Cathy O’Dowd is the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest from both its north and south sides. Raised in Johannesburg, she was completing her Master’s in Journalism while working as a lecturer when she joined the 1st South African Everest Expedition. She became the first South African to summit Everest and later the first woman in the world to climb the mountain from both sides. Cathy inspires audiences with insights on leadership, teamwork, and resilience, helping organisations navigate challenges and get the best out of their teams. A published author and a professional speaker for 20+ years, she has addressed companies in 45 countries on six continents and is a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association of UK/Ireland, which awarded her their highest honour.