Ian Taylor is an internationally recognized Everest keynote speaker, adventurer, and business leader who inspires audiences to perform at their highest level, even in the most challenging environments.
Having climbed 6 of the 7 summits, Ian will join an elite group of fewer than 500 people worldwide when he completes the 7th summit in 2026. On May 23, 2008, he became the youngest Irishman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
From Everest to the Boardroom
In 2007, Ian set out on an ambitious challenge: to climb four mountains on four continents within one year — with Mount Everest as the final goal. Alongside this expedition, he raised $100,000 to build a primary school in Uganda, marking the beginning of a lifelong commitment to global impact.
Since then, Ian has:
- Built 4 schools in Nepal
- Supported projects in Peru, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nepal
- Helped deliver 200+ stoves to remote communities
- Developed Ian Taylor Imports
- Developed the Ian Taylor Trekking Foundation
His story is not just about climbing mountains. It’s about building something meaningful along the way, and following purpose.
Real-World Leadership & Business Experience
Ian combines extreme adventure with real business expertise.
- Built a multi-million dollar trekking company from scratch
- 20+ years of leadership and business development experience
- Led 150+ expeditions worldwide
- Climbed Kilimanjaro 40+ times
- President of the US Board for the Ian Taylor Trekking Foundation
His presentations deliver practical lessons in leadership, resilience, and performance under pressure.
A Story of Resilience & Determination
From +40°C heat to -40°C extreme cold, Ian has faced physical and mental limits most people will never experience.
- Told he was not “Everest material” — summited just 4 months later
- Saved a fellow climber’s life
- Overcame fear, doubt, and extreme conditions
This is a powerful story of:
- Teamwork
- Mental strength
- Relentless determination
And ultimately — success.
Experience That Transforms Audiences
Based in the US and Ireland, Ian has spent decades:
- Leading teams in high-pressure environments
- Training individuals for extreme challenges
- Helping hundreds achieve their personal goals
His keynote presentations take audiences inside Mount Everest — and show them how to apply those lessons to their own lives and careers.
What Your Audience Will Gain
Ian’s talks are designed to deliver real impact:
- Leadership under pressure
- Building high-performance teams
- Mental resilience and focus
- Goal setting and execution
- Overcoming adversity
- Performing when it matters most
Documentary & Storytelling
Ian’s Everest journey has been captured in his documentary: “A Summit Calling”
A powerful visual experience that brings audiences directly into the reality of climbing the world’s highest mountain.
Helping Others Reach Their Everest
Ian has helped numerous climbers prepare for and achieve their goal of climbing Mount Everest through his unique training and leadership approach. As founder of Ian Taylor Trekking, he continues to guide and train teams around the world, combining adventure with purpose. He manages his own trekking company, Ian Taylor Trekking, training teams for their treks around the world.
Ian is a team leader, motivational and business consultant. Ian is also planning to climb Kilimanjaro 50 times in aid of the Ian Taylor Trekking foundation. Read some REVIEWS from his trips.
Gio Hunt, Meta, Facebook Los Angeles 2023
Your presentation was FANTASTIC! Heard great things from many, many people who attended. Added a lot of value, as people made the connection to the struggles you endured on the mountain, to the sometimes seemingly impossible stuff we’re trying to do.
We all can surprise ourselves with what is possible… if we just keep going, one step at a time. As long as you know why you’re doing it!!
Michael Ronca, Eagle Ridge Energy Dallas Texas 2019
Ian made a presentation to my management team and Board of Directors about his experiences climbing Mount Everest. His talk was riveting as we were transported through him into the challenges and emotions confronting these climbers. Ian showed slides and had many great stories that connected with the group.
Fascinating man with an incredible life story of going from a small Irish village to climbing the biggest mountains around the world. If you are looking for an interesting and inspiring speaker, Ian is your man. To top it off, his vision goes beyond himself and extends to a charity he supports that is drilling water wells in Africa.
Ed Hagerty, Eagle Ridge Energy, Dallas Texas 2017
Ian gave a wonderful presentation to our company, Eagle ridge Energy. It was a great evening filled with banter and awesome stories. All of our team was amazed at the pictures and the incredible accomplishment of climbing Mount Everest.
We all were on the edge of our seat as Ian discussed the difficulties and challenges of the summit. All in the room wondered about our own personal capacities! More than anything, Ian’s spirit and giving back to community impressed me the most.
His life balance is heartening and warm. I would strongly recommend this presentation for any corporate event.
