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Cathy O’Dowd is a pioneering mountaineer, motivational speaker, and author, renowned for her extraordinary achievements and ability to inspire others to conquer their personal and professional challenges. As the first woman to summit Mount Everest from both its south and north sides, Cathy has demonstrated unmatched determination and resilience in the face of extreme adversity. Drawing on her experiences in some of the world’s harshest environments, she delivers compelling talks that explore leadership, teamwork, and the mindset required to achieve ambitious goals under pressure.
Cathy’s passion for climbing began during her university years in Johannesburg, where she studied Media Studies. Her adventurous spirit and love for the mountains led her to join the First South African Everest Expedition in 1996, where she successfully summited despite the tragic challenges her team faced. She continued to push the boundaries of what is possible, completing her second Everest summit in 1999 and becoming a global symbol of perseverance. Cathy’s early career in mountaineering provided the foundation for her unique approach to teamwork and decision-making, qualities she now shares with audiences worldwide.
In recent years, Cathy has expanded her portfolio of accomplishments, including summiting Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, and taking part in a dog-sled expedition through the Norwegian Arctic. She continues to explore uncharted territories, attempting new and challenging routes in the Himalayas. Cathy has also authored acclaimed books such as ‘Just for the Love of It’, which chronicles her incredible journeys and offers insights into her mental and physical strategies for success. Her talks are tailored to corporate and professional audiences, providing actionable lessons on how to overcome obstacles and thrive in high-pressure environments.
Cathy is hired by organisations across the globe because she combines the thrill of adventure with profound lessons on human potential. Her ability to captivate and motivate stems from her authenticity and her skill in translating extreme experiences into practical strategies for overcoming challenges. Whether discussing the dynamics of leading a team on Everest or navigating the risks of the unknown, Cathy leaves audiences inspired to tackle their own “Everests” with courage and determination.
Cathy O’Dowd is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Very professional in her preparation and engaging the audience with interactive tools, we discovered the ‘climbing world’ has changed. With the support of great images, she made us live her unique and extraordinary story. Her motivational speech was highly praised as the situational examples she used were also relevant to business.”
“A fully interactive, audience-engaging experience that offers the opportunity to adventure along with Cathy and her expedition team. That provides an exceptional framework for the event to follow within which business concepts like risk, decision-making and strategy can be explored in context.”
“Cathy was the keynote speaker at our annual convention and she was outstanding… she has a rare talent of associating her achievements with one’s business challenges.”
“A fantastic presentation that more than fitted what I wanted… the feedback has been very positive”
“More than one delegate described you as the best conference presentation they had ever experienced.”
The High-Performance Speakers Agency is the UK’s leading bureau for teamwork, leadership, and marginal gains speakers. We hire speakers for corporate conferences and events across the world and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes sportspeople, business leaders, adventurers and more, to ensure audiences of all industries receive tailored, impactful advice on optimised performance.
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