Insights
Lessons in Resilience from the first French Woman who dared to Row Across the Atlantic
"Without risk-taking, there's no change, no innovation, no creativity."
That was the central message delivered by adventurer and entrepreneur Peggy at a Rising Gen Finance, Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lab held at the Stonehage Fleming London offices last week.
Bouchet, the first woman to dare row solo across the Atlantic in 1998 and later became the first French woman to successfully complete the crossing in 2000, shared her story of determination, recounting how she crossed the ocean not once, but twice. Her tale was far from smooth sailing: a storm and capsized boat during her first crossing, the day before arrival after 79 days at sea, could have ended her dream. Instead, it became a turning point. “It was an unfinished victory. I knew if I didn’t start again, it would be a block for any new future challenge.”
In a candid fireside chat with Matthew Fleming, Head of Family Governance & Succession, Bouchet revealed that the greatest challenge wasn’t the physical strain of the voyage, but the mental battle. From confronting fear and self-doubt to finding the strength to keep going, her message was clear: resilience can be forged in the mind. “I always tried to focus on what I wanted, not on what I feared. I had to remember the people who wanted me to finish this and who had supported my journey.”
Bouchet also underscored the vital role her support team played in turning ambition into achievement. She stressed the importance of assembling a diverse, highly motivated crew bound together by a shared curiosity and sense of humility. Having team members from different generations, she said, was key to fostering the trust and problem-solving needed to navigate the unpredictable challenges of her second crossing. “Behind every act of courage, there’s often a mentor, a role model, a friend, a relative who encourages.”
Looking towards the future, Bouchet acknowledged that courage could take different forms at various stages of life. “What’s daring at 15 is not the same at 40 or 70. With each new age comes new experiences and responsibilities.”
She closed with a call to action, urging the audience of students to embrace their own inner strength and “dare” to become "the hero of [their] own story". "It cultivates resilience, fuels creativity, awakens curiosity, the love of challenge and the joy of learning."
Peggy Bouchet was in conversation with Matthew Fleming, at our Rising Gen Finance, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab. The programme welcomed students from Le Regent International School in Switzerland with the aim of empowering them to be young leaders, cultivating essential skills in leadership, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.