Motivational SpeakersKaren Darke MBE is an extraordinary human being. She has touched the lives of many through her spirit for adventure.
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 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 is a Guinness World Record holder for land speed by arm power, has skied across icecaps, kayaked at extreme latitudes of the planet, 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 led to helping people view life as an adventure, and to 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 the 79th medal for Britain, and 79 being the elemental number for Gold led to Karen creating Quest 79. The project has Karen cycling 7 continents in 9 iconic rides, raising £79K for Spinal Injuries and encouraging many people to step out of their comfort zones and discover passion, purpose, strength and other aspects of their ‘Inner Gold’.
Karen says:
“With a deep understanding of how trauma, stress and life events can lead to fear, pain and dis-ease, I have a passion for helping others transform, move beyond perceived limitations and consider possibility. Ability is a state of mind not body: through my own journey, I have discovered the incredible power we have within us to change our thoughts, our emotions, and our energy. We can all learn to be our own alchemist, to transform unwanted emotions or experiences into gold, be creators of our reality and in doing so improve our performance, our wellbeing, and the world around us.”
Books:
Her first book “If You Fall” tells the story of her accident; the second, “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 around the globe. She shares personal stories focused on overcoming challenges, embracing change and achieving the ‘unachievable’.
As a learning and development specialist and with personal experience of working in corporate and public sectors, she is able to connect with a wide range of clients, large audiences and 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
Modest and thoughtful, Karen is a highly sought after and successful motivational speaker, whose stories inspire all those who take time to reflect on what it took to achieve them.
“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
