Emily Harrington Speaker

Emily Harrington Keynote Speaker

  • First woman to free-climb El Cap’s Golden Gate in < 24 hrs (2020)
  • Seven-time USA Sport Climbing National Champion
  • Star of Girl Climber documentary (2025), premiered at Mountainfilm

Emily Harrington's Biography

Emily Harrington is one of the most accomplished and versatile climbers of her generation. From dominating competition climbing circuits to pioneering big wall ascents and high-altitude expeditions, Emily has consistently pushed the limits of what is possible across multiple disciplines of the sport.

A seven-time U.S. National Champion in sport climbing, Emily made history as the first woman to free climb the Golden Gate route on Yosemite’s El Capitan in under 24 hours. She is also among the few American women to climb 5.14b outdoors, a benchmark of elite technical difficulty. Beyond rock faces, Emily has summited Mount Everest and led expeditions to remote peaks in Nepal, China, Myanmar, and Morocco, demonstrating extraordinary resilience in extreme environments.

A member of The North Face athlete team since 2008, Emily has dedicated her career to exploration, performance, and inspiring others through her journey. Her upcoming documentary, *Girl Climber, set for release later this year, captures her trailblazing path in a traditionally male-dominated sport and highlights her role in redefining possibility for a new generation of climbers.

As a speaker, Emily offers powerful insights on leadership, risk-taking, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. Her presentations connect lessons from the vertical world—trust, preparation, adaptability—to the challenges faced by organizations and individuals striving to perform at the highest level.

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Emily Harrington's Speaking Topics

  • Leadership and Trust in the Mountains

How do elite teams build trust in high-consequence environments, and what can organizations learn from the split-second decisions made on vertical terrain?

  • Resilience and Overcoming Failure

How can setbacks fuel resilience, growth, and eventual success?

  • Pioneering a New Path

What does it take to challenge established norms, and how can individuals and companies foster cultures of innovation and inclusion?

  • Preparation, Performance, and Risk

How do you prepare mentally and physically for the most daunting challenges, and how do you assess risk when the stakes are high?

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Videos of Emily Harrington

Emily Harrington Speaker Reel
Finding Fear

Articles, Media & Podcasts

Comments & Testimonials

"Whether you are an aspiring athlete, an entrepreneur, a CEO or simply someone looking to feel inspired, you will first be amazed at Emily Harrington's global achievements and then immediately motivated through her relatable storytelling of adventure, vulnerability, strength, passion, perseverance through failure and the lessons we can all use in our lives to be more in line with our purpose."
Robin DeSota TEDx
“Emily paints a picture of trust, vulnerability, risk-taking, and curiosity. It is remarkable to hear her speak of experiences that are out of reach for so many but relatable for all.”
Salesforce
“Emily stands and delivers with real passion and humanity. When you hear her speak, you can tell it is coming from the heart. Her authenticity and humanity lend a depth to her message and leave you inspired. It is remarkable to see someone so physically strong be so vulnerable.”
Tom Herbst Global VP of Marketing, The North Face

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