Maria Conceição

Maria Conceição
Born (1977-05-23) May 23, 1977
CitizenshipPortugal
OccupationsAthlete, humanitarian
Websitewww.mariadaconceicao.com

Maria Conceição (born May 23, 1977) is a Portuguese humanitarian, mountaineer, endurance athlete and motivational speaker. She is the founder of the Maria Cristina Foundation, which provides education and social support to children from slum communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[1] Conceição is the first Portuguese woman to climb Mount Everest (2013)[2] and K2 (2024),[3][4] and the first Portuguese person to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam.[5]

Early life

Conceição grew up in Portugal in a disadvantaged background, losing her mother at a young age. She later worked as a flight attendant for the airline Emirates, where in 2005 she visited Dhaka and was moved by the poverty she witnessed. This led her to establish the Maria Cristina Foundation.[1]

Mountaineering and exploration

Guinness World Records

Among her many athletic achievements Conceição has officially set 10 Guinness World Records.[8][9]

  1. Fastest time to complete an ultramarathon on each continent (female) – 2014
  2. Fastest aggregate time to run an ultramarathon on each continent (female) – 2014
  3. Most consecutive days running an ultramarathon by a female (7 days) – 2014
  4. Fastest aggregate time to run a marathon and ultramarathon on each continent (female) – 2015
  5. Fastest time to complete a marathon on each of the seven continents (female) – 2015
  6. Fastest time to run a marathon and ultramarathon on each continent (female) – 2015
  7. Fastest time to complete an Ironman triathlon on six continents (female) – 2017
  8. Most Ironman races completed in one year (female) – 2017
  9. Fastest time to complete an Ironman 140.6 triathlon and Ironman 70.3 triathlon (female) – 2022
  10. Farthest simulated distance climbed on a ladder machine in one hour (female), 1.59 km – 2023

Speaking and publications

Conceição is a motivational speaker at international conferences, including events by Harvard Alumni, Mindvalley, and John C. Maxwell.[2]

Selected speaking engagements

  • 2011 – TEDxDubai
  • 2018 – Harvard Business School Alumni Summit
  • 2018 – Guest on Spencer Lodge Podcast
  • 2020 – TEDxUOWD
  • 2023 – Mindvalley Dubai
  • 2024 – Mindvalley Estonia; Misk Global Forum
  • 2025 – Cigna Global Summit (February); Thrive Abu Dhabi (April); Xchange Netherlands (June); Vcon Malaysia (June, 10,000 audience); Luncheon Ladies; GlobalWIIN, London (October)

Publications

  • A Woman on Top of the World. Maria Conceição. 2022. ISBN 978-1035038237.[10]
  • Butterfly Stories (Volumes 1 & 2). Maria Conceição. 2023. ISBN 978-1035038244.[11]
  • Altered Path. Maria Conceição. 2023. ISBN 978-1035038251.[12]
  • The World Needs Superheroes. Maria Conceição. 2024. ISBN 978-9948349020.[13]

Awards and recognition

  • 2007 – Most Exceptional and Innovative European Woman of the Year[14]
  • 2009 – Emirates Humanitarian Woman of the Year[15]
  • 2010 – Alhan Hot 100 Entrepreneur in UAE; Most Inspiring Women of the GCC by Kraft[16]
  • 2012 – Special Mention for Child Welfare by Petrochem; Most Inspiring Women of the GCC by Kraft[16]
  • 2013 – Sustainability Leadership Award[16]
  • 2014 – Inspiring Change Award (International Gulf Organization); Runner-up Humanitarian Woman of the Year (Inspiring Women Belgium); Louvor Nobre Casa da Cidadania[16]
  • 2015 – Cidadão Nobre Portugal; Cosmopolitan Female Role Model[14]
  • 2016 – GQ Portugal Woman of the Year[14]
  • 2017 – Barbie Inspiring Women Role Model Award (Portugal)[14]
  • 2018 – Women of Substance Award (Dubai Women Run)[16]
  • 2021 – Mulher Inspiradora (Running Category), Revista Activa[14]
  • 2025 – Daughters of the Desert Award (Sports Excellence and Humanitarian Impact); GlobalWIIN Special Recognition Award, London[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Maria da Conceição: Climbing New Heights for Humanity". Innovations of the World. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Maria Conceição". Great British Speakers. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Maria Conceição becomes first Portuguese woman to conquer K2". The Portugal Globe. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "Portuguesa no topo do mundo: Maria Conceição conquistou a montanha K2, a segunda mais alta do planeta". Público. 28 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Maria Conceição". Inspirational Leadership Speakers. Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Maria Conceicao becomes first Portuguese woman to summit Pakistan's K2". Arab News. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Maria Conceição Lhotse". Público. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Maria Conceição". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "Maria Conceicao receives two Guinness World Records for Ultramarathon efforts". Yahoo News UK. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Conceição, Maria (2022). A Woman on Top of the World. Amazon. ISBN 9781035038237. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Conceição, Maria (2023). Butterfly Stories Volumes 1 & 2. Amazon. ISBN 9781035038244. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Conceição, Maria (2023). Altered Path. Amazon. ISBN 9781035038251. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Conceição, Maria (2024). The World Needs Superheroes. Amazon. ISBN 978-9948349020. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Portuguese philanthropist named Woman of the Year by GQ Portugal". The Portugal News. 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Emirates Woman Awards – Previous Winners". Emirates Woman. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Maria da Conceição Awards". Innovations of the World. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
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