RUSSELL RAATH
AMBITION
THE ART and
THE SCIENCE
“I Definitely walked
out of this feeling
more ambitious
than I did going in.”
I’ve worked with hundreds of leaders and teams.
The key to greater accomplishments comes from turning
THE ENERGY OF AMBITION
into your competitive advantage.
Russell is amazing at bringing an energy
that is infectious through his delivery.
You have fabulous energy.
Simply fantastic.
Best presentation of the day.
he brings everyone together in a way
that instills energy and ambition.
Amazed and inspired.
Russell captivated our
audiences.
Hi, I’m Russell Raath
Since I can remember I’ve been intrigued by why
people do the things we do.
I’ve spent the past 30 years as a global consultant,
working for one of the Big 4 firms in New York and
leading the consulting business for one of the world’s
most respected business thinkers (and Harvard
professor.)
Now, I run my own successful advisory business and
am the Operating Partner for a multiple award-
winning specialist Private Equity consulting firm.
Through this all, Ambition has proven to be the single
most important trait when launching into zones of high
performance.
The Energy of Ambition should be every team’s
competitive advantage.
In 2023, with no experience in any open-water distance swimming, I attempted to do what no novice
should ever do. I was going to try and swim from Robben Island to Blouberg, Cape Town for an
arduous, epic athletic 7.5km cold water, ocean feat.
I would swim in only a speedo, without any human contact, through South Africa’s notoriously shark-
rich waters, in temperatures that would average around 11 celsius / 51 farenheit.
As I would discover, this was not your average swim.
This is not even your average endurance challenge.
More people have summited Mt Everest than have completed this challenge.
The cold water and hypothermia can take you out at any moment.
Jellyfish can sting you beyond the point where you can handle it.
You can’t see what’s below you, and for most of the swim you’re looking into an abyss of
darkness that is fueled by your imagination and your determination.Currents can make the 7.5km swim seem much longer - and can push you further away from
your route adding more distance to your swim.
It was going to require everything in me (a non-athlete living on another continent) to declare victory
over this challenge.
And when I first dived into the water I realized the swim wasn’t the end, but just the beginning.
My experience is a key part of The Energy of Ambition - a story that brings to life the Art and
the Science of Ambition.
The Energy of Ambition
A PERSONAL STORY
ABOUT KEYNOTES
I have had the honor of working with some of the
world’s leading brands - spending time talking to teams
about seizing the potential to achieve more, and to
have an even greater impact.
I have bristled at calling myself a “speaker” as I have
found my greatest skill is in creating the conditions for
teams to find some connection to my story that opens
them up to exploring their own ambitions.
Every time I stand on a stage, I reflect on what you and
your team want to get from our discussion, and I
create a deeply personal experience that will deliver on
that.
If you’re looking for someone with insights and passion
on the topic of ambition and change, here I am.
I have worked with sales organizations in the Staples
Center in LA and executive teams in boardrooms ... I will
inspire your audience to embrace their collective
ambition, teaching them how to do it (and backing up
everything I say with science.)
To find out more, contact Kerry,
Russell’s speaking manager.
Kerry manages all things speaking-
the calendar, the logistics, everything.
©2025 Russell Raath /
The Ambition Company