Nothing can stop Samantha Gash armed with the philosophy if you want something you’ve never had - you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.
An accomplished lawyer working for the largest international law firm in the world, Samantha traded in her heels for running shoes and went out to change the world through highly collaborative social impact campaigns. With true grit, unrelenting focus and the willingness to create the next best plan in the face of chaos and change, she has created a lasting impact. She has raised $1.5 million dollars for charities such as World Vision, Save the Children and the Australian Red Cross.
A trailblazer in the endurance world, Samantha was the first woman and the youngest person at the time, to complete the Four Deserts Grand Slam - one of the world’s toughest endurance competitions that spans 1000kms across the hottest, coldest, driest and windiest deserts on earth.
With over 25,000kms under her feet and years of pushing her mental and physical boundaries - she now uses running as a vehicle for social change through advocacy; peer to peer fundraising and integrated digital campaigns (see social impact campaigns below). In March 2020, she launched the Sam Gash Podcast - a peak performing podcast that hosts adventurers, innovators, entrepreneurs, athletes & artists.
As a highly regarded international speaker - Samantha uses authentic storytelling and dramatic documentary footage to share her journey. She is an inspiring change leader and will guide your team through managing industry disruption and learning to become comfortable in the discomfort in an engaging and memorable way.
Campaigns
In 2020: As a response to the bushfire tragedy, Samantha & Nic Davidson launched the Relief Run, a virtual e-commerce fundraising platform that engaged the global running community to run a 5km/21.1km run on a set weekend. With no celebrity or significant brand endorsement the campaign went viral. In 12 days they raised $1.1 million for the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Relief Fund with 20,000 registered participants from 96 countries.
In 2020: Samantha was one of 10 women worldwide to complete the Calendar Club (running 750kms in the month of April) to support frontline responders in the United States.
In 2016, Samantha became a Goodwill Ambassador for World Vision and used her growing platform and endurance experience to raise awareness of the barriers to quality education for Indian children. 3200kms, 77 days and $150K later, she did just that.
In 2014, Samantha co-founded Freedom Runners - an initiative that combined a fundraising and awareness campaign around the high cost of feminine hygiene products for women in Sub-Saharan Africa and its link to female absenteeism in school. Over 32 days she ran 1,968kms across South Africa’s rugged Freedom Trail, navigating her way through river crossings, mountain ranges, thick bamboo and wildlife. $55K was raised for a Save the Children initiative.
In 2012: Samantha raised $35,000 running 379kms non-stop across Australia’s Simpson Desert. Her first self devised purpose-driven expedition.
Feature Documentary, TV, Book & Awards
She is featured in two award-winning documentaries - Desert Runners and Run India; was a delegate for the Australia and India Youth Dialogue conference; has a publishing contract with Macmillan; is a Pride of Australia nominee and finalist in the Women’s Agenda leadership awards in the Agenda Setter category.
In 2020 Samantha and her husband will feature in Bear Grylls' new 10 part series on Amazon Prime called 'The World's Toughest Race'. A 700km extreme adventure race in Fiji took place in September 2019 where Samantha led a team of three men. She started the decade by launching a virtual 5km and 21.1km running event as a 100% fundraiser for the Australian Red Cross bushfire relief efforts.
Speaking topics
Passion, Purpose and Process
How can you link something you are passionate about for a purpose outside of yourself through a process of focus, leadership and collaboration? Samantha outlines her methodology in being able to push her body and mind through some of the most extreme environments. Practical tips will show you how to develop motivation and create wins by following a passion, with a purpose.
Execution - where the (shoe) rubber hits the road.
Dreaming big is important - doing is always the hard bit. Learn about the planning, risk mitigation, and continual failures that plagued Sam’s planning from well before Day 1. Learn about the importance of cultural recognition, and framing of setbacks.
A Story About Life Beyond the Comfort Zone
Find the values, risks and benefits of a life outside your comfort zone - illustrated by Samantha’s example of crossing India. True growth lies in pushing your boundaries - Samantha explains what can make you - and break you - on the paths that lie outside your comfort zone.
Composure and resilience under duress.
Find out Samantha’s formulae for maintaining clear team goals in extreme, and sometimes dangerous settings. The ultimate lesson on leading (and following) in chaos.
Successful Teams - Building and Leading a Highly Functional Team
Identifying and empowering your ‘support team’ can be the key to enabling you to achieve goals outside of your comfort zone. Find out how Samantha created a world-class ‘misfit’ team of non-runners, family, friends, and mavericks that supported her push to world record runs. Diversity, hilarity and hi-jinks were ever-present in these endeavours, and you might find some gems in her approach to team building.
Transformation
Samantha challenges people's assumptions about their mindset limitations. Offering practical examples about how to exceed their capabilities and achieve outstanding goals.
Samantha uses her 3000km from the West to East of India as an example of how to combine purpose, passion and process to create sustainable and impactful change.
Extension
Her talk EXTENSION explores the ultra mindset as a tool for moving forward. Ultrarunning is a microcosm for life. In these races, life is compressed based on the psychological challenges you experience in a relatively short time frame: fear; self-doubt; inadequacy; failure and burnout.
‘Extension’ is a state of being where we exist in an endeavour that is well beyond what we know and are comfortable with. Samantha debunks the limits to growth through personal stories and practical steps from her childhood and career as an endurance athlete and social impact entrepreneur.
Testimonials
I recently had the pleasure of listening to Samantha speak at a financial services industry function and found her to be thoroughly engaging. It is very refreshing to hear someone speak so clearly and authentically about taking on extraordinary challenges. Samantha spoke without hesitation about her passion to make a difference and was compelling and inspiring. Her aim to make an impact on women’s lives in Africa while creating employment is at once creative and meaningful. Samantha’s talk did not fail to connect with anyone who understands the importance of young women needing confidence to take opportunity in life…starting with the basics. Her feats, this purpose and the way she connects, means time with Samantha Gash is very worthwhile.
Asset Management
NAB
Samantha’s story is authentic, moving and inspirational. Her delivery was heartfelt and honest and had attendees glued to their seats. Samantha’s energy, positivity and passion is infectious and left the audience inspired by what can be achieved with determination, motivation and pushing yourself beyond where you thought you could not go.
Executive General Manager
Bankwest
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Samantha Gash on our flagship Business Forum conference. Sam is such a dynamic and engaging speaker that we were very lucky to have on our stage. Sam’s story is amazing and resonated with our audience, many of whom were members in business at the C-suite level. I have never seen so much immediate positive feedback, it left delegates feeling moved and inspired – and most importantly, actionable suggestions – on how to implement these valuable life session in corporate life.
Chartered Accountants
Samantha tells an incredible and personal story. Although her physical pursuits have been super-human, her messages to our teams are more about how much of a role the mind plays in setting and achieving goals – whether they be business or personal. She really helped my team put business issues into perspective, and helped them realise that ‘what’ we do as a business, is far less important than ‘why’ we do it.
Head of Financial Planning
ipac
Such an inspirational story that brought tears to many people’s eyes. Sam is a great speaker and has an extraordinary story to tell. She spoke about her physical and mental preparation & how she prepared for the unknown and there were many messages and takeaway tips for our people. I would not hesitate to recommend Sam.
Bupa Australia
Samantha is truly inspirational. I have seen many speakers over the years but Samantha's authentic presentation and incredible personal story has inspired me to succeed in several aspects of my life - both personally and professionally. I feel very fortunate to have heard Samantha present, she exceeded our expectations and would highly recommend her as speaker.
Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse.
