The Sweeney Agency

About Sharon Wood - Mount Everest Climber and Inspirational Speaker:

Sharon Wood has never considered herself a hero. But in 1986, she became the first woman in North America to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. It was an astonishing personal and team accomplishment under conditions of extreme physical and mental duress. It was an example of ordinary people achieving extraordinary results.

Sharon's climb of Everest was only one facet of more than twenty years experience as a professional and elite mountaineer, with numerous ascents of summits over 20,000 feet to her credit.

In the last decade, Sharon has shared her story of achievement with hundreds of organizations throughout North America. She skillfully connects the powerful metaphor of Mount Everest to the challenges faced by individuals and teams striving for excellence in their own endeavors.

Sharon Wood has been to the top of the world and back. For anyone wanting to be more effective in their life, her story is a powerful inspiration.

What Sharon Wood Talks About:

Everest: To the Summit and Beyond
Sharon Wood teaches, entertains and inspires with her personal story about reaching the top of Mount Everest. It is a story about a small team that shared a bold vision to climb the highest mountain in the world; by a more difficult route, with fewer physical and financial resources, and in better style.

Sharon's style is personal and moving. She uses powerful anecdotes and vivid analogies to convey the real-life obstacles and possibilities of achievement. Sharon effectively conveys both the individual and the team perspective. She emphasizes the importance of her own passion while striving to realize her personal aspirations. As well, she talks of her essential role as a member of a team committed to levering every component of their strategy to realize their vision.

To the Summit and Beyond is more than just an adventure story it is a timeless, universal story about human struggle and conquest against all odds. Sharon¹s authentic and honest approach evokes listeners to consider their own stories while examining the critical elements that contribute to and define personal and team success. Stunning 35mm slides or PowerPoint images and video taken live from the highest mountain in the world support her presentation.

Take a Risk, Live Life!
Risk is a factor tied to much of what we do. Risk is often the deterrent to acting on what we need to do to live a more fulfilling life. Sharon espouses the value of selective risk taking as a means to experiencing our greater potential. Anticipation of loss, fear and anxiety are feelings most often associated with risk. Sharon conveys the strategies and essential components she has used to push through her fears and barriers. She speaks to preparation, a clear vision, intention and desire as being essential components to minimizing and calculating a risk. Most importantly she speaks to rewards of being a risk taker and winning in life.

Founder and Chairperson of a private school in her community, President of her own company Adventure Dynamics Inc, first North American woman to summit Mount Everest, a professional mountaineer and a mother of two sons; Sharon is leading a life rich with risk, challenge and change. Through humor, passion and self-disclosure Sharon describes the elements of risk in a variety of endeavors. She draws from her personal experience in public speaking, implementing community and team projects, and climbing the highest mountain in the world to explore the balance of losses and gains in risk taking.