Debra Searle MVO MBE is an adventurer and author who is currently ranked in the top three of motivational speakers worldwide. For the past two decades she has advised executives from many of the world’s largest companies on resilience, self-belief and leadership. As part of a two-person team team in... Read more
Debra Searle MVO MBE is an adventurer and author who is currently ranked in the top three of motivational speakers worldwide. For the past two decades she has advised executives from many of the world’s largest companies on resilience, self-belief and leadership.
As part of a two-person team team in a transatlantic rowing boat constructed from plywood Debra completed the race alone after her husband, suffering from open-water anxiety, dropped out of the race.
The 3,300-mile race alongside her husband was expected to take six weeks; Searle’s solo odyssey took her over three and a half months to complete. The journey, during which she faced existential threats from supertankers, sharks and even sea turtles, taught Debra many things: how to rely on a team, overcoming the loneliness of a high-pressure job, self-belief and – for her, the hardest lesson – learning how to ask for help.
Before undertaking her solo expedition, Debra was a successful sportswoman, playing tennis, netball and lacrosse at county level. She then turned to Dragon Boat racing and won gold, silver and bronze at both the World and European Championships.
Debra is a serial entrepreneur who has set up five companies, including MIX Diversity, which addresses diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She has been nominated for several diversity awards in Europe and the UK and is a founding member of the Business Women’s Network Forum, which is based at Buckingham Palace. She has board level experience and is a popular speaker for International Women’s Day events.
Debra’s insight and experiences have benefitted many companies, including Google, Vodafone, DHL, Deloitte, Facebook, Shell, Cisco, Microsoft, Amazon, PWC, Bank of America and Canon. She has presented programmes for the BBC and is the author of three books, Rowing It Alone, The Journey: How to Achieve Against the Odds and The Choose Your Attitude Journal.