Anja Blacha is a record-holder, extreme mountaineer and polar adventurer. Her achievements set international standards and she boasts an impressive list of records. Anja Blacha (born 1990) studied economics and philosophy and worked as a manager. She took up mountaineering just over ten years ago. Since then, she has become the first German woman to conquer K2, was the youngest German woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, became the youngest German to climb all Seven Summits, and holds the world record for the longest solo, unsupported and unassisted polar expedition by a woman. One of Anja Blacha’s most impressive adventures took her to the geographic South Pole in January 2020. Alone and without outside help, she covered a distance of almost 1,400 kilometres from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole, on skis and in just 58 days. With this extraordinary achievement, she demonstrated that records are possible regardless of gender-specific prejudices. She dedicated her expedition to all women who stand up against stereotypes and prejudice. In addition to mountaineering, she was active in competitive sport for many years and was voted Sportswoman of the Year by the University of London in 2012. In 2017, the magazine ‘Zeit Campus’ included her in its ‘18 for 18’ list, a selection of young personalities who take on responsibility at an early age and break new ground. In her highly acclaimed talks, Anja Blacha shares the lessons she has learnt from her adventures. She demonstrates how to set and achieve ambitious goals with courage, and how to turn personal weaknesses into strengths. Her stories inspire people around the world to believe in their own abilities and to take on new challenges.