#47. Quinntessential Questions with Natalie Dau: From Corporate To Guinness World Record Holder
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In this powerful episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn speaks with Natalie Dau — entrepreneur, elite endurance athlete, motivational speaker, and Guinness World Record holder — whose story is one of resilience, purpose, and relentless determination.
After a successful global career with Deloitte, Gartner, and Avanade, Natalie made a life-changing decision to leave the corporate world and pursue her passion for health, fitness, and philanthropy. Today, she’s a world-record-breaking ultramarathoner, founder of Keeping It Real, and the driving force behind Project 1000 — a 1,000km run across Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines that has raised awareness and funds for women’s and children’s charities.
Natalie shares how she turned personal endurance into collective empowerment — proving that limits are only where we choose to set them.
We dive into:
Leaving corporate life to follow her passion in health & fitness
Breaking a Guinness World Record by running 1,000 km in 12 days
Building Project 1000 to raise funds for women’s and children’s charities
Training discipline, resilience, and mental toughness
The role of family, parenting, and self-belief in peak performance
Age, confidence, and redefining female strength
The balance between motivation and discipline
Building a wellness brand and authentic digital community
If you’re interested in ultramarathons, philanthropy, women’s empowerment, or the mindset of high performers, this episode is for you.
Guest Bio
Natalie Dau is a Guinness World Record Holder, motivational speaker, co-author of best-selling book “Run Like a Woman” and is an Asics sponsored athlete and ambassador for brands including Garmin, AG1, Westin Hotels, and Oakley.
Natalie has accomplished extraordinary endurance feats, this year undertaking “Project 1000”, a 1,000km solo run thorough the Philippines running 2 x marathons a day for 12 days, to raise money for underserved youth. Prior to that in 2024 she ran another 1,000kms from Thailand to Singapore earning her a place in the Guinness World Records Book. Additionally, she has won all 12 ultramarathon races she has participated in.
Minutes
(02:05) Introduction – Project 1000 & Guinness World Record (05:12) Positive Body Image & Raising Strong Daughters
(07:13) Leaving Corporate to Pursue Passion
(09:03) Supportive Partner & Family Values
(10:02) Launching The Daily Escape & Early Entrepreneurship (12:22) Motivational Speaking & Purpose
(15:10) Confidence, Failure & Self-Belief
(17:40) Motivation vs Discipline (20:10) Corporate Politics vs Entrepreneurship
(22:17) The Origin of Project 1000 (25:37) Running for Charity & Girls Empowerment
(28:16) Starting Ultra Running at 52
(31:38) Mental Strength & Pain Management
(34:13) Fitness, Nutrition & Daily Routine
(37:49) Redefining Age & Authenticity
(41:09) Balancing Roles as Mother, Athlete & Entrepreneur
(42:26) High Performance in Life & Business
(45:12) Running Across the Philippines for Charity
(50:04) Launching the Project 1000 Run Club
(51:26) Purpose, Passion & Identity (53:08) Daily Rituals, Habits & Productivity
(59:06) Loyalty, Leadership & Life LessonsBehind-The-Scenes
