Speaking: Keynotes / Talks
From 250 km in the Sahara to Leadership under Pressure
When pressure rises, the quality of our leadership becomes even more important.
What happens to the way we think, make decisions and relate to others when the pressure rises? And what does that mean for how we lead?
Drawing on experiences from ultrarunning in the Sahara and military leadership, as well as working with leaders and teams in international organisations, Christian Madsen connects lessons from very different and also extreme environments with the realities of everyday leadership.
Through personal stories, research and practical perspectives, the session explores what happens to our capacity when pressure, uncertainty and fatigue begin to shape how we think, act and relate to others — and what we can do about it.
Pressure can look very different from one situation to another. Sometimes it is personal, when demands keep building and we find ourselves operating in something resembling survival mode. At other times, leaders are navigating major organisational disruption, uncertainty or crisis.
In both situations, our capacity to think clearly, make good decisions, work effectively with others and lead can be tested at the very moment we need it most.
You will gain new insights and practical mental tools for maintaining and regaining perspective, strengthening collaboration, making better decisions and leading yourself and others when the pressure rises.
Christian brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership, leadership development, coaching and organisational change – from the Danish Armed Forces to international organisations and global matrix environments, including Novonesis, A.P. Moller – Maersk and LEO Pharma.
His work focuses on leadership under pressure and critical transitions – helping leaders and their teams build the capacity to perform under pressure without losing themselves.
Christian is a three-time finisher of the Marathon des Sables, also known as MDS Legendary, completing 250 kilometres through the Sahara on each occasion, and in 2027 his next challenge will be the rigorous 100 km Mammutmarsch in Denmark.
These experiences have given him a distinctive personal perspective on how people think, adapt, make decisions and support one another when physical and mental resources are stretched.
Christian is also a Hintsa Certified Coach trained by Hintsa Performance, a global leader in sustainable performance and coaching – with methods proven in Formula 1 and Fortune 500.
FORMAT: 45-minute keynote or 90-minute interactive leadership workshop combining an inspirational and engaging talk with facilitated peer reflection, discussion and Q&A.
Speaking engagements are offered in English and Danish.
A facilitated workshop for leaders, drawing on inspirational experience sharing from the extreme 250 km Marathon des Sables. We bring leaders into the conversation to explore with their peers how to strengthen their capacity to lead themselves and others when pressure is high and how to connect it directly to their own leadership reality.
A motivational keynote drawing on personal stories from extreme environments to explore what happens to human behaviour, collaboration and performance under pressure. Designed to kick-start or bridge the theme of your organisational event, with a clear connection to your organisational context.