Hazel Findlay

Hazel Findlay has been climbing for 28 of her 34 years. She started out trad climbing on the limestone sea cliffs of Pembrokeshire, Wales. In her youth, she was a competitive climber—she was the British junior champion six times—but at age sixteen, she decided to give it up to focus on professional rock climbing.

Findlay was the first woman to climb a British trad route at E9 and the first British woman to sport climb 8c and free El Capitan in Yosemite, which she has now done four times. She has put up first ascents in many countries around the world, including big walls in Greenland. Findlay has also redpointed 9a (5.14d) sport and 14c/8c+/E10/11 trad, loves all types of climbing, from bouldering to alpine climbing, and is especially interested in the mental challenge that climbing evokes.

This interest in psychology led her to train as a coach so she could help others with their mindset and mental-management. Findlay specializes in helping people overcome fears and limitations so they can focus on the task at hand and perform at their best. In an effort to expand her coaching reach, Findlay has started a company called Strong Mind, which has three online courses and an online community, along with other coaching/training products.

Findlay also works beyond the climbing community as a speaker and corporate coach/trainer. She speaks and teaches about mindset, resilience, fear management, and workplace flow in a wide range of workplaces, both in person and online. She uses inspiring imagery from her climbing achievements and adventures to make her talks compelling and inspiring.