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Everest summiteer & resilience expert

Jim Davidson

Unlock organizational resilience with Jim Davidson, Everest summiteer and top-rated speaker on leading teams. Jim equips organizations with actionable resilience strategies and change management tools, drawing from his Everest survival experiences. NYT bestselling author who has been featured on NPR, CBS, CNN, and has delivered impactful presentations across 35 countries.

Trusted by Conagra Brands, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Marriott, General Electric, US Army

Jim Davidson, Speaker | Resilience Expert & Author
Jim Davidson

Jim Davidson

Denver, United States

Typical fee range

$11k–25k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Denver, United States

Starting from

$11k–25k

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Jim Davidson's biography

At a glance

  • Mountaineer, expedition leader, and resilience expert
  • Survivor of deadliest day ever on Mount Everest
  • New York Times bestselling author
Jim Davidson is a resilience expert who transforms real-world survival experiences into actionable strategies for individuals and organizations. His unique perspective comes from surviving two mountain disasters, including the deadliest day on Mount Everest, before successfully summiting the world's highest peak. As a New York Times best-selling author of The Next Everest and The Ledge, Jim's extraordinary stories have been featured in documentaries for the National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, and Netflix. His insights have reached audiences in over 35 countries through keynotes and workshops for organizations like Credit Suisse, Marriott, and Kia Motors. Jim helps businesses navigate uncertainty by translating his 42 years of expedition leadership into practical resilience frameworks. His presentations demonstrate how to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and thrive under pressure, skills he developed while guiding teams through life-threatening situations. Audiences leave Jim's presentations with concrete tools to develop a resilient mindset, strengthen team cohesion during challenges, and implement leadership strategies that transform obstacles into opportunities. Book Jim Davidson to give your team the resilience toolkit needed to summit their own professional Everests and transform potential disasters into breakthrough moments.

Jim's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Everest Resilience: Reaching High Goals
Jim Davidson explores how extreme environments reveal the essentials of resilience when pressure, uncertainty, and rapid change collide. Jim shares the events surrounding the deadliest day on Mount Everest, his eventual summit, and his escape from a hidden crevasse. Through gripping storytelling, he shows how individuals and teams can recover from setbacks, stay focused on long-term goals, and strengthen resilience during demanding circumstances.
How To Elevate Your Team’s Resilience
Jim Davidson examines how professionals can steadily navigate expanding workloads, shifting expectations, and market volatility. Drawing on forty-two years of high-altitude expeditions, Jim connects field-tested decision-making, risk assessment, and mental endurance to the realities of fast-evolving industries. His insights help teams adapt to uncertainty, maintain clarity in difficult conditions, and build the collective resilience needed to perform consistently during times of change.
Resilient Teamwork And Resilient Leadership
Jim Davidson uses real rescue scenarios from remote mountains to illuminate the behaviors that define resilient teams and leaders. Jim’s dynamic storytelling places audiences inside high-pressure situations where trust, communication, and clear judgment are essential. Participants explore how to make effective decisions, support one another through strain, and strengthen leadership capacity. The session reveals practical approaches for developing resilient team cultures equipped to navigate complexity.

Why we recommend booking Jim

Drawing from his survival of two mountain disasters and successful Everest summit, Jim Davidson has delivered his powerful resilience strategies to organizations, such as Credit Suisse and Marriott, across 35 countries. Book this New York Times best-selling author to bring real-world resilience expertise, powerful stories, and actionable insights to your next conference or leadership event.

Check Jim's availability

Trusted by Conagra Brands, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Marriott, General Electric, US Army

Testimonials

Jim was fantastic. Our leaders and employees found him engaging and very insightful. He also made great connections back to our company while providing practical tips and lessons on how to help our employees be more resilient in the face of change. He was exactly what our group needed to hear to end our event!

General Electric

Jim hit it out of the park! He dovetailed his messaging with our CEO and truly exceeded expectations! What an amazing story and top-notch presenter. He made the tech setups easy and a success. Jim is a delight to work with. Getting his books was a big win for us and our attendees really appreciated it.

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Jim is an impactful speaker with a key focus on resiliency that understands his audience and builds connections effectively to deliver compelling and relevant content! He was so engaging and insightful with our customers and employees. Everyone loved him!

