Award winning Keynotes That Move People and Organizations
Rex Pemberton delivers keynote presentations forged by leading teams in some of the world’s most extreme environments—and by a deep obsession with the science of how teams perform under pressure, navigate uncertainty, and thriving through change.
His award-winning work sits at the intersection of real-world adventure, business leadership, and performance science.
Rex helps leaders and organizations operate more effectively when conditions are constantly changing.
So who is REX PEMBERTON?
Rex Pemberton is trusted in environments where preparation, trust, and decision-making matter — because failure carries real consequences.
He has led two successful expeditions to the summit of Mount Everest, operating in environments where:
Priorities and conditions shift rapidly
Information is incomplete and communication is imperfect
Sustained pressure compounds risk and error
Decisions carry real, lasting consequences
These are the same dynamics leaders face during periods of transformation, rapid change, and uncertainty — when alignment matters, information is incomplete, and teams must adapt in motion.
Beyond Everest, Rex has spent decades leading teams in extreme environments across all seven continents, including pioneering human flight through the design and flight of a jet-powered carbon-fiber wingsuit.
What sets Rex apart is not the adventure — it’s what those environments forced him to study.
Rather than focusing on individual heroics, Rex became deeply focused on how teams think, decide, and perform under pressure. His work explores why capable teams sometimes fail in dynamic conditions — and what leaders can do to build trust, alignment, and decision quality when conditions refuse to stay stable.
AN OBSESSION WITH THE SCIENCE OF TEAM PERFORMANCE
Drawing on behavioral science, human performance research, and lived business experience, Rex explores:
How trust is built—and lost—under pressure
How teams process risk and uncertainty
How leaders influence decision quality in dynamic conditions
Why alignment breaks down, and how it can be restored quickly
WHAT AUDIENCES TAKE AWAY
A clearer understanding of how teams perform in rapidly changing environments
Practical insight into decision-making when conditions are unstable
A deeper appreciation of alignment, trust, preparation, and shared accountability
Frameworks to improve teamwork under pressure
Confidence in their ability to lead through uncertainty
GLOBAL RECOGNITION, EARNED CREDIBILITY
Rex has delivered keynote experiences across industries and cultures on all seven continents—from senior leadership teams to large global audiences.
His work and expeditions have been featured by ABC new, National Geographic, Australian Geographic, CBS, 60 Minutes, Sunday Morning and Outside Magazine.
Rex is a Brandon Hall Award winner for Excellence in Corporate training , recognized for translating extreme experience into practical, measurable leadership impact.
He is also a two-time National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, an honor reserved for individuals whose achievements redefine what is possible.
“Rex brought a powerful combination of energy, insight, and action to our team at Microsoft. We kicked off our collaboration with an inspiring keynote from Rex, that focused on building trust, making quick and aligned decisions, and developing resilience in the face of change, an especially timely message for our evolving organization.
That keynote set the tone for a deeper, year-long engagement where Rex helped us shift from reactive busyness to intentional living and working. His approach encouraged our team to examine how we invest our time balancing our personal passions with our professional goals. With Rex’s facilitation, we implemented simple but powerful strategies to reduce stress, optimize focus, and increase engagement.
What truly set this initiative apart was its measurable impact. From increased productivity to a noticeable lift in team morale and retention, Rex helped us create change that stuck. He is more than a speaker - he’s a catalyst for transformation.”
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