Olly Hicks

Olly’s philosophy is simple but powerful: extraordinary achievements are made by ordinary people. His talks demonstrate that the same mindset required to survive months alone at sea applies equally to leadership, business growth, teamwork and personal ambition.

At just 23, Olly completed his first record-breaking expedition — a 4,000-mile solo row across the Atlantic, a feat that remains unmatched. Four years later, he became the first person to row solo from Tasmania to New Zealand, covering 2,000 miles in one of the most remote stretches of ocean on Earth. He has also attempted a solo, westward circumnavigation of the globe by rowing boat, pushing physical and mental limits to their extremes.

Beyond ocean rowing, Olly’s adventures include the Fastnet Yacht Race, a non-stop cycle from London to Paris, and a 1,500-mile sea-kayak expedition from Greenland to Scotland, undertaken to explore historical Inuit migration routes. Each expedition adds depth to his understanding of risk, resilience, preparation and recovery from failure.

A thoroughly engaging and often humorous speaker, Olly is known for his dry, self-deprecating delivery and ability to captivate audiences while delivering practical, hard-earned lessons. His talks are carefully tailored to each audience, whether addressing CEOs, leadership teams, sales and marketing departments, students, or conference delegates.

In a business context, Olly’s keynotes explore themes such as resilience under pressure, high-performance teamwork, decision-making in uncertainty, recovery from setbacks, and sustaining motivation over long-term goals. His experiences help organisations build stronger cultures, navigate change and unlock individual and collective potential.

Alongside his expedition career, Olly brings real-world commercial experience, having worked in executive search, renewable energy development, and management and logistics, including the transition from part-time adventurer to building a full-time professional career.

Grounded, thoughtful and authentic, Olly also speaks openly about motivation, risk, and balancing extreme ambition with family life. His stories are not only extraordinary — they are relatable, actionable and deeply inspiring.

To book Motivational Speaker Olly Hicks, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com