Discover the inspiring story of a Norwegian Ski-BASE jumper who defied the odds after a horrendous accident. Read on to explore his incredible journey of survival and resilience.
Europe
Norway
Core Intelligence Domain: Resilience & Performance
Location: Oslo, Norway | Languages: English, Norwegian
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence
Karina Hollekim is a premier authority on resilience, risk management, and the psychology of overcoming insurmountable adversity, translating her unparalleled experiences as a world-class extreme athlete into actionable strategic frameworks for global corporate leaders. Once recognised as one of the world’s most prominent professional free skiers and the first woman to execute a ski BASE jump, Hollekim’s trajectory was fundamentally altered by a near-fatal skydiving accident in 2006. Confronting a prognosis that she would be confined to a wheelchair for life, she systematically engineered her own recovery. Today, she utilises her extraordinary journey of rehabilitation—defying medical expectations to not only walk but ski again—to instruct executive teams on adaptability, crisis leadership, and the power of a growth mindset.
Through her proprietary approach to performance psychology, Hollekim bridges the gap between extreme sports and corporate strategy. She demonstrates how the meticulous preparation, risk assessment, and hyper-focus required to jump off a 1,000-metre cliff directly translate to managing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) in the modern business landscape. Featured in the multi-award-winning documentary 20 Seconds of Joy and author of the acclaimed autobiography The Risk of Feeling Alive, her insights have empowered C-suite executives and global teams across the financial, technological, and healthcare sectors to reframe setbacks as catalysts for innovation and sustained growth.
Karina Hollekim delivers highly customised keynote presentations designed to instil resilience, optimise corporate risk assessment, and drive high-performance teamwork during periods of profound organisational transition.
"Karina’s session was amazing!!!!! I must admit that I was not prepared at all for such a strong story, and she presented it in such a positive and inspiring way. I was stunned by her authenticity, openness, positivity and determination. The team enjoyed a lot the session (so did I), and on a personal level, I learned a lot from it. Since the session, I have been thinking quite a lot of what has been said and I have started to see things in a different perspective, and take baby steps 😊 THANK YOU!"
"Thank you Jonathan and Anne-Sophie. Echoing what Anne-Sophie mentioned, it was indeed a powerful session that the team picked up quite a number of take aways that will empower them in terms of managing their challenges and opportunities. It actually provided a very good, meaningful segue into our contract management workshop which followed the session. The team was very much inspired about positivity and the power of little changes which Karina’s experiences highlighted. Big thanks to Karina and your team indeed 😊"
“Very few people in the world can create this incredible life filled with personal victories and global exposure. Listening to you carrying a new life within I had tears rolling down my face as I was inspired to the greatest levels with your accomplishments, intentions, dreams and goals. Thank you for giving the world an awakening it so badly needs.”
“I have seen Karina's speech twice already... and it was equally exciting the second time around. Everybody was excited and her story was the big topic at the dinner table at night.”
“Karina really inspired us on how to practice through small changes and how the details actually make a difference for a long-term goal. She challenged us profoundly and gave us a mindset to bring back to our everyday work.”
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Discover an inspiring international keynote speaker who specialises in true leadership and overcoming adversity. Read on to explore powerful motivational insights for your next event.
Europe
