Lara Vafiadis is an inspiring motivational speaker, best known for her extraordinary 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean. Pushing herself to her physical and mental limits, her remarkable achievement and celebrated passion make her a dynamic and engaging speaker across the globe. In addition, with over eight years of experience across cybersecurity and cloud sales, she is an advocate for women in tech and shares her real-world experiences to inspire every audience.
In 2022, Lara set out on her once-in-a-lifetime journey, rowing across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK, Plat International UK and Our Only World, she became a symbol of bravery and perseverance. After 98 days and 22 hours, Lara completed the astonishing unsupported row. Continuing on her remarkable journey, she plans on completing the London Marathon in April 2026 to continue raising money for Prostate Cancer UK, along with rowing across the Indian Ocean.
Before her incredible voyage, Lara’s career began in customer service at the John Lewis Partnership. After various roles, including a Yacht Skipper, Art Dealer, Negotiator at Hamptons International and Sales Recruiter and EA, Lara joined Cisco as a Virtual Sales Account Manager in 2018. As Regional Sales Manager at Deep Instinct and Director of UK and European Sales at Conceal, Lara’s business and cybersecurity skills taught her adaptability and persistence. Transitioning to serve as a New Business Sales Hunter for Netpremacy Global Services in 2024, she has worked to introduce Google Cloud solutions throughout modernising businesses.
Blending adventure, authenticity and business, Lara motivates audiences to challenge their limits and pursue their passions. Whether addressing schools, corporate teams and keynote events, she draws powerful parallels between navigating the unpredictable Atlantic and overcoming challenges in everyday life and work. Lara’s journey was not just about physical strength, but mental fortitude and incredible determination.
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events
“Lara is an absolute inspiration to us all. The challenges she has taken and the personal nature and stories behind then bring a tear to the eye. She is also a fantastic keynote speaker if you need the wow factor at an event!" - Dave, Fractional CIO, Board Advisor, Chairperson for UK IT Leaders, Proud Yorkshireman
"Lara is a truly remarkable person and exceptionally gifted and engaging and inspiring an audience. There are few people that have achieved incredible things and can convey themselves brilliantly to a bunch of strangers. Lara is in that precious minority and the presentation she gave at IT Leaders was moving, powerful and fabulous. Thank you Lara and may others get as lucky as we were to hear you share your story" - Shaun, Co-Founder
"Having Lara speak at our event was an unforgettable experience. As the 23rd woman to row the ocean solo, her story of perseverance, courage, and resilience was nothing short of inspiring. While her journey wasn't directly tied to cybersecurity, the lessons she shared about mindset, grit, and pushing through adversity deeply resonated with our audience of cyber leaders. She had a remarkable ability to connect with the room, and her authenticity and energy left a lasting impression on everyone. Her message was a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t just built in stormy seas—it’s forged in the everyday challenges we all face. We were honoured to have her and would highly recommend her to any organisation looking to inspire and energise their audience" - Amy, Head of Marketing UK&I, Check Point Software
"Lara was an exceptional speaker - inspiring, authentic, and deeply engaging. Her story captivated the room, and her reflections on resilience offered powerful, practical takeaways that resonated on both a personal and professional level. She brought warmth, energy, and a real sense of purpose to the session. We'd highly recommend Lara for any organisation looking to inspire and motivate their teams." - Kate, Education Marketing Lead, UCAS
- 2024 – New Business Sales Hunter and Event Speaker at Netpremacy Global Services
- 2023 – Director of UK and European Sales at Conceal
- 2022 – Completed a 3,000-mile solo row across the Atlantic Ocean in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge
- 2022 – Regional Sales Manager at Deep Instinct
- 2019 – Service Provider Account Manager at Cisco
- 2018 – Virtual Sales Account Manager at Cisco
- 2017 – Sales Recruiter and Executive Assistant
- 2015 – Negotiator at Hamptons International
- 2014 – Art Dealer at Whitewall Galleries
- 2011 – Crew member and freelance yacht skipper for Seaway Deliveries
- 2009 – Customer Service Supervisor at John Lewis Partnership
How to hire Lara Vafiadis
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Lara Vafiadis 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.
