Jim Davidson

Resilience Expert, Author, Adventure Speaker, and Expedition Leader

In-Person Fee Range
$10,001 to $20,000
(Inquire for virtual fee)

Travels From
Colorado, United States

Resilience Expert, Author, Adventure Speaker, and Expedition Leader

Jim Davidson is a resilience expert and professional speaker who provides presentations about personal resilience, resilient teamwork and resilient leadership. He speaks to top-quality organizations like Marriott, National Geographic, US Army, Nokia, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, OppenheimerFunds, and more. Jim shares stories, lessons and techniques for overcoming adversity and reaching high goals. Jim has presented inspirational keynotes and workshops at international sales conferences, leadership retreats, and corporate meetings for 14 years.

Books

Jim co-authored the New York Times best-selling survival memoir, The Ledge: An Inspirational Story of Friendship and Survival.  The Ledge was picked one of the Best Books of the Year by Amazon and it won the National Outdoor Book Award for Outdoor Literature. The Ledge tells the epic story of how Jim escaped alone from being trapped 80 feet down inside a glacial crevasse.  His survival story is so amazing that it was also made into a one-hour episode of the hit international TV show “I Shouldn’t Be Alive” on the Discovery Channel.  Written with Kevin Vaughan, The Ledge is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook (narrated by Jim). Jim’s latest book is The Next Everest: Surviving the Mountain’s Deadliest Day and Finding the Resilience to Climb Again.

High-Altitude Climber

Jim summited Mount Everest in 2017. He has been a climber and expedition leader for over 36 years.  Jim has climbed high peaks on five continents, from Argentina to Nepal, and from Tanzania to Tibet. With his teammates, Jim has conducted multiple rescues of sick and injured climbers. Twice Jim has been recognized by the US National Park service for his successful volunteer rescue efforts.

Media

Jim survived earthquakes and avalanches on Mt. Everest in 2015. He shared his incredible experiences and insights from that with CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, Smithsonian Channel, PBS and many other media.

Education

Before becoming a professional keynote speaker, Jim worked 20 years as an environmental geologist (B.S. & M.S. degrees) cleaning up oil and gasoline spills. Jim facilitated scientific workshops and training sessions for Shell Oil, U.S. EPA, BP and many other corporations & governmental agencies.

Jim helped teach about 800 elementary school kids how to rock climb. He has co-led university students on ice climbing trips and international expeditions. Originally from Massachusetts, he worked there as an industrial painter of high-voltage electrical towers. He is fortunate to have two adventurous kids and an enthusiastic hiking partner named Jake the Wonder Dog.  Jim lives in Colorado with his very tolerant wife!

Virtual Presentations

Jim has conducted virtual presentations for small companies, international corporations, and multi-location associations. His energetic presentations engage your virtual audience with compelling videos and unique props (climbing gear).

Facing Everest-Sized Uncertainties

Jim’s first attempt to climb Mount Everest ended suddenly when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. This spawned massive avalanches and aftershocks that trapped Jim’s team high on the mountain. It became the deadliest day ever on Mount Everest. Jim returned in 2017 to try again. Along the way, his team had to endure eleven stormy days pinned in their tents, uncertain if they were going to be able to summit. Finally, conditions cleared and after persevering through the uncertainty, Jim and his team reached their goal. From these intense experiences, Jim shares critical lessons for facing today’s uncertain times. He will share practical tips about: Building a resilient mindset for facing change, challenge & uncertainty. Attitudes and actions to take before, during, and after big storms. When to rely on passive perseverance vs. active perseverance.

Everest Resilience

Climbing Mount Everest requires resilience and it teaches resilience. Striving for Everest-sized goals demands planning, commitment, and tenacity. Engaging with a great challenge increases your persistence, adaptability and capacity. And whether or not you reach that lofty goal, once the hard work is over, you are forever gifted with enhanced resilience that will help you overcome any challenge. Jim Davidson is a dedicated climber and a professional speaker. In this exhilarating presentation, Jim shares practical lessons from his 2015 Everest expedition including: Preparing your organization and yourself for big goals. Harnessing and building resilience before & during great challenges. Converting adversity into growth. Distilling strength and wisdom from intense experiences to become even more resilient for life’s next adventures.

