El Camino – Finding Your Why, a Spiritual & Leadership Journey

Short version (full version below)

This article delves into my recent solo trek on a different kind of pilgrimage - a journey of introspection, leadership, and discovering my "why." It wasn't the well-worn path of El Camino de Santiago, but a personal quest for self-reflection amidst the beauty of the French countryside.

A Mid-Life Quest

Call it a mid-life crisis or a yearning for wisdom, but I felt an urgent need for a break. After eight fulfilling years in the Middle East, it was time to disconnect, reflect, and recharge. Three weeks was a luxury I hadn't enjoyed since 2008, and the perfect opportunity for a multi-day hike - a dream I'd harbored for years. The possibilities were endless, ultimately, a friend's compelling account of his Camino journey sealed the deal.

The Journey Unfolds

My pilgrimage wasn't a solitary one. Along the way, I met a vibrant tapestry of people - fellow travelers from all walks of life and corners of the globe, each on their own spiritual quest. The beauty of the journey lay not just in the stunning landscapes and physical exertion, but in the profound personal connections forged with strangers. Conversations flowed effortlessly, surpassing the depth often found with close friends or family.

This experience resonated deeply with the "slow food" movement. Just as savoring a meal allows for a richer experience than fast food, traversing magnificent landscapes on foot unveils details invisible from a car or train. The immersion - the colors, sounds, and smells - heightened all my senses. This, in turn, facilitated introspection, allowing me to process emotions, make sense of my past, and gain a clearer understanding of myself and my motivations.

Modern life rarely affords such dedicated time for reflection. While mindfulness practices are valuable, I believe longer breaks are essential for true self-discovery. Many consider El Camino a reset button, a golden opportunity to disconnect from the constant buzz of technology and rediscover a slower pace of life.

Beyond Breathtaking Vistas: Lessons Learned

The journey wasn't just about breathtaking views and inspiring people; it was a treasure trove of memories:

• The quiet solitude of walking through eerie forests
• Spending a night in a historic 14th-century tower
• Canoeing on the serene Lot River
• Sharing laughter and personal stories with complete strangers
• Engaging in profound discussions about our deepest fears
• Reflecting on team dynamics, leading by example, and leveraging collective intelligence

This deep introspection allowed me to, perhaps for the first time, envision my career and life strategically. What did I want to achieve? Where did I see myself in the next 5-10 years? This initially daunting exercise highlighted a cultural deficiency - a lack of emphasis on quality time spent with ourselves.

Ultimately, the journey left me feeling centered and refocused, cleansed of daily distractions and endless demands.

Leadership Through a New Lens

Recurring advice on El Camino resonated deeply with my leadership vision:

• Everyone has their own path.
• Be open to others.
• Expect the unexpected.

These simple truths epitomize good leadership and management. Everyone on the Camino embarked with a unique goal, be it reconnecting with oneself or finding solace after loss. The walk transformed these physical objectives into journeys of profound self-discovery.

Leadership Principles Revealed

• Integrity & Respect: Leaders must embody their values and respect colleagues. On the Camino, walkers, despite diverse backgrounds, respected each other's need for silence or sharing. They helped and welcomed one another, sharing paths, food, and even rooms. They also respected Mother Nature, cherishing the shade of trees, the refreshment of springs, and the symphony of nature's sounds.
• Diversity: A growing body of evidence demonstrates the superior performance of gender-balanced and diverse teams [9]. During my walk, men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and religions brought their unique energy and skills to support each other's journeys. Everyone, at their own pace, found their own path to reach the destination. Ultimately, they were all striving for inner peace and self-discovery.
• Ability to Listen: I met a remarkable woman on the journey, a retiree who joined me late one evening. Over dinner, she shared glimpses of her motivation - a past steeped in tradition where she lacked choice in marriage or career. She raised seven children on her own and now cared for a sick husband. This walk was a chance to reclaim her life, a testament to the power of active listening. In the corporate world, this skill separates good leaders from great

Full version

It’s been a while since I’ve written about my experience in the Middle East and my leadership growth. In my last article, From shock to thriving – 8y in KSA , I reflected on this incredible journey.

During the summer of 2023, I embarked on a different kind of journey, more personal, more introspective, and deeply relevant to where I stood. In hindsight, this also helped me understand the type of teammate and leader I am and shaped how I see the world. But more importantly, it allowed me to see what was obvious in hindsight, and what drives me. Some call it the higher calling, and some call it “find your why” [1].

Genesis

Nature has always had a soothing effect on my mind, whether through stargazing, contemplating landscapes, or hiking. For me, hiking is a deep meditation. A regular practice wherever I am, I had long been contemplating going on a multi-day hike (or should I say quest?) for quite some time, inspired by vivid memories of the week-long Kilimanjaro climb. I often dream about hiking across South America on my own, or Corsica with my kids when they get a bit older.

But back then I needed time with myself. Call it a mid-life crisis or wisdom gained, I felt the urge to take a break and do some soul searching – to reflect on the past, appreciate my blessings, and challenges, and find new energy for the upcoming years.

