Ben Saunders has covered more than 4,500 miles (7,242km) on foot in the polar regions. His accomplishments include leading The Scott Expedition, the longest human-powered polar journey in history, and the first completion of the expedition that defeated Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton, a 108-day round-trip from Ross Island on the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again.
Ben is the third person in history to ski solo to the North and South poles. He holds the records for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton, and for the longest ever polar journey on foot.
He is a global brand ambassador for Canada Goose, an ambassador for Scouts and The Prince’s Trust, a patron, fellow and development board member of British Exploring, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a patron of the Thrive Foundation. An acclaimed international keynote speaker, he is described as ‘a master storyteller’ by TED.
In print, Ben is the author of Shackleton (A Ladybird Expert Book), a contributor to What Doesn't Kill You: Fifteen Stories of Survival, and he has featured in ReWork by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried, The Rise by Sarah Lewis, Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna, Purposeful Curiosity by Dr. Costas Andriopoulos, and TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson.
His three TED talks alone have been watched online more than five million times.
Whether speaking to the world’s largest corporations or to small teams at pioneering start-ups, in person or online, Ben is a modest man who speaks with honesty, humility and humour, taking his audiences inside his polar expeditions and sharing hard-won lessons to educate, inform and inspire.
On his expeditions to some of the world’s most inaccessible and unforgiving places, Ben has spent large parts of his twenty-year career working remotely or in total isolation, thousands of miles from his colleagues and support teams.
Ben delivers instantly applicable wisdom on motivating yourself and the people around you when the chips are down, and staying focussed in unpredictable, fast-changing and hostile situations.
He also speaks on the vital importance of frank and open communication, and on having the bravery to know when to ask for help.
Speech topics
Impossible is just an Opinion
Drawing from his record-breaking expeditions to the North and South poles, Ben Saunders challenges audiences to rethink the boundaries of human potential. In this compelling keynote, he shares how an ambitious goal that many experts had deemed “impossible” – making the longest ever polar journey on foot – became possible through a combination of unwavering determination, meticulous preparation, and the courage to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success.
Through gripping narratives of surviving -50°F temperatures, crossing treacherous ice fields, and pushing through extreme physical and mental exhaustion, Saunders demonstrates that our greatest limitations are often self-imposed. He skilfully connects his extraordinary polar achievements to everyday challenges, showing how the same principles of resilience, self-belief, and positive mindset can help anyone push beyond their perceived limits.
Key Takeaways:
How to reframe "impossible" challenges as opportunities for growth
The critical role of preparation in achieving ambitious goals
Why failure is an essential part of any groundbreaking achievement
Techniques for maintaining motivation when facing overwhelming odds
The power of incremental progress in accomplishing extraordinary feats
Perfect for: organizations and individuals looking to break through barriers, challenge conventional thinking, and achieve what others consider impossible. Saunders' presentation combines stunning visual imagery from his expeditions with practical insights that inspire audiences to raise their aspirations and pursue their most ambitious dreams.
Leading Through Extremes: Lessons from the Poles
In this powerful presentation, Ben Saunders draws parallels between leading expeditions in Earth's most hostile environments and navigating today's complex business landscape. Through compelling stories from his record-breaking polar journeys, he demonstrates how extreme adventure offers profound insights into modern leadership challenges.
Key Takeaways:
Decision-making under pressure: How to maintain clarity when stakes are highest
Building resilient teams: Creating trust and cohesion in challenging conditions
Resource management: Maximizing limited resources in uncertain environments
Crisis leadership: Maintaining team morale when plans go wrong
Balancing risk and reward: Making calculated decisions in uncharted territory
Perfect for: Leadership teams, executives, and organizations navigating significant challenges or change initiatives.
Embracing Disruption: Navigating Personal and Professional Change
Drawing from his experiences adapting to the world's most dynamic and unpredictable environments, Ben Saunders shares powerful insights about embracing change and thriving in uncertainty. Through vivid storytelling and practical examples, he demonstrates how disruption creates opportunities for growth and innovation.
Key Takeaways:
Adaptive mindset: Converting challenges into opportunities
Mental agility: Thriving when plans and conditions shift rapidly
Personal resilience: Building psychological strength for sustained performance
Innovation under constraint: Finding creative solutions with limited resources
Growth through discomfort: Using challenge as a catalyst for development
Perfect for: Organizations undergoing transformation, teams facing significant change, or individuals seeking to build personal resilience.
Books
Shackleton (A Ladybird Expert Book)
Shackleton is a clear, simple and enlightening introduction to perhaps the most extraordinary survival stories of all time. Polar explorer Ben Saunders draws on his own experience of the Antarctic to bring to life the history, dangers and challenges of Shackleton's Endurance expedition.