The Power of Partnership

On icy mountains all over the world, strong climbing partnerships accomplish great deeds and fuel incredible survival feats. As a high-altitude climber for 33 years, Jim Davidson knows first-hand about powerful partnerships. Come hear compelling adventure tales and learn mountain-tested techniques for being a solid partner, so that you and your teammates can reach your highest goals. You will be energized and inspired to develop great partnerships.

Resilient Leadership & Engaged Teamwork

High-altitude expeditions and rescues face rapidly changing conditions, limited resources and uncertain team dynamics – just like today’s fast-paced business world. By examining some exhilarating mountain rescues that Jim and his teammates did in Colorado and Alaska, Jim facilitates a unique, interactive leadership presentation on: Developing resilient leadership skills Promoting engaged teamwork Adapting to change while reaching your goals Jim shares stunning mountain photos and riveting stories to set the stage, then the participants work in groups to “be the rescue team”. They analyze the complex situation, identify key leadership and teamwork skills, and develop solutions to intricate resource problems. Jim facilitates energetic discussions and brief self-reflections that help attendees expand their capacities and apply the lessons to their careers and personal lives.

Surviving Storms

In life, business and mountaineering, there are storms. Mountain storms bring sudden wind and white-out blizzards. Life’s storms can be struggling with economic issues or facing a personal crisis. After 29 years of climbing high peaks around the world, Jim knows what it takes to endure such storms and he shares stories and insights to show you how to: Adjust your plans, attitudes and actions Engage problems through drive, direction, and discipline Endure stormy times and resume ascending once good conditions return It is certain that all storms end. Remembering this is crucial for surviving tough times, maintaining momentum, and thriving in spite of unexpected setbacks. In this thrilling presentation, Jim will share tips and techniques to help your team survive storms, and thrive afterwards.

Expedition Execution – Reaching BIG Goals

Struggling and succeeding on BIG expeditions requires focused goal setting, self-discipline and commitment. Jim has reached dozens of soaring summits, including the sixth highest in the world (26,906-foot tall Cho Oyu in Tibet). From his many expeditions, Jim distills mountain-tested techniques for reaching BIG goals in life and in business. His adventure stories, vivid photographs, and exhilarating videos bring to life his practical methods for how to: Create plans for reaching BIG goals Implement successful execution strategies Reach your BIG goal, no matter how high Through hard-won wisdom gained during expeditions from Alaska to Nepal, you’ll discover how to reach your BIG goals.

All Jim Davidson Books

The Next Everest: Surviving the Mountain’s Deadliest Day and Finding the Resilience to Climb Again
Purchase Book
The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier
Purchase Book

"Jim’s keynote was amazing. I know our entire group was blown away by his perseverance and his resiliency. I heard a couple of people talk about how he had set the bar so high and how they had nothing to complain about after listening to him. So I would say we really enjoyed it!! Thank you."

- | All Weather Windows


“The many times I have heard Jim speak I am always amazed at how he can completely captivate his audience. He gets his listeners to apply lessons from his story to their own life situations. I have recommended Jim to numerous groups and clients and all have been extremely pleased.”

- Tammy Page | Director of National Sales, The BROADMOOR


“Several long term committee members commented that this was the best retreat that they’ve attended. This is a hard group to please, so we are thrilled that your presentation was so well received.”

- Jolene McNeil | CMP, Meeting Manager, Industrial Supply Association


“What an incredible story. You could hear a pin drop during his presentation.”

- Caesers/Bally’s/Harrah’s | Vice President of Convention/Hotel Sales

Check Jim Davidson Availability

Recent Books

The Next Everest: Surviving the Mountain’s Deadliest Day and Finding the Resilience to Climb Again
Purchase Book
The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier
Purchase Book

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