There are a thousand reasons why you can't. Pete has spent a lifetime proving otherwise.

Most leadership speakers talk about pressure. Pete has lived inside it – alone in the Southern Ocean at night, on a 40-foot wave, in temperatures that drop to minus 30, with nothing between him and the outcome but judgment, preparation and will.

The lessons he brings to your audience weren’t learned in a classroom or a consultancy. They were distilled at the sharp end of real experience – and they are surprisingly simple.

These truths are proven under the most extreme conditions on earth and they become directly applicable to every leader, team and organisation Pete speaks to.

Every talk is bespoke · Speaking professionally since 1982 · Trusted in every sector · Legion d’ Honneur

Trusted by clients of multiple sectors and sizes

Keynote speaking

Every talk bespoke. Every audience leaves with something real.

Pete works closely with every client before accepting an engagement. He helps events to lift professionalism by understanding your audience, your objectives and the five words you want them to walk away with. What follows is a talk built specifically for your event, delivered without notes, adapted in the room, and followed up afterwards.

Leadership Under Pressure

Pete draws on life-and-death decision-making to give leaders a practical, human framework for performing when it matters most.

Resilience and Mental Toughness

Pete’s honest account of pushing through failure, fear and exhaustion cuts through the clichés and leaves audiences with something they can actually use.

Teamwork in Extreme Environments

Pete shares what genuine high-performance teamwork looks like under the most unforgiving conditions, and how those same principles build stronger teams ashore.

Risk, Responsibility and Trust

Pete brings hard-earned clarity to conversations about judgment, accountability and the trust that underpins every high-performing organisation.

After Dinner Speaking

Pete’s after dinner talks offer something different. A blend of humour, storytelling and reflection, drawn from a lifetime of experience on land and at sea.

"If a group of individuals commit mind, body and soul to a clear and simple goal, they will get there."

"The cancer of time is complacency."

"You can do anything if you want to."

"Leadership challenges the norm, management makes it more efficient."

The man behind the talks

Forty years of going further than most people think is possible.

Testimonials

What clients say

Watch our video testimonials and read about how people have been inspired by Pete’s talks

READ THE FULL CASE STUDY >>>

“What strikes me most about Pete Goss is that he’s authentic! No pretenses, no self-adulation, just exceptional wisdom and leadership skill. He takes real-life adventures and extracts lessons that are relevant to many business situations.’’

Dick Ehst, President, Customers Bank, Wyomissing, PA

“Absolutely First Class. We were mesmerised. Without doubt the most interesting, stimulating and motivational speaker we have experienced… Pete Goss has excellent management motivation.”

Peek Plc

“Pete’s presentation, like the oceans he has sailed, has an underlying calm, while on the surface the audience are hit with waves of ideas, advice and emotions that leave a lasting and valuable impression in the business world. An amazing speaker.”

ICAP plc

Bespoke talks for real impact

Calm doesn't remove the chaos. It allows you to navigate it.

Pete doesn’t motivate by telling people what they want to hear. He motivates by telling them what he knows to be true, earned in places where getting it wrong wasn’t an option.

His approach to every talk begins with listening, a detailed brief and an honest conversation about what the audience needs, not just what they expect. The talk is built around that, without a script, without a safety net and without a single slide that hasn’t earned its place.

The result is something audiences feel as much as hear. A shift in how they think about pressure, about leadership, about what they’re actually capable of.

Best-selling author

Close to the Wind

Pete’s bestselling book Close to the Wind recounts his Vendée Globe journey, including the Southern Ocean rescue that brought him international recognition.

Signed copies can be made available at events as corporate gifts and bulk orders can also be arranged directly by contacting Pete.

“More impressive than fiction could ever be . . . compelling”

Independent on Sunday

“Goss takes you so vividly on board with him . . . he has a genuine talent for writing tense narrative.”

Independent

“It is far from just a book about the Vendée events, but a soul-bearing autobiography”

Western Morning News

“Tense, fast-moving and illustrated with colour photographs that put you in the middle of the action”

New York Times

“His heroism and modesty redeem the gun-ho bits of this mesmerising memoir. Buy it”

The Times

The stories behind the lessons

The lessons Pete shares weren't learned in a classroom.

Solo around the world. A rescue in the Southern Ocean. A trek to the North Pole. A family voyage across three oceans. Forty years of going further has led to an author, university lecturer and entrepreneur with real experiences.

Book Pete

Let's talk about your event.

Pete takes a detailed brief before accepting any engagement. He wants to understand your audience, your context and what you need them to walk away with. Visit the link below to start the conversation – there’s no commitment and no pressure.

Pete Goss: Speaker, sailor, entrepreneur, best-selling author

Calm in the Chaos