Rowing Solo, Leading Strong: Debra Searle’s Journey Across An Ocean

Engineering Influence from ACEC

In this episode, adventurer and leadership expert Debra Searle takes us inside her extraordinary journey of rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean — a challenge that tested her endurance, mindset, and decision-making in ways few people ever experience. Debra reveals how those months at sea reshaped her understanding of resilience, leadership, and human potential, and how the strategies she relied on in the middle of the ocean can be applied just as powerfully in boardrooms and everyday life.

She breaks down practical, science-backed techniques for staying motivated and productive, even when circumstances feel overwhelming — from habit stacking and using external cues to the power of simple, consistent positive feedback. Debra explains how leaders can use these tools to create energized teams, improve wellbeing, and build environments where people perform at their best.

We also dive into her approaches to decision-making under pressure, navigating periods of isolation, and translating ocean-tested mental habits into effective, results-driven business practices.

If you’re looking for actionable leadership insights, mindset shifts, and stories that prove what’s possible when we push our limits, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.