Neal Petersen
Encyclopedia
South African, Neal Petersen is an international inspirational business speaker who draws from extraordinary life experiences. Delivering a powerful and timely message of adaptability, perseverance and resilience by turning barriers into solutions, then into opportunities, and never giving up! An award-winning author and the subject of a PBS documentary, Neal is a natural storyteller, riveting, engaging and highly entertaining. He challenges audiences to find their treasures, to use their experiences to navigate these challenging times to their advantage.
Neal Petersen shares how he overcame the formidable barriers of a childhood physical disability, poverty and the humiliation of Apartheid in South Africa to compete in one of the most dangerous of all sports: solo yacht racing around the globe—27,000 miles, 9 months at sea — alone, and in a yacht he designed and built himself.
Neal is a savvy global investor and sought-after guest speaker at the College of Charleston's International Business, Economics Program. He is a well-traveled, continues to sail, lives in various parts of the world and has experienced many cultures.
“If I were on a boat in trouble, or anywhere in danger for that matter, I'd want Neal Petersen beside me. He never gives up, never quits; he always finds a way to fix something, to get the thing done, to stay alive. "Journey of a Hope Merchant" is a wonderful account of the world's most unlikely and most determined sailor, who hauled himself up and out of apartheid South Africa into the cockpit of his own, home-built, round-the-world racing yacht. Petersen's life is a terrific and inspiring story of triumph over adversity achieved by courage and ability, and his rise above shameful race prejudice is a prolonged act of grace. To put it simply, Petersen is a true hero.”
Derek Lundy, author of the New York Times Bestseller Godforsaken Sea
Neal Petersen shares how he overcame the formidable barriers of a childhood physical disability, poverty and the humiliation of Apartheid in South Africa to compete in one of the most dangerous of all sports: solo yacht racing around the globe—27,000 miles, 9 months at sea — alone, and in a yacht he designed and built himself.
Neal is a savvy global investor and sought-after guest speaker at the College of Charleston's International Business, Economics Program. He is a well-traveled, continues to sail, lives in various parts of the world and has experienced many cultures.
Books
Journey of A Hope Merchant – Neal Petersen's autobiography was the winner of the 2005 National Outdoor Book Award - written with a freshness and style that reflect his unstoppable optimism, the story of Petersen's compelling journey is proof that the harshest lessons learned at sea apply to all aspects of life and that even the wildest dreams are attainable.“If I were on a boat in trouble, or anywhere in danger for that matter, I'd want Neal Petersen beside me. He never gives up, never quits; he always finds a way to fix something, to get the thing done, to stay alive. "Journey of a Hope Merchant" is a wonderful account of the world's most unlikely and most determined sailor, who hauled himself up and out of apartheid South Africa into the cockpit of his own, home-built, round-the-world racing yacht. Petersen's life is a terrific and inspiring story of triumph over adversity achieved by courage and ability, and his rise above shameful race prejudice is a prolonged act of grace. To put it simply, Petersen is a true hero.”
Derek Lundy, author of the New York Times Bestseller Godforsaken Sea