Laura Kennington is a British adventure athlete, author and speaker who turns daring solo adventures into lessons students can use in school, sports and everyday life.
She has solo kayaked sections of Russia’s Volga River, solo cycled 1,600 miles along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, run 100 miles across Fuerteventura in four days, and completed a 3,700-mile solo cycle from Scotland to Norway. Her book, Kairos, explores these adventures and the ancient Greek idea of seizing the right moment instead of waiting for perfect conditions.
Growing up on a farm in Suffolk, Laura developed an early curiosity about the outdoors and a determination that later fuelled her adventures. Today, she inspires young people to take on challenges with courage, overcome setbacks and discover what they are truly capable of when they push beyond their comfort zones. Her talks combine storytelling, humour and practical tips to show students how the mindset skills that helped her through thousands of miles can also help them succeed in all areas of their lives
Focus: Starting and facing fear.
This talk is about the moment before you act: the hesitation, self-doubt and nerves that everyone experiences. Laura shares stories from her solo adventures to show how courage isn’t about not feeling fear, it’s about moving forward anyway.
Students will learn to:
Focus: Persistence and grit over time.
This session is about the long haul: how to keep going when progress is slow, setbacks happen, or challenges feel overwhelming. Using examples from multi-week challenges, Laura teaches practical ways to stay motivated and bounce back.
Students will learn to:
Focus: Mindset under uncertainty and turning challenges into action.
This session emphasizes flexibility, problem-solving, and responding positively when things don’t go to plan. Drawing on the Greek concept of kairos, Laura shows how to make the most of each situation, even in adversity.
Students will learn to:
We loved Laura coming in and speaking to all of us. The group definitely enjoyed speaking to Laura on a 1-1 basis after the session and telling her about all their adventures which I am sure happens a lot.
Laura is an inspirational and accomplished speaker. She has undertaken some amazing adventures and provides practical insights and knowledgeable advice on her achievements to date, in a highly personable and engaging way.
