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Stephen McGown is from Johannesburg, South Africa. He obtained his degree in Finance and worked in some of the large South African banks. In order to expand his career, Stephen went across to the UK and worked in London for 7 years.
While in London, Stephen met his wife, Catherine, who shared the same desire to return to South Africa; start a family and manage his family’s farming business.
It was this farming business that inspired a passion for the outdoors and planted the seed in Stephen for adventure from a young age.
At the age of 11 he learnt to ride a small motorcycle on the farm. The freedom he felt from riding in the eastern Free State, near Lesotho, ignited his desire to ride a motorcycle through Africa, with home being the final destination.
An unexpected turn of events crushed his life long dream. En route home, Stephen was abducted by Al Qaeda and held hostage in Mali for almost 6 years.
Stephen McGown was kidnapped from Timbuktu, along with a Dutch and Swedish national on 25 November 2011.
He was 36 at the time of the kidnapping.
During Stephen McGown abduction, he was kept far from civilisation, deep in the Sahara, away from the searching eyes of French surveillance planes and drones. He was allowed limited communication with his family in the first six months of his captivity.
However, when the French Military Forces arrived in Mali, this ceased altogether. Stephen was cut off from all familiar ways of life.
Living outdoors in harsh conditions meant that he had to acquire a variety of new skills including how to protect himself from the elements as well as how to communicate across language and cultural boundaries.
But most of all he learnt how to stay alive; remain positive and be present when everything was stacked against him.
Uncertain as to whether he would ever be released or die in the expanse of the Sahara, he made a decision to not let his situation get the better of him. He decided to rather hold onto hope and take control of his attitude.
Companies that connected with Stephen
Stephen has spoken to a range of corporates at team building events, conferences, town halls, as well as to fund managers, small businesses, schools, forums and at fundraising events within South Africa and Internationally.
Some of these organisations include: KPMG, Deloitte, Discovery, Spar, Shoprite Checkers, ABSA, RMB, iTOO Insurance, Exxaro, Van Loverens Wine Farm, Bidvest, Wilderness Safaris, St Mary’s High School for Girls, Kingsmead High School, St Stithians College, St John’s College, The Entrepreneur’s Organisation and The Highveld Forum.
Stephen’s talk is a story about resilience and overcoming adversity amidst harsh weather conditions, a different culture, language and religion.
He talks about making important decisions, about the importance of acceptance and communication. Stephen McGown shares a concept that Freedom is an attitude.
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