Rebecca Stephens (climber)


Rebecca Stephens is a British author, journalist, and motivational speaker, known for being the first British Woman to climb the Seven Summits and as the first British woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a professor at Hult International Business School's Ashridge Executive Education program.

Early life and education

Career

Stephens originally trained as a journalist and pursued that career for some ten years, becoming deputy editor of the Financial Times magazine Resident Abroad.In 1989 Stephens accompanied an expedition attempting the North East Ridge of Mount Everest. Exploring the question “why do climbers climb?”, she climbed to the first camp at 7,100m and made a decision she wanted to climb the mountain herself. In 1993 she returned to Everest on a British expedition and reached the summit on the 17th May, becoming the first British woman to do so. On 22 November 1994 she became the third woman, and the first British woman, to climb the seven continental summits of the Messner list.
She was a presenter on BBC television's science series Tomorrow's World from 1994 to 1996.
In addition to her mountaineering exploits, Stephens has sailed the Southern Seas to the South Magnetic Pole and Antarctica and crossed the South Atlantic island of South Georgia. With the polar explorers Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud, she competed in an eight-day Eco-Challenge, which consisted of running, biking and canoeing across the Canadian Rockies.
Rebecca delivers motivational talks and workshops on subjects which include: leadership, team building, decision making, influencing and communication, and resilience. Rebecca also leads experiential treks in Africa and the Himalayas and has done so to Mount Kilimanjaro, Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh and Tibet. Next on the list is a trekking trip in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, which is due to run in November 2019.
Rebecca Stephens is a consultant at Skarbek Associates.

Additional affiliations and memberships

Stephens is a visiting fellow at Ashridge Business School, fellow of The Royal Geographical Society, member of The Alpine Club and a trustee of the Himalayan Trust UK.

Awards and recognitions

Stephens was appointed an MBE in 1994.

Selected publications