
Ciaran May
Why book Ciaran May?
- Ciaran May combines experience from frontline policing, elite sport and leadership development to deliver practical, high-impact insights on resilience, leadership and sustainable performance
- He has worked with leadership teams, founders and organisations across sectors including finance, professional services and entrepreneurship, helping teams improve clarity, communication and performance under pressure .
- Ciaran is known for blending authentic storytelling with actionable frameworks , leaving audiences with practical tools they can immediately apply to leadership, wellbeing and team culture.
Biography
Ciaran May is the founder of Natural Resilience, a keynote speaker and facilitator specialising in sustainable high performance, resilient leadership and performing under pressure.
Drawing on experience from frontline policing, elite sport and working closely with founders, CEOs and leadership teams, Ciaran helps organisations improve clarity, resilience and performance in high-pressure environments without sacrificing wellbeing, culture or long-term sustainability.
A former international weightlifter representing Northern Ireland and with over a decade serving on the frontline in policing, Ciaran brings a rare perspective on human performance, pressure, leadership and decision-making. His work combines real-world experience with evidence-based performance psychology, leadership principles and practical systems that help individuals and organisations operate more effectively.
Through keynote speaking, leadership facilitation and founder programmes, Ciaran has worked with organisations, leadership teams and high-growth founders across sectors including finance, professional services, hospitality, construction, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. His sessions are known for blending powerful storytelling with practical implementation, leaving audiences with immediately actionable tools rather than temporary motivation.
Ciaran is also the founder of the Fit Founders Club, a premium founder-performance programme supporting entrepreneurs to improve leadership, energy, clarity and sustainable business growth. He is the host of The Natural Resilience Podcast, where he interviews high performers from sport, business and leadership about resilience, pressure and performance.
Topics
Sustainable High Performance
How to perform at a high level without burnout
Modern leaders and founders are under relentless pressure to perform, deliver and lead through uncertainty. This keynote explores how individuals and organisations can create sustainable performance by improving clarity, recovery, resilience and leadership capacity.
Masterclasses
Masterclass 1
You may want to go deeper with your audience. Masterclasses can be tailored and developed to suit your audience needs, be it a 90-minute Masterclass , a half-day or full-day workshop or a full online or face-to-face programme. Please contact one of our expert team to discuss.
Sustainable High Performance
A highly interactive 90–120-minute workshop designed for leadership teams, founders and organisations looking to improve performance, resilience and clarity in demanding environments.
The masterclass combines practical frameworks, reflective exercises and implementation strategies to help attendees:
Improve effectiveness under pressure
Build sustainable performance habits
Reduce burnout and cognitive overload
Improve team alignment and communication
Create practical systems for clarity, resilience and execution
Testimonials
Enquire about today!
Enquire about Ciaran May today!


Ciaran May
Founder of Natural Resilience and Expert in Sustainable High Performance, Leadership Under Pressure and Resilience
why book ciaran?
- Ciaran May combines experience from frontline policing, elite sport and leadership development to deliver practical, high-impact insights on resilience, leadership and sustainable performance
- He has worked with leadership teams, founders and organisations across sectors including finance, professional services and entrepreneurship, helping teams improve clarity, communication and performance under pressure.
- Ciaran is known for blending authentic storytelling with actionable frameworks, leaving audiences with practical tools they can immediately apply to leadership, wellbeing and team culture.
“Ciaran has a rare talent for making every individual in the room feel truly seen and heard. His deep understanding of high-performance leadership, resilience and emotional intelligence, coupled with his own rich experiences, ensures his presentations are both inspiring and practical. I highly recommend Ciaran to any organisation looking to enhance workplace wellbeing and empower high-performing teams.”
Natalie Davidson, Human Resources, Northern Ireland Water

Biography
Ciaran May is the founder of Natural Resilience, a keynote speaker and facilitator specialising in sustainable high performance, resilient leadership and performing under pressure.
Drawing on experience from frontline policing, elite sport and working closely with founders, CEOs and leadership teams, Ciaran helps organisations improve clarity, resilience and performance in high-pressure environments without sacrificing wellbeing, culture or long-term sustainability.
A former international weightlifter representing Northern Ireland and with over a decade serving on the frontline in policing, Ciaran brings a rare perspective on human performance, pressure, leadership and decision-making. His work combines real-world experience with evidence-based performance psychology, leadership principles and practical systems that help individuals and organisations operate more effectively.

