Colin O'Brady
10x World Record Holder, World First Antarctica Crossing, New York Times Bestselling Author
SPEAKER FEE RANGE: $20,000–$44,000 [FEE NOTE]
TRAVELS FROM: Wyoming
On May 27th, 2016 Colin O’Brady broke two mountaineering world records, claiming the speed records for both the Seven Summits and the Explorers Grand Slam, and climbing the tallest mountain to the North and South Poles. Before beginning a lifelong career in finance, Colin left to explore the world on a backpacking trip. While in Thailand, Colin was severely burned in a fire. Doctors warned him he might never walk again normally, but Colin was determined to beat the odds. He focused not only on walking again, but set himself a goal: to complete his first triathlon following his recovery. Colin amazed the racing world when he not only completed his first triathlon but placed first overall amateur at the 2009 Chicago Triathlon. Colin aims to use his athletic success to raise awareness and $1 million in charitable funds to inspire active, healthy kids in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Colin O’Brady is a professional endurance athlete who brings two decades of athleticism, an Ivy-league education, and the life experience of overcoming a devastating accident to prove that anything in possible.
In 2016, Colin broke two prestigious world records – conquering the speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and Seven Summits, a global mountaineering challenge to climb the tallest mountain on every continent including Mt. Everest and ski the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles – all in 139 days and 131 days respectively.
Colin’s world record feat captured the attention of CBS Sunday Morning, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Men's Journal, Outside Magazine, People and TODAY among many other national media outlets.
And yet, this wasn’t Colin’s hardest challenge to date. In 2008, Colin suffered a tragic accident. He was severely burned in a fire; his injuries covered nearly 25% of his body, primarily damaging his legs and feet. Doctors warned him he might never walk again normally, but Colin was determined to beat the odds. He focused not only on walking again, but set himself a goal: to complete his first triathlon following his recovery. A mere 18-months after his accident while working as a commodities trader, Colin amazed the sporting world when he not only completed his first triathlon, but he placed first overall at the Chicago Triathlon. Colin went on to become a professional triathlete for six years and raced in 25 countries on six continents representing the United States in international triathlon competitions. Knowing first-hand what it takes to overcome a serious setback, and the grit and perseverance required to achieve peak performance, Colin continues to pursue his passion for pushing his limits. His next athletic pursuit is on the horizon, and his commitment to doing good remains.
Colin is more than just an athlete. With an economics degree from Yale University, time spent working on Wall Street, and successful entrepreneurial ventures, Colin has a unique ability to connect his inspirational story to business audiences of all kinds. Colin uses his public platform for charitable good. His non-profit Beyond 7/2 aims to inspire kids and their communities to dream big and set goals, while promoting the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle to achieve happiness and success.
In 2016, Colin broke two prestigious world records – conquering the speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and Seven Summits, a global mountaineering challenge to climb the tallest mountain on every continent including Mt. Everest and ski the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles – all in 139 days and 131 days respectively.
Colin’s world record feat captured the attention of CBS Sunday Morning, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Men's Journal, Outside Magazine, People and TODAY among many other national media outlets.
And yet, this wasn’t Colin’s hardest challenge to date. In 2008, Colin suffered a tragic accident. He was severely burned in a fire; his injuries covered nearly 25% of his body, primarily damaging his legs and feet. Doctors warned him he might never walk again normally, but Colin was determined to beat the odds. He focused not only on walking again, but set himself a goal: to complete his first triathlon following his recovery. A mere 18-months after his accident while working as a commodities trader, Colin amazed the sporting world when he not only completed his first triathlon, but he placed first overall at the Chicago Triathlon. Colin went on to become a professional triathlete for six years and raced in 25 countries on six continents representing the United States in international triathlon competitions. Knowing first-hand what it takes to overcome a serious setback, and the grit and perseverance required to achieve peak performance, Colin continues to pursue his passion for pushing his limits. His next athletic pursuit is on the horizon, and his commitment to doing good remains.
Colin is more than just an athlete. With an economics degree from Yale University, time spent working on Wall Street, and successful entrepreneurial ventures, Colin has a unique ability to connect his inspirational story to business audiences of all kinds. Colin uses his public platform for charitable good. His non-profit Beyond 7/2 aims to inspire kids and their communities to dream big and set goals, while promoting the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle to achieve happiness and success.
- It Takes a Team: Harnessing Leadership and Collaboration
Colin O’Brady’s whole life has lead him to world record success. And at no point along the way was he truly by himself on his journey – whether he was walking across the unpredictable frozen tundra of Antarctica or taking his first step to walk after a tragic accident, he always had a team supporting his efforts. Colin knows that in order to succeed, it takes a high performing team that understands how to work together and seamlessly conquer the challenges that are sure to arise along the way.
In this talk, you will learn how to build effective teams and strengthen the ones that already exist. Colin dives deeper into business principles by illuminating the benefits of teamwork, team building, leadership, and risk management to ultimately achieve success at 29,029 ft. on the summit of Mt. Everest, the top of the world. - Unlocking Human Potential: Change Your Mindset and Achieve Anything
There is a quote Colin continually shares, “He who says he can, and he who says he can’t are both usually right.” In order to build high functioning team, high performing leaders and increase the performance of your workforce, it always starts with mindset.
Colin has been on adventures that have taken him around the world to some of the most remote and harsh environments on the planet. But at every step, Colin was confronted with hardships, both internal and external, and it was in the face of that adversity, he found that the impossible was possible.
This keynote isn’t about the achievements of Colin, but instead it shows how ordinary people have the capacity to do extraordinary things. Find out what it takes to be a leader, to overcome self-doubt and close-mindedness to reach peak performance, and how anything is possible if you set your mind to it. - Finding Your Everest: Goal Setting and Overcoming Obstacles
Striving to reach the next level? What is it that holds you or your team back? What’s your Mt. Everest and what stands in the way of you achieving it? What is the motivation you need to high perform? These are the questions that many of us struggle with at work and in our personal lives. Colin will bring you and your team on his harrowing journey from being told he might never walk normally again to breaking two world records no one believed he could. He will inspire, amaze, and energize your audience, empowering them to discover and define what their personal Everest is and share the tools they will need to conquer it.
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