More About Me

Meghan Buchanan is an Aerospace Engineer, Adventure Athlete, and Motivational Speaker. She has set her sights on becoming the 1st US Woman to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam (climbing the world’s 7 Summits and unsupported expedition to the North and South Poles). Meghan is no stranger to taking on the impossible and defying odds.

Meghan faced adversity from an early age, when her family learned she was dyslexic at age 7. She was determined to overcome stereotypes and discrimination; to pursue a career as a female engineer with learning differences. She has a BS in Aerospace Engineering and a ME in Engineering Management, both from the University of Colorado, and currently works fulltime as a Sr. Principal Engineer IPTL. As a young girl, Meghan found release and acceptance in the outdoors hiking with her father throughout Colorado. She first summited Kilimanjaro with him in 2005.

Her passion for the outdoors was nearly taken away in 2011, when, in the back bowls of Vail, Meghan suffered a life-threatening snowboarding accident, severely breaking her femur. Told she may have to use a cane the rest of her life, Meghan challenged herself to not only regain mobility, but to hike Kilimanjaro again in 2013. Soon after she set a higher goal to take on the remaining Summits and the North and South Poles.

Using her tools of GGRIT, she committed to further develop her skills and experience, inspire others through example, and prove the extraordinary is truly possible. Meghan summited Mt Everest May 2022 and became the 1st Rocket Scientist to climb the 7 Summits. In 2023, she was inducted as a Fellow into the Explorers Club and selected as a Team Injinji Athlete. This April 2024 she completes the Last Degree Ski to the North Pole making her the 5th US Woman to complete the Explorers Grand Slam.

Meghan dedicates her climbs to raising awareness for Dyslexia and Neurodivergence. She is extremely active in changing the narrative on how society and individuals perceive and limit those with Learning Differences. “Dyslexia gave me GGRIT”.