Explorers Grand Slam
Back in July Maria Conceicao became the first Portuguese Woman to conquer K2 and is set to make history as she has just embarked on her attempt to summit Puncak Jaya in Indonesia (the highest peak in Indonesia) and become the first Portuguese woman to complete the prestigious Explorer’s Grand Slam.
The Explorer’s Grand Slam requires participants to summit the highest peaks on all seven continents (the Seven Summits) and ski to both the North and South Poles.
As of 2023, fewer than 75 people have ever completed the full Grand Slam, and only 15 of them were women.
Born into poverty, Maria began cleaning toilets. No one would have expected that she would ever rise beyond an early marriage and a life of grueling manual labor. Through sheer force of character, however, she became an elite flight attendant who traveled the world in luxury. Most would have accepted this as a satisfying definition of success, but Maria hadn’t even begun. Her purpose became clear the day she witnessed unspeakable poverty in the slums of Bangladesh, and she vowed to do something, anything, to lift the children she saw living there out of crushing, hopeless circumstances.
Through a series of challenges designed to raise money for these children’s educations, she overcame staggering odds. Never an athlete, she trekked to the North Pole and the South Pole. With no background in mountaineering, she trained for the arduous physical task of climbing Mt. Everest. With incredible endurance and sense of purpose, she learned to swim so she could cross the English Channel, raise money, continue her philanthropic work and work toward her goal: to help transform the lives of others less fortunate.
As a speaker Maria Conceicao’s story gives incredible examples of innovation, leadership, and agility to keep her project going, to keep her promise to those slum children. A never give up attitude and strength to constantly re-invent herself and her strategy, Maria believes that you can always find a path to success.
For more information on Maria please visit her webpage or contact us on enquiries@scampspeakers.co.uk