PEN HADOW
Arctic region explorer, advocate, adventurer and guide. He is the only person to have trekked solo, and without resupply by third parties, from Canada to the Geographic North Pole.
Pen Hadow Motivational SpeakerPen Hadow, Global Explorer, Motivational Speaker & Environment Consultant, inspires audiences with his extraordinary story of achievement in one of the most challenging environments on Earth. In 2003, Pen Hadow was catapulted to international fame when he became the first person to complete one of the last great polar challenges - solo, without re-supply, from Canada to the North Geographic Pole. This feat is thought to be harder than climbing Everest solo, and demands such a level of skill and endurance that all before had tried and failed. Even polar experts were beginning to think the challenge was impossible. When The Times reported his feat on its front cover, the story was voted as one of the Top 100 Newspaper Front Pages of the 20th century. Pen’s exploration and entrepreneurial interests had combined in 1995 to found a specialist polar guide service (The Polar Travel Company), which organised expeditions to the Poles; but it was in 2009 that he formed Geo Mission, the pioneering environmental sponsorship organisation, which delivered the multi-award winning series of Catlin Arctic Surveys (2009-2011) investigating the rates, causes and global impacts of the fast-disappearing Arctic sea ice. Pen now speaks to corporate, conference and dinner audiences on themes including human performance, leadership and environmental responsibility, and also provides executive coaching and personal mentoring services. Inspirational Speaker Pen Hadow is in considerable demand world-wide as a motivational speaker and delivers memorable, thought-provoking and engaging talks whether he is booked for after-dinner, award ceremonies or keynote business events. Pen speaks with passion and insight on subjects including the environment, personal performance, developing teams, motivation, resilience, risk/reward and overcoming adversity. Pen has inspired audiences across all sectors, tailoring his material to suit each client event. Pen’s style is entertaining and yet he delivers powerful business lessons forged from his pioneering expeditions on and off the ice. Bestselling Author In 2004 Pen’s bestselling autobiography was published. ‘Solo’ is a fascinating insight into the build-up and execution of the unrelentingly tough and hazardous two-month journey to the North Pole that led to him fulfilling his burning ambition and, by association, becoming a national figure through the global media coverage of his iconic achievement. Environmental Entrepreneur In the 1980′s Pen became the youngest-ever executive at Mark McCormack’s Sports Organisation, the renowned International Management Group (aka IMG), where he promoted the talents of international sports stars and sports events. A decade later, following several polar expeditions, he set up the world’s first specialist polar guide service, opening up the Arctic and Antarctic to a wide audience with his pioneering travel business, The Polar Travel Company. His vision was to empower people from all walks of life to fulfil their polar ambitions. Pen’s love of exploration and endeavour is infectious and he actively encourages others to push back their limits. In1997 he devised and organised the first all-women’s expedition to the North Geographic Pole. Twenty women, with no previous polar experience and from all backgrounds and age groups, were led in the field by two professional women guides to realise their dreams and walk into the Guinness Book of Records. In so doing, he changed the perception of what many thought was impossible in the polar regions. This pioneering project spawned the careers of a number of female British polar explorers who have gone on to lead the field globally. Overcoming Adversity Things started to go awry for Pen back in 1979 when temporarily removed from school due to acute exhaustion, brought about by playing a series of rugby matches for Harrow while running a high temperature. This immediately led to post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) lasting 25 years, and associated chronic depression as his body and mind constrained his considerable ambitions. Given these physiological and psychological conditions, his solo North Pole mission was, indeed, a supreme challenge that unexpectedly broke him free of his PVFS. Going on to become the only Briton to have trekked, without resupply, to both the North and South Poles is testament to Pen’s determination to succeed in the most challenging of environments. |
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Speaking Topics
Motivational Speeches
In becoming the first and only person solo to the North Pole by the hardest route, Pen has an extraordinary story of achievement against incredible odds.
His motivational approach is first about engaging with his audiences, relating the fears, challenges and aspirations they have in their work to the same ones he had to deal with himself on his mission to succeed.
With the audience now realising he is offering something of personal and practical value to them, Pen introduces his insights in a way that makes them engrossingly relevant, with humour, passion and impact.
As Dame Anita Roddick (founder, The Body Shop) once wrote: “You have a gift – and should use it. Few can communicate with a level of engagement and intensity like that.”
Pen’s presentation will be tailored to meet the specific brief of your event.
Popular themes include:
Keynote Speeches
In setting up or closing the desired theme and tone of a conference with a keynote address, Pen is experienced at national and international events ranging from the industry specific to the global political.
Trusted as a speaker who can deliver at the highest levels, he has given keynotes in partnership on stage with: NATO’s Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen (for Lloyds of London in London and New York); with ex US Vice President, Al Gore (for the world insurance industry, Singapore); and with Stuart Rose as chairman/CEO of Marks & Spencers (to its global supply chain).
He also provided the keynote for HRH Prince Charles’ heads-of-state summit at St James’s Palace for the Prince’s Rainforests Project.
Pen’s presentation will be tailored to meet the specific brief of your event. Themes to date include:
In becoming the first and only person solo to the North Pole by the hardest route, Pen has an extraordinary story of achievement against incredible odds.
His motivational approach is first about engaging with his audiences, relating the fears, challenges and aspirations they have in their work to the same ones he had to deal with himself on his mission to succeed.
With the audience now realising he is offering something of personal and practical value to them, Pen introduces his insights in a way that makes them engrossingly relevant, with humour, passion and impact.
As Dame Anita Roddick (founder, The Body Shop) once wrote: “You have a gift – and should use it. Few can communicate with a level of engagement and intensity like that.”
Pen’s presentation will be tailored to meet the specific brief of your event.
Popular themes include:
- The story of Solo to the North Pole by the Hardest Route
- Inspiration & Motivation – Finding & Keeping It
- Pioneering Mindset & Achieving Breakthroughs
- Going Further With Less, Achieving More with Fewer
- Resilience, Goal Setting & Setbacks
- Leadership – Insights from the ‘Bleeding Edge of Exploration’
- Risk Management – Hazards v Rewards
- Personal Performance in the Most Challenging Circumstances
Keynote Speeches
In setting up or closing the desired theme and tone of a conference with a keynote address, Pen is experienced at national and international events ranging from the industry specific to the global political.
Trusted as a speaker who can deliver at the highest levels, he has given keynotes in partnership on stage with: NATO’s Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen (for Lloyds of London in London and New York); with ex US Vice President, Al Gore (for the world insurance industry, Singapore); and with Stuart Rose as chairman/CEO of Marks & Spencers (to its global supply chain).
He also provided the keynote for HRH Prince Charles’ heads-of-state summit at St James’s Palace for the Prince’s Rainforests Project.
Pen’s presentation will be tailored to meet the specific brief of your event. Themes to date include:
- Reaching Goals Against the Odds and in the Most Challenging Environments
- What Does the North Pole’s Dwindling Sea Ice Tell Us About Our Changing World
- Having been World’s Most Resource Efficient Person for 75 Days
- Going Further with Less, Achieving More with Fewer
- The Natural Environment & Corporate Reputation
