Sophie Lavaud conference
On June 26, 2023, Sophie Lavaud made Himalayan history by climbing the 14th peak over 8000 meters on the planet, Nanga Parbat (8127m) in Pakistan.
She is the first Swiss woman in history to achieve this feat.
From Hospitality to the Himalayas: An Astonishing Journey
Sophie Lavaud is a mountaineer who surprises with her atypical career. Born in Lausanne in 1968, she worked for more than 20 years in the luxury hotel and cosmetics industry, then ran an event management company in the finance sector with her brother. It was only later that Sophie Lavaud discovered a passion for mountaineering.
From Mont-Blanc to the Quest for the Highest Peaks
Her love for altitude indeed began in 2004, when she climbed Mont-Blanc. Since then, she has never stopped dreaming higher.
After climbing Everest in 2014, Sophie Lavaud’s goal became clear: to conquer the other peaks over 8000 meters. She then decided to dedicate 100% of her time to this project.
The Quest for 14×8000: Determination and Resilience to Achieve Her Goal
In June 2023, after 11 years and 22 expeditions, Sophie Lavaud completed her challenge, earning her the new nickname « 112,000 Lady. » Filmmaker and high mountain guide François Damilano followed her during this 40-day ascent, resulting in the documentary « Sophie Lavaud: The Last Summit. » This film offers viewers an unprecedented immersion into the extreme world of high-altitude mountaineering, close to the mountaineer Sophie Lavaud.
Beyond the Summits: Committed to Humanity
Mountaineer with a Big Heart
Sophie Lavaud is an ambassador for the NGO Terre des hommes and supports projects close to her heart in the countries where her expeditions take place. Additionally, as an ambassador for Recco®, she organizes training sessions in Nepal and Pakistan to raise awareness among sherpas and high-altitude porters about avalanche risks.
Languages spoken by the speaker
- English
- French
Sophie delivers various conferences in French-speaking countries (including French-speaking Switzerland) and around the world in English.
Learn from a Himalayan mountaineer
Learn from the experiences of a renowned mountaineer With UnoMe.
Sophie’s conferences and workshops weave links between the world of Himalayan mountain climbing and company life using story-telling or themes such as individual and collective motivation, followership and leadership.
Sophie Lavaud's achievements
Her 14 x 8 000
2023: Shishapangma (8027 m, Tibet) and Nanga Parbat (8126 m, Pakistan)
2022: Lhotse – 8516 m
2022: Manaslu (main summit) – 8163 m
2021: Dhaulagiri – 8167 m
2019: Annapurna 1 – 8091 m
2019: Kangchenjunga – 8586 m
2019: Gasherbrum 1 – 8068 m
2018: K2 – 8611 m
2017: Manaslu – 8163 m
2017: Broad Peak – 8051 m
2016: Makalu – 8485 m
2015: Gasherbrum II – 8035 m
2014: Everest – 8850 m
2012: Cho Oyu – 8201 m
2012: Shishapangma (central summit) – 8027 m
Films
– « Sophie Lavaud – Le dernier sommet », directed by François Damilano (2024)
– Film RTS – Passe-moi les jumelles –« Sophie Lavaud – Lady 8000 », directed by Lisa Röösli (2021 )
https://pages.rts.ch/emissions/passe-moi-les-jumelles/12592284-sophie-lavaud-lady-8000.html
– « On a marché sur l’Everest », directed par François Damilano (2014)
– « K2, une journée particulière », directed par François Damilano (2017)
Book
Sophie Lavaud is the co-author of the book “A Woman, Seven Summits, Ten Secrets,” (« Une femme, sept sommets, dix secrets ») published in 2019 by Editions Favre.