s the impact on other
23:48
23:48 people, the fact that you are not going
23:50
23:50 to So, putting it in the right context,
23:52
23:52 it’s the fact that you’re not able to go
23:54
23:54 and share your time at a birthday party,
23:57
23:57 or go and share your time at a wedding,
23:59
23:59 or you can’t go for that dinner and have
24:00
24:00 a beer with your mate when they actually
24:02
24:02 want you to because you have got to put
24:04
24:04 yourself first and focus on your
24:05
24:05 deliverables.
24:06
24:06 >> Right.
24:06
24:06 >> That’s the context around it, Ollie.
24:08
24:08 >> Right.
24:09
24:09 How selfish are you?
24:11
24:11 >> Um
24:13
24:13 probably a bit selfish when it comes to
24:16
24:16 actually um sometimes I will I will put
24:19
24:19 my time in the wrong place when I should
24:21
24:21 actually be thinking about um my family
24:24
24:24 more or
24:25
24:25 you know, I do you know, if I I’ve I’ve
24:28
24:28 chosen actually that I I I could um I
24:33
24:33 could be baking a cake when actually I
24:34
24:34 want to watch some cheesy movie cuz I
24:36
24:36 haven’t turned the TV on for a while,
24:38
24:38 you know, I could be baking a cake with
24:39
24:39 Charlotte and I I desperately want to
24:41
24:41 watch a movie and then I found myself
24:43
24:43 actually watching a movie instead. But,
24:44
24:44 I would hope overall
24:46
24:46 I am more
24:48
24:48 in the selfless bracket because I’m not
24:51
24:51 you know, I I don’t my performance I’m
24:53
24:53 not an elite performer per se in sports.
24:55
24:55 Um
24:57
24:57 So, I don’t have to be particularly
24:59
24:59 selfish but sometimes you just do.
25:01
25:01 >> Right.
25:02
25:02 Have you got any advice by the way if
25:03
25:03 someone’s listening and they’ve got a
25:04
25:04 child who is
25:06
25:06 into sport shall we say about how they
25:09
25:09 get that individual to tread the right
25:12
25:12 line between it becoming all
25:13
25:13 encompassing being a healthy part of
25:15
25:15 their lives because it’s such an
25:17
25:17 uplifting thing to have in a life.
25:19
25:19 >> I’m so yeah. So I So my daughter is
25:21
25:21 she’s 14 and um
25:24
25:24 and she’s uber um you know uber
25:26
25:26 dedicated really good at got sort of
25:29
25:29 golf and tennis but for us it’s been so
25:30
25:30 important that we keep the multi-sport
25:32
25:32 aspect. So she’s she’s doing more than
25:34
25:34 one sport. I you know the baking
25:36
25:36 conversation came in so you know she’s
25:38
25:38 doing her baking. We’re breaking up just
25:41
25:41 just purely focusing it on one
25:43
25:43 discipline to ensure that actually she’s
25:45
25:45 appreciating other things around her
25:47
25:47 because it can be all encompassing and
25:49
25:49 what happens is they get to an age where
25:52
25:52 they are burnt out and it’s such a long
25:54
25:54 journey Ollie. You can’t just you know I
25:57
25:57 think these athletes that I’ve seen
25:58
25:58 through my experience of sport and
26:00
26:00 through my own children has been
26:03
26:03 diversifying what they are actually
26:05
26:05 doing so they can it’s they learn it’s
26:07
26:07 getting out the lane right? So it’s back
26:09
26:09 to that point but doing it a younger
26:10
26:10 age.
26:11
26:11 >> Well that’s why I wonder Victoria
26:14
26:14 to what extent your own multi-hatted
26:16
26:16 life actually helps you to concentrate
26:19
26:19 rather than diluting everything you do.
26:21
26:21 >> It I say the benefit is I um uber
26:26
26:26 focused on the pri It [clears throat]
26:28
26:28 makes you prioritize better. That’s what
26:29
26:29 it does do. So you take you are
26:31
26:31 prioriti- I prioritize the bit that
26:33
26:33 needs doing in whichever element of my
26:36
26:36 life I’m dealing with at the time. You
26:38
26:38 know so it it it’s the problem I’m quite
26:41
26:41 good at and I guess that comes from the
26:42
26:42 military background as well at at really
26:45
26:45 quickly assimilating information and
26:47
26:47 understanding what’s important. You have
26:49
26:49 to do that when you’re in these
26:50
26:50 environments. You’ve got to figure out
26:52
26:52 what really matters because your life
26:54
26:54 can be at risk, right?
