CEO of SYMMETRY, Business Transformation Expert, First Briton to Dive Deeper Than 101 Metres on a Single Breath, Bestselling Author of ‘Taming Tigers: Do Things You Never Thought You Could’ & Ranked No. 4 on the Top 30 Motivational Speakers list by Global Gurus
Jim Lawless’ Biography:
Jim Lawless is a globally recognised motivational speaker, business thinker and performance strategist best known for challenging people and organisations to achieve what they once believed impossible. Known for setting the British freediving record and becoming the first Briton to dive deeper than 101 metres on a single breath, Jim has built an international reputation around resilience, adaptability and high performance under pressure. His keynote speeches combine real-world business insight with extraordinary personal achievement, making him one of the most sought-after speakers for leadership, transformation and future of work events. His influence has also been recognised by Global Gurus, ranking him fourth in its Top 30 Motivational Speakers in the World and the number one motivational speaker outside the United States, before later being ranked eighteenth worldwide.
Jim began his professional career in law, qualifying as a solicitor with King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin before later joining Manches. He subsequently became Legal Counsel for ICL Fujitsu, gaining first-hand experience within major corporate environments and developing the commercial understanding that now underpins his keynote work. Alongside his legal and corporate career, Jim pursued increasingly ambitious personal challenges which shaped his philosophy on mindset and transformation. These experiences later became the foundation of his business consultancy work and leadership development programmes. In 2020, he founded SYMMETRY, a consultancy focused on helping organisations and individuals adapt to the future of work by developing the mindsets required to navigate constant change and uncertainty in modern business.
Jim’s achievements have attracted widespread recognition across business and leadership circles because he demonstrates the principles he teaches through genuine lived experience. His world-class freediving accomplishments, combined with his corporate background, allow him to connect with audiences ranging from senior executives to entrepreneurial teams. He has delivered keynote addresses at events including Alto Day Berlin and the Jersey Business Productivity Conference, while working with organisations such as ITV, BP, Fiat, Virgin, Vitality, Xerox, Microsoft, Unilever and Apple. Audiences respond strongly to his ability to translate extreme personal challenges into lessons that can be applied immediately within organisations undergoing disruption and transformation. His reputation as both an inspiring performer and a credible business authority has made him a trusted keynote speaker for international conferences and leadership events.
Why Hire Jim Lawless?
Beyond the stage, Jim is also an accomplished author and respected contributor to social impact initiatives. His book ‘Taming Tigers: Do Things You Never Thought You Could’ explores the rules and mindset shifts required to create lasting personal and organisational change, drawing on both his own experiences and those of others who have transformed their lives. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for HEROS Charity, reflecting his commitment to leadership beyond business. In recognition of his contribution to business writing and thought leadership, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts. Organisations hire Jim Lawless as a keynote speaker because he combines elite-level personal achievement, corporate expertise, engaging storytelling, and practical leadership insights into presentations that leave audiences motivated, challenged, and equipped to embrace change with confidence.
Jim Lawless’ Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Jim Lawless’ remarkable career in customer service and experience:
- 2024 – Keynote speaker for Alto Day Berlin
- 2024 – Invited to speak at the Jersey Business Productivity Conference
- 2024 – Ranked 18th on Global Gurus’ Top 30 Motivational Speakers in the World
- 2021 – Ranked fourth in Global Gurus’ Top 30 Motivational Speakers in the World, #1 Motivational Speaker Outside of the US
- 2020 – Founder & CEO, SYMMETRY
- 2013 – Chairman of the Board of Trustees for HEROS Charity
- 2008 – Author of “Taming Tigers: Do Things You Never Thought You Could”
- 1997 – Legal Counsel of ICL Fujistu
- 1995 – Solicitor for Manches
- 1992 – Solicitor for King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin
- Set the British Freediving record
- The first Brit to dive deeper than 101m on a breath
Videos
Jim Lawless’ Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Captivating- Inspiring- Thought Provoking”- Deloitte
“Insightful, inspirational and impacting- even in virtual form. Thanks for being with us today. I look forward to our next encounter”- Franco, Organisation Development & HR Corinthia Hotels Limited
“Jim left the team feeling inspired and ready to face change head on. Many people have continued to talk about his powerful words and are even discussing the potential of purchasing his book for their teams to read together. He really resonated with the team as a whole and everything we are facing right now as an organization. He was the perfect ending to an amazing week!” – Valvoline
“Jim was fantastic! It was the perfect end to our week together as a team and Jim hit on all the key notes we discussed.” – Valvoline
“Jim was brilliant yesterday – the audience was really engaged with his session, he made them laugh and had some great feedback.” – Danielle, Senior Internal Communications Manager, Compare the Market
“It exceeded my expectations in so many ways and I wanted to let you know that the unsolicited feedback from participants has been resoundingly positive. A standing ovation is not given lightly by our European Leadership Team – a true testament to the value you brought to our conference and I’m confident that we are ready as a team to both tame and unleash our inner tigers.” – Sinead, HR Director Cereal & Marketing, Kellog’s
“Please can you pass on my thanks to Jim. His session was fantastic! His delivery and presentation style was excellent. The session was well received by the audience.” – Sarah, Senior Event Manager, Flywire
“Thank you for being part of our GDTO Extended Leadership Exchange, we all very much enjoyed your contribution, insight and great company! Your session got a lot of positive reactions and now it is up to us to further reflect on the key takeaways and keep that Lion at bay. Thank you once again for making Tuesday’s session a great success.” – Pravina, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Swiss Re Management Ltd
“Jim spoke at our annual partner event. I was truly impressed with Jim‘s impact and style. His speech was motivational and inspirational in many ways. Our partners and employees commended us for having Jim share his thoughts and experience at our event.” – Ali, Area Vice President, Microsoft Middle East & Africa
“Working with Jim proved to be challenging and a turning point for our Exec team. It allowed us to step back and examine how we were operating as a team and create a team agreement around how we would step up together.” – Ursula, CEO, ATOS UK and Ireland
“Yes, Jim’s session went down really well for our conference. We had it as the last session, and it really gave a boost to the final session and a good way to end the event. Many thanks” – Jenny, Events Manager, Education Software Solutions
“Thanks – Jim put on a great performance for us. We were all very impressed and left the meeting in high spirits.” – Karcher
“I am being approached all the time with new ideas and challenges from those who heard you speak … I love it!” – Vodafone
“Jim spoke at our annual partner event. I was truly impressed with Jim‘s impact and style. His speech was motivational and inspirational in many ways. Our partners and employees commended us for having Jim share his thoughts and experience at our event.” – Ali, Area Vice President, Microsoft Middle East & Africa
Speaking Topics
Jim Lawless’ Official Keynote Topics:
- The Future of Work
- The Inspire Course – Learn How to Inspire Your Team
- The Inspirational Team Leader
- Taming Tigers
How Much Does Jim Lawless Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Jim Lawless?
Jim Lawless’ speaking fees typically reflect his exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.