Available to book
Transform leadership mindsets with Debra Searle, speaker, Atlantic solo rower and diversity expert. Debra works with global organisations to build resilience and drive inclusion, ranked third among World's Top 30 Motivational Speakers and recognised by the Queen with an MBE.
Debra Searle MVO MBE is known for her remarkable journey across the Atlantic Ocean. She initially set out to row with her husband, an experienced oarsman, but after he was rescued, Debra, a novice, continued alone. Over 3½ months, she rowed 3,300 miles from Tenerife to Barbados in a 23-foot plywood boat, facing 30-foot waves and harsh weather conditions.
Since this adventure, Debra has tackled various solo and team expeditions worldwide. She has represented Great Britain in Dragon Boat Racing at European and World Championship levels, earning multiple medals.
Debra has spoken at over 1,100 events globally, covering diverse sectors. Beyond sports, she founded five companies, including MIX Diversity, a consultancy focused on Diversity and Inclusion, allowing her to share insights on business success. She has presented 40 programmes for the BBC and authored three books. Her adventurous spirit earned her an MBE from the Queen, and she served for a decade on a charity board alongside two members of the Royal Family, gaining valuable board-level experience.
In 2023, a British newspaper recognised her as one of the World’s Top 50 Inspirational Leaders.
Debra was also appointed a Member of the Victorian Order (MVO) for her contributions to the Royal Family. In 2022, she ranked third in the World’s Top 30 Motivational Speakers, following Simon Sinek and Tony Robbins, making her the highest-ranking female speaker globally. A film about her solo Atlantic row is currently in development in Hollywood.
Topics, sessions and talks
Debra Searle took on her first board position at 27 years old, working with members of the British Royal Family. As the youngest and only woman on the Board, it challenged her confidence and courage to speak up and be heard. Now a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultancy, Debra has co-founded The Businesswomen’s Network Forum at Buckingham Palace. In her inspiring talk, attendees will learn how to challenge themselves, confront unconscious bias, and overcome imposter syndrome to enhance their careers and confidence.
Debra Searle MBE is one of the few individuals who has spent over 100 days alone at sea, thriving despite the challenges. After her husband developed a crippling phobia of the ocean, Debra rowed the Atlantic solo for 3.5 months. In her session, she shares the mindset and wellbeing strategies she developed during this experience, offering practical insights for navigating today’s challenges. Attendees will learn how to stay positive and productive in the face of adversity.
Did you know that 75% of a top performer’s success stems from a positive attitude, with only 25% linked to skills? Drawing from her incredible experience of rowing the Atlantic solo after her husband’s rescue, Debra Searle shares the mindset tools that sustained her during 111 days at sea. Attendees will learn practical strategies from her ‘Choose Your Attitude Toolkit’ to enhance their resilience and teamwork, enabling them to thrive under pressure in both work and life.
Testimonials
Featured Projects
often considered together
Alison Mitchell
Diversity and Inclusion
Resilience
Leadership Development
Alice Dearing
High Performance
Diversity and Inclusion
Gender Equality
Sahar Hashemi
Customer Experience
Customer Loyalty
Creativity
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Debra Searle, email debra.searle@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Debra's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
