Cathy O’Dowd is the first woman in the world to climb the highest mountain from both its north and south sides. Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, Cathy developed a passion for climbing early on, engaging in both rock-climbing and alpinism. Her first major expeditions took her to central Africa and the Andes, followed by a year in the Alps.
While completing her Master’s degree in Journalism and working as a university lecturer, she saw an advert for a spot on the 1st South African Everest Expedition. Six months later, Cathy became the first South African to summit Everest. Three years later, she made history again by becoming the first woman to climb Everest from both sides. She even attempted a new route on the Kangshung face.
Cathy penned a book about her Everest experiences, Just For The Love Of It. The years she spent in the Himalayas provided her with invaluable insights into self-discovery and team dynamics under intense stress. These lessons have been central to her corporate talks, where she discusses themes crucial for successful projects and team performance.
For over 27 years, Cathy has been a professional speaker, presenting to companies in 46 countries across six continents. She is a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association of UK/Ireland and has received their highest award, the Professional Speaking Award of Excellence.
Cathy’s most challenging Himalayan adventure involved attempting a new route on an 8000-metre peak. Although she did not reach the summit, her teammates succeeded, completing the first ascent of Nanga Parbat via the Mazeno ridge and winning the prestigious Piolet d’Or. She has transformed this experience into an interactive case study on innovative project execution.
Currently residing in Andorra, in the Pyrenees mountains, Cathy continues her speaking career and explores Europe’s mountains. In her free time, she engages in technical rock-climbing, ski-mountaineering, canyoning, and sea kayaking. In 2023, Cathy is focused on canyoning and sea kayaking adventures, with trips planned to Morocco, Madeira, Utah, and Crete. She will also be traveling through Scandinavia with her sea kayak.
Cathy O’Dowd is the first woman in the world to climb the highest mountain from both its north and south sides. Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, Cathy developed a passion for climbing early on, engaging in both rock-climbing and alpinism. Her first major expeditions took her to central Africa and the Andes, followed by a year in the Alps.
While completing her Master’s degree in Journalism and working as a university lecturer, she saw an advert for a spot on the 1st South African Everest Expedition. Six months later, Cathy became the first South African to summit Everest. Three years later, she made history again by becoming the first woman to climb Everest from both sides. She even attempted a new route on the Kangshung face.
Cathy penned a book about her Everest experiences, Just For The Love Of It. The years she spent in the Himalayas provided her with invaluable insights into self-discovery and team dynamics under intense stress. These lessons have been central to her corporate talks, where she discusses themes crucial for successful projects and team performance.
For over 27 years, Cathy has been a professional speaker, presenting to companies in 46 countries across six continents. She is a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association of UK/Ireland and has received their highest award, the Professional Speaking Award of Excellence.
Cathy’s most challenging Himalayan adventure involved attempting a new route on an 8000-metre peak. Although she did not reach the summit, her teammates succeeded, completing the first ascent of Nanga Parbat via the Mazeno ridge and winning the prestigious Piolet d’Or. She has transformed this experience into an interactive case study on innovative project execution.
Currently residing in Andorra, in the Pyrenees mountains, Cathy continues her speaking career and explores Europe’s mountains. In her free time, she engages in technical rock-climbing, ski-mountaineering, canyoning, and sea kayaking. In 2023, Cathy is focused on canyoning and sea kayaking adventures, with trips planned to Morocco, Madeira, Utah, and Crete. She will also be traveling through Scandinavia with her sea kayak.
