Ben Sigmund
Ben Sigmund – All Whites & Wellington Phoenix | Resilience, Identity & High Performance Without Burnout
Ben Sigmund is one of New Zealand football’s most respected and wholehearted competitors — a proud All Whites representative and Wellington Phoenix cult hero known for giving everything to the cause.
Ben earned 32 caps for the All Whites, playing a key role in New Zealand’s unforgettable journey to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the iconic qualification win over Bahrain. At club level, he became a Phoenix mainstay, clocking 181 A-League appearances, placing him fourth on the club’s all-time appearance list.
Renowned for his all-in approach to performance (also the name of his autobiography), Ben’s journey wasn’t just defined by success — it was shaped by adversity, expectation, and the pressure that comes with being “the tough one.” He travelled to the World Cup as part of the squad, but didn’t step onto the pitch — an experience that tested his identity and mental resilience at the highest level. Later, a 2013 red card for New Zealand intensified public scrutiny, forcing Ben to navigate setbacks in full view of the nation.
But Ben didn’t fold. He learned how to rebuild, refocus, and keep moving forward — ultimately forging an outstanding career for both club and country.
After retiring in 2016, Ben brought the same intensity into business and life. Yet the drive that helped him succeed also pushed him to the edge, working himself into burnout. What followed was a powerful turning point: a journey of self-awareness and change that helped him redefine success — not as constant output, but as balance, fulfilment, and becoming a better father, husband, and friend.
Ben’s story is honest, relatable and deeply human — a compelling keynote on performance under pressure, resilience through setbacks, and the importance of protecting what matters most.
Ben speaks on:
Resilience & mental toughness through setbacks and public scrutiny
High performance under pressure (without losing yourself)
Identity, confidence & self-belief when the plan changes
Burnout, balance & wellbeing for sustainable success
Leadership, commitment & team culture
Best for:
Leadership teams, corporate audiences, high-performance organisations, wellbeing initiatives, and teams navigating change, pressure, or burnout risk.
