Holly Budge is an inspirational keynote speaker, adventurer and conservation leader who has built a global reputation for turning extraordinary experiences into powerful lessons for leadership and resilience. Best known as the first woman to skydive over Mount Everest, Holly’s career is defined by bold decision-making, disciplined risk management and a relentless pursuit of purpose. From extreme expeditions to pioneering conservation initiatives, she demonstrates how courage and preparation can unlock extraordinary outcomes. Today, Holly is hired by organisations around the world to share the lessons she has learned at the limits of human endurance and translate them into practical strategies for leadership, innovation and managing uncertainty.
Holly’s journey began in the early days of her career as a skydiving camera operator, working within the high-pressure world of aerial filming. These early experiences cultivated her appetite for adventure and her ability to remain focused in extreme environments. Her defining breakthrough came when she became the first woman to skydive over Mount Everest, jumping from 29,500 feet and landing at 12,500 feet on the world’s highest drop zone. She later pushed her limits even further by competing in the world’s longest and toughest horse race across Mongolia, riding semi-wild horses across 1000 kilometres of remote terrain. Completing the race over nine demanding days and changing horses multiple times, she set a Guinness World Record and proved her remarkable resilience and determination. In 2017, Holly sought extreme adventure once again and endured a gruelling 47 days about 500m on Mount Everest, climbing the infamous north side in a two-person team.
Alongside her expeditions, Holly has built an influential voice in conservation and storytelling. She founded the charity How Many Elephants, a women-led initiative supporting African elephants and female wildlife rangers working on the frontline of conservation. Her commitment to wildlife protection led her to establish World Female Ranger Week, an international campaign raising awareness of the critical role women play in conservation. Holly’s insights have been featured in leading media outlets, including Forbes, Woman’s Hour, Sky News, Marie Claire, National Geographic Kids and Wanderlust. She is also an accomplished travel writer and podcast guest, sharing perspectives on leadership, purpose and adventure. Her impact has been recognised with honours including the Gold Stevie Award for Thought Leader of the Year in Non Profit and Female Innovator of the Year in Non Profit, alongside recognition in the WISE100 Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise.
As a motivational speaker, Holly Budge captivates audiences by connecting extreme adventure with real-world leadership challenges. Drawing on her experiences navigating danger, uncertainty and isolation, she demonstrates how bold yet calculated risk-taking can transform both individuals and organisations. Her presentations provide practical frameworks for resilience, decision-making and purposeful leadership, encouraging audiences to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Having delivered the TEDx Talk, 'The Power of Passion; Where Adventure Meets Conservation', Holly shared her mission to tackle the awful poaching of elephants. Trusted by organisations such as J.P. Morgan, Shell, British Airways, McKinsey and The North Face, Holly delivers compelling keynote speeches that inspire people to push beyond perceived limits, lead with confidence and turn uncertainty into meaningful success.
