Debra Searle MBE

Debra Searle was heralded “…Britain’s latest sporting heroine” (The Times) when the world media went crazy for the story of the 5ft 5” young woman who carried on rowing alone when her husband, a 6ft 5” experienced oarsman, left the boat after developing an uncontrollable fear of the ocean. Debra, who was loving life at sea in a 23ft plywood boat, saw no reason to stop and rowed on to become the youngest and only the third woman in the world to have rowed an ocean solo.

Debra is a ‘refreshing change’ to the usual speakers on the circuit. She is young, attractive, warm, funny, and friendly but with a mental strength and determination that inspires and motivates all who meet her. She is a fantastic story teller, with amusing tales and anecdotes of the 3½ months she spent at sea alone in her small rowing boat, “sleeping in a coffin”. Often very emotive, she shares her highs and lows, personal battles and victories, to help illustrate in a very human way what we are all capable of, powerfully illustrated with slides and stunning video footage. Her audience are left in no doubt of their own ability to achieve the extraordinary both individually and collectively.

Every speech is written to help enforce the conference themes and to provide real world ideas and tools. Able to handle the rowdiest of crowds, Debra is a consummate professional and a lively and proficient conference host/facilitator. Not just a woman with an interesting story, she is also a successful business woman who became Managing Director of her first company at the age of 23. Today she successfully runs two companies alongside a developing TV presenting career with the BBC.