Plus I couldn’t think of any other time since 2008 when I managed to take a full 3 weeks vacation. In parallel, I was also curious to see how an intense hike of over 2 weeks would affect my body and mind, given the common belief that it takes 2-3 weeks to break a habit and form new ones. [2 – spoiler alert - myth]

The Preparation

Around mid-June 2023, I decided to make the most of my July time and hesitated between a 11d hike around the Mont Blanc or a longer trek on the El Camino de Santiago. A good friend’s account of his experience on the Camino sealed the deal. I booked my train ticket, arranged the first nights, and off I went.

After a packed 2d in Paris, I rode a bike across town on an early Sunday morning, to the train station. A few hours later, after enjoying green and beautiful landscapes (gotta love the train), I reached one of the famous departure points, Le Puy en Velay.

Note: I realized on the train that I forgot my headset. Freud would probably have said this is what I needed to “cut the cord” and fully embrace the adventure. This is precisely how I felt!

The Journey

Though I went on my own, I met a vibrant tapestry of people, especially in the various collective accommodations. Characters from all walks of life and corners of the world, on a spiritual journey of their own. I always marveled at how easily you can have very deep personal discussions with total strangers, sometimes more easily than with close friends or family.

Both the physical part of the journey (landscapes, muscle exertion) and the mental aspect blended into a cohesive experience rarely felt. Akin to the slow food movement, I realized that walking through a magnificent area allows it to reveal much more to the eye and the soul than crossing it by car, train or else [3]. You immerse yourself into the details, the colors, the sounds, the smells; all your senses are heightened.

This is in my view one of the reasons why your mind also can process your inner thoughts and make sense of your world vision, past experiences and enable you to see more clearly how you feel, and more importantly, why you may feel this way about a particular topic or experience.

Rarely in our modern world do we take proper time to reflect. Sure 10-15min a day of deep mindfulness is beneficial, but I contend that this is not enough, and you need this longer break. Many consider El Camino a time to reset. It is certainly an invaluable personal journey as well as a golden opportunity to truly disconnect and experience a slower pace of life with few modern interruptions.

Of course, the landscapes were breathtaking, the people so generous, humbling and inspiring.

So many memories float in my mind:

• Walking through eerie, quiet forests completely alone, and at various times of the day
• Spending the night in a tower from the 14th century [4]; or a convent
• Canoeing on the Lot river between two of France’s most beautiful villages
• Sharing genuine personal moments, and laughter with strangers (truly giggle, to the point of having difficulties catching my breath and sore abs)
• Engaging in a profound discussion about our greatest fears
• Reflecting on team dynamics, leading by example, and leveraging collective intelligence

This deep introspection allowed me, possibly for the first time, to think more strategically about my career and life: what do I want to do, where do I see myself in 5-10y, what do I not like? Initially, it was a difficult exercise, and I realized that our culture doesn’t train us to spend quality time with ourselves. Ultimately, this journey made me feel at peace. It offered a chance to refocus, away from daily distractions and endless solicitations.

Recurring Tips I Heard on El Camino & how they relate to my leadership vision

1. Everyone has their own path
2. Be open to others
3. Expect the unexpected

Simple yet profoundly true; such elements epitomize in my view what good leadership and management should be:

• Vision, target setting, KPI, call it what you want; each of us started the journey with a goal. Some can seem mundane, like taking time off and reconnecting, or more profound, like recovering from losing a loved one. Irrespective, this walk allowed people to transform a physical goal into something more personal and profound.
• Integrity & Respect Leaders must embody their values and respect colleagues.

On the Camino, walkers, despite diverse backgrounds, respected each other's need for silence or sharing. They helped and welcomed one another, sharing paths, food, and even rooms. They also respected Mother Nature, cherishing the shade of trees, the refreshment of springs, and the symphony of nature's sounds.

