Keynote Speaker
Endurance Swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans
As an ocean advocate and an endurance swimmer, Lewis Pugh puts his hard-learned lessons into the context of a corporate environment.
Lewis Pugh'S SPEAKING FEE $25K - $40K
Lewis Pugh is one of the world’s leading inspirational and leadership speakers and an authority on how to achieve the “impossible.” He has pioneered swims in the most challenging environments on earth, including the Antarctic, the North Pole and the Himalayas, and developed an understanding of the beauty and fragility of life and its many ecosystems. He was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. He was the first to undertake a swim across the icy waters of the North Pole and the first to swim across a glacial lake on Mt. Everest. In a career spanning 27 years, the maritime lawyer has pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other swimmer in history. Lewis is a leading figure in efforts to protect our oceans. In 2016 he helped negotiate the creation of the biggest protected area in the world in the Ross Sea off Antarctica. The negotiations required consensus among 25 countries, a number of which had long standing disputes with one another. The media dubbed his efforts as “Speedo diplomacy“.
Lewis is a vivid storyteller. He talks about the methods he uses to undertake swims, which were deemed “impossible”—choosing the right team, meticulous preparation, the right mind-set, never quitting, and changing when circumstances dictate. He also talks about having a driving purpose, which for him is to protect our oceans. Lewis has received numerous awards. In 2010, the World Economic Forum named him a Young Global Leader, and in 2013, the United Nations appointed him “Patron of the Oceans.” Lewis was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and was recently named National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year. His book Achieving the Impossible is an international best seller.
In a career spanning 27 years, ocean advocate Lewis Pugh has pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other swimmer in history, including the first swim across the icy waters of the North Pole, and across a glacial lake on Mt. Everest—all in just a Speedo swimsuit. Many of his expeditions were in conditions deemed “impossible.” Widely regarded as one of the world’s most inspiring speakers, Lewis shares his insights on the mind-set, preparation, teamwork and leadership skills necessary for any major undertaking and how they can be applied in your organization. The most crucial success factor, he says, is to have a driving purpose, which for him is to protect our planet’s threatened oceans.
Lewis Pugh tailors his presentations to suit a wide range of businesses and issues, from organizational change to the challenges of leading diverse teams in a fast-paced, competitive environment.
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