Triple world record breaker Sarah Outen has become the fifthteenth speaker to join our growing portfolio of speakers.

In August 2009, she became the the first woman and youngest person in the world to row solo across the Indian Ocean. In just 124 days, Sarah rowed 4000 miles from Australia to Mauritius, becoming only the 8th woman in the world ever to have rowed solo on the high seas. 

Sarah masterminded the entire expedition herself, including building her own boat, Serendipity.  She displayed an incredible determination to succeed, enduring 40 ft waves and capsizing several times in what became at times a terrifying ordeal, and making her an ideal speaker to join Speakers from the Edge!

Read Sarah's profile now...

I caught up with her earlier this week for to chat about the Indian Ocean and her next expedition:

Q: What motivated you to take on such a grueling solo-challenge?

A: I loved the oceans and I loved rowing - so it seemed like a perfect adventure. My decision to go solo came when my father died very suddenly during the early stages of planning. I hadn't picked a team so I decided to dedicate it to his memory and raise money for a charity connected to the arthritis that had plagued him for so many years. It was my commitment to life, to the future.

Q: From the initial idea, how long did it take you to plan the expedition.

A: The planning stage was easily the hardest - the row was the icing on the cake after all that hard work. It was three years in total.

Sarah aboard her boat, Serendipty Photo: Getty Images

Q: What was the most difficult aspect of planning such an ambitious ocean row?

A: As a first timer on the expedition scene, young and inexperienced with very little finance in the bank, it was a mammoth task convincing sponsors that mine was an idea worth backing. The recession made it even harder, so getting to the start line was a major triumph.

Q: It must have been completely exhausting rowing alone for 124 days - how many hours a day did you manage to rest?

A: My aim was to be as efficient as possible and to stay happy - so I tended to row and rest as much as I could to fulfill these maxims. I averaged 6 - 7 hours sleep in a 24 hour period, sleeping in shifts, though in stormy seas I slept very little. Like anything, you get used to it - we are very adaptable creatures.

Q: Was there ever a point where you felt like giving up?

A: The middle section of my trip was extremely tough. Contrary weather systems pushed me all over the ocean, often blowing me back towards Australia. One week I went backwards for a full seven days. It was really testing - though I never considered quitting. I just willed the weather to change.

Q: How do you think others can benefit from hearing your story?

A: What I did out there on the ocean was in essence manage a project. It took dedication, perseverance, a quality team and sound planning to get me to the start and out on the ocean.  There are so many parallels between my salty solo world and that of the turbulent, changing, challenging world of business. Just as senior executives might feel lonely in decision making - I was alone on the ocean, managing my team remotely, so clear communication was key. I had set myself a huge goal, many said impossible, but broke it up into piecemeal chunks.  It's all about perspective. Often, the only thing I could control was my attitude when stormy seas and poor weather hampered my plans - this is so pertinent to everyone - we are the only common denominator for every single day of our lives.

Q: It's great to have you on board Sarah - what attracted you to Speakers from the Edge.

A: I am really excited and proud to be part of such a well respected team of speakers and expeditioners. I think our stories from the edge have lots of relevance to life on the more sensible side of the extreme, so am really looking forward to being a part of it.
                                                                     Sarah arriving in Mauritius in August 2009 Photo: Rene Soobaroyen

Q: What next?

A: Out on the ocean I spent days thinking about what it would be like to cycle the green bits of the globe too, and as I was hungry for more ocean, I decided to set my sights on the full circle. Next year I set off on  'London to London: Via the World' which will see me circle the planet under Sarah-power. I will be cycling the green bits, rowing the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans and canoeing the bits in between. It will take 2.5 years to complete.

Inspired?  Book Sarah for your event now.