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Shishapangma in Tibet With the Right Car Buckle up Now With Steve Edwards on Good Day LA With the Right Car Buckle up Now On the Tyrolean Traverse leading up
to the summit of Carstensz Pyramid With the Right Car Buckle up Now Stylized for CBK, Photos by Icarus Blake With the Right Car Buckle up Now Climbing K2’s Abruzzi Spur, Pakistan With the Right Car Buckle up Now With the Right Car The Boston Marathon 2017
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Meet Vanessa

Mountaineer, Explorer, Author

Vanessa O’Brien is the First Woman to Reach Earth’s Highest and Lowest Points, a Guinness World Record for summiting Mt. Everest (8,848m) in 2012 and diving in a submersible to the eastern pool of Challenger Deep (10,925m) in 2020.

Vanessa became the first American woman to summit K2 and the first British woman to successfully summit K2 (as a result of her dual nationality) on 28 July 2017, and received the SES Explorer of the Year in 2018 for her efforts. Vanessa proudly raised the UN Women’s Flag at the summit of K2 to show the power of women’s courage and determination.

Vanessa received a Guinness World Record for summiting the Seven Summits in 295 days, the fastest time a woman first achieved this goal.  She has also skied the Last Degree to the North and South poles, completing the Explorers Grand Slam in 11 months.

Recent News

For Women Breaking Boundaries

As we close 2020, a year defined by “firsts” – some that have disrupted our way of life and tested us – we celebrate the many firsts that have challenged the establishment, inspired us, and propelled us forward towards a more equitable future.

On June 12, 2020, Vanessa O’Brien became the first woman to reach Earth’s highest and lowest points.

Announcement

Coming Up

To The Greatest Heights

“O’Brien pens a thrilling debut memoir about her mountain-climbing adventures and what they’ve taught her about life. Readers feel as if they’re on the mountain with her through her vivid descriptions and detail. [All] readers—especially mountaineering types—will devour O’Brien’s sensational, electrifying tale.”

– Publisher’s Weekly (full review)

Pre-Order Now

Release Date: March 2021

Vanessa O’Brien, FRGS

 
 
More on Vanessa

Vanessa O’Brien is a mountaineer, explorer and author. Key highlights:

  • Guinness World Record holder – First Woman to Reach Earth’s Highest (Mt. Everest 8,848 m) and Lowest Points (Challenger Deep 10,925 m).

  • Brand Ambassador for Omega.

  • Awarded Fearless Girl and Community Ambassador for Arc’Teryx, Soho.

  • SES Explorer of the Year in 2018.

  • First American woman and first British woman to summit K2 at 8,611m.

  • Guinness World Record holder – First woman to set a speed record to climb the Seven Summits in 295 days.

  • First woman to set a speed record to complete the Explorers Grand Slam (Seven Summits plus skiing the last degree to the North and South Poles) in 11 months, and one of only eight women in the world.

  • Summited five of 14 eight thousand meter peaks or peaks over 26,000 feet, including Everest.

  • Summited two eight thousand meter peaks back-to-back with summits eight days apart.

  • Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan and Honorary Ambassador of the US Nepal Climbers Association Inc.

  • Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and an Honorary Advisory Board member of the Scientific Exploration Society (SES).

  • Successfully completed the Boston Marathon, helping the American Red Cross raise over $512,000.

  • 200 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway riding with Mario Andretti and shot at point blank range by Miguel Caballero testing bulletproof vests with a .38 long revolver.

  • Promoted scientific research by testing hypoxic exposure, sampled glaciers to test for radiogenic isotopes, and photographed glacier recession for Project 25Zero.

  • Registered speaker with the American Program Bureau to corporates, academics, not-for-profit, and the public sector.

  • Contract Photographer covering Pocono Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 4-wide zMAX Dragway for Forbes.

  • Executive MBA from Stern School of Business, New York University and 20+ years of executive experience in global financial services.

Vanessa O’Brien is part of the National Women’s History Museum ‘s exhibit on women who searched for adventure in the great outdoors and became the first known American women to accomplish their particular achievements.

Read Blog on NWHM
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Featured Videos

Vanessa O’Brien – First British and American Woman to Conquer K2

Vanessa O’Brien, the first British and American woman to conquer K2, tells Voice of America her story. Video credit to The Voice of America.

Why This Road?  Sponsored by Vimeo & Charles Schwab

After years of working in finance, Vanessa began to question life, and came to the realization that it needed to change. From consumer accounts for many large banking firms, Vanessa began her new journey as a climber—first novice and now record holder. This film illustrates the pivotal moments that led to Vanessa’s evolution and ability to grasp a different kind of tomorrow.

Breathe: An Explorers Grand Slam Journey

Journey with me to the 7 Summits in 7 minutes. Join me as I become the fastest woman to complete the Explorers Grand Slam and ski the last degree to the North and South poles, in 11 months.

More Expedition Videos

“No-one can take away the knowledge, skills, and experience you acquire throughout your life. Your knowledge, skills, and experience inform your decisions as you move forward. So go ahead – take the biggest step you can“

– Vanessa O’Brien
(Banker to Mountaineer)

“Only bullfighting, mountain climbing, and auto racing are sports. The rest are merely games.”

– Barnaby Conrad
(author, bullfighter, and boxer)

Photos Across the Globe

More Photos

Latest Media Appearances

Just back from Guam, Vanessa becomes the First Woman to Reach Earth’s Highest and Lowest Points. She tells SkyNews about it on June 19, 2020.

Vanessa O’Brien becomes the First Woman to Reach Earth’s Highest and Lowest Points. She tells BBCNews about it on June 21 2020.

More Media Appearances

What others say about Vanessa O’Brien

“Vanessa touched hundreds of hearts when she spoke at Women Achievers Congress in Westminster, London in the presence of the British Home Secretary Rt Hon Theresa May and hundreds of high achiever women from various disciplines. The audience loved her analogy of conquering the mountain vis-e-vis scaling the corporate ladder. Her passion and enthusiasm were termed infectious.”

“The focus of my activity was to give women an open and safe environment for physical activity that is not only good for their health but also for their psychological development. Vanessa O’Brien’s presence and the support from the PUAN leadership have been instrumental in making this project a success.”

“Vanessa is a dynamic story teller, putting you right on the mountain with her. She effectively related how key business concepts like teamwork, adaptability and leadership are skills that apply to just about any scenario – even navigating in high altitudes and deep crevasses. She had our group focused and engaged until the very end.”

“Using the metaphor of climbing, Vanessa took us on a tour of some of the most challenging and remote places on the planet. She illustrated how preparation, teamwork, staying focused to avoid risks, and applying a success-oriented mindset differentiate the winners from the losers – not just on the mountain but in business and in life.”

“Vanessa’s recent visit to Cape Henry Collegiate was nothing short of remarkable. Her presence and style engaged students while her story and message inspired them. The time she spent with our community before and after her presentation provided all with an opportunity to ask questions, and learn about the life lessons of risk taking, decision making, and goal setting.”

More Testimonials

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