Serge Betsen Keynote Speaker

Captained France, Biarritz Olympique & London Wasps; 63 caps (1997–2007)
Best Player French Championship 2002; IRB Player-of-Year nominee
Knight of the Légion d’Honneur & founder of Serge Betsen Academy

Serge Betsen's Biography

Serge Betsen is widely regarded as one of rugby’s most formidable flankers. His relentless tackling earned him the nickname “the Grim Reaper” and helped steer France to Six Nations Grand Slams in 2002 and 2004. Born in Kumba, Cameroon, and raised near Paris, he debuted for Biarritz Olympique in 1991, won three French titles (2002, 2005, 2006), and led the club to the 2006 European Champions Cup final. His 63-cap international career included two Rugby World Cup semi-finals and victories over the All Blacks, while peers and pundits hailed him as the “world’s best tackler.”

A passionate believer in sport’s power to change lives, Serge established the Serge Betsen Academy in 2004. Operating in Cameroon, Mali, and France, it couples rugby coaching with education, healthcare, and nutrition for more than 2,000 young people, marking its 20-year milestone in 2024. His drive for social enterprise also fuels initiatives such as Recycling Rugby and Le Ballon Responsable, which upcycle balls into premium accessories, and the Qualiopi-certified Serge Betsen Campus for vocational training.

In 2023, the Academy was awarded a €250,000 grant over two years by the French Development Agency’s “Academies” Program, enabling the expansion of its educational and health initiatives. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, the Academy hosted events in cities including Biarritz, Lyon, London, and Yaoundé, raising over €75,000 to support its mission.

Off the field, Serge translates on-pitch rigour into boardroom insight. Through Serge Betsen Consulting (UK) and Agence 76 (France), he advises corporates on inclusive leadership, resilience, and culture. He has served as defence coach at Rouen Normandie (Pro D2), mentors London youth via Serge Betsen Rugby, and provides tournament analysis for ITV and Canal+. Audiences value his candid stories of anticipation, adaptation, and execution—skills that empower teams facing high-stakes challenges.

Team Spirit

A team is about people, whether you do project management for a railway company or run a business unit for a pharmaceutical brand. My point is to make you rediscover this human factor within your collective and show you how as an individual you are contributing to the common effort.Together we can build a new sense of togetherness by putting the human first.

Motivation

Ever heard of achieving the impossible? And felt doubtful as to how you were meant to get there? So have I but out of those moments came out great successes and some of the proudest moments of my career. Through the many stories I’ve lived, I’ve learned how to grow as a person and create a positive loop so that motivation never leaves my side. Learn alongside me how to grow your inner strength so it now is your time to shine

Resilience

Champions do not only exist on the rugby pitch; they are those incredible individuals who keep fighting failures after failures to thrive to the highest level. From the rugby pitch to the corporate world, take on this journey with me and gain a new perspective on how you can turn adversity into opportunity.

Performance

Achieve everything and all the time. What a challenge that is and yet it is what is expected from us on a daily basis. Understand how to be at 100% of your abilities and once you’re here, repeat it. This is what I can bring you thanks to the 20 years I’ve spent searching for that ideal. I want you and your team to be better than average, by balancing workload and efficiency in your daily routine so you can become overachievers.

Well-Being

An athlete is a delicate combination of bones, muscles and spirit. I had to accept that I was not only made out of the obvious and that my quest for well-being had to look at every aspect of who I am. I want to guide you on how to invest in your mental and physical health: they are at the heart of your future success. As an individual or as a collective, managing your energy is the key on how you achieve more, in a more sustainable way.

Leadership

What do we need from our leaders? And how can we become a leader ourselves? Drawing from my experience, it is all about understanding your purpose and everyone’s around you. Together we could share to your team a clear vision of where you want to go, how you will get there but most of all, why it is going to be better this way.