Empowering Students to ‘Giddy Up,’ Raise Their Standards and Achieve Their Goals

10 years on from finishing high school, Sean has found an incredible passion in helping students ‘giddy up’ to raise their standards and achieve their goals. Sean empowers high school students to dream big, take accountability, and create positive change in their lives. Drawing from his journey of overcoming adversity to becoming a world-record-holding endurance athlete, Sean shares powerful lessons on resilience, goal-setting, and the importance of a strong mindset.

Sean shares how in year 11 he nearly failed English and it was a wake-up call for him to work harder and smarter. In year 12 he finished English with a study score of 35 and an overall ATAR of 81.00. He went onto tertiary education, completing a Bachelor of Physical Activity and Health Science in 2018, and then set the goal to one day run around Australia for charity. In 2024, he became the fastest person to circumnavigate Australia on foot, making hundreds of sick children’s wishes come true in the process.

For Sean, “giddy up'“ meant running around Australia in record time. For your students, it might mean tackling challenges like improving their grades, stepping up in leadership roles, or pursuing their passions with determination. Wherever they’re at on their journey, Sean equips students with the tools to set meaningful goals, overcome setbacks, embrace teamwork, and cultivate the confidence to achieve their dreams. His relatable and dynamic presentations inspire students to take ownership of their future and live with purpose.

Helping students be the best they can be

Keynote Topics

Goal Setting and Planning for Success: Students learn the importance of setting clear goals and breaking them into achievable steps. They are inspired to develop a vision for their future and approach it with consistency and discipline, gaining insights from Sean’s six-year goal that he reverse-engineered to raise $166,000 for charity and to achieve a world record.
Resilience and Grit: Students learn how to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth, discussing the importance of resilience to overcome challenges in their personal and academic lives. Sean illustrates how resilience helped him through his toughest moments growing up and on his run around Australia.
Extreme Ownership and Accountability: Students discover that growth begins with taking responsibility for their actions and mindset. They are encouraged to embrace personal accountability as the foundation for real change and achievement. Sean’s journey from an under 17 football bench-warmer to a running world record holder emphasises this.
Leadership and Teamwork: Students discover the importance of teamwork and learn that leadership is about creating a space where everyone thrives. Sean shares how building the right team—from school to university and beyond—was crucial to building his career today and his success in running around Australia. He emphasises that trust, empathy, and positive networks are key to optimal performance, and success is amplified when we work together.
High-Performance Mindset: Sean challenges students to adopt a high-performance mindset, whether it’s in academics, sports, or other personal goals. He emphasises that outstanding performance requires consistent effort and commitment, urging students to ‘Giddy Up’ and take action toward their passions and goals.

Duration: 1 hour (45 minutes including 15 mins Q & A)
Sean’s keynotes are customised to align with your school’s specific goals and the outcomes you wish to achieve for your students.
Click here to see how Sean aligns his presentation with the VIC and NSW school curriculum outcomes for each year level.

Download Sean's School Speaker Kit

Giddy Up Goal-Setting Workshop

Sean’s Giddy Up Goal-Setting Workshop is a high-energy, transformative experience designed to empower high school students to dream big, set meaningful goals, and take bold steps toward their future. Through engaging storytelling, interactive exercises, and practical strategies, Sean helps students clarify their aspirations, identify the deeper “why” behind their goals, and create actionable plans to achieve them.

Inspired by Sean’s journey as a world-record-breaking endurance athlete, the workshop teaches students how to set bold yet achievable goals, break them into manageable steps, and build resilience to overcome obstacles. Students learn to reverse-engineer success, mapping out what needs to happen on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The session also emphasizes the importance of accountability, teamwork, and maintaining momentum through peer support and self-reflection.

By the end of the workshop, students leave with a clear roadmap and the confidence to take immediate action toward their dreams. The Giddy Up Goal-Setting Workshop doesn’t just inspire—it equips students with the mindset and skills to embrace challenges, stay motivated, and create lasting, positive change in their lives.

Duration: 2 Hours
Sean’s workshops are customised to align with your school’s specific goals and the outcomes you wish to achieve for your students. Click here for a detailed PDF outlining Sean’s workshop structure.

“Sean has given our students hope for the future.”

School Testimonials

Josh Milner - Regional Manager, SEDA College Victoria

Sean's presentation was nothing short of exceptional, offering not only informative content but also highly engaging and interactive for the students involved. His keynote was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for empowering young leaders. What stood out the most was Sean's unique way of instilling the importance of goal setting through life. He didn't just talk about setting goals; he guided students through practical exercises that allowed students to apply the principles in their own lives. Sean undoubtedly played a pivotal role in shaping the mindset and aspirations of the student leaders at SEDA College. I wholeheartedly recommend Sean for any event or program seeking a speaker who not only imparts valuable knowledge but also creates an engaging and transformative experience for the audience.
Lydia Moloney - Year 9 Teacher, Albert Park College

“Sean Bell provided the most phenomenal experience for our year 9’s in sharing his key message and story. They were captivated from start to finish by his vibrancy, humour, and ability to relate to their life experience. Thank you for inspiring our students to chase their dreams and be the best that they can be. Couldn’t recommend him more highly. Thank you Sean!”
Dina Mingos — Later Years Leader, Wantirna College

“I think the marathon and him being a runner is a perfect analogy for what we've been talking about with our students. VCE is like playing the long game, you have little goals that you need to be achieving all the way through until you reach the end. Sean’s message complimented what we teach and I loved how he encouraged our students to set goals and constantly redefine them along the way.”

Watch Dina’s video testimonial here
Graeme Tucker - Head of Year 9, St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully

“Sean held the attention of our Year 9 boys for the full time with his genuine and heartfelt presentation.

It was great to have someone so close in age to our boys to show them what was possible with vision and commitment, and to encourage them to step outside their comfort zones and make a difference in the lives of others.

When Sean speaks it is straight from the heart and his message is positive and challenging.”
Paul Rogers - Year 10 Leader, Box Hill High School

“The major thing that we took out of it is that students can actually follow their pursuits and their goals.

It was great how Sean celebrated others and how they had made small contributions towards his own effort. That really helped our students understand what they can do to help others.“

Watch Paul’s video testimonial here
Jeremy Doolan - Head of English, Marcellin College

“All of us at Marcellin College can’t thank Sean enough for speaking to us. I have had many boys come up to me and thank me for getting him in, demonstrating how much they enjoyed it and the impact that Sean had on our boys.

Other staff have also been popping their head in to say it was awesome. Sean won over Marcellin, that’s for sure!”
Rachel Berka - Year 8 Level Leader, Mount Lilydale Mercy College

“Sean's keynote was absolutely fantastic. We had 284 year 8 students in here, in the last week of school, periods 5 and 6, and it's 30 degrees. He had them all listening, engaged, and laughing, which I think is no easy feat!
I believe the key takeaway our students took out of it, is if they have a dream, go for it! Nothing's impossible!
His presentation has given them hope for the future and helped them solidify what their aspirations are, and the steps they need to put in place to make them happen.”

Watch Rachel’s video testimonial here
Paul-Micah Sullivan - Year 12 Program Leader, Northcote High School

“The thing I liked most about Sean's presentation was his ability to relate his experience to the experience the year 12s are going to go through.

I believe the biggest takeaway for our students was the fact that they can chase their dreams; If they have goals or even if they don't have goals, trying to think about what is coming up in the future and making sure they focus on that and chase it to their biggest ability.”
Watch Paul-Micah’s video testimonial here.
*Note Sean delivered this keynote on the first day of school in 2023, hence Paul-Micah’s future tense.