Motivational SpeakersKaren Darke MBE is a Paralympic gold medallist, adventurer and motivational speaker, inspiring audiences with insights on resilience, mindset and adversity.
Karen could be described as a modern-day ‘Alchemist’: a learning & development specialist turned mindset- heartset coach, explorer, athlete, speaker and author.
Karen’s purpose is about helping individuals and organisations ‘Find Inner Gold’: turning a challenge into an opportunity, turning ‘mud’ into ‘gold’.
Starting out as a geologist researching gold in the Bolivian Andes, a life-changing accident left Karen paralysed, leading her away from being a ‘rock-doctor’ to winning gold in Paralympic hand-cycling in Rio.
A keen runner and mountaineer, Karen was paralysed in a traumatic rock-climbing accident at the age of twenty-one.
During a conversation on the night prior to her accident, Karen said she would rather die than be paralysed; however, she chose to fight preconceived ideas of just what was possible for someone who could feel nothing below their chest, pursuing instead alternative ways to access the outdoors.
Karen Darke has overcome many physical and mental barriers, completing many trips others believed impossible.
She holds a Guinness World Record for land speed by arm power, has skied across icecaps, kayaked at extreme latitudes, and hand-cycled across the world’s biggest mountain ranges and alongside some of the longest rivers. These experiences, combined with unique studies of mind, resilience, and performance, have helped people view life as an adventure and embrace experiences as opportunities to learn and grow.
Karen has extensively studied what goes on ‘inside’: the power of the mind and language to positively impact emotions, improving presence, performance and wellbeing.
Paralympian:
As a competing hand cyclist, major achievements include winning two silver medals at the 2011 Para-Cycling World Cup in Sydney, a Silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and Gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Karen’s Gold medal was Britain’s 79th medal, and because 79 is the elemental number for Gold, Karen created Quest 79. The project has Karen cycling 7 continents on 9 iconic rides. She will raise £79K for Spinal Injuries and encourage people to step out of their comfort zones and discover passion, purpose, strength, and other aspects of their ‘Inner Gold’.
Books:
Her first book, “If You Fall”, tells the story of her accident. Her second book, “Boundless” is about her adventures in Greenland and climbing El Capitan. “Quest 79: Find Your Inner Gold” is a collection of short stories and positive psychology tips.
Motivational Speaker:
Karen Darke speaks from the heart and inspires audiences worldwide.
She shares personal stories about overcoming challenges, embracing change, and achieving the ‘unachievable’.
As a learning and development specialist, she connects with clients ranging from large audiences to small teams.
Speaking topics include:
- Leadership and Teamwork Development
- Resilience
- Change Management
- Positive Psychology Tools for Self and Team Understanding
- Developing and Selecting Positive, Powerful Teams
- Managing Stress and Enabling Performance in ‘Stretched’ Situations
- Embracing Diversity, Disability and Inclusive Practice
“Karen’s captivating story shines a bright light on the meaning of challenge, and on the limitless capabilities of the human spirit” Sir Ranulph Fiennes
