Sophie Lavaud | English
Mountaineer, author, and speaker, known as “Lady 8000,” I am the first French person, the first Swiss woman, and the first Canadian to have climbed all 14 of the world’s peaks over 8,000 meters.
👩 A former businesswoman, based in Geneva for over 20 years, I began my career in the luxury hospitality industry, then worked in the world of cosmetics, and later co-managed an event planning company in the finance sector with my brother
🗻 Passionate about mountaineering, I turned to high-altitude mountaineering in my forties. Since then, my life has been dedicated to the Himalayas and to sharing these unique experiences.
🎤 To date, I have delivered nearly 150 conferences internationally, in both French and English, for major companies across various sectors. As a passionate mountaineer and committed speaker, I believe in the pride of the “followership”, in team spirit, and I speak on many topics related to applying lessons learned in the mountains to life and the corporate world.
📚 I have co-authored several books and have been featured in five documentary films 🎬 that recount my expeditions, including “Sophie Lavaud – The Final Summit”, directed by François Damilano.
💪 Committed beyond the summits, I support women’s empowerment projects in Nepal 🇳🇵, while working to highlight the essential role of Sherpas and to promote more responsible mountaineering with a focus on safety in the mountains.
🏅 In 2024, I was honored by the French Republic with the title of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit.
14 HIGHEST PEAKS ON EARTH
2023
Nanga Parbat – 8126 m – June 26, 2023
ShishaPangma (main summit): 8027m — April 26, 2023
2022
Manaslu 8163m main summit — October 1st, 2022
Lhotse 8516m — May 14, 2022
2021
Dhaulagiri 8167m — October 1st, 2021
2019
Gasherbrum I: 8068m — July 12, 2019
Kangchenjunga: 8585m — May 15, 2019
Annapurna I: 8091m — April 23, 2019
2018
K2: 8611m — July 21, 2018
Kangchenjunga: 8586m — abandoned attempt at 8455m
Daulaghiri: 8167m — abandoned attempt at 8455m due to the weather
2017
Manaslu: 8163m — September 26, 2017
Broad Peak: 8051m — July 11, 2017
Kangchenjunga: 8586m — abandoned attempt at 8200m
2016
Makalu: 8485m — May 23, 2016
K2: 8611m — abandoned attempt at 7500m
2015
Gasherbrum II: 8035m — July 16, 2015
Makalu: 8485m — abandoned attempt due to the hearthquake in Nepal
2014
Everest: 8850m — May 25, 2014
2012
Cho Oyu: 8201m — May 25, 2012
ShishaPangma: 8027m central summit – May 11, 2012
THE WORLD’S 7 « POLES »
2024
Antarctica — Vinson: 4892m — January 8, 2024
Africa — Mt Kenya Batian summit : 5199m — June 21, 2024
Europe — Elbruz : 5642m — July 22, 2024
Oceania — Mt Aspiring : 3033m — January 1st, 2025
2014
Asia – Everest: 8850m — May 25, 2014
2007
South America – Aconcagua: 6963m — December 31, 2007
2007
Africa – Kilimanjaro: 5895m — January 6, 2007
Training and team-building
Over the years, Sophie Lavaud becomes a motivational speaker.
She offers conferences and workshops that use her success mountaineering stories to illustrate some of the important fundamental lessons learned for overcoming obstacles.
EVENTS
Looking for a speaker ? Story-telling of her climbs in the Himalayas
Film screening “Sophie Lavaud – The final Summit” or “Lady 8000” by Lisa Röösli.
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS / TEAM-BUILDING
You need to bring out a strong message to your team ?
The MOST POPULAR CONFERENCE THEME
The “followership”: secrets of a successful climb – A dream, a project, a summit”.
This conference is all about the story of this successful ascent to the world’s highest mountain and reveals the secrets and the power of the followership.
