What can Sailing Solo around the World teach us About Corporate Collaboration?

On the surface, sailing solo around the world looks like the ultimate act of independence. Just you, the ocean, and no one else to rely on. It sounds like freedom, resilience and self-reliance rolled into one.

But talk to Motivational Speaker Dee Caffari — the first woman to sail solo around the world in both directions — and you’ll hear a very different story. She’ll tell you that success at sea depends not on isolation, but on collaboration, trust and preparation.

That paradox is exactly why her story resonates so strongly with leaders, teams and even freelancers navigating today’s unpredictable business world.

It’s tempting in business to think of ourselves as “solo sailors.” Leaders who believe they have to shoulder the burden alone. Freelancers who feel like they’re entirely self-reliant. Even employees who pride themselves on being lone problem-solvers.

But Dee’s experience reveals the flaw in this thinking: nobody succeeds entirely on their own.

• The executive in the boardroom depends on the insights and preparation of their team.
• The freelancer who thinks they’re “independent” relies on clients, networks, and mentors.
• The leader driving change depends on the resilience of their systems and the trust of their people.

Just like Dee, our “solo” efforts are underpinned by collaboration.

Trust in preparation – Just as Dee’s meticulous preparation made her voyages possible, businesses that invest in preparation and collaboration succeed when challenges hit.

Build systems you can rely on – Dee could only focus on sailing because she trusted the equipment and systems around her. Leaders should do the same: build processes and teams that free them to focus on the big decisions.

Resilience is a team sport – Whether on the ocean or in the office, resilience comes from knowing you’re not truly alone.

Collaboration doesn’t end when the journey starts – Even when Dee was at sea, she relied on communication with her team. Businesses, too, need ongoing collaboration, not just a burst of it at the start of a project.

Dee’s career is full of “firsts.” She became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions. She went on to skipper all-female teams in global yacht races. And she’s used those experiences to advocate for resilience, sustainability and teamwork in both sport and business.

Her perspective is clear: resilience is never a one-person effort. It comes from preparation, trust in others, and the systems we build before the storm arrives.

Dee Caffari’s story isn’t just about adventure. It’s about breaking the myth of the “lone hero.” She proves that behind every solo success is a foundation of teamwork, trust and collaboration.

For businesses facing disruption, leaders should resist the temptation to go it alone. For freelancers, Dee’s story is a reminder that independence still relies on community. And for organisations looking to build resilience, her lessons are as relevant in the boardroom as they are in the middle of the ocean.

Contact The Speakers Agency to book Motivational Speaker Dee Caffari and bring her unique lessons of resilience, leadership and teamwork to your next event.