Jim Davidson Biography

Jim Davidson is a resilience expert and professional speaker who provides presentations about personal resilience, resilient teamwork and resilient leadership. He speaks to top-quality organizations like Marriott, National Geographic, US Army, Nokia, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, OppenheimerFunds, and more.

Jim shares stories, lessons and techniques for overcoming adversity and reaching high goals. Jim has presented inspirational keynotes and workshops at international sales conferences, leadership retreats, and corporate meetings for 14 years.

Jim co-authored the New York Times best-selling survival memoir, “The Ledge: An Inspirational Story of Friendship and Survival”.  The Ledge was picked one of the Best Books of the Year by Amazon and it won the National Outdoor Book Award for Outdoor Literature.

The Ledge tells the epic story of how Jim escaped alone from being trapped 80 feet down inside a glacial crevasse.  His survival story is so amazing that it was also made into a one-hour episode of the hit international TV show “I Shouldn’t Be Alive” on the Discovery Channel.  Written with Kevin Vaughan, The Ledge is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook (narrated by Jim).

Jim summited Mount Everest in 2017. He has been a climber and expedition leader for over 37 years.  Jim has climbed high peaks on five continents, from Argentina to Nepal, and from Tanzania to Tibet.

With his teammates, Jim has conducted multiple rescues of sick and injured climbers. Twice Jim has been recognized by the US National Park service for his successful volunteer rescue efforts.

Jim survived earthquakes and avalanches on Mt. Everest in 2015. He shared his incredible experiences and insights from that with National Geographic, CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, Smithsonian Channel, PBS and many other media. He is a member of The Explorers Club and the American Alpine Club.

Jim has worn LOWA boots for 29 years and he is proud to be an ambassador for LOWA.

Before becoming a professional keynote speaker, Jim worked 20 years as an environmental geologist (B.S. & M.S. degrees) cleaning up oil and gasoline spills. Jim facilitated scientific workshops and training sessions for Shell Oil, U.S. EPA, BP and many other corporations & governmental agencies.

Jim helped teach about 800 elementary school kids how to rock climb. He has co-led university students on ice climbing trips and international expeditions. Originally from Massachusetts, he worked there as an industrial painter of high-voltage electrical towers. He is fortunate to have two adventurous kids and an enthusiastic hiking partner named Jake the Wonder Dog.  Jim lives in Colorado with his very tolerant wife!

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Jim Davidson's expertise is in high demand. To book Jim Davidson for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Jim Davidson's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Jim Davidson's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Jim Davidson for your next speaking engagement.