Rick Ridgeway
Keynote Speaker: Environmentalist, Mountaineer, Expedition Author, Former VP of Environmental Initiatives & Special Projects at Patagonia
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Rick Ridgeway Biography
Rick Ridgeway is a mountaineer, environmentalist, author, and filmmaker. He served as the VP of Environmental Affairs and, later, VP of Public Engagement at Patagonia from 2005 until his retirement in 2020. He had a significant role in the company’s mission to cause no unnecessary harm and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. He was instrumental in launching several environmental and sustainability initiatives, such as Freedom to Roam, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to protect wildlife cores and corridors.
Before joining Patagonia, Ridgeway was the founding Chairman of The Sustainable Apparel Coalition and he developed the Higg Index. He also had a successful business career, including being a retained consultant for the Kelty Pack Company and launching Adventure Photo & Film, a leading stock photo and film agency. As part of the original Seven Summits expeditions in the early '80s, Ridgeway explored little-known regions around the world and made significant contributions to mountaineering.
Recognized as one of the world's foremost mountaineers, Ridgeway was part of the 1978 team that were the first Americans to summit K2. He has authored seven books, including "A Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map," which received the National Outdoor Book Awards in 2022, and "The Last Step: The American Ascent of K2." His work has also appeared in publications such as Outside, National Geographic Magazine, and Harvard Business Review. As a filmmaker, he has produced and directed numerous adventure films, including co-producing "180° South: Conquerors of the Useless," and has been a recipient of awards such as the Golden Eagle Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Award, and an Emmy for the film "Everest."
Ridgeway's commitment to environmentalism extends beyond his work at Patagonia. He served as a board member of Earth Day Network and the Kiewit Family Foundation, and a member of the World Wildlife Fund National Council and the National Geographic Expeditions Council. His efforts in adventure and environmentalism have earned him prestigious awards such as the Halprin Award for Best Writing from the American Alpine Club, the "Lifetime Achievement in Adventure" award from National Geographic in 2008, and the Explorers Medal from the Explorers Club in 2022.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Rick Ridgeway and other top speakers and celebrities.
Rick Ridgeway Speaking Topics
In his 30-minute presentation Protect the Planet: Protect Your Business, Rick uses a mix of photographs, video clips and animated graphics to take his audience through the five decades of his climbing and exploring life: his attempt but failure on Everest when he was 26 years old; his success two years later when he became the first American to summit K2, the world’s hardest peak; his loss two years after that when, on a remote peak in China, he was caught in an avalanche and his best friend died in this arms. Rick buried him on the mountain and went home and into a deep introspection whether to continue climbing, whether the risks, now palpable, justified the rewards.
He summarizes this business value in four strategic principles:
- A commitment to high-value products and services created with no unnecessary harm to people and planet.
- A commitment to full transparency.
- A commitment to work-life balance for all the company’s employees
- A commitment to philanthropy—to giving back to people and planet.
Rick Ridgeway Videos
How do I book Rick Ridgeway to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Rick Ridgeway for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Rick Ridgeway, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Rick Ridgeway or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Rick Ridgeway for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Rick Ridgeway, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Rick Ridgeway are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Rick Ridgeway, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Rick Ridgeway speak about?
Rick Ridgeway is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Ethics & Integrity, Environment, Sustainability, Authors, Environmental Policy, Environmental Activism, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Leadership, Adventure, Climbing, Energy, Animals & Wildlife, Earth Day, Conservation, Science, Inspirational, Art, Photography, Business and Finance.
Where does Rick Ridgeway travel from?
Rick Ridgeway generally travels from Ventura, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Rick Ridgeway?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Rick Ridgeway for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Rick Ridgeway for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Rick Ridgeway or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Rick Ridgeway is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Ethics & Integrity, Environment and Sustainability. The estimated speaking fee range to book Rick Ridgeway for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Rick Ridgeway generally travels from Ventura, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Alexandra Cousteau, Erin Brockovich and Sylvia Earle. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Rick Ridgeway for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Rick Ridgeway Speaking Topics
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PROTECT THE PLANET: PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS
In his 30-minute presentation Protect the Planet: Protect Your Business, Rick uses a mix of photographs, video clips and animated graphics to take his audience through the five decades of his climbing and exploring life: his attempt but failure on Everest when he was 26 years old; his success two years later when he became the first American to summit K2, the world’s hardest peak; his loss two years after that when, on a remote peak in China, he was caught in an avalanche and his best friend died in this arms. Rick buried him on the mountain and went home and into a deep introspection whether to continue climbing, whether the risks, now palpable, justified the rewards.
He summarizes this business value in four strategic principles:
- A commitment to high-value products and services created with no unnecessary harm to people and planet.
- A commitment to full transparency.
- A commitment to work-life balance for all the company’s employees
- A commitment to philanthropy—to giving back to people and planet.
VIDEO
Rick Ridgeway Videos
BOOKS
NEWS
Rick Ridgeway News
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Questions for: Rick Ridgeway - Aug. 29, 2013
The mountaineer, filmmaker, environmentalist, and head of sustainability at Patagonia searches for new ways to stay green.
FAQS
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How do I book Rick Ridgeway to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Rick Ridgeway for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Rick Ridgeway, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Rick Ridgeway or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Rick Ridgeway for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Rick Ridgeway, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Rick Ridgeway are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Rick Ridgeway, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Rick Ridgeway speak about?
Rick Ridgeway is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Ethics & Integrity, Environment, Sustainability, Authors, Environmental Policy, Environmental Activism, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Leadership, Adventure, Climbing, Energy, Animals & Wildlife, Earth Day, Conservation, Science, Inspirational, Art, Photography, Business and Finance. -
Where does Rick Ridgeway travel from?
Rick Ridgeway generally travels from Ventura, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Rick Ridgeway?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Rick Ridgeway for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Rick Ridgeway for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Rick Ridgeway or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOK RICK RIDGEWAY
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