Speaking

The “I” of the Storm

Keynotes in leadership from the world’s edge

Amid the turbulence of a high-pressure life, leaders can hold a space to function, and even thrive. Extreme environments taught me how: now I’d like to share these skills with you. From risk-management and decision-making under intense pressure to resourcefulness in the face of the unknown, each bespoke talk inspires audiences to confront the inner aspect of leadership in adversity.

The hallmark of today’s world is overwhelm. The pace of life is fierce as we battle to meet deadlines, fulfil commitments and progress in our careers, all while getting children to school on time, keeping up with a social life - even finding time for adventure..? The list is endless, and that’s before we get to the problems we face at the level of humanity and the planet.

In our complex, high-pressure lives, the primitive part of the brain primed to recognize threat is constantly triggered: it can’t differentiate between the sabre tooth tiger who predated our ancestors and the meeting we’re running late for. The response is the same. Our bodies are regularly flooded with stress in the course of a normal day, radically shrinking our capacity to cope effectively. And in coming years as we face worsening crises including extremes of weather and pressure on resources due to climate change, pressure upon leaders will only increase.

Mastery of these adaptive triggers begins with understanding our wild selves. Awareness is the first step towards a steady inner space where we can function optimally amid the chaos. This is the “I” of the storm. The madness may be whirling around us but we can learn to hold space within ourselves to respond with logic and imagination[RB2] – hopefully even enjoyment.

From own experiences of leading in extreme corners of the globe, surrounded by real physical risk in an ever-changing environment, I’ll share unique insights in leading from within the storm: with empathy, strength and vulnerability. From one wilderness, to another!