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Sharon Wood
Inspirational Mountaineer
Sharon Wood
Inspirational Mountaineer
Biography
Sharon Wood has never considered herself a hero but, in 1986, she became the first woman in North America to climb Mount Everest – the world's highest peak. It was an astonishing personal and team accomplishment under conditions of extreme physical and mental duress. It was an example of ordinary people achieving extraordinary results.
Wood's climb of Everest was only one facet of more than 20 years’ experience as a professional and elite mountaineer, with numerous ascents of summits over 20,000 feet to her credit. Since climbing Mount Everest, Wood has addressed hundreds of groups worldwide as a keynote speaker. Her presentation is a compelling true story of beating the odds. She speaks about meeting that challenge, and about the associated struggles and gains that closely parallel those of most striving individuals and organizations. Through her personal disclosure of confronting and overcoming challenges and fears, she succeeds in using the imposing example of climbing the highest mountain in the world to provide her audiences with a tangible means of grasping the essence of her story – living and working closer to our potential.
Her book, Rising: Becoming the First North American Woman on Everest, Wood reflects on the seventy days she spent on the mountain and on the pivotal experiences and influences that helped her achieve her goal. Beyond the physical hardships, she faced personal challenges as an outlier in the male dominated world of mountain climbing, but she proved them wrong with her dedication and determination.
Wood’s dedication to the pursuit of our potential was also expressed in her service as founder and chairperson of a fully accredited, non-denominational private school in her hometown of Canmore, Alberta, Canada. The school’s objective is to foster confidence and lifelong learning skills, while inspiring development of the unique strengths possessed by every child. Today, Mountain Gate Community School has expanded and continues to offer an alternative education option to the community.
Through powerful anecdotes and vivid analogies, Wood conveys the critical element of team success. For anyone wanting to be more effective in life, her story is an inspiration.
Speech Topics
Everest: To the Summit and Beyond
Sharon Wood teaches, entertains, and inspires with her personal story about reaching the top of Mount Everest. Stunning still images and video illustrate the journey of a small team who shared a bold vision to climb the highest mountain in the world by a more difficult route and with fewer physical and financial resources.
Her story powerfully demonstrates how exemplary teamwork and leadership can render the impossible possible. Wood effectively conveys both the individual and the team perspective by stressing the importance of honoring her own passion and dreams while fulfilling a role as a member of a team – a team committed to a shared vision. Using powerful anecdotes and vivid analogies to convey the elements that parallel the challenges of striving individuals and organizations, Wood’s authentic, honest, and humorous approach provokes listeners to consider the value of their own resources and opportunities.
To the Summit and Beyond is more than an adventure story; it is a timeless, universal story about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
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