Will Greenwood

Biography

Will Greenwood is a former England rugby international and World Cup winner who has gone on to become a media personality, business figure and leadership, culture and resilience expert. On and off the pitch, he has focused on continual improvement, high performance, growth and teamwork.

Starting his working life in the City of London, Will moved from HSBC to full-time rugby player when the union game turned professional. He went on to win 55 caps for England and scored 30 tries, the second-highest tally in English rugby history. He was a key member of the team that won the Rugby World Cup, and he toured three times with the British and Irish Lions. As a player, he was known for his skill, intelligence, dedication and personality.

Retiring from playing after more than a decade, Will joined Sky Sports as a match day presenter. His expert analysis, humour and clarity have remained a regular presence for 25 years. He also worked with the broadcaster to create School of Hard Knocks, a series that gave at-risk young people in inner-city areas the opportunity to train, grow and get their lives back on track through sport. For over 15 years he has written an opinion column for the Telegraph, examining all aspects of rugby at all levels. He is also the author of books including World Class - How to Lead, Learn and Grow Like a Champion, which features interviews with over 100 elite performers from business and sport and considers what separates exceptional leaders from the rest.

As well as his media work, Will returned to the business world and serves as Chief Customer Officer at Afiniti, a data and software company pioneering customer experience AI, where he leads the delivery of measurably better business outcomes for enterprise customers around the world. Will and his wife Caro are patrons of Borne, an organisation dedicated to ending premature birth and advancing knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth. Will's commitment to the cause has seen him conquer mountains, and trek across poles and continents, directing personal experience into action and building a legacy in the name of their son.

Will explores leadership through his experiences in elite sport and beyond. He addresses how organisations can create cultures of trust, self-belief and clear leadership that enable people to move from good to great, including looking at England's transformation from seventh place to world champions. He examines the importance of empowerment and accountability, showing that underperformance should inspire coaching rather than blame, and how setbacks and adversity can become catalysts for determination and growth. He examines how to build behaviours and cultures that celebrate difference, forge belonging, and create inclusion. Will’s perspectives on resilience, wellbeing and personal growth is informed by his own experience navigating injury, setbacks and personal challenges. He brings the mindset of continuous and sustainable improvement, and the pursuit of marginal gains that compound into exceptional performance, to all types of leadership challenge.