17 February 2026 · 7 min read
Speaker of the day: Sophie Lavaud — Well-being at Work
Every day we spotlight one voice from the UnoMe network. Today: Sophie Lavaud, Well-being at Work — one of the keynote speakers we recommend for corporate events and conferences in Manama, Dubai and across the GCC.
Who is Sophie Lavaud?
Sophie Lavaud
Switzerland | France | Canada
Sophie Lavaud is a mountaineer, author, and speaker. She is the first French, first Swiss, and first Canadian woman to have climbed all 14 peaks over 8000 meters in the world, earning her the nickname “Lady 8000”.
A former businesswoman, Sophie transitioned to high-altitude mountaineering in her forties. She has since become an iconic figure in Himalayan alpinism. It all began with the ascent of Mont Blanc, following a friendly challenge in 2004: there, she discovered a deep inner resonance with the mountain. Her Himalayan adventure started with the ascent of Shishapangma in 2012, and she completed the challenge of the 14 “8000ers” with Nanga Parbat in 2023. In 2025, her mountaineering career spans over two decades. She has recounted her Himalayan experiences in two books: Les Quatorze 8000 de Sophie Lavaud and Une femme, sept sommets, dix secrets.
Beyond mountaineering, Sophie uses her voice to advocate for the recognition of Sherpa climbers' contributions and promotes sustainable mountaineering. She is also the founder of the project “Let’s Go Summit”, which promotes women's empowerment through high-altitude expeditions.
In recognition of her contributions to mountaineering, she was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) in 2023 by the French Republic.
A passionate mountaineer and dedicated speaker, Sophie deeply believes in the art of “followership” (the art of following to better cooperate), in team spirit, and speaks on numerous topics related to applying lessons from the mountains to life and business. She continues to explore new horizons with the goal of honoring pioneers and inspiring the next generation of adventurers.
From Mont-Blanc to the Quest for the Highest Peaks
Her love for high altitude indeed began in 2004, when she climbed Mont-Blanc. Since then, she has never stopped dreaming higher.
After climbing Everest in 2014, Sophie Lavaud's objective became clear: to conquer the other peaks over 8000 meters. She then decided to dedicate 100% of her time to this project.
The Quest for the 14x8000ers: Determination and Resilience to Achieve Her Goal
In June 2023, after 11 years and 22 expeditions, Sophie Lavaud completed her challenge, earning her the new nickname "112'000 Lady". The filmmaker and high mountain guide François Damilano followed her on this 40-day ascent, from which the documentary "Sophie Lavaud: le dernier sommet" was made. This film offers viewers an unprecedented immersion into the extreme world of very high mountains, up close with the Himalayan mountaineer Sophie Lavaud.
Beyond the Summits: Committed to Humanity
Mountaineer with a Big Heart
Sophie Lavaud is an ambassador for the NGO Terre des hommes and supports projects close to her heart in the countries where her expeditions take place. Furthermore, as an ambassador for Recco®, she organizes training sessions in Nepal and Pakistan to raise awareness among Sherpas and high-altitude porters about avalanche risks.Languages spoken by the speaker
- English
- French
Sophie Lavaud gives various lectures in French-speaking countries, in Romand Switzerland, and also worldwide, in English.Inspiring Speaker: From Summits to Businesses
From High-Altitude Experience to Business Inspiration
Sophie Lavaud offers captivating conferences that skillfully connect her high-altitude adventures to life lessons for businesses. Her unique experiences become inspiring anecdotes for her audience. She shares similarities, analogies, and comparisons between the world of mountaineering and that of business. Her stories are sources of inspiration for those who aspire to reach summits in their own lives.
Her conferences and workshops forge links between the world of Himalayan mountaineering and that of business, using "storytelling" or themes such as individual and collective motivation, followership, and leadership.
Her 14 X 8000M
- 2023: Shishapangma (8027 m, Tibet) and Nanga Parbat (8126 m, Pakistan)
- 2022: Lhotse – 8516 m
- 2022: Manaslu (main summit) – 8163 m
- 2021: Dhaulagiri – 8167 m
- 2019: Annapurna 1 – 8091 m
- 2019: Kangchenjunga – 8586 m
- 2019: Gasherbrum 1 – 8068 m
- 2018: K2 – 8611 m
- 2017: Manaslu – 8163 m
- 2017: Broad Peak – 8051m
- 2016: Makalu – 8485 m
- 2015: Gasherbrum II – 8035 m
- 2014: Everest – 8850 m
- 2012: Cho Oyu – 8201m
- 2012: Shishapangma (central summit) – 8027 m
Films
– "Sophie Lavaud - The Last Summit", directed by François Damilano (2024)
– RTS Film – Passe-moi les jumelles –"Sophie Lavaud – Lady 8000", directed by Lisa Röösli (2021 )
– "We Walked on Everest", directed by François Damilano (2014)
– "K2, A Special Day", directed by François Damilano (2017)
Book
Sophie Lavaud is co-author of the book "A Woman, Seven Summits, Ten Secrets", published in 2019 by Favre editions.
She also co-wrote with François Damilano, "The Fourteen 8000s of Sophie Lavaud", published in 2024 by Glénat editions.
Topics on stage
- Well-being at Work
- Leadership and Management
- Individual and Collective Motivation
Who is this keynote for?
A talk by Sophie Lavaud fits annual kick-offs, leadership days, industry conferences and talent programmes. The format usually runs 45 to 60 minutes, with an optional Q&A or a closed-door executive workshop.
Booking in the UAE and the Gulf
UnoMe, the Swiss Speakers' Bureau in Dubai, handles everything: selection, negotiation, travel and preparation with your team. Contact us to check Sophie Lavaud's availability for your date.