Rasmus Ankersen
Bestselling Author, Global Keynote Speaker and Authority on Talent, High-Performance Cultures and Sustained Success
why book rasmus?
- Rasmus Ankersen combines bestselling research, executive advisory work and elite sports leadership experience, offering rare credibility across business and sport
- He translates complex ideas around talent, data and performance into clear, actionable frameworks trusted by organisations such as Google, Microsoft and LEGO
- Rasmus consistently delivers high-impact keynotes that challenge assumptions, provoke leadership teams and drive meaningful cultural change
The business world owes Rasmus much gratitude for his facts based, in depth studies of what it truly takes to be, identify and build talent”
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO and President, The LEGO Group
Biography
Rasmus Ankersen is a globally recognised keynote speaker, bestselling author and trusted advisor to organisations seeking to build and sustain high-performance cultures. His work focuses on one of the most critical leadership challenges of our time: how to identify, develop and protect talent — and how to stay successful once success has been achieved.
An expert on talent ecosystems and elite performance environments, Rasmus is the author of the international bestseller The Gold Mine Effect, in which he explores why world-class talent consistently emerges from specific places. Drawing on research spanning sport, business and education, the book challenges conventional thinking about performance and demonstrates how organisations can create the conditions in which talent thrives.
In his second bestselling book, Hunger in Paradise, Rasmus turns his attention to the hidden dangers of success. Through compelling case studies and evidence-based insights, he examines how complacency, arrogance and resistance to change undermine even the most successful organisations — and what leaders must do to maintain hunger, adaptability and long-term relevance.
Alongside his research and speaking career, Rasmus has held senior leadership roles in elite professional sport. For almost eight years, he served as Chairman of FC Midtjylland and Co-Director of Football at Brentford FC, two of the world’s most innovative football clubs.
Both organisations are widely recognised for their pioneering use of data analytics to inform recruitment, performance and decision-making — lessons Rasmus powerfully translates into a business and leadership context.
Rasmus is regularly engaged by leading global organisations including Google, Facebook (Meta), LEGO, Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group, Coca-Cola, AstraZeneca, Roche, Cisco, SAP, Volvo and Novo Nordisk. His keynotes combine rigorous research, real-world experience and compelling storytelling, delivering practical insights leaders can apply immediately.
Known for his clarity, credibility and impact, Rasmus Ankersen equips organisations with the thinking and tools required to build high-performance cultures — and to protect success from failure.
Topics
Keynotes:
The Gold Mine Effect : How world-class talent environments are built
Hunger in Paradise : How successful organisations avoid complacency
What Football Analytics Can Teach Successful Organisations
Building High-Performance Cultures
Identifying, Developing and Retaining Talent
Sustaining Success in Competitive Markets
Virtual Keynotes:
High-Performance Cultures in a Changing World
Rasmus Ankersen
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.
Resources
Books
“This was the best presentation I have ever seen in my life – extremely interesting and inspiring! Thanks a lot, Rasmus!”
Julija Firsova Sub Custody Operations, SEB
testimonials
The business world owes Rasmus much gratitude for his facts based, in depth studies of what it truly takes to be, identify and build talent”
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO and President, The LEGO Group
“Rasmus was consistently rated as one of the best speakers to take the stage. Importantly, he was able to draw on a wide range of experiences and stories that resonated with a particularly diverse audience.”
Google
“Rasmus’ real-life examples on the issue of saving success from failure made an important contribution to the meeting and provided valuable insights to our leadership team.”
Coca-Cola
“Rasmus digs deep with insight and experience capturing knowledge that is easily shared and hopefully applied, foolish if it’s not! “
Ben Roberts, Global Talent Director in Saatchi & Saatchi
“Inspiring and thought-provoking, with lots of real-life examples.”
AstraZeneca
“Rasmus really understands the DNA of world class performance. From him you don’t just get theories, you get concrete tools working in the real world. Rasmus is the ultimate coach.”
Casper Stylsvig, Global Sponsorship Director, Manchester United
“With his work, Rasmus covers two key challenges for every organization: building success and, once achieved, fighting complacency. His ideas and experiences provided valuable food for thought for our company.“
Marika Lulay, COO GFT, GFT Group.
“You were fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your insights with our group with such a great balance of facts & humour. The crowd was captivated. All the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive.”
Mike Norris, Volvo of Edmonton
“Thank you again for the great presentation today, it was
inspiring, provided surprising insights and made me wish it would have lasted longer!”
Andrea Adams, Bridgepoint
“Rasmus left the entire sales force inspired and made them reflect deeply on how they could self-train more end better to become world class”.
Morten Brøgger CEO, MACH
“This was the best presentation I have ever seen in my life – extremely interesting and inspiring! Thanks a lot, Rasmus!”
Julija Firsova Sub Custody Operations, SEB
“Rasmus was entertaining and inspiring. His research reshaped how we think about recruitment and excellence.”
Roche
“He provoked our thinking and acted as a real catalyst for change.”
TUI
“With Rasmus as a speaker we had the best night ever in Tivoli Gardens’ business club. Our guests were deeply impressed and inspired. In our own internal sales department Rasmus’ ideas and concepts have also become a beacon for our daily work developing talent and high performance.”
Kasper Tvede, Head of Sales at Tivoli Gardens
“Rasmus is someone who has walked the walk having travelled the world living with and studying high performing athletes, players and teams. The fact that he combines that knowledge with exceptional delivery and unique insight makes him one of the best corporate speakers in the world on what it takes to perform at the top”
James Worrall, CEO and founder of Leaders
“Rasmus managed to inspire our whole sales force when they were getting ready for a major product launch. Our focus is Belief, Focus and Hard Work and Rasmus captured all this and made them words come alive, especially Rasmus is a very good story teller”
Peter Kjeldgard, Marketing Manager, Novo Nordisk UK
“the leadership teams really enjoyed the session – and we’ve already worked with some of the ideas we discussed – among these being our management meetings. You made everyone feel comfortable and equally important. We loved absolutely every minute.”
Margaret Brusletto, Director of Communication, McDonald’s
“Amazing – best speaker at the event”
WTG -The HR Directors Summit
“Rasmus makes one see what is really important… powerful and touching at the same time! Nobody was left indifferent!”
Peter Demchenkov, General Manager, Alidi Group (named as a entrepreneur of the year in Russia)



