Roy's presentations are about:

  • Crossing unknown territory while keeping the team intact
  • Dealing with the effect of adversity, stress, and the unknown on team morale, and ultimately on the success or failure of an undertaking
  • Motivating a team to go where earlier attempts had failed
  • Selecting the team; getting the right people
  • Giving team members a stake in the venture to ensure success of the organization/expedition
  • Dealing with crisis when situations spiral out of control
  • Getting the average team member to be an outstanding performer
  • Reacting decisively to adversaries that can disable a team

The Last Great Safari

National Geographic supported expedition into one of the least accessible regions of Africa

This 600 mile, two-month exploratory expedition journeyed down one of Africa's least known and explored rivers, the Omo, from its headwaters in the rugged mountains of central Ethiopia to the shores of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. A previous expedition had met with disaster when their cameraman was speared. Battling territorial hippopotamuses attacking the rafts was a daily experience. Held captive by the Dimi tribe in their mountain stronghold, team-members eventually escaped back to the river. Supported by National Geographic, Yale University, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Highlights:

  • Team of six men and three women
  • National Geographic cameraman speared on an earlier expedition
  • Dealing with the psychological stress of constant hippo attacks
  • Lions stalk the river banks
  • Raft sunk by crocodile
  • Trusting your instincts to survive
  • The river is wild and unpredictable
  • Exploration of areas unvisited by westerners
  • Held captive by the Dimi tribe

A 400 mile, 40 day winter journey

A National Geographic supported expedition

A 400 mile, 40 day winter journey - supported by National Geographic - pulling their sleds over the Brooks Range Mountains, from the Arctic Circle to Umiat near the Arctic Ocean, one of the most remote wilderness regions on the North American Continent.

At 70 degrees below three members of the expedition are disabled by frostbite. The expedition medic decides to leave. His prognosis: "No one will make it alive. "

The expedition skied on frozen rivers and deep snow through the northern Taiga forest onto the exposed Arctic Tundra. A journey of exacting physical hardships where logan bread had to be sawed into slices and peanut butter broken with a hammer.

Highlights:

  • Psychological stress when attempting any project for the first time.
  • Keeping the team going when the medic leaves the expedition
  • Decision making at the point of "no return" with only scant information on what might lie ahead.
  • Pushing on into unknown territory where failure could mean disaster
  • The effect on teamwork when a commitment is made to journey into the unknown.

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First Ascent by the North Ridge of Alpamayo, 20,000'

the Last Unclimbed Mountain in the Andes

An ascent by the North Ridge of the last unclimbed 20,000 peak in the Andes. This British expedition journeys to the Andes of Peru to attempt what three previous international expeditions had failed to do - to reach the summit. The team was aware that the Swiss team had met with disaster close to the summit. It was thought that the final several hundred feet to the summit might prove insurmountable.

Highlights:

  • Going beyond where others had been stopped
  • Dealing with the anticipation of success tempered with a hearty dose of realism
  • The experience of going where no-one had been before - virgin territory
  • Trusting your team to be there for you at all time
  • Dealing with the psychological stress when attempting any project for the first time
  • Trusting yourself to be up to the task

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It's All about Attitude!

the Last Unclimbed Mountain in the Andes

This popular presentation incorporates themes and experiences from three expeditions listed above, and looks at the vital and pivotal role of attitude in determining a team's success. The author shares his own experiences where attitude has made the difference between standing on the summit and failure. When attempting to get support from the National Geographic for an expedition down the Omo River in Ethiopia he was told that a previous expedition had met with disaster when their cameraman was speared. Roy remembers his first reaction was: "Where else can you go in the world today and get speared?" Attitude determines how we respond to people and situations, and ultimately determines our success, or failure.

Highlights:

  • Attitude is a choice YOU make, it has nothing to do with the person or the situation you are dealing with
  • Attitude determines how we respond and deal with people and events
  • No one can make you have a bad attitude; you choose it
  • Your attitude will determine how successful you are in navigating through life
  • Your attitude can determine the behavior and success of others

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Highlights

Roy has presented at:

National Geographic, Washington DC
IBM Distinguished Lecturer Series
Oxford University, UK
Sandhurst Military Academy, UK
University of Texas, College Station
University of Calgary
Readers Digest
Arthur Anderson Consulting
University of California, Santa Barbara
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History, San Francisco
Denver Museum
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Yale University
World Presidents Organization
International Shared Systems
ING Direct

Links

Roy provided an unusual and unique facilitating approach using real life experiences that significantly enhanced our Leadership and Team Building off-site. As a result, we now have a much better perspective on achieving successful teamwork with the correct attitude, approaches, and sense of instinctiveness. "
- John F. Rank, VP Supply Chain Management, General Dynamics Land Systems

The audience was literally spellbound by Roy's presentation." - Los Angeles Museum of Natural History