In 2005, Lord Holmes was appointed a director of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In his talk, he explained the importance of flat hierarchies within organisations, and how he inspired thousands of ‘games makers’ (volunteers) at the Paralympics. “How do you get people to do the best work of their life, without paying them?” he asked. “You create a culture, you teach, you train, you test and you trust.”
Referring to the culture of inclusion, he added: “It wasn’t about smashing silos, but about ensuring they didn’t exist in the first place.”
Holmes urged delegates to focus on their purpose, concluding: “There’s no magic; it’s about clarity and commitment. The essence is belief: in yourselves, your people, and crucially, what you’re trying to achieve.”