Elia Saikaly

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• Discovering Your Life’s Purpose: A Journey to Everest

  This keynote presentation shares Elia Saikaly’s personal story of challenge, courage, compassion, and risk. Through stunning visuals and compelling storytelling, he inspires a greater understanding of how challenges and adversity can shape us into the people we are born to be.

  Saikaly brings audiences though his journey from rock bottom to the peak of Mount Everest, where he honored the memory of his friend and mentor, Dr. Sean Egan. This journey inspired him to create FindingLife, a non-profit educational program, which has virtually brought 20,000 Canadian students to the summit of Mount Everest, all in honour of his friend’s life.

  Saikaly also delves into more complex experiences including surviving the 2015 earthquake and avalanche on Everest and his most recent ascent of K2, the second tallest mountain on Earth, where he enabled and co-led a recovery mission of a young man in search of his father who disappeared on the world’s deadliest mountain.

  This inspirational and empowering keynote is a celebration of how tragedy can inspire hope and lead to positive change. With the use of stunning 4K video and sound, Saikaly brings the beauty and danger of Everest and the world’s tallest peaks to life while sharing lessons of success and failure during his ascents. His presentation explores themes such as goal setting, teamwork, courage, calculated risks, resilience, resourcefulness, believing in oneself, and giving back to society.

• Addicted to Danger: A Trauma-Informed Healing Journey

  Extreme adventurer Elia Saikaly shares his story as a trauma survivor, exploring the mindset of those who are drawn to dangerous activities and the immense mental fortitude required to face obstacles.

  Saikaly has survived two avalanches on Mt. Everest, broken his back while paragliding, investigated deaths on the world’s tallest peaks, rescued friends, and recovered bodies from altitudes above 8000m, including K2 — all while leading on the front lines and filming in hostile environments. Through all of this, he came to realize that these extreme adventures serve as mirrors to the true mountains we are climbing inside ourselves.

  In this deeply personal presentation, Saikaly interweaves stories of his self-led healing journey to help audiences identify their own blocks and trauma, while showcasing the incredible strength and resilience that exists within us all. He emphasizes the significance of healing, self-care, and self-love, and empowers audiences to join him on a journey towards healing and personal growth.

• K2: Leadership from the Edge

  This is a deeply moving and inspirational keynote presentation that takes audiences on an emotional journey of tragedy, courage, resilience, and honour. It is based on Elia Saikaly’s personal experience on K2, the world’s deadliest mountain, while filming and leading a search operation in the aftermath of a devastating event.

  The journey begins on K2, the last unconquered 8000m peak in winter. Although a team of Nepalese climbers achieved the historic first ascent, tragedy struck just two weeks later when Saikaly’s fellow team members, including renowned climbers Ali Sadpara and John Snorri, disappeared on their way to the summit. Only Ali’s son Sajid survived.

  The military-led search operation from the air was one of the most comprehensive in mountaineering history and spanned 13 days. During the first 48 hours, Saikaly assisted the Pakistani military pilots at ground zero, hoping to identify via photographs what could be his missing friends. Sadly, they were never found.

  Saikaly faced a difficult decision: whether to leave Ali’s son Sajid to face the unimaginable loss on his own or to step up and take action, even if it meant putting himself and his team at risk. With fierce determination and a deep sense of empathy, Saikaly chose to lead. Alongside his climbing partner Pasang Kaji Sherpa, he financed and filmed the search operation that unfolded the following season. Against all odds and with minimal resources, Saikaly succeeded in finding his missing friends, finally bringing closure to their families.

  “K2: Leadership from the Edge” is a multimedia experience that transports audience onto the steep slopes of the “Savage Mountain”. It is a profound emotional journey that shares tactics learned from working in hostile environments combined with strategies surrounding empathy and compassion to inspire and empower others to lead from the edge.

• Finding Life on Mount Everest: A Journey of Discovery

  This keynote presentation designed for high school students shares Elia Saikaly’’s personal story of challenge, courage, compassion, and taking risks to fulfill a higher purpose and answer your life’s calling.

  Saikaly was a rebellious “punk-rock” youth, living on the streets. Through stunning visuals and compelling storytelling, he brings audiences on his extraordinary journey from rock bottom to the peak of Mount Everest, to inspire a greater understanding of how challenges and adversity can shape us into the people we are meant to be.

  Saikaly has survived two avalanches on Mt. Everest, broken his back while paragliding, investigated deaths on the world’s tallest peaks, rescued friends, and recovered bodies from altitudes above 8000m, including K2 — all while leading on the front lines and filming in hostile environments. Through all of this, he came to realize that these extreme adventures serve as mirrors to the true mountains we are climbing inside ourselves.

  In this deeply personal presentation, he interweaves stories of reconciling childhood wounds, and, ultimately, his broken relationship with himself, to help audiences understand the transformative power of nature, the dangers of buying into trends and the facades of the online world, and the importance of fostering values, ethics, and remaining true to who we are.

  With the use of props, HD video, and soundtracks, Saikaly brings the beauty and danger of Everest to life. His presentation explores themes such as fitness, wellness, goal setting, teamwork, courage, calculated risks, resilience, believing in oneself, and giving back to society.