Ricky’s story

Ricky speaks at over 100 business & school events every year to inspire audiences to raise their aspirations. He's a Chartered Accountant, award-winning social entrepreuner, Mountain Leader, and Churchill Fellow.

Childhood sexual abuse, substance abuse, arrests & mental health

Ricky has faced and overcome adversity & mental health challenges; childhood sexual abuse, low self-esteem & substance abuse, being arrested twice, dropping out of University twice, and being made redundant during his professional accountancy training.

Redundancy & the Marathon des Sables

Ricky overcame redundancy by entering & completing the Marathon des Sables - a 150-mile ultramarathon in the Sahara desert known as the ‘toughest footrace on earth’ - an experience that transformed his mindset and gave him the courage & self-belief to follow his own dreams.

Triple 7 Summits project

Ricky has completed over 30 mountaineering expeditions to the greater ranges in his ongoing quest to become the first Brit, and second person in history, to climb the Triple 7 Summits, the three highest peaks on every continent.

Humanitarian aid

After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2005, he left corporate banking to spend six years deployed with the Red Cross in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, where he discovered his true purpose; helping the most vulnerable people.

Whistleblowing & Rescue on Everest

In 2014 he became the youngest ever member of the executive team at the UK’s national polar research organisation. Three years later he blew the whistle on fraud, shortly before attempting Everest. He turned back just back below the Death Zone on Everest due to low energy levels, but coordinated the successful evacuation of a seriously injured team-mate from Chinese Base Camp.

Everest Summit Success

On his return from Everest - as a result of his whistleblowing - his role became untenable, which had a profound impact on his mental health. With the support of a brilliant counsellor, family & friends, he bounced back to reach the summit of Everest in May 2018.

Inspire Alpine - closing the Attainment Gap

Shortly after climbing Everest, Ricky founded Inspire Alpine as a social enterprise to help close the attainment gap faced by disadvantaged young people, and is now an award-winning social entrepreneur and sought after speaker. As a qualified Mountain Leader, he has since led hundreds of clients to the summits of the UK's highest peaks & on international high-altitude trekking expeditions.

His story exemplifies a Growth Mindset. He’s currently Director of Finance at a £100m global humanitarian charity