In the turbulent and stormy environment in which we are currently obliged to operate our businesses, let Peter motivate your team to use the storms to your advantage and widen the gap on your competitors. Allow him to share the story of how he overcame incredible obstacles to achieve success in one of the toughest environments on the planet – the Atlantic Ocean.

Pete speaks with great passion, addressing the issue of vision, planning, teamwork, strategy, conflict management, working in a stormy environment, disciple and perseverance.

Since Pete van Kets and Bill Godfrey tackled and won the pairs category in the Woodvale Trans-Atlantic Rowing Challenge of 2007/08, Peter van Kets has turned his experience into a fascinating career as a motivational speaker. His account of their experiences entitled "Getting out of the Grandstand and into the Arena" has fascinated and thrilled audiences from London to Cape Town.
 
It is indeed a fascinating story, two men against the ocean in a rowing boat unsupported, attempting to cross an ocean. It is more than a story of incredible guts and determination however as Peter has been able to take the lessons learned from the experience such as planning, goal setting, conflict management, tenacity and woven these elements into his riveting talk.

Audience feedback has been tremendous and audiences of between 20 and 400 have given him standing ovations. To book Pete for your next function, please send an enquiry here.

Here is what some of Pete’s clients had to say:

Excellent! I feel as though a light has been lit within me! I needed to be here today! Kirsty Jefferys
One of the most interesting speakers I have ever experienced. Thelma Finnegan
Thanks for a memorable presentation at our annual Managers Awards function. It was indeed inspirational and an indication of what can be achieved with focus, dedication, commitment, trust, believe and support. I wish you well with your next challenge and have no doubts that if you tackle it with the same attitude that you will make a success. Thys Möller, General Manager (Southern Region), ESKOM
Pete's talk was hugely inspiring and rattled two cages for me. The first being the harsh reality that virtually every quest that I have ever undertaken pales by comparison and secondly it posed me with the futuristic question of what on earth I could do that would be as significantly rewarding and challenging? He is a modest motivator who has instilled some great enthusiasm in my team. Gary van Rooyen, General Manager, New Balance South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Peter van Kets and Bill Godfrey's epic race is currently the appropriate example to inspire all South Africans to face our challenges - and succeed! Niels Andersen, Manufacturing Operations Manager, Mercedes-Benz of South Africa (Pty) Ltd

In May 2008 Peter had the privilege to speak to the inaugural function for a businesswomens’ organisation started by entrepreneur Patti Graham. The following are some of the comments received at this occasion:

Excellent! Encouraging, preparing me to stick on my mission to make a difference in other peoples lives. Vuyiswa Ngoyi
Peter your talk could not have come at a better time for me. Lauren Smith
O my word! Incredible. Leslie (Wineweb)
Thank you for speaking to the core and heart of my dreams and vision for the future. Lindie Erasmus
Absolutely brilliant. Wendy Reay
 
A true inspiration and a wake up call to our hidden abilities. Well done! Debbie Sherman (Alliance Group)
Amazing story and a great parallel to business. Rob Miller 
Excellent! Very motivating and you couldn't have spoken better. Well done! Belinda Lewis
Overwhelmed and I hope to find that courage to practise what you have experienced! Lerato Khabutlane
Absolutely amazing. Just what I needed to hear and thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Robbie Williams
Great Speaker! Pete has given me a new focus on how to run my business. Theresa Prinsloo
Excellent! I feel as though a fire has been lit within me! I needed to be here today! Kirsty Jeffreys 
 
Organisations that have hosted Pete
ESKOM - Price Waterhouse Coopers - Deloittes - Dunlop - CAPESTORM - New Balance SA - Mercedes Benz SA - Pam Golding - Engen - Spar - Schenker SA - Garmin SA (Avnic Trading) - Mitsubishi - Citrix - Smith Tabata - African Bank - SABS - Sovereign Foods - Real People Holdings - Century 21 - Du Toit & Strombeck - Fine and Country - Rotary SA ... [your company’s name could be here!]

Schools
Selborne College - Kingswood College - Clarendon - Lilyfontein College - SA college Schools (Sacs) - Kings School - St Albans - Michaelhouse - Treveton - Uplands College - St Georges ... [your school’s name could be here]

About Pete

Peter van Kets, 43, confirmed hero of his wife and daughter and adrenaline-seeking adventurer par excellence, has spent the last four decades either in or on the ocean in his capacity as fisherman, diver, body boarder (South African champion), surfer, yachtsman, paddler and now ocean rower. He is a certified yachtmaster and highly competent navigator, has completed many ocean crossings as skipper and has competed in most major SA yachting events winning South African titles and offshore series. His favourite sports are kayaking and surf ski racing and he has participated in countless races winning a silver medal at the SA Marathon Champs and enduring the grueling 255 km Port Elizabeth to East London Surf Ski Challenge.

Pete is also a qualified adventure instructor and is certified to instruct in rock climbing, abseiling, adventure racing, white water kayaking, etc. He has organized a number of major sporting events in the Eastern Cape including five South African inter-schools and corporate adventure races. He was voted the Daily Dispatch’s Newsmaker of the Year 2009, was awarded the Premier’s Award as Eastern Cape Sports Star of the Year 2007 and was runner-up, with Bill Godfrey for the Salomon/Out There/Adventure Zone Sportsman of the Year award 2008.

Pete grew up in Windhoek, completed his high school at Camps Bay High and then set out to travel the world. He obtained a teaching diploma in Cape Town and began his career in education at South African College Schools (SACS) where he started the SACS Outdoor Adventure Leadership Club. He left teaching for a while to try his hand at human resources and corporate training before relocating to the Eastern Cape where he founded Inyathi African Safaris, and owned and operated a paddling school (33’ South). Thereafter he returned to education for a five-year stint at Lilyfontein School. These days, when he is not rowing, Pete is a motivational speaker who is in demand as much for his impressive bio and his self-deprecating humour as his inspiring and entertaining presentations.

Why ocean rowing? Well, when his 218th freefall parachute jump failed to produce more than a mild buzz of excitement and having overcome his prejudice against rowers (why don’t they look where they are going?) he set off from La Gomera with Bill Godfrey in December 2007. The pair won that race, after rowing Gquma Challenger 5,350 km across the Atlantic Ocean in 50 days. After vowing never to do it again, Pete found himself preparing for the next race as a solo rower, on Liberty Nyamezela. And he still thinks he’s ‘not a rower’.