About

Tom is a Storyteller, an Adventurer, a Business Owner, and a Father:

For over 20 years, he has shared his experiences of extraordinary adventures: getting lost on the Matterhorn, running out of oxygen on Everest, riding a Penny Farthing across the Outer Hebrides, flying a powered paraglider into the Venezuelan jungle or riding the ‘South Downs Way’ on one wheel.

I often hear people say, “I’d love to but…

I haven’t got time; I can’t be bothered,; I can’t afford it; I’m not good enough; I’m not clever enough; I’m too tired”

Some people just love to give excuses. It’s easy.

Or they set themselves a huge challenge, to then become overwhelmed with the scale of it and quit.

Or they are afraid to fail so they instead think of an easier challenge and the bar is lowered.

Better to keep the bar high and to keep trying until you succeed. Then, when you do succeed, raise the bar a bit more. This is how your full potential is reached.

Fear of failure is a common barrier for individuals and organisations alike, preventing them from seizing opportunities or even starting their journey. The unknown can seem intimidating, leaving many stuck in a cycle of hesitation and uncertainty, unable to reach their potential.

Without a clear vision, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to move forward, or paralysed by the fear of failure. This holds organisations back from innovation, growth, and team success. Stagnation erodes productivity, morale, and future opportunities.

The solution is a mindset shift. Tom encourages people to say yes, thereby creating opportunities, and removing barriers. Failure is part of the journey – it’s how we learn, grow, and ultimately succeed. With vision, a supportive team, and a willingness to embrace challenges, there is nothing you can’t achieve.

Tom’s talks inspire teams to:

Embrace Opportunities: Take some calculated risks, step outside your comfort zone, and build resilience.

Foster Teamwork & Collaboration: Practical strategies to create a united, efficient team.

Cultivate Accountability & Integrity: Building high-performance teams with kindness, fun, and mutual support.

Why not let Tom help your organisation unlock its potential and take that first step?

For speaking enquiries, please email tom@tomclowes.com or connect with him on LinkedIn HERE.

“A superb presentation well prepared, well delivered with an excellent storyline which interwove earlier experiences with a casual humour. The audience and I were particularly impressed by your very honest and forthright manner and were overawed and inspired by incredible photographs and video footage. An excellent presentation summarising an amazing achievement a highly self-motivated individual. Thank you”

ExxonMobil International Ltd

Testimonials can be found HERE.

Tom’s approach:

Powerful and inspiring, drawing from his numerous adventures and experiences in the mountains and beyond. His messages come from real-life challenges, pushing boundaries, and learning to thrive under pressure and not to stress, one small step at a time. His key themes resonate with many people and organisations, focusing on personal growth, teamwork, and mutual respect.

Tom can work with you, if needed, and customise his talk, depending on your audience, the event themes and the duration. He can speak for a brief 20 minutes or he can go into greater detail and speak for a full 90 minutes.

Tom always insists on arriving early and in good time to do a technical check which can be done the day before if he is speaking first thing in the morning. He prefers to send his powerpoint presentation to you in advance of the event to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Some fun facts about Tom:

He is training to row the Atlantic Ocean in the WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW in December 2025.
He has ridden the Crest Run in St Moritz and fallen at ‘Shuttlecock Corner’, He has the tie to prove it!
He has a BA International Business Studies Degree with Spanish and lived in Madrid for a year.
He has two passports (English and French).
He used to work as a bicycle Courier in London – he gave up after 2 accidents.
He has cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End – he broke 3 spokes but never got a puncture!
He has climbed Ama Dablam (Himalayas) – the most beautiful mountain in the world?
Tom and his brother Ben were the first British Brothers to stand on the summit of Everest together. This was their second attempt.
He has a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD with 139 others for the longest Penny Farthing ‘Stack’.
He has sailed back to England in KWAI MULI, (a 30.5″ sloop) from the Azores with friends and also sailed DUET, (a 50” wooden gaff rigged yawl) back from Santander in Northern Spain.
He can do the Rubik’s Cube, he loves to knit and he owns 3 unicycles.
He is married and has two children – the greatest adventure of all!