Roz Savage is widely known for her impressive feats as an ocean rower, having claimed a Guinness World Record for becoming the first woman to row across three oceans. Now, she uses her experiences to inspire others to overcome fears that hold us back in life- focussing on themes of courage, determination, leadership and teamwork as a keynote speaker for corporate events. Initially beginning her rowing with the Oxford University Women's Boat Club and the Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club, Roz’s affinity for the ocean has since taken her to all four corners of the world, spanning a 7-year rowing career. Sometimes spending up to five months alone at sea, thousands of miles from land, Roz discovered what she was capable of. Over the course of fifteen thousand miles, Roz uncovered what it truly meant to keep calm in the face of danger.
For the first eleven years of her professional life, Roz worked as a management consultant in London, working as a Project Manager for UBS Investment Bank and a Management Consultant for Andersen Consulting (Accenture). One day, however, Roz was hit with an environmental epiphany and instead of continuing her corporate career, she embarked on her mission to become the first women to row across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. With a story like Roz’s, it's with no surprise that a documentary based on her Atlantic adventure, Rowing the Atlantic, was a finalist for the iconic Banff Mountain Film Festival and screened in over 30 countries. Roz has also authored Stop Drifting, Start Rowing: One Woman's Search for Happiness and Meaning Alone on the Pacific and Rowing the Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean, in which she tells tales from her time at sea.
Roz won her first award in 2010 when she was named the Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic. In 2012 she was made a World Fellow at Yale University and in the following year, she was honoured with the appointment of MBE for her contribution to fundraising and environmental conservation. Roz was offered the position of Senior Fellow of Yale's Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, where she has lectured Courage in Theory and Practice. Roz is also famed for claiming four Guinness World Records- including becoming the first woman to row solo across three oceans. Outside of rowing, Roz is passionate about the environment and sustainability, having also acted as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a United Nations Climate Hero, a Blue Ambassador for the BLUE Project, an Ambassador for Plastic Oceans and a Fellow of the Explorers Club of New York.
Combining her life experiences with her knowledge gained during rowing, Roz presents motivational speeches and corporate events for eager audiences. Having previously spoken for Google, eBay, Hershey, Disney, Kaiser Permanente, National Geographic, the Royal Geographical Society, TED and TEDx, Roz can confidently command the stage. She inspires audiences to redefine what is possible, motivating them to embrace their potential. Providing audiences with practical tools to overcome challenges and be courageous in the face of their fears, Roz Savage is the perfect speaker to explain how to strike a balance between confidence and caution, resulting in more confident and competent workforces. Also the founder of The Sisters, Roz is passionate to ensure that the future is more sustainable and peaceful- making her a fantastic speaker for events themed around everything from sustainability and adventure to courage, keeping calm under pressure and having courage.
