Learnings from the Atlantic – how teamwork can help overcome adversity

Ollie Palmer, who has worked at Diageo for nearly ten years, is currently Head of Customer Marketing for the Global Travel division.

With a passion for challenge, adventure and the outdoors, he was responsible for pulling together a team of four friends to take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic challenge in the 2019/20 race. The team subsequently went on to win the race by 48 hours, setting a world record in the process and raising over £300,000 for their partner charity. As the only member of the crew who was sub 6ft and without a military background, he was determined to show that anyone can achieve anything with the right mindset.

Having spent over eight years in the Royal Navy as a Mine Clearance Diving Officer, Tom Foley shares a thirst for adventure and challenge. As one of Ollie’s oldest and closest friends, he was first on the team sheet for the Atlantic row.

Tom believes that careful preparation, teamwork, dedication and optimism are foundations for the team’s success. He now splits his time between planning the next challenge and retraining as a surveyor, having recently left the military.