26:56
26:56 >> Tell us about that. There’s a moment
26:58
26:58 you’re describing there, which is
26:59
26:59 quickly assimilating information and
27:01
27:01 prioritizing. How How does it We We
27:03
27:03 could all learn something from this. How
27:04
27:04 do you actually do that?
27:06
27:06 >> I think again,
27:08
27:08 >> [sighs]
27:08
27:08 >> you know, in the military you’re
27:09
27:09 constantly put into different scenarios.
27:12
27:12 And so, um
27:14
27:14 you are it it you are you become a bit
27:17
27:17 of an expert in cutting through the
27:19
27:19 rubbish. Um and just focusing in on
27:22
27:22 what’s important. And that comes from
27:24
27:24 ex- quite a bit of experience as well.
27:26
27:26 So, putting yourself into periods of
27:28
27:28 stretch. You know, there is nothing
27:30
27:30 quite like it. Um
27:32
27:32 and then just really understanding what
27:35
27:35 really matters. What What is really
27:37
27:37 important here? How are we actually
27:38
27:38 going to get through that? So, in a
27:40
27:40 boardroom, there’s lots of noise. It’s a
27:41
27:41 It’s the It’s the 80/20 solution. We
27:43
27:43 have it in sport all the time. Is this
27:45
27:45 going to make the boat go faster or not?
27:46
27:46 Well, if it’s not, let’s just No, we’re
27:48
27:48 not doing it. You know, we’ve got to do
27:49
27:49 this bit.
27:51
27:51 >> When you’re doing this Now, if I found
27:52
27:52 you doing this in the next 24 48 hours,
27:55
27:55 are you doing this alone? Are you doing
27:56
27:56 this on your computer? I just I just
27:58
27:58 want to almost get a glimpse of, you
27:60
27:60 know, an operator prioritizing.
28:03
28:03 And And how How do you end up cutting
28:04
28:04 through it? Cuz at the end of the day,
28:06
28:06 um you have to make these decisions.
28:07
28:07 Maybe the answers are coming to
28:08
28:08 instinctively. I’m
28:10
28:10 I want to know about the process.
28:12
28:12 >> If I you know, I A basic example being,
28:16
28:16 um
28:18
28:18 it you know, it um a multitude of
28:20
28:20 emails. And you’re reading I scan read
28:22
28:22 everything. And then, you know, one will
28:24
28:24 pop out. You just pick up the phone And
28:26
28:26 again, you you’re taught to scan read
28:28
28:28 consistently. So, you know, I’ll pick up
28:30
28:30 a couple of words in an email or I’ll
28:32
28:32 see, you know, from the title or where
28:34
28:34 it’s at, whether I can just skip through
28:36
28:36 it. And that can wait till tomorrow or
28:37
28:37 whether I just need to do it now. Or
28:39
28:39 scenario with, you know, if it Is it a
28:42
28:42 conversation about a planning meeting
28:44
28:44 that we’re having next week whereby
28:46
28:46 we’re programming something or have we
28:48
28:48 just had an incident on the slope now
28:50
28:50 that needs dealing with immediately and
28:53
28:53 that we need to where do we need to get
28:54
28:54 them to? Do we get them home? Do we
28:55
28:55 leave them? You know, do we send them to
28:57
28:57 the hospital? Which is the best hospital
28:59
28:59 for them? Get the doc Get the specialist
29:00
29:00 on the phone. It It just depends. And my
29:02
29:02 world is so multi-faceted
29:06
29:06 and there’s so many different things
29:07
29:07 going on that actually it’s about
29:11
29:11 assimilation of information as quickly
29:13
29:13 as you can and then just through
29:14
29:14 experience it knowing. I mean, you don’t
29:16
29:16 always get it right. But it’s being
29:18
29:18 decisive. I think when
29:20
29:20 the worst thing is if you
29:23
29:23 if you effectively are you know, things
29:26
29:26 are unknown or insecure or you know,
29:29
29:29 you’re leading into that unknown
29:30
29:30 environment, what you have to do is be
29:33
29:33 decisive with the information you have.
