Dawn Riley | First Woman CEO of a Winning America's Cup Team

Dawn Riley

First Woman CEO of a Winning America's Cup Team

Dawn Riley
Biography

Pioneering CEO and Captain of America True and one of the world's Top sailors, Dawn Riley has extensive and harrowing international experience including leading two Whitbread Round The World Race Sailing Teams and the French America's Cup team, AREVA bringing her total to 4 America's Cups. She was the first American, man or woman to race in three America's Cup and two Whitbread Round The World Race Sailing teams, including winning the 1992 America's Cup. Riley also served as president of the Women's Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King. She is a member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, the International America’s Cup Hall of Fame and the State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. The only person to achieve this 

Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, where she sailed on Lake St. Clair, Dawn became obsessed with sailboat racing at the age of 13. She joined North Star Sail Club and became Commodore of the junior sailing program. Dawn said it was difficult to break into professional sailing, she had to clean quite a few boat bottoms and learn to fix motors before people took her seriously. Dawn Riley now has a resume that includes 1999 Rolex Yachtswoman of the year, 2002 IC 45 World Championship, first two-time winner of the Santa Maria Cup, crew on the Maxi Yacht Morning Glory as they set the all time course record in the 1996 Sydney to Hobart ocean race. She was also team captain of America3, the historic all-women America's Cup team in 1995, a member of the winning America's Cup team America3 in 1992 and skipper of Heineken, the all-women team in the 1993-94 Whitbread Round the World sailing marathon. According to Riley, teamwork means choosing the right person for each job, man or woman. A television host, author and experienced public speaker, Riley has spoken on topics ranging from entertaining sea stories to defining and attaining personal success, from risk assessment to competing in coed world. Dawn's experience creating and managing $20-35 million projects is used to make the topics of teambuilding and achievement especially relevant to businesses. A former member of the International Speakers Association, she has spoken to hundreds of clients including: YPO, Oracle, Microsoft, Sweetbriar College, Franklin Covey, Association of Professional Fundraisers, Commonwealth Club, Universities, Women's Groups, Sailing Associations etc. In addition to her involvement with the Women's Sports Foundation, is the Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing in Oyster Bay New York, Oakcliff is Building American Leaders through sailing. Dawn Riley serves on  many nonprofit boards and is a Young Leader with the BMW Herbert Quant Foundation and the Aspen Institute. Some reviews: BMW: Dawn's lively presentation was excellent, she is a brilliant speaker, and she knows how to attract the attention of the audience. Her presentation was really outstanding. "Your inspirational words about the importance of sailing as a unifier, equalizer and source of freedom for children, as well as adults, was the perfect message for our gala and really helped to prove that it is 'all about the kids.' - Steve Frank Executive Director - Community Sailing of Colorado, Ltd. Just so you know we raised over $45,000 that evening. That is so awesome, because last year we only raised $29,000. "IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS!" YPO: Of all of the speakers this trip, you were the most engaging across the board.

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Entertainment & Inspirational Sailing Adventure Topics:
Entertainment & Inspirational Sailing Adventure Topics:

Sea Stories of sailing around the world and a few America’s Cup Campaigns that incorporate adventure, life threatening challenges and the strategic and political games that are a part of the worlds most expensive trophy.

Themes can be customized to incorporate business lessons, teambuilding, leadership, risk management and woman in a man’s world sub topics.

The Business of Sailing

An America's Cup Team which Dawn has led three times in 'business language' is a start up, with $35-50 million raised over 3 years to hire 80-120 skilled individuals to create a $6 million project in a 2-4 year period and enter into a highly competitive market where 8-10 other companies are trying to do the same thing - to win!

See how business plays out in this highly charged and condensed business cycle.

Inspirational programs:
Inspirational programs:

Learn how Dawn has lived her life with a passion to sail, to compete and to achieve what others said was not possible. Listen to how she motivates herself and other to:

- Take caculated risks

- Follow dreams

- Make tough choices

- Give back to the community as a whole

Team Building

Professional Athlete Dawn Riley and Dr. Amy Baltzell, Sports Psychologist team up to bring an exciting, inspirational and complete experience to your group.

Begin your program with a keynote speech by Dawn Riley – the 1st American and only woman to sail in 4 America’s Cups and Two Round the World Races and past President of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Listen to her stories of reaching past the considered possibilities and dictated norms to smash into the world of professional sailing by competing head to head in the extreme conditions; from the treacherous iceberg strewn Southern Ocean to the political gamesmanship and high stakes competition for the Worlds Oldest Trophy, The America’s Cup.

Following this inspirational presentation Olympian, Dr. Baltzell, will introduce and lead your group through a session designed to optimize the individual’s and group’s performance. All presentations are customized but common topics include Goal Setting, Dealing With Change, Mapping out a plan for the future and Reaching through fear to Productivity.

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Dawn Riley

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