Debra Searle MBE
Debra Searle is an outstanding achiever, she has a first class honours degree, has launched two companies, won World Championship medals, presented on the BBC, has had books published and has successfully rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1997 Debra was heralded "…Britain's latest sporting heroine" (The Times) when the media worldwide went crazy for the story of the 5ft 5" young lady who carried on rowing alone when her then husband, a 6 ft 5" top-level club oarsman, left the boat after developing an uncontrollable fear of the ocean. Debra, who was loving life at sea in a 23 foot plywood boat, saw no reason to stop and rowed on to become unofficially the fourth women in the world to have rowed an ocean solo.
In 1997 Debra was heralded "…Britain's latest sporting heroine" (The Times) when the media worldwide went crazy for the story of the 5ft 5" young lady who carried on rowing alone when her then husband, a 6 ft 5" top-level club oarsman, left the boat after developing an uncontrollable fear of the ocean. Debra, who was loving life at sea in a 23 foot plywood boat, saw no reason to stop and rowed on to become unofficially the fourth women in the world to have rowed an ocean solo.
Choose
your
Attitude
The 3000 mile journey that was initially supposed to take 6 weeks took Debra a staggering 3 ½ months and saw her battling with 30 foot waves, force 8 squalls and sharks, while having to dodge tankers that came too close for comfort on more than a few occasions. Worse than all of this, however, was dealing with the loneliness and solitude but focussing on one motto kept Debra going: "Choose Your Attitude" and she certainly did.
Debra's ease in front of the camera and natural enthusiasm has led to a number of TV presenting opportunities outside of the adventure arena and she has worked regularly for the BBC. As well as presenting on BBC Grandstand, Debra has also presented Big Strong Boys and Builders, Sweat and Tears on BBC1 Daytime. She has completed work for BBC Grandstand, CBBC Education, was the subject of a documentary for BBC Extreme Lives and presented a 1-hour documentary on the Southampton Boat Show alongside Top Gear's Vicky Butler-Henderson and GMTV's Ben Shepherd.
After an impassioned speech for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award General Council Conference in 2002, Debra was delighted to accept an invitation from Prince Philip to become a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. After Prince Edward, she is the youngest person to hold such an position.
In 2002 Debra was awarded an MBE for her achievements.
As an adventure-based motivational speaker, Debra works with organisations large and small to motivate and inspire their workforces.
As a conference speaker, Debra's overwhelming positivity and 'go for it' attitude are contagious, while her modesty is endearing. Often very emotive, she shares her highs and lows, personal battles and victories, to help illustrate in a very human way what we are all capable of. She is not a motivational speaker reliant on buzz words, hype and jargon. Every speech is written to help enforce the conference themes and will provide real world ideas and tools to help your people:
As an after dinner speaker, Debra is a ‘refreshing. She is an articulate, funny and unassuming story teller, sharing amusing tales and anecdotes of the 3 ½ months she spent at sea alone in her small rowing boat, “sleeping in a coffin”.
Debra's ease in front of the camera and natural enthusiasm has led to a number of TV presenting opportunities outside of the adventure arena and she has worked regularly for the BBC. As well as presenting on BBC Grandstand, Debra has also presented Big Strong Boys and Builders, Sweat and Tears on BBC1 Daytime. She has completed work for BBC Grandstand, CBBC Education, was the subject of a documentary for BBC Extreme Lives and presented a 1-hour documentary on the Southampton Boat Show alongside Top Gear's Vicky Butler-Henderson and GMTV's Ben Shepherd.
After an impassioned speech for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award General Council Conference in 2002, Debra was delighted to accept an invitation from Prince Philip to become a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. After Prince Edward, she is the youngest person to hold such an position.
In 2002 Debra was awarded an MBE for her achievements.
As an adventure-based motivational speaker, Debra works with organisations large and small to motivate and inspire their workforces.
As a conference speaker, Debra's overwhelming positivity and 'go for it' attitude are contagious, while her modesty is endearing. Often very emotive, she shares her highs and lows, personal battles and victories, to help illustrate in a very human way what we are all capable of. She is not a motivational speaker reliant on buzz words, hype and jargon. Every speech is written to help enforce the conference themes and will provide real world ideas and tools to help your people:
As an after dinner speaker, Debra is a ‘refreshing. She is an articulate, funny and unassuming story teller, sharing amusing tales and anecdotes of the 3 ½ months she spent at sea alone in her small rowing boat, “sleeping in a coffin”.