29:35
29:35 You’re never going to get it all. And I
29:36
29:36 think that’s how you learn to prioritize
29:38
29:38 quite quickly because you don’t want all
29:40
29:40 of the facts. You just take some of the
29:42
29:42 facts, the facts that you’ve got
29:44
29:44 presented that are easy to to to to get
29:46
29:46 a hold of. And then is it life or death?
29:49
29:49 >> You’ve referenced back quite
29:50
29:50 understandably to your military
29:52
29:52 background and what it taught you.
29:54
29:54 I wanted to what extent if you were
29:56
29:56 challenged to say how can more leaders
29:58
29:58 in the business world learn from the
30:00
30:00 sort of experiences you’ve been through?
30:02
30:02 If you were charged with distilling and
30:04
30:04 sharing that, where would you start?
30:06
30:06 >> Trust.
30:08
30:08 So in the military, people will
30:09
30:09 literally go to hell and back for you
30:10
30:10 and what they stand for.
30:12
30:12 And that is because of trust. And it’s
30:14
30:14 the same in business, that commitment,
30:15
30:15 that loyalty, understanding that people
30:18
30:18 have your backs enables people to
30:19
30:19 thrive. And I think if you’re creating
30:21
30:21 the right environment where people can
30:23
30:23 thrive and they feel that you have their
30:25
30:25 backs, the output will be insane.
30:28
30:28 >> So there’s a lesson there.
30:30
30:30 I’m being even more literal saying how
30:32
30:32 can we package up? I mean, we ought to
30:33
30:33 do it presumably in other industries as
30:35
30:35 well and sectors, but specifically on
30:37
30:37 the military front, are we sending CEOs
30:40
30:40 to Sandhurst? Where does the Where do
30:41
30:41 Where would this go? How would you
30:43
30:43 spread this? I mean, you’re able to
30:45
30:45 share it from a personal perspective,
30:47
30:47 but there is a lot to learn.
30:48
30:48 >> There is a lot to learn, but I think
30:49
30:49 there’s an awful lot to be said for
30:51
30:51 empowering and enabling your people. I
30:54
30:54 don’t think you need to go to Sandhurst
30:55
30:55 to learn that skill. I think it’s about
30:57
30:57 understanding the skill set that
30:59
30:59 individuals have and then empowering
31:01
31:01 them and enabling them to use it because
31:03
31:03 you’ve created a trusted environment.
31:06
31:06 >> I think that trusted environment is such
31:07
31:07 a powerful thought. Um
31:10
31:10 Pick another number.
31:11
31:11 One six. Six.
31:14
31:14 What is the hardest thing to teach a
31:16
31:16 high performer?
31:22
31:22 >> I think high-performing individuals tend
31:27
31:27 to almost be on a unilateral
31:29
31:29 um
31:30
31:30 you know, sort of that they are driven
31:33
31:33 with with sheer focus, which enables
31:35
31:35 them to be successful, and they don’t
31:38
31:38 tend to deviate too much from that
31:40
31:40 linear way of approaching um their
31:43
31:43 business.
31:44
31:44 So, encouraging them
31:47
31:47 that there are other ways of doing
31:49
31:49 things when actually they are they
31:51
31:51 believe that they are the master of the
31:52
31:52 trade can be quite challenging.
31:55
31:55 >> Would you be prepared to share an
31:56
31:56 example of that from your winter Olympic
31:59
31:59 experience? It might be a bit fresh or
32:01
32:01 raw.
32:03
32:03 >> [clears throat]
32:04
32:04 [gasps]
32:05
32:05 >> On record. Um
32:06
32:06 >> [laughter]
32:09
32:09 >> Yes. So, what I would suggest is that um
32:14
32:14 if you are used to winning consistently,
32:18
32:18 you can become complacent and you can
32:20
32:20 miss key indicators
32:22
32:22 because you become overconfident because
32:24
32:24 you’re consistently winning.
32:26
32:26 And so,
32:27
32:27 I would say that, you know, with some of
32:31
32:31 our performances, you could think that
32:34
32:34 the outcome would have been different
32:36
32:36 had we not entered into it
32:38
32:38 with an overconfident attitude.
32:42
32:42 >> Mhm.
32:44
32:44 Well, this can’t be too quick fire, can
32:45
32:45 it?
32:46
32:46 What have you learned about confidence
32:47
32:47 then?
