In 2009, Brendan skippered a yacht in the ultimate long-distance challenge, The Clipper Round the World Yacht race - a 35,000-mile circumnavigation of the globe, contested by amateur crews in identical racing yachts. Although Brendan was the youngest and least experienced skipper in the race, he and his team convincingly won the race. This achievement was the culmination of years of leadership research, creating a high performance culture and a leadership style way beyond his 27 years.
 
His leadership skills were put to the ultimate test - in the middle of a deadly North Pacific winter hurricane, Brendan and his crew were tasked with the rescue of an incapacitated skipper on a competing yacht. Brendan swapped yachts and skippered both vessels 4000 nautical miles, across the world’s most treacherous ocean to safety.
 
As a professional yacht racing skipper, author and leadership expert, Brendan now uses his insights and powerful race narrative to help business leaders build ironclad trust with clients and teams, thrive in uncertainty, empower teams and develop a growth mindset.