Manchester United ex-executive coach to kick off York Business Festival
Dave Callan will be giving the keynote speech on Wednesday at the York Business Festival. (Image: Darren Greenwood)
An executive coach who has held senior roles at Manchester United and Team Sky is set to deliver a keynote address in York tomorrow.
Dave Callan will open the York Business Festival on Wednesday with a talk focused on leadership and human behaviour under pressure.
Mr Callan is the founder of ONTO, an executive coaching practice, and has previously held senior positions at Manchester United, Team Sky/INEOS, and Travel Counsellors.
He said: "I've spent my career in places where the pressure never switches off and everyone can see performance.
"What struck me at Manchester United and Team Sky was never the talent.
"It was how we behave when the heat was on.
"Some got sharper.
"Some got defensive.
"Some started blaming and others go quiet.
"This is where my fascination with human performance started and now as an accredited mindset and coach I work directly with my clients to help them use their most powerful tools to reach their goals."
Mr Callan’s keynote will explore why capable people sometimes fall into unhelpful behavioural patterns during high-pressure situations.
He will share insights from both his professional experience and his time competing in ultra-marathons.
He said the talk is designed to help attendees recognise their own default reactions in tough moments and understand how to respond more effectively.
He said: "A lot of what passes for leadership under pressure is really self-protection.
"Blaming, over-helping, taking control of everything: it feels like action, but often it's just a way of making ourselves feel safer.
"My whole approach comes down to three words: clarity before comfort.
"The comfortable move is to react.
"The clear move is to pause and ask what's really going on, and what my part in it is."
Mr Callan emphasised that the keynote will not focus on sports anecdotes but rather on the core elements of human behaviour that determine whether teams succeed or fail.
York Business Festival runs Wednesday and Thursday at York St John University and includes a full programme of free events, seminars, workshops, and presentations.
A second keynote will be delivered on Thursday by Sir Richard Harpin, founder of Homeserve and Growth Partner of York St John.
Sir Richard will speak at the university’s Council Chamber at King’s Manor, sharing lessons from building Homeserve into a £4 billion company.
He will also outline the nine steps he believes are essential for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale successful businesses.
For tickets and a full schedule of events, visit the York St John University website.