Paula Reid

Paula Reid is an extreme adventurer and business expert who specialises in building the resilience and mindset needed to thrive under pressure. As the third British woman to ski 1,000 kilometres to the South Pole and a core crew member of the Global Challenge yacht race, she combines over 120 expeditions with 30 years of corporate experience working with organisations including Barclays, GSK, and the Ministry of Defence. Through her Adventure Psychology programmes, grounded in a Masters in Positive Psychology, Paula equips leaders and teams with practical tools to manage fear, navigate uncertainty, and sustain performance in challenging conditions.

When Paula Reid joined the crew of the Global Challenge yacht race with no sailing experience and just two months' notice, she committed to 35,000 miles at sea, 187 days battling Force 8 gales and the treacherous Southern Ocean. That decision, one of over 120 extreme adventures she has completed, shaped her understanding of what it takes to perform under pressure, manage fear, and navigate the unknown. She became the third British woman to ski 1,000 kilometres to the South Pole, paddled 600 miles down the Mekong in a dugout canoe purchased from a tribal chief in rural Cambodia, cycled across 19 countries, and recently volunteered in Ukraine, cycling the country to support humanitarian efforts. Each expedition has deepened her insight into the psychology of resilience, risk, and enduring performance in conditions where certainty does not exist.

Paula's expertise is grounded in both lived experience and academic rigour. She holds a Masters in Positive Psychology and has spent 30 years working with leaders and organisations including Barclays, GSK, PaloAlto, and the Ministry of Defence. In 2018, she founded Adventure Psychology, developing programmes that translate the mindset of adventuring into practical tools for business. Her work focuses on building flexibility, overcoming adversity, managing change, and sustaining performance in challenging, uncertain environments. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the author of five books, including *Adventure Psychology: Going Knowingly into the Unknown* and *BOAT to BOARDROOM*, Paula has presented the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at St James's Palace and continues to work as a sought-after speaker, executive coach, workshop leader, and retreat facilitator. She even takes groups of CEOs wild swimming, embodying her belief that transformation happens when people step outside their comfort zones.

Paula equips audiences with the mindset and methods to anticipate uncertainty and excel within it. Her Adventure Psychology programmes teach leaders and teams to 'go Knowingly into the Unknown™', offering actionable strategies for managing fear, taking calculated risks, and building resilience that lasts beyond the event. Whether delivering keynote talks, leading executive coaching sessions, or facilitating immersive workshops, Paula creates lasting impact by helping people recognise their own capacity for courage and adaptability. Her approach is grounded, human, and rooted in real-world application, ensuring that audiences leave with practical tools they can use immediately. She transforms how individuals and organisations respond to pressure, enabling them not only to survive challenging conditions but to thrive within them.