Pete Goss MBE is a sailor, adventurer, entrepreneur, speaker, best-selling author and former Royal Marine Commando. He’s a quietly powerful voice on leadership.
His perspective has been shaped in environments where decisions carry real consequence and there is little margin for error. From building ventures and leading teams to navigating uncertainty at sea, Pete has experienced both success and failure first-hand.
He speaks from experience, not observation, bringing practical insight that is grounded, human and immediately relevant.
Pete’s perspective has been shaped over decades, through military service, global expeditions and complex projects where leadership, risk and responsibility were tested in real conditions.
Nine years as a Royal Marine Commando laid the foundations for Pete’s approach to leadership - discipline, responsibility and performing under pressure. These early experiences shaped his belief that leadership is not about position, but about action and accountability.
Pete led a crew of largely inexperienced sailors around the world, the “wrong way” against prevailing winds and currents, in one of the toughest yacht races on earth.
Success depended not on individual performance, but on developing others to step up under pressure. Over the course of the race, crew members grew into their roles, taking responsibility for the boat and each other in constantly changing conditions.
Pete gained international recognition during the Vendée Globe, the world’s toughest solo, non-stop round-the-world yacht race.
In the midst of a Southern Ocean hurricane, he made the decision to turn back and rescue fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli, risking his own life in the process. He went on to complete the race, finishing fifth, and was awarded the MBE and the Légion d’Honneur for his actions.
A bold and pioneering project to build one of the most innovative racing yachts ever attempted. Pete led a large, multi-disciplinary team, pushing the boundaries of design, technology and performance.
The project ultimately ended in structural failure in the Atlantic, a defining experience in managing risk, leading through uncertainty and learning from failure.
Pete built a traditional 37ft wooden lugger and sailed it from Cornwall to Australia, recreating a historic 19th-century voyage.
Navigating by the stars and without modern systems, the journey demanded constant judgement, resilience and trust. Despite extreme conditions, including a Southern Ocean storm that rolled the boat and injured a crew member, the team completed the voyage together.
Alongside his expeditions, Pete has built businesses, raised sponsorship, led large teams and delivered talks around the world.
A regular lecturer at leading institutions including Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, he brings together real-world experience and academic insight, helping organisations translate leadership into action.
Watch our video testimonials and read about how people have been inspired by Pete
Discover the themes and outcomes that make Pete’s talks relevant across every sector.