32:49
32:49 >> I think confidence, you know, confidence
32:51
32:51 is a is a great thing. Let’s face it. I
32:52
32:52 mean, I’ve you know, I think there’s an
32:54
32:54 awful lot to be said about acting
32:55
32:55 confident when sometimes your inner
32:57
32:57 being is not that confident because at
32:58
32:58 least then, particularly when you’re in
32:60
32:60 a leadership position, um
33:02
33:02 you know, you have to be you have to
33:03
33:03 have that confidence or at least trade
33:05
33:05 the confidence so that people can go
33:07
33:07 with you. And I think the more you do
33:09
33:09 that, the more confident you become in
33:10
33:10 your own um
33:12
33:12 you know, in your own decision-making.
33:15
33:15 But sometimes it can um
33:17
33:17 hinder you because there’s nothing worse
33:19
33:19 than overconfidence with lack of
33:22
33:22 comprehension of a situation
33:25
33:25 because that can lead to the wrong
33:26
33:26 outcome.
33:27
33:27 >> It’s complicated though, isn’t it? If
33:28
33:28 you had to distill that into a lesson
33:31
33:31 when working with these world-class
33:32
33:32 athletes,
33:34
33:34 where does it land?
33:35
33:35 >> Well, no, I know because if you you want
33:37
33:37 somebody be to be confident when they’re
33:38
33:38 taking a turn and they’re effectively
33:40
33:40 doing a trick or throwing themselves
33:41
33:41 down a downhill. You need them to be
33:42
33:42 confident, but you also need to ensure
33:46
33:46 that that confidence doesn’t exude
33:49
33:49 complacency because the complacency is
33:51
33:51 when you miss the key indicators. And so
33:53
33:53 it’s the the sense of
33:57
33:57 always being willing to learn at the
33:59
33:59 same time.
33:60
34:00 >> Yeah. I think that’s such a powerful
34:01
34:01 addition to that. You’ve used that
34:03
34:03 phrase key indicators a couple of times.
34:05
34:05 In the in the sporting world, what sort
34:06
34:06 of thing just so our listener gets where
34:08
34:08 you’re going with that?
34:11
34:11 >> Well, I think
34:12
34:12 you know, there can be things that are
34:14
34:14 glaringly obvious. It could be that, you
34:17
34:17 know, the
34:20
34:20 you’re just expecting to to land
34:22
34:22 something or you’re expecting to finish
34:24
34:24 within a certain period of time and
34:26
34:26 you’ve convinced yourself that’s going
34:27
34:27 to happen. But what you haven’t thought
34:30
34:30 through is actually that
34:32
34:32 you haven’t, for example, followed the
34:34
34:34 individual, you haven’t taken enough
34:36
34:36 time to watch what the individual in
34:37
34:37 front of you done has done and the
34:39
34:39 mistake they made on the way because
34:40
34:40 you’re so confident in your capability
34:42
34:42 that you haven’t done that. That would
34:44
34:44 be a really basic basic example, Ollie.
34:47
34:47 >> I love that. I love that idea that you
34:49
34:49 don’t look up
34:50
34:50 >> Yeah.
34:51
34:51 >> and you don’t look around for some of
34:52
34:52 those clues.
34:53
34:53 >> Because you have the inner confidence to
34:54
34:54 think you don’t need it.
34:55
34:55 >> Right. Uh one final number.
34:57
34:57 >> Two.
34:59
34:59 >> Oh, what’s overrated in high
35:02
35:02 performance?
35:07
35:07 >> What’s overrated in high performance? Um
35:17
35:17 that we’re not superhuman.
35:20
35:20 So, people watch high-performing
35:22
35:22 athletes and sometimes feel that they
35:24
35:24 are superhuman.
35:25
35:25 But actually, you know, the reality is
35:28
35:28 that they are
35:29
35:29 human.
35:30
35:30 And there are,
35:32
35:32 you know, the senses, the the the the
35:34
35:34 the feelings, the insecurities
35:37
35:37 that every individual, no matter whether
35:39
35:39 they’re extremely best in the world or
35:41
35:41 not, everybody goes through those
35:44
35:44 the same human feelings that the average
35:47
35:47 individual goes through, for sure.
35:50
35:50 >> I wonder if you’ve seen people try to
35:52
35:52 hide those.
35:53
35:53 >> Consistently.