Slunk Inc.

Featured Projects

Jim Davidson - The Next Everest book cover
Jim Davidson - The Ledge book cover
Jim Davidson - I Shouldn't Be Alive: Killer Crevasse book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Jim Davidson for my next event?

What is Jim Davidson's speaking style like?

Jim Davidson uses first-person rescue narratives drawn from high-altitude expeditions — including the 1996 Mount Everest disaster and a crevasse survival — to place audiences inside high-pressure scenarios. These accounts are structured to extract transferable frameworks around decision-making, risk assessment, and team resilience.

What topics does Jim Davidson specialise in?

Jim Davidson's sessions address resilience under pressure, team and leadership resilience, and decision-making in conditions of uncertainty and rapid change. He is a New York Times bestselling author and survivor of the deadliest day on Mount Everest, with 42 years of expedition leadership and keynote experience across more than 35 countries for clients including Credit Suisse, Marriott, and Kia Motors.

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There is no additional cost to you beyond the speaker's fee. PepTalk's service, from shortlist to on-the-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, the team can agree preferential rates with your procurement department. Email hello@getapeptalk.com to discuss.

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Booking a speaker with PepTalk starts with a short brief: your event, audience, date, budget, and format. Send it through getapeptalk.com or hello@getapeptalk.com and you'll get a shortlist within 24 hours. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, fees, travel, and logistics end to end.

I need a last-minute speaker. Can PepTalk help?

Yes. PepTalk regularly handles last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, host, or comedian quickly, often within days. Availability narrows as the date nears, so get in touch as early as you can. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.

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Speaker fees vary by profile, format, and location. In the UK and Europe, virtual keynotes typically start around GBP 2,000, with top in-person speakers reaching GBP 25,000+; in the US, fees run from about USD 5,000 to USD 100,000+. Share your budget at getapeptalk.com and we'll shortlist to fit.

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You'll receive a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours of sharing your brief. Each suggestion comes with profiles, fees, and PepTalk's recommendation on the strongest fit. If you need options sooner for an urgent event, say so and the team will move faster. Start at getapeptalk.com.

Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

Yes. Beyond booking a single speaker, PepTalk helps shape a full programme, matching voices to your agenda, audience, and goals across a day or a series. It is a consultative service, not just a booking. Tell us about your event at getapeptalk.com.

What does 'typical fee range' mean?

Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.

What logistics should I prepare before my speakers arrive?

Before your speakers arrive, confirm AV is tested, a green room is ready, and printed schedules are on hand. Prepare warm introductions for each speaker and brief your team on timings. PepTalk speakers come fully briefed, making event-day logistics smoother and stress-free from the start.

What's the difference between a keynote speaker, an MC, and event entertainment?

A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.

Have all the speakers on the website previously worked with PepTalk?

Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

What information do I need to provide when booking a comedian?

When booking a comedian, share your event format, audience size and demographics, any sensitive topics to avoid, and the tone you're after. PepTalk makes this easy — their booking process guides you through a simple checklist so nothing gets missed and your comedian is perfectly matched to your crowd.

What information do I need to provide when booking a speaker?

When booking a speaker, you'll need your event date, audience details, format, key objectives, and budget. Having these ready makes the process smooth and straightforward. PepTalk's team uses this information to match you with the perfect speaker quickly and efficiently.

Can I book entertainment and speakers as a package?

Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.

How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.

Can I book a speaker for a virtual or hybrid event?

Yes. Most PepTalk speakers deliver virtual and hybrid sessions with live Q&A, and virtual keynotes usually cost less than in-person because there is no travel. Tell us your platform and format and we'll match speakers experienced in online delivery. Start at getapeptalk.com.

How do I brief an insights speaker on my organisation's strategic context?

Share your organisation's top 3 strategic priorities, current challenges, and the audience's role in delivering them. A simple one-page brief works perfectly. PepTalk speakers use this context to tailor insights that feel genuinely relevant — making your event far more impactful.

Can event entertainers customise their act for my company or industry?

Yes! Most event entertainers are happy to tailor their act to your brand, industry, or theme. From weaving in company jokes to incorporating your branding into their performance, personalisation makes all the difference. PepTalk's entertainers specialise in bespoke experiences that feel made just for your audience.