Sophie Lavaud | English
Holding Swiss, French and Canadian citizenship, I settled in Geneva over twenty years ago. Having worked twelve years in the hotel industry, I continued my career in the luxury and cosmetics industry before running an event management company with my brother. Today I devote most of my time to Himalayan mountaineering while also giving lectures and being a consultant in external affairs for the coaching institute futura21.
On June 26, 2023, I reached the summit of Nanga Parbat (8126m), giving me the new nickname of “112’000 Lady”, my fourteenth summit over 8000 metres after K2, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Gasherbrum I & II, Broad Peak, Manaslu and Everest, Annapurna, Kangchenjunga, Dhaulagiri and ShishaPangma.
With this fourteenth summit, I become THE first French climber (man and woman) to have climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000 m peaks, the first Swiss woman and THE first Canadian.
My great dream has come true and the Grail has been reached!!
In realizing my dreams, I try to help women especially in Nepal and Pakistan to achieve theirs.
This year, as ambassador of Terre des hommes, I am involved in a project in Nepal named “Prayaas”. It contributes to improve maternal and newborn survival in perinatal period through a blend of on-site capacity building activities for auxiliary nurse midwives, strengthening of an enabling environment for service delivery in rural birthing centres and community outreach activities.
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
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 projection “Everest, Summit of desire” or “K2, Une journée particulière” by François Damilano with Sophie Lavaud.
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 by the North East ridge, 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
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, Léman Bleu, France 3 Alpes, LaTélé, France Bleue, One FM, Radio Cité, Dukascopy TV, 8 Mont-Blanc, MBLive TV.
blobs abd social medias : Danone, Downtoearth, Millet, Libération – chroniques du K2, Petzl, LedLenser…
FILMS
« Lady 8000 » 90 min – production RTS Swiss TV by Lisa Röösli
« 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
« Une femme, sept sommets, dix secrets » Co-writers Sophie Lavaud and Didier Chambaretaud – Editions Favre – March 2019
Contributor : « Mythologies Alpines » JMEditions.
CONFERENCES, PUBLIC TALKS
TEDxIESEG Paris / TEDx Paris « La meilleure façon d’atteindre le sommet » / 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 volonteer of Terre des hommes – helping children worldwide
Ambassador for the RTS La 1ere radio show “Altitudes”
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
