Global Speaker on Risk & Leadership in High-Stakes Environments; First Woman to Skydive Mount Everest; Founder of World Female Ranger Week & How Many Elephants NGO

London, UK
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Holly Budge Biography

Holly Budge is a world-class adventurer and multi award-winning social entrepreneur who inspires leaders to embrace calculated risk and strategic courage. She equips organizations to unlock high-stakes opportunities and drive transformative results.

Budge doesn’t just talk about risk, she lives it. As an Everest summiteer and the first woman to skydive Everest, her expertise is forged in the world's most extreme environments, from scaling icy slopes to racing 1,000km across Mongolia on horseback.

Crucially, Budge leveraged this pioneering spirit into global impact. She is the founder of the international NGO, How Many Elephants and the creator of World Female Ranger Week. Her conservation work, praised by Sir David Attenborough, has reached over 500 million people and raised over £500,000, supporting thousands of female rangers on the front lines around the world. Recognized globally at the Stevie® Awards as ‘Female Thought Leader of the Year’ and as a UN Women UK Delegate, her achievements are synonymous with measurable impact.

Sought after by organizations like J.P. Morgan, Shell, British Airways, and McKinsey, Budge delivers gripping, high-action keynotes. She provides the blueprint for leaders and teams to move from risk-averse to risk-ready, take bold action, and achieve their own Everest.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 01/13/2026.

Holly Budge Speaking Topics

  • The Risk Ready Mindset

    Turning uncertainty into your competitive edge

    In times of rapid change, one skill separates the bold from the burnt-out: the ability to take smart risks. The leaders and teams who win are those who act decisively under pressure and turn fear into focus.

    In this fast-paced keynote, Holly Budge challenges the comfort culture that is holding many businesses back. Drawing on her own experiences

    • from summiting the north side of Everest, becoming the first woman to skydive Everest, to patrolling on the frontline with anti-poaching units in Africa

    • she unpacks what it really takes to make bold, calculated decisions when the stakes are high.

    This talk isn’t about recklessness. It’s about redefining risk as a catalyst for innovation, growth, and personal leadership. Holly equips audiences with the tools to embrace uncertainty, build resilience, and take purposeful action, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

    Key Takeaways:

    • How to turn fear into forward motion when the pressure is on
    • Why comfort kills innovation and how to stay bold in uncertainty
    • A practical framework for taking smart, calculated risks
    • The psychology of resilience and high-stakes decision-making
    • How to cultivate a culture where bold thinking thrives

    Target Audiences:

    • Leadership & strategy teams navigating disruption or change
    • Organizations looking to energize culture and spark innovation
    • Sales, performance, and growth-focused teams
    • Main-stage conferences seeking an inspiring & practical keynote

  • Leading Under Pressure

    Redefining Leadership in a World That Won’t Slow Down

    The rules of leadership are being rewritten. Leaders who thrive are not those with all the answers, but those brave enough to act when the path ahead is unclear.

    In this thought-provoking keynote, Holly Budge exposes what leadership really looks like when the stakes are high, drawing on her experiences of leading teams on high-altitude expeditions to ambushing poachers on the frontline of conservation. She explores how courage, empathy, and calculated risk-taking can unite teams, fuel innovation, and build trust in the face of uncertainty.

    This talk challenges leaders to think differently

    • to shift from control to connection, hierarchy to humanity, and comfort to growth

    • equipping them to lead with clarity and conviction in a rapidly changing world.

    Key Takeaways:

    • How to lead when there’s no playbook
    • Turning high pressure into high performance
    • Why courage, empathy & inclusion are the ultimate leadership edge
    • How to create a culture that thrives through uncertainty & change

    Target Audiences:

    • Senior leaders, executives, and emerging leaders
    • Organizations navigating transformation or high-stakes growth
    • HR, DEI & ESG professionals shaping leadership cultures

Read More +

Holly Budge Videos

Holly Budge Showreel

Holly Budge Showreel

Holly Budge is a world-class adventurer, Everest summiteer, and the first woman to skydive Everest. Her deeply personal and highly actionable talks...

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  • What are the speaker fees for Holly Budge

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  • What topics does Holly Budge speak about?

  • Where does Holly Budge travel from?

    Holly Budge generally travels from London, UK, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Holly Budge is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Risk Ready Mindset, Leading Under Pressure and The Elephant in the Boardroom. The estimated speaking fee range to book Holly Budge for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Holly Budge generally travels from London, UK and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Natalie Kyriacou OAM, Mona Das, Pia Heidenmark Cook, Katie Spotz and Jim McNeill. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Holly Budge for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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