Robert Swan OBE

Robert Swan is a polar explorer, environmentalist and the first man ever to walk unsupported to both the North and South Poles. He is an exceptionally gifted communicator and is regarded as one of the world's top motivational speakers.

He compares his icy experiences to boardroom maneuvers and his inspirational addresses have received the acclaim of discerning audiences worldwide. His contribution to education and the environment have been recognized through his appointment as UN Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, a Visiting Professorship of the School of Environment at Leeds University and in 1994 he became Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO.

Robert Swan was awarded the OBE in 1995. In 2003 and 2004, Robert and his company delivered the first ever corporate Antarctic Expeditions on teamwork and leadership. Through positive participation and real missions, the unique insights and lessons he has learned, have enabled Robert Swan to educate and stimulate his audiences.

Robert Swan OBE has earned his place alongside the great explorers and adventurers that have tested their physical and mental strength to the limit in the planet's most hostile environments.

As with the great explorers and adventurers in history, Robert Swan is the first man in history to walk to both the North and South Poles. The successful completion of his North and South Pole expeditions marked the beginning of a new phase in his life. On both expeditions, he experienced, firsthand, the effects of environmental damage on the Polar icecaps. This shaped Swan's lifetime goal – to work for the preservation of the Antarctic as the last great wilderness on earth. He then founded an organization dedicated to this goal. With his presence and integrity, accomplishments and reflections, Robert Swan has an extraordinary ability to move people and motivate audiences.

It is through his expeditions and lectures that Swan works to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, be sustainable, and know that now is the time for action in policy development, sustainable business generation and future technologies.

Having experienced leadership and team cooperation in some of the world’s most hostile environments, Robert Swan applies the lessons he has learned as a polar explorer to inspire bold management practices and effective communication styles.

Comparing his icy experiences to boardroom maneuvers, Swan will share his take on the new models and sustainable solutions that business leaders need to meet the challenges ahead. Robert understands the enormity of a 50-year mission, and has created operational and business strategies over the years to sustain such an undertaking.

As the first person to walk to both the North and South Poles unassisted, Swan’s unwavering determination to bring dreams to reality is passionate and infectious, and he personifies the idea that “anything is possible”. But as great feats are rarely achieved by a single individual, Robert will share how a team which understands its strengths and weaknesses can pull together to achieve the seemingly impossible. Robert further explores the subtleties of selecting a powerful team and reveals why diversity is vital in team selection. Key highlights from this lecture include: inspiring conversation about teamwork, leadership, and future thinking for business, society, and the environment.

Robert’s talks are thrilling, uplifting and stimulating - all while fostering courage, vision and teamwork. His core themes are inspiration, leadership and future thinking for business, society and the environment:

Inspiration - Robert has shown through his expeditions to both Poles that individuals have the power to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals - whatever these may be - through perseverance, determination and commitment.

Leadership - Robert highlights how great feats are rarely achieved by individuals in isolation; more often, it is a team effort. Robert emphasises the importance of strategic decision making.

Sustainability - As an environmental leader, Robert takes climate change and the protection of Antarctica as the burning platform. Robert engages audiences on what it takes to be the leader and predecessor in creating new models and sustainable solutions for the future.

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