“On behalf of the EMEA Women’s Leadership Council (EWLC), I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to you for the great presentation you have delivered! Your delivery was very engaging. By any measure you are an amazing speaker and leader!” – V. Gancheva – on behalf of HP EMEA Women`s Leadership Council team
“It is safe to say that this was our most popular and most frequented function in years.” – P. Keller Schläpfer Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Toronto
“I thoroughly enjoyed the stories you shared at the IAC. I subscribe completely to the notion that a lot can be learned in business from sports” – D. Sorio – Business strategy for startups
“You are not only dreaming your dreams, you are living them ! Congratulations. You have persuaded me to go ahead.” Eve – CWF member
References
PRESSE / TV / RADIO / WEB
Paris Match, Vertical, Le Temps, Alpine Mag, NZZ, Tribune de Genève, Bilan, Le Monde, Entreprise Romande, 30°, Le News, 24heures, Le Dauphiné Libéré, Vertical, L’illustré, VSD, Libération, La Montagne et Alpinisme, Spirit Outdoor, Sphere, Les Alpes, Montagnes Magazine, Le Matin.
TF1, RTS, France 3, Léman Bleu, France 3 Alpes, LaTélé, France Bleue, One FM, Radio Cité, Dukascopy TV, 8 Mont-Blanc, MBLive TV.
FILMS
« The Final Summit » 90 min – production Co-production Nilaya, Caravan Production by François Damilano – Chanel Canal+ & RTS – 2024
« Lady 8000 » 90 min – production RTS Swiss TV by Lisa Röösli- 2021
« Sophie Didi, K2 Summit ! » 13 min Caravan production 2018
« Everest, summit of desire » 52 min 2014 by François Damilano www.vimeo.com/ondemand/everest
« K2-Une journée particulière » 52 min 2017 by François Damilano
> Best film of Adventure at “Morrocco International film festival”
> Grand Prix – Verona Mountain Film Festival 2018
> Prix Terre Alte Monde – Temù Mountain Film Festival 2018
> Best Documentary – Winter Film Festival 2018
BOOKS
« Les quatorze 8000 de Sophie Lavaud” Co-writers Sophie Lavaud and François Damilano – Edition Glenat – September 2024
« Une femme, sept sommets, dix secrets » Co-writers Sophie Lavaud and Didier Chambaretaud – Editions Favre – March 2019
Contributor : « Mythologies Alpines » JMEditions- 2012
CONFERENCES, PUBLIC TALKS
TEDxIESEG Paris / TEDx Paris « La meilleure façon d’atteindre le sommet » / L’Oréal / Patek Philippe / Banque Pictet / FIFAD / Groupe Richemont / Pacifica / Allianz-Patrimoine / Allianz-Francfort / BCGE / Orange / TPG / Lombard Odier / UNESCO Paris / Forum des Sciences, Lille / Club du Lundi / CCI Franco- Suisse / Total Totsa Trading / Musée Olympique / Danone / Evian Resort / Hewett Pacard / Copré / Millet / W.I.N. Conference / CCI Suisse Canadienne, Toronto / Maulini / Led Lenser / Migros / CPG Genève / Club Alpin Suisse / Rotary / Salon Bitoubi / Institut futura21 / Festival Himalayen, Lausanne / Antaes / American International Club /Carrier Women Forum / Petzl / IFRC-Croix Rouge / First-FER Genève / Bächli / Caisse d’Epargne / Pictet Academy / TRIMA / Sport Quest / Crédit Agricole / Ambassador Club / Cliniques Hirslanden / UnoMe.ch / We-Champ / Festival International film & livre d’aventure, La Rochelle
Ambassador of Mountain Path Switzerland
Ambassador volonteer of Terre des hommes – helping children worldwide
Ambassador of RECCO® for Nepal and Pakistan
Technical advisor and Ambassador: Millet Mountain Group / Grivel / Tingerlaat / Altitude Eyewear / OGSO Mountain Essentials / Air’n Outdoor
Thanks to my sponsors & partners