35:55
35:55 It you don’t find many high-performing,
35:57
35:57 high-achieving
35:58
35:58 elite athletes that demonstrate the
36:01
36:01 vulnerabilities on a par with
36:04
36:04 um
36:06
36:06 with your
36:07
36:07 general, you know, sort of uh
36:09
36:09 individual, um your average individual.
36:12
36:12 And I think that’s because they feel
36:13
36:13 they they get the sense that they have
36:15
36:15 to behave in a way, they have to they
36:17
36:17 have to demonstrate that superpower. So,
36:19
36:19 they’re far less likely to demonstrate
36:21
36:21 the vulnerability. Albeit, you say I say
36:23
36:23 that there are obviously there’s always,
36:26
36:26 you know,
36:27
36:27 that that that’s not always the case
36:29
36:29 clearly. It depends very much on the
36:31
36:31 individual. I think it I think the
36:33
36:33 general public actually are really
36:35
36:35 appreciate it. When you look at the Adam
36:36
36:36 Peaty scenario, they appreciate it when
36:38
36:38 the athlete is actually quite open about
36:40
36:40 some of the struggles that they face
36:41
36:41 because it makes them more relatable.
36:44
36:44 And I think that’s really important and
36:45
36:45 we are always encouraging our athletes
36:47
36:47 to be open, to be transparent, to to
36:49
36:49 share because mental health is so
36:51
36:51 important.
36:51
36:51 >> Yeah.
36:52
36:52 Um well, especially when you’re looking
36:53
36:53 after a whole team in that sense.
36:55
36:55 >> 100%.
36:56
36:56 >> Um
36:58
36:58 So, we talk about the future. Obviously,
36:60
36:60 uh it’s the theme of our
37:02
37:02 our forum.
37:03
37:03 How about your future?
37:05
37:05 Victoria, give us a clue. You’ve got a
37:07
37:07 book in the pipeline.
37:09
37:09 >> Yeah. So, hopefully um
37:11
37:11 really keen to try and get the book out
37:13
37:13 of the door by the end of September if I
37:15
37:15 can. Leadership. So, leadership, my sort
37:17
37:17 of journey and the lessons learned along
37:20
37:20 the way.
37:21
37:21 So, I’m excited about that. We’ve got a
37:22
37:22 bank hopefully that we can get licensed
37:25
37:25 and up and running. Um
37:28
37:28 We’ve got clearly we’ve got um
37:30
37:30 a nation full of um Brits with grit that
37:32
37:32 are very capable at at at snow sports.
37:34
37:34 I’m really keen to see them excelling
37:36
37:36 and and and achieving that vision of top
37:38
37:38 five nation.
37:40
37:40 We’ve uh in my surfing world, I’d love
37:42
37:42 to see some of the surfers actually make
37:44
37:44 it to LA and compete and even better um
37:46
37:46 win in Brisbane, which is the following
37:48
37:48 summer Olympics. And of course, quite
37:50
37:50 close but still in future is the
37:52
37:52 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Making
37:54
37:54 that the best ever Invictus Games in
37:56
37:56 July ’27 would be phenomenal.
37:58
37:58 >> Fantastic, which you’re going to chair.
37:60
37:60 Um And then if we were settling down to
38:02
38:02 watch a future, could be Invictus Games,
38:04
38:04 could be Winter Olympics, maybe I don’t
38:06
38:06 know, 5, 10 years time.
38:09
38:09 To what extent do you think it will look
38:10
38:10 quite similar? Are there certain things
38:12
38:12 or if we were to go rummaging behind the
38:14
38:14 scenes and saying, “Well, that has
38:16
38:16 changed.”
38:17
38:17 >> I don’t know. What would I like? Is it
38:19
38:19 is it is a slightly different thing.
38:20
38:20 What I would like is if if we survive
38:22
38:22 the next decade with sport, um
38:25
38:25 then I would like to see it more
38:26
38:26 accessible and more relevant than ever.
38:29
38:29 That’s success for me.
38:31
38:31 >> Why Why do you use that turn of phrase?
38:33
38:33 Um
38:33
38:33 so if we survive the next decade with
38:35
38:35 sport, what what you’re hinting at
38:36
38:36 something there?
38:37
38:37 >> Oh, no. I just think it’s um
38:39
38:39 you know, there’s not it it’s more a
38:40
38:40 case of
38:42
38:42 you know, where and the audience is
38:45
38:45 always searching for other things, isn’t
38:47
38:47 it? So it just depends on
38:49
38:49 which but technology tends to take over.
