Keynotes

Navigating uncharted waters:
Leadership lessons from sailing and everyday life

25 Years of Leadership Experience – On Land and at Sea.

Keynote Abstract

Both leadership and innovation require the ability to navigate uncharted waters. Just as the ocean presents unpredictable challenges, the field of new technology is a vast, unknown territory requiring the same level of courage, foresight, and adaptability.

Drawing from my recent North Atlantic voyage aboard Viking ship Naddoddur, where we faced extreme conditions, and my deep experience in new technology, this keynote explores how lessons from these two realms converge.

Sailing through a storm and guiding organisations through new technology-driven transformation demand robust leadership, strategic preparation, and a bold willingness to explore the unknown. I will share practical tools to help you master leadership in volatile environments, emphasising how to stay the course in times of uncertainty, whether in business or on the high seas.

Attendees will gain insights into harnessing new technology's potential, like navigating a ship through unpredictable waters and steering toward innovation while avoiding common pitfalls.

19 Maverick Theorems

Guiding Principles for Skippers and Managers

Audiovisual projection

Andy's keynote is a captivating audiovisual show that goes far beyond an ordinary lecture. Impressive videos and breathtaking images from his expeditions to extreme environments emphasise his powerful messages and insights. This immersive presentation seamlessly blends Andy's experience as an ocean sailor with his knowledge as a technology expert, bringing complex leadership and innovation concepts to life.

The optimum length of a keynote is 30 to 40 minutes, and Andy is usually booked as a special guest, keynote speaker, or crossover speaker.

He brings his own technology with him to optimise the presentation. The show unfolds its full effect best on a large stage with high-quality projections, excellent sound and in a darkened room. Under these conditions, the audience is taken on an inspiring journey that combines lessons learnt from navigating stormy waters with the challenges of technology-driven change.

Meet Skip Andy – Explorer and Leadership Expert

Andy Fitze is a global keynote speaker on leadership in extreme environments. Drawing from over 25 years of corporate leadership and 22 high-stakes expeditions, Andy equips leaders to thrive in the face of uncertainty, unpredictability, and high-pressure situations. He’s not just a sailor—he’s an adventurer, an AI expert, and a serial entrepreneur who has led both on land and at sea..

"The most significant headwind I experienced was not at sea, but it was there I learned how to take energy out of it."

Andy Fitze

Why Book Skip Andy?

 

  • Unique combination of corporate and expedition leadership experience.

  • Engaging storytelling backed by stunning visuals.

  • Practical leadership strategies for unpredictable environments.

  • Over 100 successful keynotes delivered worldwide on leadership, AI, and decision-making under pressure.

 

 



Keynote Topics – Leadership Lessons from the Edge

Andy delivers powerful keynotes that weave together his real-life experiences navigating the world’s toughest seas with his leadership strategies developed over decades. His most popular topics include:

Navigating Uncertainty

Leadership lessons from extreme expeditions

Bold Leadership

How to lead decisively in high-stakes environments

Leadership in Extremis

Preparing your team for the unexpected

Maverick Leadership

Challenging the norms for robust action

The Power of Perspective

Seeing challenges from a distance to lead more effectively

Testimonials

What Andy captivates his audience with is less a lecture than an expedition. On the one hand into the deserted expanses of the Arctic Ocean with impressive photos, and on the other into his own soul and the question of what leadership actually means. Even today, I still think of a photo that shows the thoughtful adventurer from behind in a polar landscape, his rifle over his shoulder: this is what a leader looks like, because he leads the way. Andy Fitze succeeded very well in captivating the participants at our event. He gave a vivid and impressive demonstration of how to steer through economic storms with skill and determination. A professional through and through - thank you! If you have the opportunity, let us take you on a journey to yourself.

Jürgen Mandl
Entrepreneur and President of the Carinthian [Austria] Chamber of Commerce

Andy's presentation captures everyone's attention from the very first second. The fascinating images combined with his impressions of the enormously demanding leadership challenges in his highly demanding environment leave a lasting impression. A clear recommendation for every leader to get a new perspective!

Alex Brunner
Management consultant, coaching & consulting for organisational development

Andy's presentation on AI was simply amazing! He immediately captivated the audience with his captivating analogy to his expeditions. With a masterful selection of background music, fascinating insights and images and inspiring quotes, he left a lasting impression.  His ability to present complex concepts in such a vivid and engaging way is testament to his exceptional talent and passion for the subject. It wasn't just a talk about the topic, but a talk for life that made you think.

Dea Marovic
Lead Sustainability & Professional, s-peers

 

Andy was the keynote speaker at the last Sustainability Days. His presentation, packed with a lot of technical and emotional content, inspired the audience. Countless positive responses to his presentation confirm this. He enriched the Sustainability Days with his contribution.
We can warmly recommend Andy as an outstanding keynote speaker to all organisers.

Eugen Da Pra

Senior Project Manager, MCH Messe Schweiz (Basel) AG

Working with Andy was uncomplicated, friendly and very competent. We were so impressed by his presentation that we immediately invited him to our podcast in the M.U.T. magazine.

Melanie Sass-Schweigreiter
Marketing Manager WB-Carinthia 

I am convinced that a good story makes everything easier for us humans to understand. Captain AI Fitze has done just that with his introduction to the art of manoeuvring and navigating the wild seas of artificial intelligence - inspiring and motivating!

Philipp Binaghi
Head of Communications and Marketing, swissICT

 

Andy took us on an impressive adventure in his masterclass "Navigating stormy times". He impressively conveyed how to navigate through difficult times with skill and determination. His practical tips are real navigational aids for anyone facing economic challenges. An inspiring and motivating experience that shows how to stay on course even in uncertain waters. The pictures will stay with me for a long time!

Sylvia Gstättner
Managing Director of Wirtschaftsbund-Kärnten