Graham Poll

Find In:

  • After Dinner Speakers,
  • Motivational Speakers

Graham Poll Biography

Graham Poll - After Dinner and Motivational Speaker
Topics:
  • Leadership
  • Motivation & Teamwork
  • Sport

Graham Poll is an excellent after dinner speaker combining his sporting experiences with  his experiences of the sales world, producing a humorous and insightful view of the importance of motivation, teamwork and leadership.

Infamous Ref

Graham is  the most well known and most experienced English football referee of all time.  Whilst his achievements are considerable, including the last FA Cup Final at Wembley stadium in 2000 and the first referee to reach the milestone of refereeing 300 Premier League matches he will always be remembered for issuing one player with 3 yellow cards at a World Cup match during the 2006 final competition in Germany 2006.

Life Outside the Game

Educated at Alleyne’s School in Stevenage, Poll achieved 8 GCE O level passes and 2 A level passes in Mathematics and English.  Motivated to achieve at the earliest possible age, Poll left education to follow a highly successful sales career in the FMCG marketplace after learning the principles of selling in the business to business world of office equipment with Canon UK Ltd.

An excellent communicator and presenter, he quickly progressed to first and then second line management and for 7 years oversaw a rapidly expanding direct sales force at Coty UK alongside his refereeing career. Forced to leave full time employment in 1999 due to his dedication to achieving world recognition in football, Poll started his own business with another ex- sales director from Hays and fellow International referee, Graham Barber. Together they developed an internet site which they negotiated the sale of for £1.5m in 2001 before becoming a full time professional referee.

For further information or to book Graham Poll, call us on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events Graham Poll has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to Graham Poll then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Graham Poll Books


Other Graham Poll Products


Graham Poll News

A selection of relevant news related to Graham Poll and Leadership stories. For more information on Graham Poll or details as to how to book Graham Poll for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Few Understand Howard Webb’s Situation Like Pierluigi Collina
13th July 2010World Cup final referee Howard Webb has been greeted with both praise and controversy and few understand the pressures he has experienced like speaker Pierluigi Collina – widely regarded as the best referee in the world.
What Do Leaders Really Do? By Jeff Grout
19th December 2007Jeff Grout writes article for the Edge Magazine due to be published in February 2008
Will Howard Gardner, a visionary and one of the world's authorities on leadership, be voted Thinker 50 in the 2009 poll?
3rd August 2009A visionary and lauded public intellectual, Harvard professor, Howard Gardner has not only revolutionized our understanding of intelligence and creativity, but he has also established himself as one of the world’s foremost authorities on leadership and professional responsibility. He is a contender for this year's Thinker 50 poll and is a much sought-after international keynote speaker
Winner of the 2008 Thinkers 50, CK Prahalad one of the most influential business & management thinkers of our time, is a definite contender for the 2009 poll
7th July 2009The winner of the bi-annual Thinkers 50 survey in 2007 was CK Prahalad. He is one of the most influential management and business thinkers of our time and is a definite contender for this year's poll. Coimbatore Prahalad is Professor of Strategy at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and is a world renowned business speaker
Lessons learnt from Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple - one of the greatest speakers ever
19th November 2009The Times is featuring extracts from Simon Maier and Jerremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and lessons from 100 of the greatest speeches ever delivered'. Read The Times article on lessons learnt from one of the world's best speakers - Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and former chief executive officer of Pixar Animation Studios.
What can conference speakers learn from the great orator, Martin Luther King
22nd October 2009The first of 10 articles in The Times yesterday featured an extract on Martin Luther King from Simon Maier and Jeremy Kourdi's book 'The 100: Insights and Lessons from 100 of the Greatest Speeches Ever Delivered'. Over the coming weeks, other of the world's greatest speakers will be featured including Napoleon Bonaparte, Barack Obama and Socrates. No doubt, there will be much that today's conference speakers can learn.
An insight into Pierluigi Collina's thoughts about Management
18th June 2008Pierluigi Collina, the most globally recognisable football referee, discusses his management style in a recent edition of the Financial Times.
Will The Stig’s Identity be Revealed?
24th August 2010The original Stig Perry McCarthy is now an after dinner and motivational speaker, so will the identity of the new Stig be revealed thus demolishing the massive publicity created by the allure of hidden identity?
Greg Dyke and Stuart Hampson take up advisory roles with the NHS
17th April 2009The NHS has recruited two captains of industry in an effort to improve leadership in the health service. Greg Dyke, who ran the BBC for four years and Sir Stuart Hampson, former chairman of John Lewis are among a group of health outsiders drafted in to provide the NHS with insights on raising standards in larger corporations.
The Human Polar Bear: Lewis Gordon Pugh on the Discovery Channel
28th June 2010Tonight environmentalist and keynote speaker Lewis Gordon Pugh features in an incredible documentary on the Discovery Channel about his swim in the Arctic ocean – a feat thought impossible prior to his achievement.

