Jimmy Chin

Jimmy Chin is a world-renowned mountain athlete, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, and National Geographic photographer, celebrated for his groundbreaking achievements in extreme exploration and visual storytelling. Over more than two decades, he has built a rare dual expertise—pushing human limits in the planet’s harshest environments while capturing those moments with unmatched artistry and insight.

As a professional climber and skier for The North Face Athlete team, Jimmy has led and documented expeditions on all seven continents, including the first successful American ski descent of Mount Everest and the first ascent of the Shark’s Fin on Meru Peak, a feat long considered one of the most elusive prizes in the climbing world.

Jimmy’s photography has been featured on the covers of National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair. His photography book, There and Back, became a New York Times Best Seller in 2021. As a filmmaker, he has directed and co-directed acclaimed documentaries including Meru Free Solo (Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature), The Rescue, and Nyad, consistently setting new standards for storytelling at the edge of human achievement.

As a speaker, Jimmy draws on a lifetime spent making high-stakes decisions in extreme conditions to deliver compelling lessons on leadership, risk management, resilience, and creative problem-solving. His keynote presentations offer a rare blend of strategic insight and storytelling mastery, inspiring audiences to embrace challenges, innovate under pressure, and perform at the highest levels. He is a sought-after speaker for Fortune 500 companies, leadership summits, and global forums focused on resilience, innovation, and peak performance.