Eric Alexander
Renowned Mountaineer, accomplished speaker, and celebrated author, Eric Alexander has been a pioneer and advocate for people with disabilities. Most notably Eric stood atop mount Everest leading his blind friend, Erik Weihenmayer to a successful summit of the world’s tallest peak, and was called Erik’s guardian angel for safely guiding his descent from the summit. This multi-record setting team has been called, by Time magazine, the greatest team in history to climb Everest, and this ascent ranked among it’s top 5 climbs ever by Outside magazine.
Climbing some of the world’s highest and most daunting peaks with people who have disabilities has set Eric’s climbing career apart and given him unique and innovative insights into the essence of leadership and teamwork. As a faithful team-mate, and as a leader of world class teams and expeditions around the globe, Eric captivates audiences worldwide through his engaging story telling, drawing his audience into these experiences, with emotion, laughter, truth and vulnerability in ways that will leave a lasting imprint on their lives.
Whether it’s business or personal, we live in a world of uncertainty where fear and doubt can get the best of us. Eric has pushed through his own fears and doubts having come back from near fatal falls, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and tragic losses, to learn that it is not all about “my” summit, but about helping others to reach theirs. It is this principle, on which Eric speaks, that will help your team get to the top.
When engaging an audience Eric likes to share his “recipe” for success speaking of the fundamentals of team spirit (because it is more than just work), trust, courage, faith and integrity. Today, Eric continues to climb and look for new challenges both personally and in the outdoors while challenging people to overcome the “Everest’s” in their own lives redefining the limits of what we can achieve.
Most Requested Programs
Trust
Eric knows that to succeed as a team each individual on that team must be a person who is trustworthy and must also demonstrate the ability to trust those around them. Eric speaks of the extraordinary trust that the NFB Everest expedition shared and how it contributed to the success of safely reaching Mt. Everest’s 29,035’ summit.
Team Spirit
Taking on a monumental task, like guiding a blind man to the summit of Mt. Everest, is not something that a person can do alone. Eric details how this extraordinary achievement was made possible by team-members putting aside their individual differences for the greater good of the team. By utilizing each person’s strengths this team was able to accomplish the “impossible” and prove to the world that underdog’s can still play and win. Eric says it is not about work, rather it is about the spirit of the team and the belief in each other and the desire for the other’s success over one’s own.
Leadership
In moments of crisis each person will need to have what it takes to lead. As the expedition leader fell ill on summit day and turned back the team faced a critical decision – turn back or move forward. The team chose to take on the responsibility of leadership and made the decision to press on. Opportunities to quit present themselves at every step of our journeys, we all must be willing at times to take the lead and keep striving for our goals.
Courage
Dare to risk it all when the “experts” say the risk is too great. Eric speaks of moving forward in spite of our fears, stepping out in faith and courage to prove, as he says, “that we are the experts on ourselves.” Demonstrating this courage Eric joined the Everest expedition after a nearly fatal accident climbing in the Himalayas the year before and showed his commitment to the team by not giving up. Eric shares that the task of climbing Everest in and of itself would require great courage, but to add that Eric would be guiding his blind friend to the summit would require far more.
Innovation
It is innovation which leads to invention. This takes our small steps of progress and transforms them into giant leaps over time, turning what was once thought of as impossible to being totally plausible. The mountain had not changed nor did the route get easier. What had changed was our approach. It is on the way to the top, it is along the journey that we learn, grow, innovate, and adapt. Innovation, like wisdom, is just as those steps up the mountain; each one building on the one before it, the summation of which gets us to our goal.
Integrity
In the high mountains it is critical that people do as they say they will do. Lives depend on following through on promises with action. To survive here, and be successful, a team must be comprised of individuals willing to stand by their word. This lesson carries over into many aspects of our personal and professional lives and is quite a recipe for growth and success.
Testimonials
You told an amazing story that captivated and inspired our employees. The lessons you shared resonated throughout our organization. I wanted to send you a few of the employee comments we've received regarding your talk: Fantastic and inspirational speaker; It was truly amazing to listen to his story, I was in awe; Incredible story and plenty of takeaways to help drive further engagement; loved the can do attitude! - Glenn Schneider Executive Vice President Discover
I’ve been blessed by being able to hear a number of excellent speakers. These have included William George (former head of Medtronic, author of “Authentic Leadership”); Jim Collins (author of “Good to Great”); Bob Lutz (head of GM at the time); Harvey Mackay (author of “Swimming with the Sharks”) and others.
Recently we had the opportunity to have Eric Alexander as our keynote speaker at CBSA’s annual “BioWest” event and awards banquet. The feedback I’ve received from those present suggested this set the standard for a presentation that was enjoyable, entertaining, and informative. Mr. Alexander uses his very unusual life experiences and challenges to explain business principles (albeit perhaps a better designation would be “life principles”). The events he shares are certainly suspenseful and hold one’s attention. His stories use the right balance of humor and sadness, tragedy and triumph. His presentation ends on a high note and those within the audience feel like they’ve been on a most excellent journey—having gained insight and wisdom through the experience. - Rick Jory Chairman Colorado Bioscience Association.
It is with pleasure I write this letter recommending Mr. Eric Alexander. During his presentation he communicated his journey in such a way that presented a clear challenge to identify new corporate and personal summits. As a presenter he ehgaged and uphelp the ideals and principals of our organization, and as an adventurer he challenged us to set and achieve the highest of goals. I personally recommend him to organizations that need to be motivated and challenged to succeed beyond where they are today. - Dr. Loren Gresham President Southern Nazarene University