Laura Shackelton, SEB International 2016
Thanks so much for coming here on Monday to share your story with us. We all really enjoyed the talk and the feedback has been very positive. Everyone enjoyed your style of telling the story and found it very inspiring although lots of people have said they are never going to Everest!
People have also mentioned that they could see the parallels between the themes of team work, goal setting and determination that you mentioned and our own work environment. I will absolutely be recommending you to anyone looking for a speaker.
Karen Woolhiser, Boulder Area Realtors 2015
It was such a delight and pleasure to personally meet you at the Boulder Area Realtor Association in December! Loved hearing you speak and the pictures were truly amazing and your story was inspiring to say the least.
Sharon Kenny, Sanofi May 2014
Ian Taylor gave a motivational talk at a recent company meeting. It was nothing short of inspiring! Ian clearly did his homework before our meeting and honed his message to some of the specifics of our company, his messages resonated with the audience and left them inspired and energized. Ian showed us how ordinary people were out there accomplishing extraordinary things through sheer motivation and determination.
His story was captivating and I would have no hesitation recommending Ian for any future events.
Colorado Technical University, Doctoral Candidates Jan 2014
‘Ian was The guest/keynote speaker, Ian was one of the best, if not the best we have had!’ ‘I loved the guest speaker that presented his experience with Mt. Everest: phenomenal motivation!’ ‘The guest speaker was fantastic. He was motivational, but also encouraging and such a real person.’ ‘The keynote speaker Ian Taylor’s motivational talk was great because it reflects the difficulties of life when a person is trying to reach a goal’
‘The speakers were awesome and nothing was long and drawn out as I had experienced at previous sessions. Ian had me on the edge of my seat wanted to hear more. Wish we had more time with him!’ Ian Taylor is by far the best speaker we’ve had. His talk was exactly what we need at various parts of the program. The Doctoral journey is very much a metaphorical mountain – you never know what you will encounter at each juncture. Great choice having him speak.’
Dave Cullen, Howth Yacht Club 2013
‘We recently welcomed Ian Taylor to speak at a charity lunch in Howth Yacht Club in aid of St. Francis Hospice. Ian’s story had the audience captivated and it demonstrates what can be done with determination and effort. His visual presentation gave a taste of the sheer scale of his adventure whilst the audience was enthralled by the real life story that unfolds.
Ian’s presentation is very participative with numerous interesting questions fielded from the floor. His delivery of such an interesting story is superb and I would highly recommend listening to it.’
Tom McNamara, Clare Hurling 2011 / 2012
I was involved in coaching an under 18 hurling team,the group had won nothing underage and were not regarded as contenders for the championship. I asked Ian to help out as both a motivational speaker and from a physical preparation point of view.
Ian was very professional and made an excellent impression on the team, we ended up winning the Championship against the odds, we feel Ian’s approach and advice was instrumental in winning. The following year, I was involved with our Senior team, who again had not won a Championship in 31 years, we approached Ian at the start of the year in relation to team mental and physical preparation, his advice and help was invaluable and we ended up winning again that year against the odds.
Ian’s advice in how to mentally and physically prepare a team for a serious challenge, was excellent and a big factor in our wins.
Elaine Barry Sports Lecturer Limerick City Sports Partnership 2012
WOW!! Ian was an amazing speaker and left everyone gasping for more. He has an uncanny ability to draw you into his stories as if you were there. He personalized his content so that his speech related to our audience. Ian leaves you with more than just a message, but with a renewed sense of energy.
I would highly recommend Ian Taylor to any group that is looking to learn, laugh, get energized and ready to take on the world!
Owen McAlister, Cisco Ireland 2011
Ian was guest motivational speaker in our annual partner event for 2012. Our partners found Ian’s presentation extremely interesting, and the formal feedback received scored him very high. Ian’s message was linked subtly to our theme of the day and was extremely impactful.
This would not have been possible if Ian hadn’t taken the time out to meet with us before hand as well as attend the full event in his own time to get an idea for the people and the organization. Ian is very personable but professional as well and I would strongly recommend Ian for similar events.
Geraldine King, Director National Recruitment Federation May 2012
Keynote speaker at this event was Mr. Ian Taylor. Ian had an audience of 250 delegates captivated with his fascinating and amazing story of climbing Mount Everest. He showed fantastic pictures of his achievement and he took the room on a journey with his mesmerising story you felt you were with him at every stage of the climb.
An excellent speaker and presenter he had the audience on the edge of their seats as he recalled his experience of the massive challenges and the obstacles he encountered before the journey even began.
