Pen Hadow

In May 2003, Pen Hadow was catapulted to international fame when he became the first person in history to sledge alone from Canada to the North Geographic Pole without any outside help - a feat of endurance thought to be harder than climbing Everest solo, without oxygen. It had taken him three attempts and fifteen years' dedication to achieve his goal, and despite severe setbacks, he walked, skied and swam for two months to fulfil a lifetime's dream.

Pen was educated at Harrow, where he was head of house, head of school, head of rugby, football and athletics, and where he achieved his first feat of endurance: completing a school marathon at the age of 15, the first time that any boy had attempted the course for exactly fifty years, and now an annual fixture for the school.

Then came his 'wilderness' years, when he struggled to resolve how best he could fulfil his potential, and, once he had set his heart on the polar regions, and the North Pole in particular, struggled even more to finally achieve his dream.

Pen read Geography at University College London, and went on to become the youngest-ever executive at Mark McCormack's renowned International Management Group, where he was more focused in helping others achieve rather than himself.

Pen Hadow leads the not-for-profit 90º North Unit which advocates for an international agreement to create a protected area for the international waters of the Arctic Ocean; and he is director of the annual scientific research and public engagement programme, Arctic Mission, which supports the Unit’s work.

The 90º North Unit is introducing a significant new perspective on the Arctic’s diminishing sea ice, revealing that the environmental issue is less about the geophysics of a melting layer of frozen sea water, and far more about the potentially catastrophic loss of a globally unique “floating ice-reef ecosystem” which includes some of the world’s most iconic species.

In 2017, Arctic Mission sailed two 50’ yachts into the North Pole’s international waters, the first non-icebreaking vessels in history to do so, to demonstrate the increasing accessibility of these waters to surface commercial shipping, fishing, tourism and mining, and therefore the emerging human threat to the wildlife already stressed by its reduced sea-ice cover habitat.

Pen Hadow's defining quality is his natural ability - and passionate commitment - to bridging the divide between the speaker and his audience, to convince his audience that if even he can achieve what he sets out to do, then there's no reason why they cannot do the same - it's all about what goes on in your head.

Engagingly self-deprecating, inspirational and focused, audiences quickly identify with his themes. Pen Hadow integrates his business experience, hard-won leadership skills honed guiding novice teams in extreme environments, and his own groundbreaking endeavours in the Arctic and Antarctic, to apply fresh perspectives to clients' key messages.

Every one of Pen Hadow's speeches is thoughtfully prepared according to the client's brief, whether it’s an intimate, informal and light-hearted after dinner presentation about polar bear stories; a motivational keynote talk with high impact images and modern AV support; or a day of workshops.

Pen’s speeches are designed to make an impact, the occasion determining the balance between information, inspiration and entertainment. They are always thought-provoking.

His environmental keynotes, motivational addresses, and after-dinner talks offer his hard-won insights from a life as a leading polar explorer. He has many years of experience on the international speaking circuit, and his engagements have included heads-of-state summits, international conferences, national forums and corporate events across the UK, Europe, Asia and North America.

Hadow’s inspirational speeches about the need for protection of the North Pole’s unique wildlife and floating ice-reef ecosystem are anchored in his remarkable personal story of daring exploration which led to his international policy advocacy work today.

And his solo North Pole feat continues to provide the framework for a riveting motivational experience focused on high performance in the most challenging circumstances – and most especially, achieving More With Less resources in a challenging environment, something the strategies and tactics he developed for his solo trek illustrates powerfully.

Hadow is the only person to have succeeded in making a solo journey from Canada to the North Pole – the feat remains unrepeated. It took him three attempts over 15 years to achieve this single feat at the ‘bleeding edge of exploration’.

The keys to success revolved around a 360º approach to multiple innovations, mental resilience techniques, and emotional management strategies – all of which are applicable to enhancing performance in the workplace. His eventual success is a story of extreme performance against previously insuperable odds.

Pen can talk with insight and genuine authority about personal motivation, effective teamwork, and leadership techniques, to support the people in any organisation in realising their individual potential and achieving their team missions.

Popular motivational talks include:
• The story of Solo to the North Pole by the Hardest Route
• Inspiration & Motivation – Finding & Keeping It
• Pioneering Mindset & Achieving Breakthroughs
• Going Further With Less, Achieving More with Fewer
• Resilience, Goal Setting & Setbacks
• Leadership – Insights from the ‘Bleeding Edge of Exploration’
• Risk Management – Hazards v Rewards
• Personal Performance in the Most Challenging Circumstances

Keynote speeches:
• Reaching Goals Against the Odds and in the Most Challenging Environments
• What Does the North Pole’s Dwindling Sea Ice Tell Us About Our Changing World
• Having been World’s Most Resource Efficient Person for 75 Days
• Going Further with Less, Achieving More with Fewer
• The Natural Environment & Corporate Reputation

After-dinner talks:
• Top Tips to Defend Yourself Against Polar Bears
• Just What It Took – Solo to the North Pole
• Anecdotes from a Life as a Polar Guide & Explorer
• An Evening With Pen Hadow
• The Value & Future of Exploration
• What Arctic Sea-ice Loss Tells Us
• Things You Never Knew about Polar Exploration … The Physiology, The Psychology & The Hardest Bits

Whatever the subject, wherever the venue, and whoever his audience; Pen Hadow will hold the audience in his thrall. Pen naturally engages an audience and effortlessly inspires them, directly relating the experiences he has endured out on the ice to the challenges he knows all too well are presented by the equally challenging work environment. Question time is his forte, when he can enjoy direct interaction with guests.

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Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Pen Hadow. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.