Andy Cave

Andy Cave leapt from working through claustrophobia 3000 feet underground in mines to conquering some of the most formidable mountains in the world. With careful planning and a wonderful ability to both lead and be part of a team, Cave has shown how strength of mind and determination can overcome the toughest of life's challenges.

Cave is one of the most renowned mountaineers in the world today. He draws on the exacting skills his sport demands to deliver motivational lectures. Cave, a winner of seven literary awards and with a PhD, is in demand as a keynote speaker for the corporate, industry and public sector. In an ever-disruptive world, from the boardroom to the frontline, from basecamp to the summit team, the pressure can be relentless. In business or on a mountain, high-performance is built through authentic leadership, collaboration, a growth mindset and a culture of challenge and well-being where people can thrive.

Cave's story is as inspiring as his experience is practical. Despite suffering from claustrophobia, at the age of 16 Cave followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and became a miner at the local Grimethorpe colliery. Enduring the 1984-5 miners strikes, poverty, division of communities and broken friendships, Cave continued to pursue his newly discovered obsession with climbing. In 1986, he quit his job at the pit in order to devote himself to mountaineering, climbing the infamous North Face of the Eiger at just 20 years old. At the same time he decided to educate himself. He attained a PHD in Sociolinguistics from Sheffield university, for a paper discussing the linguistics strategies used by miners. In 1997, Cave reached the summit of the notoriously difficult Himalayan Mountain, Changabang, by one of the most challenging routes ever recorded.

Cave had a leading role in the highly acclaimed BBC series "Wild Climbs". His best selling book "Learning to Breathe" has won two literary awards and was translated into German and Italian. Critics have called the story "a powerful testament to human strength, courage and the will to survive, even when your idea of heaven has turned to hell. A remarkable story from a remarkable man."

Cave's talk illustrates how the ability not to be limited by the expectations of others can lead to the realization of extraordinary goals. Succeeding on the worlds most formidable, inaccessible mountains requires innovation, effective planning and the ability to manage risk, sometimes in situations of extreme crisis. These themes, which are central to the business world, are weaved into a rousing, uplifting tale illustrated with stunning photographic images.