Penny Briscoe OBE - Beyond the podium with the Chef de Mission of ParalympicsGB

Nottingham Business School Business Leaders

Nottingham Business School Business Leaders’ Podcast

Penny Briscoe OBE – Paralympics GB team leader

Episode 38

Introduction

• Penny Briscoe will lead Paralympics GB at this summer’s Paris 2024 games, as the team’s Chef de Mission.

• She was previously Chef de Mission at the Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 games, when the team finished second in the overall medals table.

• Early in her career, Penny represented GB as a canoeist. She then trained as secondary school teacher, before coaching the GB canoe team.

• She was appointed Director of Sport at the British Paralympic Association in 2002 – and has been Chef de Mission for every Paralympic Games – five, summer and winter – since 2014.

• In that time, the British team has won 108 gold medals, 85 silvers, and 97 bronze, across 23 sports.

Key takeaways

• On starting to prepare for each Paralympics, five years in advance...

Penny said: “The leadership journey is a long one. Once the host city is announced we try to embed ourselves in its culture… make the important relationships.”

• On the importance of a leader’s vision…

Penny said: “I have a very clear vision of how I think Paralympics GB should compete… engage… behave. We’re a world leading nation on the field of play. I want us to lead the world off it too.”

• On the importance, for a leader, of staying positive...

Penny said: “I never dwell on the negatives. We have to create an environment where 23 different sport teams can thrive.”

• On being driven to achieve coaching success by ‘unfinished business’...

Penny said: “I competed [as a canoeist] for GB but never made the Olympics... I had regrets.”

• On being appointed Director of Sport (2002) when Paralympians competed in the shadow of Olympians...

Penny said: “I worried I wasn’t going to be able to have an impact. I thought, well I can either moan and groan or roll my sleeves up and try to make a difference.”

• On dealing with the disappointment of not being chosen as Chef de Mission (team manager) for London 2012…

Penny said: “I was absolutely gutted. But I reflected on what a hypocrite I would be if I walked away. When you’re a leader it’s not about you – it’s about the team.”

• On the emotion of being appointed Chef de Mission for Rio 2016…

Penny said: “The guy who didn’t appoint me in 2012 did appoint me in 2014. I remember it to this day. I was offered the job in Starbucks, in Birmingham New Street… I had a little cry!”

• On the most important part of being a leader…

Penny said: “Ultimately, leadership is about inspiring and developing others. Never lose site of the privilege of being a leader.”

• Her advice for other leaders and would-be leaders?

Penny said: “Leaders evolve… learn from your experiences. But be authentic. And treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.”

• On her hopes for the Paris 2024 Paralympics…

Penny said: “It was a very quiet games in Tokyo 2020, behind closed doors [because of Covid]. We’re hoping there will be lots and lots of Brits in Paris this summer, cheering us all on.”

Related links:

You can read…

• More about Penny Briscoe OBE

• More about the British Paralympics Association

• More about Paralympics GB

• More about Paris 2024

If you enjoyed this episode of the NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast, listen to previous episodes with…

• The Chairman of the English Football Association, Debbie Hewitt MBE
• England Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, Maggie Alphonsi MBE
• The Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, Professor Edward Peck CBE