Book Lee to Speak

Lee Whitwell’s work sits at the intersection of resilience, belonging, and performance under pressure — not in theory, but in lived experience.

She lives with Trigeminal Neuralgia, has undergone six brain surgeries, and there is still no cure. At the same time, she is the current World #1 senior female professional pickleball player. Her perspective isn’t built on hindsight — it’s built on continuing to show up, perform, and lead while the reality doesn’t change.

Her talks move beyond the typical “overcoming adversity” narrative. Instead, they explore what it actually takes to operate at a high level when circumstances are ongoing, unpredictable, and often outside of your control. A central theme in her work is reframing the lens through which we experience life — not by changing the reality, but by changing the way we meet it.

A core part of her work is what she calls the Third Space Effect, inspired by sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s concept of “third places.” In a time where connection is eroding, Lee reframes belonging as a structural advantage — not a soft benefit. Her work highlights how the most successful teams, organizations, and communities aren’t just built on performance, but on creating environments where people feel they belong.

Having been at the forefront of growing pickleball in the United States — one of the fastest-growing participation sports — Lee also works with organizations on community-building, culture design, and how modern brands win by building places people want to be part of.

Her work resonates strongly with:
– Corporate teams focused on leadership, culture, and performance under pressure
– Conferences centered on wellbeing, human connection, and high performance
– Organizations navigating growth, change, or identity shifts