Graham Poll Reviews

Graham Poll has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Graham Poll for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Graham Poll for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

"Understood the brief, worked the audience very well, even with a fair amount of colorful language at breakfast time ! Excellent feedback from the audience"
Peacheys

"Graham was extremely accomodating and engaging - I was hooked and many of the attendees gave me very positive feedback throughou the rest of the evening."
Anglian Water (Water Aid Committee)

"The guests thoroughly enjoyed hhis speech and he went on to present the awards well. He was very charismatic and made sure his anecdotes related to the theme of the awards."
FT Business

Q & A with Graham Poll

Speakers Corner interviewed Graham Poll to give you a bit more insight as to the type of performance and delivery you would expect from Graham Poll However for more information on Graham Poll or details as to how to book Graham Poll for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Speakers Corner: How did the corporate speaking all start?

Graham Poll: After success in the after dinner speaking environment I decided to utilise that experience and also offer speeches with business messages from learnings in sport.

Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?

Graham Poll: It was a sporting lunch at Swindon Town.

Speakers Corner: And your last event?

Graham Poll: Sporting was at Halifax Town on Fridayand corporate was for Zurich financial services in Manchester.

Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?

Graham Poll: Caravan lunch for Speakers Corner was great fun. As well as speaking I ran the auction which raised a huge sum for the Charity.

Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?

Graham Poll: I really don’t mind – the more diverse the better.

Speakers Corner: Who would you most like to share a platform with?

Graham Poll: I really don’t mind.

Speakers Corner: On average, how many times a year do you speak at corporate events?

Graham Poll: 60 speaking engagements per year of which 10-15 are business related.

Speakers Corner: Do you use powerpoint?

Graham Poll: I have powerpoint presentations and use if appropriate.

Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?

Graham Poll: Yes, but have a preference for bigger audiences.

Speakers Corner: How do you like to be introduced?

Graham Poll: I don’t mind; it depends on the event. Either former International referee, Daily Mail columnist or bloody nice bloke!

Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?

Graham Poll: Yes, but have a preference for bigger audiences.

Speakers Corner: Do you always like to do a briefing call before the event?

Graham Poll: I think it is beneficial.

Speakers Corner: What are the most asked for topics?

Graham Poll: Decision making under pressure, strength from adversity and getting the best from a team.

Speakers Corner: Is your speech at all interactive with audience participation?

Graham Poll: It has not been yet but could be at some stage.

Speakers Corner: Do you have any funny/embarrassing speaking anecdotes you care to share?

Graham Poll: You’ll have to book me but they are funny involving Thierry Henry, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Kevin Keegan, Sir Alex Ferguson, Vinnie Jones and lots more.

Speakers Corner: Your favourite film?

Graham Poll: The Shawshank Redemption

Speakers Corner: Favourite book?

Graham Poll: Da Vinci Code

Speakers Corner: Favourite holiday destination?

Graham Poll: Portugal

Speakers Corner: What’s your tipple?

Graham Poll: A glass of champagne, a couple of beers and some wine.

Speakers Corner: Country or townie?

Graham Poll: Country

If you are interested in booking Graham Poll for your live event or require any additional information regarding Graham Poll then please fill in the enquiry form below and one of the Speakers Corner booking agents will contact you within 24 hours.

email
Fields marked with a * are required

Other speakers you might like

Andy McNab - Conference and keynotye speaker, motivational

Andy has written about his experiences in the SAS. 'Bravo Two Zero' is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold 1.5 million copies in the UK alone.

Ken Livingstone - After dinner, conference and keynote speaker

Ken has twice held the chief executive office in London's local government. He led the Greater London Council and was London's first Mayor.

John Peters - Conference and keynote speaker, motivational, leadership

Captured & tortured in the 1st Gulf War, -a powerful, moving, funny, human story told by a master storyteller & of particular relevance in today's changing times

John Peters is on your wishlist

Call us on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Need Help Finding a Speaker?

Client Comments

As usual did everything to help find a suitable speaker.

Anglian Water (Water Aid Committee)

News

2nd September 2010
Michael Douglas shared his struggle on The Late Show with David Letterman yesterday and keynote speakers including Lance Armstrong and Martina Navratilova have been open to sharing their own experiences and stories of hope.
1st September 2010
The BBC One controller, Jay Hunt has confirmed that Graham Norton's chat show will switch to friday nights in October to replace Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.