Ice Maidens
The first all-female team to ski across Antarctica
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Ice Maidens
Sandy Hennis and Sophie Montagne were part of the first female team to ski coast-to-coast across Antarctica using muscle power alone. Over the course of two months, the six-woman team covered 1,704km, endured temperatures as low as -56°C and arrived 14 days ahead of schedule, setting three world records.
But the Ice Maidens expedition was never simply about records or reaching the South Pole. Success depended entirely on the strength of the team. Facing Antarctic storms, exhaustion, illness and the constant threat of crevasses, the team relied completely on one another to keep moving forward. Their achievement was built on trust, communication, resilience and a shared commitment to ensuring the whole team reached the finish line together.
Today, Sandy and Sophie use their experiences in Antarctica to help organisations and leadership teams navigate challenge, pressure and change. Combining Sandy’s military expertise with Sophie’s extensive corporate experience, they translate lessons learned in extreme conditions into practical, relatable insights for the workplace.
Through engaging storytelling and real-world examples, they explore topics including high-performance teamwork, leadership under pressure, resilience, adaptability, motivation and effective communication — helping audiences think differently about how teams perform when stakes are high.
Their clients include KPMG, JP Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi, Royal College of Surgeons, Arup, British Land, Sir Robert McAlpine, Raytheon, Lloyds Bank, Trowers & Hamlins, NatWest, Schroders and Sky.
To book Keynote Speakers The Ice Maidens, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
Resilience, Mental Strength & Overcoming Adversity
A powerful and honest keynote exploring the realities of performing under extreme pressure. Sandy shares her personal experiences from the Antarctica expedition, including periods of poor mental health, exhaustion, self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and how the support of the team around her helped her keep moving forward. Through candid storytelling, the Ice Maidens explore resilience not as an individual trait, but as something strengthened through trust, vulnerability and collective support.
Leadership in Extreme Environments
Drawing on the dynamics of a six-woman team crossing Antarctica, Sandy and Sophie explore the different leadership styles that emerged throughout the expedition and how leadership shifted depending on the situation, challenge and individual strengths involved. This keynote examines adaptability, decision-making under pressure, leading through uncertainty and the importance of understanding how different personalities contribute to high-performing teams.
Teamwork Under Pressure
What does effective teamwork really look like when failure is not an option? Using lessons from one of the toughest environments on earth, the Ice Maidens explore communication, trust, accountability and shared purpose within high-performing teams. Audiences gain practical insights into how teams can navigate challenge, conflict and pressure while staying united and focused on collective success.
Thriving Through Change & Uncertainty
Antarctica is unpredictable, unforgiving and constantly changing — conditions that required the team to adapt quickly and remain focused despite setbacks and uncertainty. In this keynote, Sandy and Sophie share lessons in adaptability, mindset and maintaining momentum when plans change, helping organisations and individuals build confidence in navigating uncertain environments.
High Performance & Human Endurance
The Ice Maidens were not elite athletes, Olympians or professional adventurers. They were ordinary women from very different backgrounds who came together to achieve something extraordinary. In this keynote, Sandy and Sophie explore what they learned about sustaining high performance in one of the harshest environments on earth, despite fear, exhaustion, self-doubt and pressure.
Through honest and relatable storytelling, they share practical lessons around mindset, preparation, discipline, adaptability and supporting others under pressure. Audiences leave with a fresh perspective on what high performance really looks like — not perfection or natural talent, but the small behaviours, habits and team dynamics that help ordinary people perform at their best when it matters most.
Client Feedback
"They [the Ice Maidens] are an inspiration to us all and are role models to young people across the country…We are immensely proud of them and what they have achieved."
Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State
"I have had the pleasure of seeing Sophie and Sandy present on a number of occasions and I cannot recommend them enough. Their story is obviously very inspirational, but it’s their ability to bring the tale to life with honest and candid insight that makes their presentations so engaging."
Stefania Farrugia, AECOM
"Not all of us are able to cross Antarctica, but we all engage in projects that require planning and preparation, and an understanding of our team’s strengths and weaknesses. Their talk focused on the role teamwork plays in achieving your objective and this was a language we all understood."
Suzanna Joy, Arup
"Sophie and Sandy were amazing, such an inspiration. Both ladies were so lovely and down to earth which was nice. They had great stage presence, and it was clear that their bond was strong as they shared their story. Our leaders were very engaged in their presentation and had lots of questions to ask which showed how interested they were."
Colette Arthur - Raytheon
"Extremely inspirational."
Georgie Bevan, Powys County Council
"People were talking about the presentation over dinner sharing that they have been inspired by their bravery... Their overall journey showed that connection is crucial for great collaboration; the fact that they took time to get to know each other and understand their individual strengths to get the best out of each other was a powerful message for our leaders."
Raytheon
"Sophie and Sandy presented at our International Women’s Day event and it was beyond amazing and totally inspiring! The way they captivated the audience with their incredible story of teamwork, resilience and leadership left us all feeling warm and fuzzy and able to take on any challenge! So many people fed back that it was the best keynote presentation they had ever seen!"
4C
"Sophie and Sandy’s polished presentation was extremely engaging, with many of the audience following up to say how inspired they had been. The take-away points, despite being forged in austere conditions, were relatable and just as pertinent in the office environment. Down to earth and humorous, the pair had the audience’s undivided attention throughout their presentation and come highly recommended."
Schroders
"We needed help from someone who could espouse the benefits of teamwork, collaboration and, above all, calm resilience under pressure. We found the perfect answer with Sophie and Sandy. Hearing how they completed their heroic journey, and their success as a team was inspirational. It showed our team that when things get tough and the challenge is huge, trust and teamwork will overcome."
British Land
