Mark Pollock
International Speaker, Sportsman and Entrepreneur

1998 was a memorable year for many. David Beckham’s antics in a World Cup football match against Argentina caused consternation across the globe and in Northern Ireland, years of blood shed were briefly forgotten as the Good Friday Agreement was signed. For Mark Pollock, these things paled into insignificance as he lay on a hospital bed realising that his sight had gone forever.

Before losing his sight, Mark thought he had it all. He was a final year student at Trinity College Dublin studying business and economics. Identity had been everything.Captain of the University boat club, an international rower, in line for a top job with a London investment bank, the accolades were endless. That’s what made the fall from grace so difficult. In losing his sight, Mark felt he had lost everything. A few months earlier he had been a confident student with the world at his feet, in an instant it was taken from him.

How do we react to a loss of sight? Remember the last time you stumbled into a room in your house when it’s pitch black. You need to find something in a hurry, but you can only rely on touch and instinct. Normally, out of frustration we will just try and find the nearest light switch. Mark didn’t enjoy that luxury. After a brief period spent assessing his options at home in Northern Ireland, Mark decided to gain his independence by moving back to Dublin.

The city Mark had loved as a student had changed dramatically for him. Unable to negotiate the busy streets alone, he became used to using his Guide Dog Larry. He soon learnt how to use a computer with the aid of speech technology. And so began the process of rebuilding his identity. He was able to find work initially with a hugely successful agri-food business where and then with a business and technology consultancy.

For years Mark had thrived on the competition rowing had given him. Having started competing at school, the combination of physical endurance and camaraderie had given him so much. Mark decided to get back in the boat, winning silver and bronze medals for Northern Ireland in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Having mastered rowing, he was ready for bigger challenges.

In 2003, Mark completed 6 marathons in 7 days in China’s Gobi desert before completing the North Pole marathon in 2004. After travelling on foot in the extreme heat and cold, Mark switched focus to multi-sport.

In 2004 he completed The Liffey Descent kayaking race before entering New Zealand’s Coast to Coast in 2005 and 2006. In mid 2006 Ironman Switzerland was conquered along with The Irish Sea Kayaking Challenge. By 2007 it was back on foot for the lowest and highest foot races in the world – Dead Sea Ultra and Everest Marathon.

But in 2009, Mark set himself the biggest challenge yet, to become the first blind man to reach the South Pole. Numerous factors stood in his way. The bitter cold, the endurance, the desolation and his blindness. Yet, he was determined to upset the odds and prove cynics wrong. In January 2009 he skied towards the South Pole, redefining what is possible.

Through his experiences as an elite athlete and a blind man, Mark has become a highly successful international speaker travelling across the globe. Alongside Mark’s own business interests he sits on a number of boards and advisory groups in the not-for-profit sector and is a Vice President of Outward Bound (NI).
Relying on a decade of personal experience and study of surviving and competing on the edge, Mark has inspired thousands of leaders, managers and teams all over the world with his motivational speeches.

Highlighting the story of a normal man who had normal fears and doubts but overcame them to achieve the seemingly impossible, Mark has spoken to over 200 companies and non-profit organisations across the globe including:
Accenture, Canon, Credit Suisse, DHL, Ernst & Young, Fujitsu, the Harvard University-based Leaders for Tomorrow Programme, KPMG, IBM, Mars, Microsoft, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, P&G, Pfizer, PWC, Red Bull, Shell, Unilever and Vodafone and many others.

Mark can deliver a range of taylored speeches to suite your needs:
Keynote Speaker
Business Motivational Speaker
After Dinner Speaker

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Testimonials

"On behalf of us all here in the Irish Nurses Organisation we would like to say a sincere, but heartfelt, thank you for your most uplifting of presentations at our 90th Anniversary Conference...your presentation really did strike a chord with the audience and left them realising that as individuals and as a collective group they can "make it happen" rather than simply apply the blame game or find excuses."
Liam Doran, General Secretary, Irish Nurses Organisation

"There was a deafening silence in the room while Mark spoke. His story was
relevant and insightful and demonstrated the power of the human spirit to
overcome challenges. He has the ability to motivate, inspire and connect
with his audience and he delivered exactly what was required on the day."
Aidan Power, Head of Marketing, EBS Building Society

“Mark's quiet calm and confidence on stage really enraptured our guests. He tells an inspiring personal story that resonates superbly with a business audience, yet is never-contrived or over-messaged. It was a total pleasure to work with Mark.”
Ben Atherton, Global Events Director, Nortel

“Mark's delivery and ability to tailor his messages to our audience exceeded our expectations. His unique and compelling story really added to our event and resonated with everyone in the room”.
Sinead O'Grada, Microsoft Ireland

“One of the great strengths of Mark’s message is that it does lead the listener to look at their situation and question their responses and to re.ect on those attitudes. We may not control the environment and may not be responsible for the situation we .nd our selves in but we are responsible for our actions and responses.”
Paul Masi, MD, head of Equity Markets, Merrill Lynch

“Mark’s talk was exactly what was required in terms of motivating the new team as they face the challenges of the next few years. I was personally humbled to listen to Mark’s story and also uplifted by it.”
Denis Donovan, CEO, Wholesale Financial Services, Bank of Ireland

“In uncertain times, Mark displays an attitude and perspective that reminds us that we really are in charge of our own destiny. In hearing how he has overcome his own dif.culties, he demonstrates the power that resides within all of us to ‘make things happen’. Mark truly lives up to the title of “inspirational speaker”, and we look forward to his return to Asia.”
Tom Royds, Head of Asian Equity Sales, ABN AMRO

“Mark had over 40 participants on the Harvard University-based Leaders for Tomorrow Programme sitting on the edge of their seats thinking whether they should change how they were responding to their situations. Mark is a compelling and challenging speaker.”
Alan McKelvey, Principal, McKelvey Consultancy

"Having Mark Pollock speak at our employee event was inspiring. He gave our event a whole other dimension and my colleagues still speak about the event and Mark\'s address today."
Catherine Casey, Marketing Manager, Fujitsu

"On behalf of IRCSET I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your diary to come and speak at this year's IRCSET Symposium...we have already had a great deal of positive feedback from delegates to the conference. I believe that the success of this year's Symposium was due in the main to the high quality of speakers who participated in the event and took the time to share their insights with our researchers and invited guests. I would very much like to thank you for your contribution to the success of the event."
Martin Hynes, Director, IRCSET

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