• Diversity We now have evidence that gender-balanced and diverse teams perform better at work, be it in the Board room, the plant, or in the office [9] During my walk, men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and religions brought their unique energy and skills to support each other's transformational journeys. Everyone, at their own pace, found their own path to reach their destination.? Ultimately, they were all striving for inner peace and self-discovery, which you can feel happening gradually.
• Ability to listen I happened to meet a remarkable woman, a retiree who arrived late at the same hostel where I was staying, which was a bit outside the main path. Over dinner, I only got a glimpse of her reason for the journey, and offered to wake up early with her in order to walk with her till we catch the main path again, as she appeared anxious. The next morning, we started to talk more deeply, and her tale so moved me, I felt she had so much energy and drive. Without going into intimate details, she is a product of older traditions: she didn’t get to choose her husband nor was she able to work or do as she pleased. She bore 7 children, educated them on her own and was now taking care of her sick husband. At this point in her life she felt like she had to do something for herself, to find herself again. It had been hiking, where she joined a club a few months back and then decided to walk till Santiago. A lesson in wisdom, and reclaiming ones life; which i only was able to understand through active listening. In the corporate world, this sets apart good from great leadership/management [10]
• Leading by example Similarly to new hikers, when new recruits join a company, if they see the whole organization living up to the written values, they will integrate those and abide by them (the opposite is also true). No amount of writing, billboards, or massive letters on walls will ever replace the virtues of leading by example.
• And fun: Enjoy the ride! Let’s face it, we spend more time at work, with colleagues, clients, suppliers, partners etc., than with our families and friends. So we shall make this an enjoyable moment. To prepare for the unexpected and be ready as a well-functioning team, I found out that a positive atmosphere, where people genuinely feel at ease, and enjoy the journey is clearly the best option. There is no forced marriage, only partners that choose each other and decide to make it work. Sometimes, cracking a good joke in a tense meeting will help the team find a solution and keep everyone’s temper in check. Humor and self-mockery are also a good way to admit one’s own mistakes. Taking a step back, we shall realize that in the grand scheme of the universe, humans are like the cosmic equivalent of a fleeting Snapchat story—here today, forgotten tomorrow. Make the most of your (short) ride!

Personal findings

Interestingly, about one in ten walkers are on El Camino for faith reasons, but most seek spiritual introspection [5]. I fit the description.

Overall I believe this journey made me a better person, a better team mate (you recall that I love ultimate frisbee? and reflected on its leadership values).

More profoundly, it revealed what was hiding in plain sight: I need to be anchored in sustainability, this is my “higher calling”, what gets out of bed with excitement, what drives me.

Sustainability is about meeting present needs without compromising future generations. It encompasses environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability [6]. My appreciation for nature began in childhood, fostering a sense of responsibility to protect it. Professional experiences, especially in India and the Middle East, highlighted the urgent need for sustainable practices amid rapid economic growth and environmental degradation.

Impact

Integrate Sustainability into Leadership, which was the focus of my Cambridge training in early 2023 [7]:

1. Leading by Example: Demonstrating sustainable practices in daily life inspires others to follow. Getting to net zero on a personal level is achievable:
2. Education and Advocacy: Raising awareness and advocating for sustainable policies empower informed decision-making.
3. Collaboration and Innovation/Work alignment.

4. Long-Term POSITIVE Vision & structured narrative:?

1. Convey a positive vision, craft an appealing sustainability message, as doomsday predictions do not yield efficient behavioral change.?
2. Adjust the message to the audience

Learnings

If I had to distill the learnings into a few bullet points, they would be:

• Go meet people from all walks of life, all ages, and strike up personal conversations (more easily done when walking with the person, or after a shared experience). It’s very humbling to realize both differences and commonalities. Note: Same in a team, at work, esp in an environment like the Middle East, where you collaborate with people from various parts of the world, with different, and often complementing viewpoints
• Laugh more and enjoy the little things, they are life’s building blocks.?
• Push yourself, only when physically and mentally challenged or exhausted can you see clearly what drives you
• Learn to be at peace with yourself Acknowledge and forgive yourself Every manager and leader makes mistakes; which are actually learning experiences (As the saying goes: “good decisions come from experience; experience comes from bad decisions”.)
• Sometimes you need to take some distance, literally and figuratively Break your routine, get out of your comfort zone and reflect
• Meditate
• Activate your 5 physical senses Admire and protect nature?
• Maintain a growth mindset, and hone your leadership skills

Finally, make a conscious effort to think about your purpose/calling. But don’t sweat it: It can change over time; you may only discover it in your 40s or later.

So What?

The main conclusion is that I want to have more impact while being anchored in sustainability. I’ve always done a lot at the personal level (see above), and at the corporate level, my choices have mostly been coherent in hindsight: I devoted over 2y to growing a B2B solar developer, from inception to growth stage. I moved to Saudi Arabia to manage, restructure and finalize the first major smart city project in the country, which aimed at improving traffic, safety and security. In my work with Neom I spent a lot of time pushing the green agenda: expanding PV solutions, implementing best practices, learning about the Hydrogen revolution…

My career choices follow my values, aiming for impact and alignment with company ethos.

I end this article by extending my heartfelt thanks to everyone I met along my journey (the full one).

?Buen Camino!

References

[1] Simon Sinek, Find Your WHY. https://simonsinek.com/books/find-your-why/

[2] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_tourism?

[4] https://www.tourisme-aveyron.com/en/diffusio/group-accommodation/gite-d-etape-communal-la-tour-des-anglais-st-chely-d-aubrac_TFO026154842839

[5] https://chemindecompostelle.com/pourquoi-partir-sur-le-chemin-de-saint-jacques/

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability

[7] https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/?

[8] Making sustainable living easy, normal – and fun.?The Guardian.?Retrieved, from: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-living-easy-normal-fun?

[9] McKinsey, Diversity matters even more: The case for holistic impact. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impact?

[10] https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2023/09/04/active-listening-skills-what-they-are-and-why-theyre-important/?