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Lara Vafiadis is a dynamic, engaging, and inspirational speaker whose story of resilience, adventure, and determination captivates audiences around the world. Best known for her extraordinary 3,000-mile solo row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2022 as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, Lara has become a symbol of courage and perseverance. Completing the gruelling expedition unsupported in 98 days and 22 hours, she pushed herself to the very limits of physical and mental endurance, raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK, Plan International UK, and Our Only World. Her remarkable achievement and passion for empowerment make her an exceptional speaker for those seeking motivation, purpose, and resilience in the face of challenge.
Lara’s career began long before her record-setting voyage, shaped by a spirit of curiosity and adventure. After starting out in customer service at the John Lewis Partnership, she explored a variety of paths from yacht crewing and skippering to art dealing and property negotiation, each role enriching her understanding of teamwork and leadership. In 2015, she transitioned into technology, entering the fast-paced world of sales and cybersecurity. Her early experiences taught her adaptability, persistence and confidence, qualities that later defined both her professional and personal journeys.
Over the past eight years, Lara has established herself as a respected professional in cybersecurity and cloud sales. Her career has spanned prominent roles at Cisco, Deep Instinct, and Conceal, before becoming New Business Sales Hunter and Event Speaker at Netpremacy Global Services in 2024. There, she helps organisations modernise operations through Google Cloud technologies while championing online safety and women in technology. Alongside her corporate success, Lara continues to share her experiences as a motivational speaker, using her Atlantic journey to inspire audiences about the power of resilience, mindset, and self-belief.
Lara is hired as a speaker because she embodies what it means to face fear and thrive beyond it. Her talks blend adventure and authenticity, drawing parallels between the high seas and high-performance environments. Whether addressing corporate teams, educational institutions, or leadership events, Lara motivates audiences to navigate uncertainty with confidence, challenge their limits, and pursue their goals with passion and purpose.
Lara Vafiadis is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Lara was an exceptional speaker – inspiring, authentic, and deeply engaging. Her story captivated the room, and her reflections on resilience offered powerful, practical takeaways that resonated on both a personal and professional level. She brought warmth, energy, and a real sense of purpose to the session. We’d highly recommend Lara for any organisation looking to inspire and motivate their teams.”
“Having Lara speak at our event was an unforgettable experience. As the 23rd woman to row the ocean solo, her story of perseverance, courage, and resilience was nothing short of inspiring. While her journey wasn’t directly tied to cybersecurity, the lessons she shared about mindset, grit, and pushing through adversity deeply resonated with our audience of cyber leaders. She had a remarkable ability to connect with the room, and her authenticity and energy left a lasting impression on everyone. Her message was a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t just built in stormy seas—it’s forged in the everyday challenges we all face. We were honoured to have her and would highly recommend her to any organisation looking to inspire and energise their audience”
“Lara is a truly remarkable person and exceptionally gifted and engaging and inspiring an audience. There are few people that have achieved incredible things and can convey themselves brilliantly to a bunch of strangers. Lara is in that precious minority and the presentation she gave at IT Leaders was moving, powerful and fabulous. Thank you Lara and may others get as lucky as we were to hear you share your story”
“Lara is an absolute inspiration to us all. The challenges she has taken and the personal nature and stories behind then bring a tear to the eye. She is also a fantastic keynote speaker if you need the wow factor at an event!”
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