EVERY DAY YOU HAVE A CHOICE
Meghan Buchanan is an Aerospace Engineer, Adventure Athlete, Author, Keynote Speaker, and Neurodivergent. Chasing the title of 1st US Woman to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam: the world’s Seven Summits, plus unsupported expeditions to both Poles.
Diagnosed with dyslexia at age 7 and told she wouldn’t amount to much, she earned a BS and ME in engineering from CU and now works full-time as a Sr. Principal Engineer — while training for the most extreme expeditions on Earth.
Seven Summits. Two Poles.
One woman, redrawing the map.
Last Degree ski from 89° to 90° North and South.
Approx. 70 milesUnsupported ski from the coastline to the North and South Poles.
700+ miles
A neurodivergent aerospace engineer who climbed Everest — and brought the framework back down with her.
The GGRIT Philosophy
Meghan brings the five principles of GGRIT off the mountain and into the room through corporate keynotes, workshops, commencements, and organizational programs designed to build resilience, leadership, courage, and human potential.
The Expedition
Unsupported Ski — Hercules Inlet to the South Pole
November 2026
On November 15, 2026, Meghan departs Hercules Inlet for a 700+ mile unsupported ski to the South Pole. Follow along and support the mission below.
North Pole & Arctic Ocean
Spring 2027 — Spring 2028
Three future expeditions continue the journey from completing the Explorers Grand Slam to completing the Adventurers Grand Slam.
The GGRIT Story
A journey shaped by courage, resilience, and the choice to rise.
Your Brand at the Top of the World
GGRIT: Choose to Rise
What if the very things meant to break you could push you higher than you ever imagined? For Meghan S. Buchanan — engineer, mountaineer, and adventure athlete — that question became her life's truth. Diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and told she wouldn't achieve much, Meghan faced self-doubt, setbacks, and doubt from others. Instead of giving in, she built something stronger: GGRIT.
This five-part framework guided her through learning differences, career challenges, injuries, and loss — and carried her to the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest, in pursuit of the Seven Summits and Adventurers Grand Slam.
- How to reframe challenges into opportunities for growth
- Why failure is often the most powerful teacher
- Tools to build resilience and confidence in everyday life
- The mental strategies behind achieving seemingly impossible goals
- A repeatable system for choosing courage over comfort
The Story, As It's Being Told.
News
Defying Limits: Meghan Buchanan's Journey
Feature
She Has Dyslexia and Still Reached the Summit
Advocacy
Colorado's Dyslexia Law Is Coming
Video
Watch The Expeditions
The Expedition, In Frame.
FORGED IN THE STRUGGLE
Verbally abused by my 2nd grade teacher, I was told “You’re stupid. You’re an idiot. You will never amount to anything.”
Diagnosed with Dyslexia, my mother empowered me: “Sweetheart, you can be anything you want. You’re just going to have to work harder than everyone else. And that starts today.”
CHOOSE TO RISE
Through the principles of GGRIT I rose to become an Aerospace Engineer, survived a life-threatening snowboard accident and climbed the Seven Summits.
Help me share the tools of GGRIT to make a difference in the lives of neurodivergent youth and anyone wanting to reach their full potential.