Meet Mike Howell
What kind of people are behind and the unique journeys they create?
Mike Howell is co-founder of Intrepid Challenges and RAW travel.
Mike feels he understands business and people through his wide experiences in life. While spending 17 years as a Stockbroker based in Jersey, the Channel Islands he found time for countless adventures overseas, including sailing the Atlantic three times.
In 1990 Mike undertook an epic cycling challenge of over 20,000 km from Jersey to China to raise money for a home for the mentally handicapped where his sister is a resident. This extraordinary experience changed him forever in terms of his outlook on life. He completed an MBA through the London Business School and also a Post Grad in International Development. He became a cycling broker taking time off to cycle in countries but also to visit the local stock market to get a feel for the countries heart and then cycle around to understand its people and culture. Being a Member of the London Stock exchange carried enough weight to be invited onto the floor of the Chilean stock exchange (Santiago) wearing lycra before it moved to electronic trading!
Instead of flying out to Australia he came overland with his now wife taking the Trans Siberian Express in the middle of winter through Russia and Mongolia before setting off through China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on touring bikes. As SARS was at its height the journey was cut short and they bought a car in Darwin and drove around Australia before settling in Melbourne. It was time for a career change and to follow his passion which is setting up challenging adventures where a difference can be made to local communities and charities through fundraising and where the participants experience a fundamental personal change in themselves which can be taken back to their everyday life.
He has now cycled over 35,000 km and his dream is to retrace his original journey back from Peking to Jersey when his 2 boys are old enough to really appreciate it (a long wait as they are 2 ½ years old and 6 months!!)