His success story really impacted on the delegates and he emphasized the importance of team work whilst trying to achieve the all important goal, bringing home to them no matter what the obstacles are if you really want something badly enough you can achieve it with hard work and a determination to succeed. A truly inspirational and motivational speaker.
Grace Kavanagh, Events Manager, Irish Taxation Institute, October 2011
“Ian Taylor spoke as a motivational speaker at our recent conference. His story was inspirational, impactful and thought provoking. Our delegates thoroughly enjoyed his presentation.”
Cian O’Brolchain, Senior Transfer Agency Rep, Transfer Agency Investor Services & Market, June 2011
“Your presentation in Statestreet was by far the best I have seen, I was inspired and gaining immense belief that I can go on and achieve big in the mountains. Some people in my dads hill walking club said they saw your presentation in different places and thought it was the best Everest presentation they had seen.
They were telling me this last week on a trek I was on. They thought you were a very good speaker, you explained what you went through so well. We would all be interested in seeing you again soon.”
Lis I Nidristovu, Company Director, Faroe Islands 2010
“In January 2010 Ian Taylor held 3 presentations in the Faroe Islands. As the organizer I attended all 3 of them. The third time was as breathtaking as the first. I and all the guests were totally mesmerized for the whole length of every presentation. With fantastic pictures and film clips, this charismatic Irishman takes the listeners all the way from Kathmandu to the top and back again.
It feels like you are there with him and when he reaches the top, you are as exhausted as he is by holding your breath so many times. Very few people get the chance to climb Everest to the top, this might be the closest you will ever get to being there.”
Cormac F. Lowth, Maritime Institute of Ireland 2009
“I can honestly say, that in all of the years that I have been involved in lecturing to various societies, Ian is one of the finest public speakers that I have ever encountered. With regard to his mountaineering activities and with particular reference to his ascent of Mount Everest, his illustrated presentations have been an absolute joy to attend and I have seen him hold audiences spellbound with his graphic accounts and wonderful illustrations of his adventures on the roof of the World.
It is with the greatest pleasure and the fullest assurance that I can recommend Mr. Taylor to anyone wishing to have lecture presentations of the finest calibre.”
The Staff and pupils of Booterstown National School 2009
“Mr. Ian Taylor visited our school on Tuesday 10th November 2009 and gave two presentations to the children on his -Everest to the top’ Talk. Both the younger children and the older children thoroughly enjoyed his informative, hands on talk, which was pitched appropriately at their class ages. Ian brought along various pieces of equipment and clothing which the children all found fascinating to look at and try on, and he was well able to answer any level of question fired to him.
We would thoroughly recommend Ian’s talk to any group of children, but also any group of adults as all the teachers found the presentation and all his stories extremely interesting.”
Scoil Mhuire, Leixlip 2009
“Thank you so much for sharing your experience of climbing Everest with the children, Ian. The children from First right through to Sixth Class were enthralled with your presentation. Viewing the wonderful photos, being able to see and handle your actual equipment was amazing. Listening to your personal account of your experience has been both educational and inspirational.
Your visit has inspired some great follow-up work in Science, Maths, Geography and creative writing.” ‘
Ian McGlade 2010
“In this excellent presentation, Ian Taylor somehow manages to convey how physical effort and indomitable willpower can overcome even the most mammoth of challenges. This presentation was tailored to suit all levels of mountaineering, including novices. his account of the 2008 Everest Expedition is both bracing and inspiring.
His story provides a fascinating insight into a mental and physical journey which results in a very personal conquest.”
Tony Hall BA, MBA 2010
“Ian is an impassioned presenter who relates very well with his audience. He has a breathe of knowledge of his subject. Ian can put across to his audience in an easy interesting manner which can hold everyone’s attention. He is very approachable, engaging easily with his audience and is excellent at Q & A.”
B. Reisener, Mental Health Professional 2010
“Ian captured an audience of all ages, mountaineers and non-mountaineers alike, with his amazing story of climbing Everest. He blended an incredible adventure with empowering messages which have a place in the climbing world, and beyond. Ian shared the importance of teamwork. The importance to keep trying as well as believing and that the journey is just as important as the goal.
Whatever one’s own “Everest” may be, challenges can be overcome and dreams do come true.”
Speaking Topics
- Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest
- Performing Under Pressure
- Building Resilient Teams
- From Dream to Reality: Achieving Big Goals
- Mental Strength & High Performance
Book Ian to Speak
Ian is available for:
- Corporate keynote presentations
- Leadership events
- Team development sessions
- Conferences and seminars
Inspire your team to think bigger, push further, and achieve more. Contact Ian Taylor Trekking today to book Ian for your event. Follow us on Instagram.