David Lim, is best known in Singapore for leading the 1st Singapore Mt Everest Expedition in 1998 which succeeded in placing two members on the summit. The climb captured the imagination of the entire country and helped reset the parameters of what could be achieved by the small, flat, tropical island nation.
A week after his return from Everest, he was totally paralysed by the rare nerve disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Artificially ventilated for 42 days, he spent six months in hospital before returning home.
Permanently disabled in both legs from the illness, he made a dramatic comeback to climbing the world’s great mountains and returned once more to Everest in 2001. David’s climbing resume includes leadership in over 70 alpine ascents, including two expeditions to Mt Everest and many Southeast Asian first ascents. In 2005, he made the 3rd solo climb of the world’s highest volcano and three virgin peak ascents in Central Asia. In 2007, he and his partner made a rare, unsupported crossing, on foot, of the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt desert. After climbing his 7th virgin peak, this time in Qinghai, China, The Sunday Times described him as “unstoppable”.
David’s company helps organisations build teams and grow leaders through consulting, speaking, and programmes. In the corporate world, he spent nearly a decade in the media industry with positions in marketing, journalism management and multimedia. His other positions include being and adjunct lecturer at INSEAD Business School (2000-2014)
David’s presentation style is breezy, humorous, and yet with an edge to make audiences consider embracing specific changes in their beliefs. David is the first Singaporean to receive the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, the highest accreditation for professional speakers, and only held by 12% of professional speakers in the 6000-member Global Speakers Federation. In Dec 2013, he was the first group of CSPs to receive the CSPGlobal (now Global Speaking Fellow) designation.
David and his team have delivered programmes and presentations in over 34 countries and 81 cities worldwide. His clients include Google, Linkedin, Walmart, Accenture, PWC, Thomson Reuters, Danone, Prudential, AXA, TATA Steel, Standard Chartered Bank, and Novartis.
He was educated in Singapore, and Britain, and graduated with a law degree from Cambridge University. David is author of the best-seller “Mountain to Climb”, “Against Giants” and “How Leaders Lead: 71 Lessons in Leading Yourself and Others”. David is also an accredited coach, and workshop leader. His 4th book, "Lessons from the Edge" will be launched in Q3, 2023.
