From the Magnetic North Pole to the Boardroom: Sue Stockdale on Leading Through Uncertainty, Building Global Podcasts, and the Explorer Mindset
In 1996, Sue Stockdale became the first British woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole, selected from 500 applicants despite being a novice Arctic explorer. Since then, she's traversed some of the world's most extreme environments—from Antarctica to Greenland, Patagonia to the Wadi Rum desert—and translated those expedition lessons into over two decades of executive coaching for CEOs and senior leaders at FTSE 250 and Fortune 500 companies.
Through her work, more than 15,000 leaders have transformed their thinking through Sue's leadership development programs, coaching, and speaking. She's also an author of several books, including Explore: A Life of Adventure, and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in 2024 for her contributions to exploration and inspiration.
In 2019, Sue co-founded Access to Inspiration podcast with her husband Clive Steeper, which has grown to rank in the top 5% of podcasts globally, featuring guests from over 30 countries—from acrobats to astronauts. Through her keynotes, coaching practice, and content platforms, Sue helps leaders develop what she calls the "explorer mindset"—the courage to embrace uncertainty, adapt to change, and lead boldly in unknown territory.
We spoke with Sue about translating polar expedition lessons into practical leadership frameworks, making decisions under pressure with incomplete information, and building a globally recognized podcast from scratch.
From Athlete to Arctic Explorer – Building the Mindset for Extreme Challenges
You became the first British woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole in 1996, selected from 500 applicants despite being a "novice Arctic explorer." For female entrepreneurs facing their own extreme challenges—launching businesses, pivoting during crises, or entering unfamiliar industries—what framework did you use to prepare mentally and physically for something you’d never done before? How do you distinguish between healthy discomfort that leads to growth versus reckless risk-taking, and what advice would you give women who feel they're "not qualified enough" to pursue ambitious goals?
Mentally, I visualise the outcome: I imagine the goal completed and how it feels to have achieved it. I think about what I will see, hear, and experience at the moment of success. Then, I start from what’s known—the knowledge, skills, or experiences I already have, perhaps from other projects or life situations, that can help. From there, it’s about taking incremental steps, reflecting, learning, and moving forward. No challenge is too great when you break it down and keep progressing.
Healthy discomfort pushes you to grow. As author Susan Jeffers says, “Feel the fear and do it anyway,” which keeps you just outside your comfort zone. Spend time with people who support and encourage you rather than naysayers. Have a mantra to return to; for me, it was, “If it’s meant to be, I will find a way to get there.”
Reckless risk ignores preparation and leaves you exposed. My rule of thumb: if you have the skills, a plan, and a support system, it’s growth. If not, it’s gambling. Remember, no matter what happens—success or failure—you will have learned something.
For women feeling “not qualified enough,” remember qualification isn’t always experience. It’s courage, curiosity, and the willingness to learn. Surround yourself with mentors, test yourself incrementally, and trust that readiness comes with action.
Translating Polar Expedition Lessons to Executive Leadership
You’ve spent 25 years coaching CEOs and board-level executives at FTSE 250 and Fortune 500 companies, helping over 15,000 leaders apply expedition lessons to business. For female founders building leadership skills, what are the most practical, non-obvious lessons from polar exploration that actually transfer to running a business? How do you coach leaders to make decisions under pressure when they don’t have all the information, and what do extreme environments teach about team dynamics that corporate settings often miss?
In the Arctic, there is nothing to hide behind, literally—so authenticity is key. Being a leader requires the same. No one expects you to know all the answers; what is most valuable is knowing what questions to ask to help others think and learn for themselves. A leader must be observant—notice how people behave, how the market changes, and adapt accordingly. Observation and attention to detail are vital both in the Arctic and in business.
Leading a polar expedition is brutally clear: decisions must be made under pressure with incomplete information. You learn to trust instincts, analyse what’s controllable, and adapt quickly. That translates directly to business.
Teams in extreme environments also teach lessons corporate settings often miss: trust, accountability, and clarity of purpose are everything. Small misalignments get magnified quickly, so you learn to have difficult conversations when necessary and not avoid them. Celebrating small wins keeps morale and momentum alive.
Building a Top 5% Global Podcast from Nothing – The Access to Inspiration Journey
You co-founded Access to Inspiration in 2019 with your husband Clive Steeper, and it’s now ranked in the top 5% of podcasts globally, featuring guests from 25+ countries. For female entrepreneurs building content platforms or media projects, how did you grow a podcast from zero to global recognition? What’s your framework for securing diverse, high-quality guests (from acrobats to astronauts), and how do you balance creating valuable content with building a sustainable business model around it?
When Clive and I started Access to Inspiration, our goal was simple: share stories that inspire action. We started small, focusing on guests who were often first-time podcasters but had a passion or interesting experience to share. My role as host is to listen, hold the space, and allow the guest to be truly heard—then they light up. That’s where the magic comes from.
Our growth framework involves producing regular, high-quality episodes and actively seeking a range of diverse guests from different backgrounds, countries, and experiences. We follow curiosity: interesting episodes often emerge when the guest isn’t trying to sell something or is a regular podcaster who knows exactly what they want to say, rather than just letting the story unfold. We make sure every guest feels invested in the conversation, not just the platform. We also learn iteratively from metrics and listener feedback, refining without losing authenticity.
Balancing content and sustainability comes from prioritising quality over monetization initially, then exploring complementary revenue streams such as partnerships.
My advice for female entrepreneurs building content platforms: start small, stay authentic, nurture relationships, and be patient. Curiosity, consistency, and courage can open doors you never imagined. Long-term authority comes from consistently delivering value, not shortcuts.
Are you a woman leader with an inspiring journey to tell? Founded by Women is on a mission to elevate and amplify the voices of women making an impact.
If you're breaking barriers, driving change, or paving the way for others, we’d love to feature your story. Get in touch with us today!
👉 hi@foundedbywomen.org