Through keynote speaking, leadership facilitation and founder programmes, Ciaran has worked with organisations, leadership teams and high-growth founders across sectors including finance, professional services, hospitality, construction, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. His sessions are known for blending powerful storytelling with practical implementation, leaving audiences with immediately actionable tools rather than temporary motivation.
Ciaran is also the founder of the Fit Founders Club, a premium founder-performance programme supporting entrepreneurs to improve leadership, energy, clarity and sustainable business growth. He is the host of The Natural Resilience Podcast, where he interviews high performers from sport, business and leadership about resilience, pressure and performance.
Topics
Sustainable High Performance:
How to perform at a high level without burnout
Modern leaders and founders are under relentless pressure to perform, deliver and lead through uncertainty. This keynote explores how individuals and organisations can create sustainable performance by improving clarity, recovery, resilience and leadership capacity.
In this session audiences will learn:
- Why high performance without recovery eventually creates diminishing returns
- How stress impacts leadership, decision-making and communication
- Practical frameworks to improve resilience and sustainable execution
- How to build healthier, higher-performing cultures under pressure
Leadership Under Pressure
How leaders respond when pressure rises defines culture, performance and trust
Drawing on frontline policing, elite sport and business leadership environments, this keynote explores how leaders can remain calm, clear and effective during uncertainty, challenge and change.
In this session audiences will learn:
- How pressure impacts human behaviour and team dynamics
- Why clarity and communication become critical under stress
- Tools to improve emotional regulation and leadership presence
- How resilient leadership influences culture and performance
Ciaran May
Masterclasses
You may want to go deeper with your audience. Masterclasses can be tailored and developed to suit your audience needs, be it a 90-minute Masterclass, a half-day or full-day workshop or a full online or face-to-face programme. Please contact one of our expert team to discuss.
Sustainable High Performance
A highly interactive 90–120-minute workshop designed for leadership teams, founders and organisations looking to improve performance, resilience and clarity in demanding environments.
The masterclass combines practical frameworks, reflective exercises and implementation strategies to help attendees:
- Improve effectiveness under pressure
- Build sustainable performance habits
- Reduce burnout and cognitive overload
- Improve team alignment and communication
- Create practical systems for clarity, resilience and execution
Resources
Podcasts
“Ciaran is a genuine and authentic leader in his field. We have used him for a number of events from small and intimate right up to a room of over 400 people and have had very positive feedback.”
Gareth Kirk, Regional Director, GLL
testimonials
“Ciaran has a rare talent for making every individual in the room feel truly seen and heard. His deep understanding of high-performance leadership, resilience and emotional intelligence, coupled with his own rich experiences, ensures his presentations are both inspiring and practical. I highly recommend Ciaran to any organisation looking to enhance workplace wellbeing and empower high-performing teams.”
Natalie Davidson, Human Resources, Northern Ireland Water
“Ciaran is a genuine and authentic leader in his field. We have used him for a number of events from small and intimate right up to a room of over 400 people and have had very positive feedback.”
Gareth Kirk, Regional Director, GLL
“Ciaran has worked with our startup founder community at Raise over the last year to support their wellbeing and help them discover the power of building resilience in their startup ventures for creating sustainable success. Ciaran’s presence and ability to create inspired, welcoming, safe environments is why we love working with him so much.”
Eva-Jayne Doherty, Head of Operations, Raise Ventures
“Beyond his exceptional presentation skills, Ciaran is a genuinely world-class individual with a message that every organisation can benefit from. I wholeheartedly recommend him to any team or event seeking inspiration, clarity and actionable takeaways.”
Mc Areavey, Director, Clearhill
“Ciaran’s professionalism, depth of knowledge and down-to-earth nature made a significant impact on the event. He has a unique talent for making complex concepts accessible and relatable. An impressive 97.3% of participants rated his workshop as excellent.”
Maria Curran, Director, MEGA Ltd
“Ciaran is an excellent facilitator who brings insightful reflections with a presentation style that is very personable and easy to listen to.”
Graham Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer, Irish Football Association



