Freddie Bennett

Bestselling author, entrepreneur and high-performance keynote

Overview

Freddie Bennett is one of New Zealand's most distinctive voices on mindset, resilience and high performance. A bestselling author, Apple Top-25 podcast host and Tauranga-based entrepreneur, he has worked with global brands including Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Vodafone, Virgin Atlantic and the United Nations. He doesn't just talk about resilience – he ran 300 km across the Sahara, took on the world's coldest ultra-marathon in the Arctic, and built a multi-clinic business after being diagnosed with ADHD in his mid-thirties.

Who is Freddie Bennett? Freddie was diagnosed with ADHD in his thirties after years of feeling broken and battling depression. Once diagnosed, he leaned into his neurodiversity and built an extraordinary record of extreme endurance feats and business success. He is managing director of Bay Paediatrics in Tauranga and co-founder of the New Zealand Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence, launched in 2025. Men's Health magazine has described him as "the foremost expert in mindset, resilience and high performance".

Career Highlights

• Bestselling author of Starting at Zero

• Apple Top-25 podcast host of Taming the Ferrets

• Managing director of Bay Paediatrics; co-founder of the NZ Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence

• Guinness World Record for fastest marathon dressed as a fisherman (4:37)

• Completed the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert (300 km)

• Completed Beyond the Ultimate in the Arctic – "the world's coldest ultra-marathon"

• UK Management Consultancy Association's Performance Improvement Programme of the Year

• Speaker to Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Amazon, IHG, Heineken, PwC, Accenture, Virgin Atlantic and the United Nations

• Featured on BBC, CNN, Men's Health, The Telegraph, 1News and Seven Sharp

Key Speaking Themes

• Mindset, resilience and strength in adversity

• Leading through change and uncertainty

• High performance and "anabolic" thinking in tough markets

• Neurodiversity, ADHD and unlocking hidden strengths

• The authenticity myth and profiting from your true nature

What Your Audience Will Gain Freddie isn't a rally-the-troops speaker. Audiences leave with practical tools to reframe challenges, build mental toughness, and lead themselves and their teams when conditions are at their hardest.

Ideal For

• Sales kick-offs and leadership conferences

• Resilience, mental health and wellbeing programmes

• Industry awards and after-dinner keynotes

• Neurodiversity, HR and people events

• Customer events and inspirational team days

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Freddie Bennett speak about? Mindset, resilience, high performance, leading through change, and neurodiversity and ADHD at work.

Has Freddie Bennett written a book? Yes. Starting at Zero – The Guide to Making Your Dreams Come True When Everything Else is F**ked is his bestselling book.

What is Freddie Bennett's business background? He is managing director of Bay Paediatrics in Tauranga, co-founder of the New Zealand Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence, and a consultant to global brands.

What is Taming the Ferrets? Freddie's Apple Top-25 podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers.

What endurance feats has Freddie Bennett completed? He has run 300 km across the Sahara, completed an Arctic ultra-marathon and holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a fisherman.

How long is a typical keynote? 45 minutes is standard with Q&A optional. Workshop and after-dinner formats are also available.