Elle
Steele

Paralympian. Gold medallist. Lingerie model. Entrepreneur. Intuitive business mentor. Babe with a mobility aid. Elle Steele has a resume like no one else.

Truly one-of-a-kind, what connects Elle’s many achievements and skillsets is the belief that when we are brave enough to connect to our personal power, we can begin to heal our hearts and achieve greatness.

Elle was born with a congenital disability called arthrogryposis, and a hand abnormality. With over 35 surgeries, including two knee replacements, Elle has overcome countless physical and mental challenges throughout her life.

At age 11, Elle started her celebrated swimming career with a goal of making the 2000 Paralympic Games. At 17, she achieved that dream, accumulating a swag of medals and national records along the way. Elle later played wheelchair rugby as the first female to play the sport for Victoria. Beyond her athletic prowess, Elle displayed unique leadership as the captain of Australian swimming teams.

After 20 years of elite sport and retirement due to injury, Elle delved into neurolinguistics, realising the impact of language on her perception of disability and her happiness. Shifting her mindset, she rejected the stereotypes people placed on her and realised that when she changed the way she felt about herself and a particular scenario, the outcome was often different to what was initially perceived.

As Elle worked with integrative energy therapies and neurolinguistics, her inner athlete was fired up, and her athlete’s mindset became the groundwork for her journey to empower others. Elle saw the mind-body connection to success, leadership and personal happiness - this is where Elle has dedicated her career for the last 14 years.

Elle’s is a disability champion, the National Project Manager for Building Inclusive Sports Club, a Change our Game Ambassador for the Office of Women in Sport and Paralympic athlete mentor. She brings the conversation back to how our community believes disability is something that needs ‘fixing’, rather than the world embracing diversity.

Elle’s TEDx talk ‘The Dance of Disability’ shares her insights on how we perceive limitations and our perceptions of others, sharing the message ‘I am not disabled because of my disability, I am disabled by a world that isn’t built for me.’

Elle Steele's presentations are dynamic, insightful and challenging. Elle doesn’t just talk to you – she takes you into her journey of personal understanding of self. Elle can assist you to rethink your approach to challenges and how you can lead with purpose and empathy. Her story and ability to engage with an audience is generating a change in how we can perceive ourselves and our lives. Elle is not out to inspire you – she wants to suggest how and why we must think differently about our connection to fulfilment and personal happiness. Her candid, no-nonsense approach to life and leadership captivates attendees with its authenticity and directness, offering practical insights that are both humorous and poignant. Elle's presentations resonate across diverse audiences, providing valuable lessons that are highly applicable to individuals in all stages of life and career. Her talks are not only motivating, but also equip attendees with the tools to lead more fulfilling lives.