Cory Richards

Bestselling Author, NatGeo Adventurer of the Year & Photography Fellow, Resiliency Expert
Cory
Richards

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AVAILABLE FOR

Keynote
Virtual Presentation

Fee ranges

Domestic In-Person (USA):

$35,000 - $40,000*

International In-Person:

$50,001 - $60,000*

Virtual:

$20,001 - $25,000*

Other:

* Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees vary by engagement type and are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact Gravity Speakers.

Traveling from

California, USA

About

For Cory Richards, the edge is where everything begins.

He has lived through avalanches, addiction, and adversity, but also climbed to the highest points on earth. Each step—whether up a mountain or out of hardship—has taught him that disruption is not an ending, but the spark for transformation.

Cory is one of the world’s most accomplished climbers and storytellers. He survived a near-fatal avalanche, became the first American to summit an 8,000-meter peak in winter, and stood twice on the summit of Mount Everest—including one ascent without supplemental oxygen. Named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, he has completed more than 50 international expeditions. His photography, featured on the cover of National Geographic and in publications worldwide, doesn’t just document landscapes or faces—it reveals the raw truth of what it means to endure, adapt, and rise. He is also a bestselling author, whose books blend memoir, photography, and philosophy to explore resilience and meaning.

But Cory’s journey has also been defined by internal summits. Once a high-school dropout, he faced homelessness, addiction, and later the challenges of bipolar disorder. These struggles are not the footnotes to his achievements—they are the context that gives them meaning, and the lens through which he helps others find resilience and purpose.

From these extremes, Cory learned that resilience isn’t about gripping harder, but about letting go smarter. That leadership is not about standing alone, because no summit is ever solo. And that Impossible Isn’t—it’s the invitation to imagine a different future.

Through writing, photography, and storytelling, Cory shares the lessons of a life lived at the edge—inviting others to see disruption not as a threat, but as fuel for growth. His work challenges individuals and organizations to embrace discomfort as a teacher, to lead with vulnerability and courage, and to find meaning in struggle.

Today, Cory’s voice resonates not because he has all the answers, but because he has lived the questions—and come back with perspective.

From avalanches to Everest, from brokenness to resilience, Cory Richards proves that the edge is not the end. It’s where transformation begins.

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Topics

Topics

The Edge Is Where We Begin: The Art Of Resilience

No Summit Solo: Building Resilient Teams

The Inside-Out Leader: Redefining Leadership From Within

Strong Enough To Feel: Modern Masculinity & Emotional Intelligence

Breaking the Story Of Broken: Mental Health, Performance & Truth

Impossible Isn’t: Unlocking Personal And Professional Transformation

Videos

https://vimeo.com/1102246833
Cory Richards | Keynote Speaking Reel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7zMCPTkmZg
Photographer Cory Richards: Vulnerability Is The Key To Great Art
https://vimeo.com/88941538?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci
Grid Breakers Web Series | Episode 1- Cory Richards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOxyknaZoQ
Cory Richards: Pushing The Boundaries Of Adventure | NAT Geo Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC73Saj0jRE
Nature And The Human Spirit | Cory Richards

Testimonials

"Cory's story proves that true leaders don't wait for perfect conditions-they adapt, endure, and push forward despite uncertainty. A game-changing perspective for any team committed to thriving in the face of challenge."

Jeff Fleeher, Former EVP/Global CFO
Universal Pictures

"As high as Cory has climbed to summit Everest, he's arguably gone down deeper into the depths of his own humanity." 

Wesley Schultz & Jeremiah Fraites
The Lumineers

"Cory's story is nothing less than a bullet train into the heart of darkness-and back out again." 

Amy Ellis Nutt, Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist and author of Becoming Nicole

"The truth isn't often told, it is lived. Cory's journey, as told through his unique and daring vision, is as close to that truth as one can get." 

Reinaldo Marcus Green, American director and film producer of One Love and King Richard