Do we fear the wrong things?
Helping leaders make better, bolder decisions in uncertain times.
Holly Budge is a Leadership & Risk Keynote Speaker, Everest summiteer, and the first woman to skydive Everest. She brings three decades of high-stakes decision-making to the stage, challenging leaders to rethink risk, question the assumptions driving their decisions, and act when certainty isn’t an option.
“Bloody brilliant!”
SUNDAY PAPERS LIVE
THE BUSINESS PROBLEM
Uncertainty is making leaders more cautious at exactly the time organisations need them to make bold decisions.
32% of CEOs say geopolitical uncertainty is making them less likely to make major investments.
PwC Global CEO Survey 2026
Playing safe isn’t always the safe option.
“Bringing someone of this calibre to inspire the room sets a powerful tone”
PETE RUSSO, PRESIDENT OF ALLIED ELITE FINANCIAL
We’ve got risk backwards.
Most people think skydiving is dangerous. Those same people will check their phone while driving at 80mph and not think twice.
We catastrophise the dramatic and normalise the dangerous.
Today, I work with leaders navigating uncertainty at scale.
1st ♀ TO SKYDIVE EVEREST
Holly became the first woman to skydive Everest when she jumped from a small aircraft at 29,500ft and landed at 12,500ft, the world’s highest landing area, before being swamped by a wave of global media.
EVEREST SUMMITEER
Holly has climbed Everest from the north side in a two-person team and spent 47 days on the mountain above 5000m. Her powerful life lessons will leave you feeling motivated and ready to climb YOUR Everest!
1000KM ON HORSEBACK
Holly raced a grueling 1000km across Mongolia on semi-wild horses in this world-first expedition. It took her 9 days and a total of 25 horses. This set a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest horse race.
“Down-to-earth, funny & incredibly inspiring!”
HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
TRUSTED BY GLOBAL BRANDS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
From wealth management to insurance and banking, financial institutions live and breathe risk. Holly helps leaders move beyond risk-averse cultures to embrace uncertainty as opportunity - equipping teams to make bold, calculated decisions under pressure.
TECH & INNOVATION
In fast-moving tech and digital industries, the pressure to innovate never stops. Holly shows leaders and teams how to harness uncertainty, take smart risks, and stay adaptable in the face of rapid change.
LEADERSHIP INCLUSION
Building inclusive, courageous workplaces requires bold leadership. From summiting Everest in a male-dominated field to championing female rangers globally, Holly shares lessons on resilience, courage, and leading change in the toughest spaces.
“Our team are using Holly's methods to climb their own Everest”
LEADERS ROMAN GROUP
My audiences don’t leave wanting to climb Everest.
They leave asking themselves:
“How much more am I capable of?”
INSIGHTS HOLLY SHARES
Overwhelmed?
→ Challenging assumptions driving poor decision-making
Misjudging risk?
→ Recognise opportunities disguised as risk
Analysis paralysis?
→ Break uncertainty down into clear and managable goals
Under pressure?
→ Build confidence to be able to make bold decisions
“Holly is memorable for all the right reasons!
MARIA FRANZONI
KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS
REFRAME RISK
AS OPPORTUNITY
Most teams play it safe, but safe rarely leads to standout results. Holly shows leaders and organisations how to reframe risk as a driver of innovation, resilience, and growth. Attendees walk away with practical strategies to navigate uncertainty with confidence and clarity.
BOLD IDEAS
INTO CLEAR ACTION
Great ideas often get stuck in endless discussion. Holly’s storytelling and lived experiences cut through the noise, showing how bold thinking can be translated into decisive action. Audiences leave with tools to overcome hesitation and take meaningful next steps, fast.
LEAP BOLDLY
WITH PURPOSE
Risk without direction wastes energy. Holly equips individuals and teams to align courage with clarity - ensuring every leap forward is connected to bigger goals and long-term impact. The result? Purpose-driven progress that sticks.
5 REASONS
TO BOOK HOLLY
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Holly doesn’t just tell stories, she takes you there. With passion, humour, and humility, she brings her world-record adventures to life. Her gripping tales of pushing beyond limits and overcoming extreme challenges leave audiences fired up to tackle their own Everest, whether in life or work.
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When Holly speaks, people listen and feel and laugh! Her high-energy storytelling, jaw-dropping videos, and powerful insights keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
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No cookie-cutter talks here. Holly’s keynotes are laser-focused on your audience and your goals. She adapts her message in real time to connect deeply, making every event feel personal, relevant, and impactful.
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Holly brings 110% every time. Her passion is real, and her purpose is crystal clear. She empowers audiences to believe in themselves, think bigger, and take bold, meaningful action.
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Despite her epic adventures, Holly is refreshingly real. Audiences connect instantly with her down-to-earth style, authentic stories, and the powerful reminder that we’re all capable of achieving extraordinary things.