Jo Bradshaw is an Everest summiteer, inspirational adventurer, public speaker, leadership coach, and expedition leader whose journey from a risk-averse business advisor to conquering some of the world's highest peaks is nothing short of extraordinary. Having once feared failure and success in equal measure, Jo transformed her life by saying “yes” to new challenges, leading her to climb six of the Seven Summits and stand atop Mount Everest in 2016. A survivor of the 2015 Nepal earthquake at Camp 1 on Everest, she has demonstrated resilience in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. With just one mountain left—Carstensz Pyramid, set for March 2025—Jo is on the brink of completing the coveted Seven Summits challenge, climbing the highest peak on each continent. She is also a dedicated advocate for children’s mental health, raising over £45,000 for Place2Be, the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity.
Jo's journey into adventure began in 2004 with a charity parachute jump, a pivotal moment that reshaped her perspective on fear and risk. Soon after, she took on her first endurance challenge—cycling 500km across Peru—which ignited a passion for pushing boundaries. She transitioned from corporate life to expedition leadership, working with Discover Adventure before going freelance and earning her Mountain Leader qualification. Since then, Jo has led over 37 expeditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, multiple climbs on 6,000m+ peaks, and guided teams through extreme environments, from the oxygen-deprived summits of the Himalayas to the icy remoteness of Antarctica. As an Outdoor Instructor and Leadership Development Coach, she blends her business acumen with high-altitude expertise, delivering impactful leadership programs, workshops, and keynote speeches tailored to corporate teams and aspiring adventurers alike.
A firm believer that resilience is built in small steps, not just through major crises, Jo shares powerful insights on reframing fear, embracing risk, and leading in challenging environments. She helps individuals and teams overcome self-doubt, drawing from her own experience of once believing she “couldn’t do it.” Her unique ability to translate extreme expedition experiences into business and personal growth strategies makes her an in-demand public speaker for organisations looking to inspire their teams. Jo’s leadership has been tested in some of the most inhospitable places on Earth, where high stakes, uncertainty, and exhaustion demand calm decision-making and unshakable confidence—skills that are just as vital in the corporate world.
Jo Bradshaw is a staunch advocate for helping others push beyond their perceived limits, just as she was once encouraged by a mentor to do the same. She now “pays it forward,” coaching others to embrace challenges and trust in their own capabilities. Her late father’s mantra, "Say yes now and work it out later," has become a guiding principle in her life and work. With a talent for storytelling and a wealth of real-world leadership experience, Jo captivates audiences with her gripping expedition stories and empowering messages. Whether delivering team-building workshops, motivational keynotes, or leadership training, Jo ensures that her lessons resonate long after her talk ends.
Jo's official speaking topics are listed below.
- Being a Champion - To Others and Yourself
- Resilience - How it Can Be Built in Small Steps, Not Just with Big Disasters
- Reframing Fear - How to Make it Work Positively for You
- Menopause - Embracing the Change
- Empathy - How to Use it Wisely and Encouragingly
Official Feedback from In-Person & Online Events
Official Feedback from In-Person Events
"Jo provided a thoroughly engaging, inspirational and motivational talk on navigating the challenges of her journey to the top of the world. It provided a relatable context to our journey and a real sense of what is possible when you go all in." - Charlie, Head of Women's Performance, RFU
"Jo was a fantastic keynote speaker to close a day of conference for a large group of around 150 people. She brilliantly mixed humour, emotion and insight in a talk that kept the whole audience engaged and enthralled. Many of the audience said later that Jo was their highlight of the day. Thoroughly recommended!" - Gareth, CEO, First Intuition
"Jo spoke at our inaugural Women in Policing Conference, she was inspirational, engaging and made people think differently about confidently taking on new challenges that stretch you as a person." - Leanne, Personal Assistant to Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain
"An inspirational talk from an inspirational individual. Jo Bradshaw joined us for our Founders’ Day service on recommendation and we were absolutely thrilled by the outcome. What Jo has not achieved in her time is potentially not worth even thinking about! Selfless, determined, positive, adaptable and solution focussed Jo took on many a challenge to overcome her own fears and in support of those less fortunate than herself. The message was jaw dropping and such an appropriate message to the students who we empower to dream big and take every opportunity irrespective of where it may take them. She is an example to us all – I highly recommend her." - Liz, Head, Burgess Hill Girls
"Working with Jo is exceptional. We have used her many times throughout the delivery of our High Performing Team programme and large off-site engagements. The insights shared help the client translate the learnings into the corporate leadership landscape. Jo’s story is delivered from the experience of climbing Mount Everest and tackling other extreme adventures. She is engaging, humble, relatable and a pleasure to work with. Jo also has a very unique perspective on leadership and one that resonates at all levels. We continue to use Jo and the feedback remains excellent.” - Ian, CEO, Coaching Centred Leadership
- 2025 – Set to complete the 7 Summits challenge with Carstensz Pyramid, West Papua, becoming one of the few climbers to summit the highest peak on each continent
- 2024 – One mountain away from completing the coveted 7 Summits, having successfully climbed six of the world's highest continental peaks
- 2016 – Summited Mount Everest (8,848m), overcoming personal fears and physical challenges to reach the top of the world
- 2015 – Survived the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake while at Camp 1 on Everest, an experience that strengthened resilience and leadership under extreme conditions
- 2010s – Became an Expedition Leader, guiding students and adults on high-altitude adventures worldwide, sharing the power of the outdoors and personal growth
- 2010s – Transitioned into an Outdoor Instructor role, mentoring and assessing Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions in the UK, helping young people build resilience and leadership skills
- 2010s – Established herself as a Public Speaker and Leadership Development Coach, delivering inspirational talks and impactful leadership programmes to schools and businesses
- 2004 – Took part in a 500km charity bike challenge in Peru for Asthma UK, igniting a passion for adventure that led to a complete career transformation
- Early 2000s – Left a risk-averse corporate career as a Business Advisor to embrace a life of adventure, learning to reframe fear and push beyond self-imposed limits
How to hire Jo Bradshaw
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jo Bradshaw for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