38:51
38:51 We’ve seen so many people effectively
38:52
38:52 getting stuck into screens and and being
38:55
38:55 obsessed with AI. I mean, look at the
38:56
38:56 children at the moment, right? So
38:59
38:59 it trying to encourage them actually to
39:01
39:01 be out and about playing sport and
39:03
39:03 encouraging that is so important.
39:06
39:06 So it’s just ensuring that we we keep
39:09
39:09 going. Um and when I say survive the
39:11
39:11 next decade in sport, what I mean is,
39:13
39:13 you know,
39:14
39:14 remaining competitive on the global
39:16
39:16 stage for Britain specifically.
39:18
39:18 Um and just encouraging the next
39:20
39:20 generation by keeping it accessible, by
39:22
39:22 keeping it relevant, and by um you know,
39:26
39:26 really striving to have the marginal
39:27
39:27 gains against our competitors. I I worry
39:30
39:30 sometimes. If you look at the medal
39:32
39:32 count, if you look at even though we’ve
39:33
39:33 just achieved great things with the
39:34
39:34 winter sports, look at the gold medal
39:36
39:36 count for Britain. It’s on the decline,
39:38
39:38 right? So that’s not great. So why is
39:41
39:41 that? Is it because of the
39:42
39:42 participation? Is it the investment? Is
39:44
39:44 it the accessibility? You know, I can’t
39:46
39:46 answer all of these things, but what I
39:48
39:48 would like to see in the future is
39:50
39:50 ensuring actually it’s more accessible,
39:52
39:52 it’s more relevant than ever, and that
39:55
39:55 we are, you know, competing within an
39:56
39:56 inch you know, of our lives really and
39:59
39:59 and showing the world what we’re capable
40:00
40:00 of.
40:01
40:01 >> You’ve used that phrase uh Brits with
40:03
40:03 grit uh
40:05
40:05 a couple of times.
40:06
40:06 Looking around the world, you know, our
40:08
40:08 international peers, um
40:12
40:12 what do we do well?
40:15
40:15 >> I think we’re really good at um
40:18
40:18 competing against the odds. I think
40:20
40:20 we’re brilliant underdogs. If you look
40:21
40:21 at how we operate with limited
40:24
40:24 resources. So, great example is snow
40:27
40:27 sport, you know, we compete against, you
40:29
40:29 know, the US for example, 60 million a
40:31
40:31 year, dollars that be,
40:33
40:33 um, as as opposed to our, so let’s say
40:36
40:36 1.7 million across the Olympic
40:38
40:38 disciplines, of which there’s, um, nine.
40:41
40:41 Then, I think we achieve an awful lot in
40:43
40:43 terms, so you get a good bang for your
40:44
40:44 buck from the Brits.
40:45
40:45 >> Uh, we ask all our guests to send a memo
40:48
40:48 to the future. Um,
40:50
40:50 could be 10 years time, you decide. Um,
40:52
40:52 could be to your future self, could be
40:54
40:54 to an athlete in the future. What would
40:56
40:56 you say?
40:57
40:57 >> You know, I I truly hope that now when
40:59
40:59 we look across that the landscape of
41:01
41:01 winter sport, that we’ve got more
41:02
41:02 athletes than ever competing in more
41:04
41:04 disciplines than ever, and actually
41:06
41:06 winning Crystal Globes and medals more
41:08
41:08 than ever before.
41:10
41:10 >> And because your journey has been so
41:11
41:11 varied, because you have left your lane
41:14
41:14 several times, um, please return to a
41:18
41:18 former version of Victoria Gosling,
41:19
41:19 perhaps just starting her career in the
41:22
41:22 RAF.
41:24
41:24 Um,
41:25
41:25 where you went on to become Commodore,
41:27
41:27 Group Captain.
41:29
41:29 What would you say to that former
41:30
41:30 Victoria?
41:31
41:31 >> I would say always kick the backside out
41:33
41:33 of life because you never know what’s
41:35
41:35 around the corner.
41:37
41:37 >> Here’s to that. Thank you,
41:39
41:39 uh, for being our guest on tomorrow. Uh,
41:41
41:41 Victoria Gosling, it’s been an absolute
41:43
41:43 pleasure.
41:44
41:44 >> Thank you.
All episodes
