In 1986, Sharon Wood became the first North American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. She has acquired over twenty years of experience as a professional and elite climber. In addition to climbing Mount Everest, she has successfully climbed numerous other 20,000-foot-plus peaks.

Since climbing Mount Everest, Sharon has addressed hundreds of groups worldwide as a keynote speaker. Her presentation is a compelling, true story about beating the odds. She speaks about meeting that challenge, and about the associated struggles and gains that closely parallel those of most striving individuals and organizations. Through her personal disclosure of confronting and overcoming challenges and fears, she succeeds in using the imposing example of climbing the highest mountain in the world to provide her audiences with a tangible means of grasping the essence of her story - living and working closer to our potential.

Sharon's dedication to the pursuit of our potential was also expressed in her service as founder and chairperson of a fully accredited, non-denominational private school in her hometown of Canmore, Alberta. The school's objective is to foster confidence, life-long learning skills, and inspire development of the unique strengths possessed by every child. Today, Mountain Gate Community School has expanded and continues to offer an alternative education option to the community.

Sharon enjoys dual careers as an alpine guide and speaker. She is a Canadian and resides in Canmore, Alberta, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies with her two sons.

Everest: Insights from a higher ground

Sharon Wood teaches, entertains and inspires with her personal story about reaching the top of Mount Everest. Stunning still images and video illustrate the journey of a small team who shared a bold vision to climb the highest mountain in the world by a more difficult route and with fewer physical and financial resources.

Her story powerfully demonstrates how exemplary teamwork and leadership can render the impossible possible. Sharon effectively conveys both the individual and the team perspective by stressing the importance of honoring her own passion and dreams while fulfilling a role as a member of a team - a team committed to a shared vision.

Sharon's style is personal and moving. She uses powerful anecdotes and vivid analogies to convey the elements that parallel the challenges of striving individuals and organizations. Sharon's authentic, humorous and honest approach evokes listeners to consider the value of their own resources and opportunities.

"To the Summit and Beyond" is more than an adventure story - it is a timeless, universal story about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. For anyone wanting to be more effective in his or her work or life, Sharon's story is a powerful inspiration.

Each presentation is tailored to the focus and timelines of the audience. Based on the objectives of the client the following themes can be incorporated:

• The power of passion and curiosity
• Fostering a shared vision
• Accomplishing more with less
• Thriving through change and adversity
• Integrating personal aspirations with team power
• Looking outside the box for creative solutions
• Maintaining the momentum and staying the course
• Believing "better is possible"
• Firing on all cylinders
• Expanding possibilities
• Maximizing courage - diminishing fear
• Leading from where you are - personal leadership
• Embracing the value of diversity
• Being and living our potential
• Performing versus conforming
• Recognizing, giving and accepting support

The Fear Factor

According to sociologist Michael Clarkson, author of Intelligent Fear, we have 66,000 thoughts a day, two thirds of which are negative or fear based. The most successful remedy for fear has been curiosity, wrote Cambridge historian Theodore Zeldin, "It is only curiosity that knows no boundaries which can be effective against fear." Zeldin claims one of science's most important discoveries about fear is "its physical symptoms, in terms of the chemicals produced to defend the body, differ only in degree from those of curiosity." That's why those preoccupied with an absorbing goal "behave as though they were "profoundly courageous."

The premise of Sharon's presentation is: Curiosity eclipses fear - our only limitation is our imagination. Through the power of story, she explores some of the essential components of the human condition, risk, fear, curiosity, and the realm of the "profoundly courageous."

The basis for Sharon's beliefs and her ability to reveal and examine both sides of 'experience on the edge' is grounded in her work in the high-risk industries of Helicopter skiing and professional guiding; her recreational pursuits in mountain climbing; and her current challenge of raising two fearless teenage boys.

By recounting her own experiences she evokes the listener's own stories and those yet to unfold, and the elements that lie within them, the desires, fears, obstacles, and sources of support and inspiration to helping self and others realize quality of life.

Sharon's work with worldwide organization, Outward Bound, has been one of her more influential sources. More a movement than an organization, Outward Bound is dedicated to the power of experiential education as a means for self-discovery. Founder, Karl Hahn, rather, self proclaimed 'moving spirit' expressed the essence of Outward Bound's cause was when he said, "We are more than we know. Once we discover this may we never settle for less."

Like Hahn, Sharon believes, "We are more than we know," that through reaching beyond our self-imposed constraints we become more than we know; we become more fulfilled as 'humans being'.

Take a Risk -- Live Life!

Through humor, passion and self-disclosure Sharon examines the elements of risk in a variety of endeavors. She draws from her personal experience in mountain climbing, trying new things, public speaking, implementing community and team projects to explore the balance of losses and gains in risk taking.

Risk is often the deterrent to acting on what we need to do to live a more fulfilling life. Sharon espouses the value of selective risk taking as a means to realizing our potential and fulfillment. Anticipation of loss, fear and anxiety are feelings most often associated with risk. Sharon conveys the strategies and essential components she and others have used to push through barriers. She speaks to preparation, a clear vision, discernment, intention and desire as being essential components to minimizing and calculating a risk. Most importantly she speaks to the rewards of being a risk taker and winning in life.