Trainer Bio

Since 1999, Jake Norton has been inspiring audiences around the world, from Colorado to Kathmandu, and everywhere in between. Jake’s work has been featured in National Geographic, Discovery, PBS-NOVA, and more, and his speaking clients include Google, Microsoft, Ford, Shell, Ritz-Carlton, and countless other multinational, regional, and local corporations and organizations.

A Renaissance man at heart, Jake wears many hats in life. He started climbing big mountains at age 12, began guiding professionally at age 18, and went to Everest for his first time (of 8 total expeditions) at 25. He is a top adventure photographer, shooting an assignment on all 7 continents. As a filmmaker, Jake has shot, directed, and produced 2 award-winning documentaries, and many other short films and documentaries for PBS, NOVA, Discovery, and others. Jake is also an activist and philanthropist, having used his climbs and expeditions to raise nearly $500,000 for water and education-focused nonprofits. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations’ Mountain Partnership, and has a vast following on social media and blog channels.

A gifted storyteller, Jake incorporates his award-winning photography and film in his presentations, bringing audiences out of their seats and into the adventure with him. 

Jake’s keynotes are tailored to the unique needs and desired outcomes of each audience, ensuring his message resonates with the perspectives and aspirations of his listeners. In his signature keynote, Getting FITT: Climb Your Everest, they explore the four keys to success and how these apply to the Everest in their lives: Fear, Instinct, Teamwork, and Tenacity. Along with his signature keynote, Jake offers presentations on the Ethics of Everest and the legendary Lost on Everest: the Mystery of Mallory & Irvine.

Some of the topics Jake brings to his presentations include:

• The historic discovery of George Mallory’s remains at 27,000 feet on Everest in 1999
• Eight expeditions to Everest, including 3 summits, 6 major film projects, and countless historic discoveries high on the mountain (above 8000 meters)
• Retracing the Ganges River in India from source to sea, and telling its story in an award-winning documentary Holy (un)Holy River (Amazon Prime)
• Filming and discovering 3000-year-old human remains in cliffside burial caves in Mustang, Nepal, for a PBS NOVA documentary on the earliest humans to settle at high altitude (Secrets of the Sky Tombs)
• Retracing the historic 1916 footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton across South Georgia Island
• Leading the first American ascent of Gurla Mandhata, a 25,800-foot peak in remote western Tibet

Some of Jake’s clients include:

• Google
• RE/MAX
• Microsoft
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Coca-Cola
• Pfizer
• Shell
• Ford
• Vail Resorts
• SC Johnson
• Discovery
• Johnson Controls
• Morgan Stanley

Jake has been featured on:

• National Geographic
• United Nations
• NPR
• Matador Network
• The Travel Channel
• Discovery Channel
• Nova
• Outside