Terry Sullivan has never been easy to categorize—and that’s exactly how he likes it. Founder of eleven businesses (some more successful than others), lead strategist for over a hundred political campaigns from the State House to the White House, climber of some of the world’s tallest mountains, and survivor of raising a daughter on his own, Terry has built a life defined by taking big risks and the tenacity to see them through.

He didn’t set out to become an endurance athlete or mountaineer. In fact, he failed his first attempt at a 14,000-foot peak after getting caught in a snowstorm. Instead of retreating to safer hobbies, he decided to aim higher—much higher—and committed to climbing the tallest mountains on Earth. Today, he has summited Mount Everest and the highest peaks on North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica, with the final two of the Seven Summits squarely in his sights. He’s a two-time finisher of the Leadville 100 and a veteran of numerous ultra-endurance races. He doesn’t know his marathon time because, frankly, he’s never run a race that short.

After serving as the campaign manager for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign and finding himself unemployed, he co-founded Firehouse Strategies with a couple of friends. The firm grew into an award-winning public relations powerhouse where he advised CEOs and executives at dozens of Fortune 500 companies, eventually drawing the attention of private equity investors and leading to a successful exit. He also serves as a CBS News contributor, further cementing his reputation as a communications expert with a talent for simplifying the complicated in his straight-shooting, humorous style.

At sea level, Terry holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master 100-Ton Captain’s License. He has spent much of his life living on his boat—most memorably when he moved aboard with his five-year-old daughter to start the next chapter of their lives together. What began as an unconventional living arrangement became the foundation of an extraordinary father-daughter partnership. He navigated being a full-time single dad the same way he’s tackled boats, businesses, mountains and 100-mile races: by attempting the seemingly impossible and refusing to quit. The result? A tough, confident, grounded young woman he considers his greatest achievement.

Entrepreneur. Communications expert. Political strategist. Endurance athlete. Boat captain. Dad.

Terry Sullivan has been told his whole life that certain things can’t be done. He’s rarely been smart enough to listen.