Maria Conceicao

Maria Conceição is an extraordinary adventurer, humanitarian, and motivational speaker whose life story defies limits and redefines resilience. Best known as the first Portuguese woman to summit Mount Everest and, most recently, the first Portuguese woman to summit K2 in 2024—one of the world’s most dangerous peaks—Maria’s achievements have earned her a place among the most fearless explorers of our time. With 10 Guinness World Records to her name, Maria’s story is nothing short of awe-inspiring, making her a powerful and unforgettable choice for keynote speaking engagements.

Maria’s path has been anything but easy. Losing a parent at a young age and growing up in hardship, she overcame significant adversity to build a successful career as cabin crew for Emirates Airline. But her life changed direction in 2005 when she founded the Maria Cristina Foundation, an initiative that has since transformed the lives of over 600 children and 101 families in the slums of Bangladesh. Her foundation has built one of the country’s most advanced schools and introduced healthcare and community support—acts that reflect Maria’s unwavering commitment to creating lasting change through sheer determination and heart.

A record-breaking endurance athlete, Maria has completed seven Ironman races in one year, become the first Portuguese woman to reach both the North and South Poles, attempted the English Channel swim after learning to swim just a year prior, and holds world records in ultramarathon endurance and athletic feats across all seven continents. She is also an accomplished author, having penned books such as A Woman on Top of the World and The World Needs Superheroes, and has been widely recognised with honours including the Emirates Woman of the Year, GQ Portugal Woman of the Year, and the Inspiring Change Award by the International Gulf Organisation.

As a speaker, Maria’s presence is transformative. Described by event organisers as “the only speaker to receive a standing ovation” and “the most inspirational talk” at events featuring global thought leaders, her keynotes on overcoming adversity, leadership, and building a winning mindset are nothing short of life-changing. If you’re seeking a speaker who will challenge your audience to think bigger, act braver, and pursue the impossible, Maria Conceição delivers inspiration at its highest altitude.