Which is easier: climbing Kilimanjaro or working in Corporate?

Exactly two weeks ago, on Friday 18th October, I summitted Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Reminder: Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano and is the highest mountain in Africa, as well as the highest free-standing mountain in the world: 5,895 m above sea level!

How it started...

I eagerly started the expedition feeling confident and strong. Uncharacteristically, I decided to keep research to a minimal (to avoid talking myself out of it) and rather focused my enthusiasm on training hard during the 6 weeks leading up to the trek (a mix of strength, cardio and mobility).

The first few days of the experience were equal parts amazing and challenging. And by 4 day I was truly grateful for the fact that I had trained, because this 'hike' was by no means easy. In fact, we were told that on average 50,000 people attempt to summit the mountain every year but only a fraction are actually successful. When we passed Barafu Base Camp (4,670m) and saw the medical helicopter, it was a sharp confirmation of just that. Nonetheless, our spirits weren't damped and we marched onto Kosovo camp where we rested before summit night.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a profoundly transformative experience, offering a unique combination of physical challenge and mental endurance that somewhat mirrors the complexities of the corporate world. Reaching the summit is not just about physical capability; it's about resilience, grit, and the unwavering commitment to a goal. With each step on the steep, rocky terrain, we faced fatigue, altitude sickness, and freezing temperatures, testing their strength and determination.

I wont lie, at 4am half way through the summit, feeling frozen, disorientated and nauseous, I really had to dig deep to keep going. Most of us were in bad shape, but we kept pushing each other and pushing through the adversity with discipline and optimism. The team of porters and guides supporting us, kept our spirits warm through song and laughter, something I am immensely grateful for. Indeed, along the journey, the camaraderie with fellow climbers and guides become an invaluable source of unity and energy.

By 8am we reached the summit, and the sense of achievement, relief, happiness and exhaustion was an emotional cocktail that I had never experienced before. After numerous hugs, high fives and some tears, we took the obligatory photo at Uhuru peak before commencing our descend. Curiously, we all stressed about the summit but didn't give much thought to the descent, which was by far one of the weirdest experiences I am certain I will ever go through in life: literally sand skiing down Kilimanjaro at great speed.

After a few hours rest, we finally concluded the trek in the rain forest, a calming and beautiful surrounding for a final appreciation of what we had just achieved.

How it's going...

Like any good holiday, the return home was met with a big 'to do' list, which I am working through. However, the best thing has been the warm welcome from everyone who was rooting for us to have a great experience.

Having told the story a few times and reflected on everything that we went through during our Kilimanjaro expedition, it is undeniable that there were a number of personal and professional lessons to be observed. The biggest for me was around context and perspective - the few times I struggled with my heavy backpack, I reminded myself that the porters were doing everything I was, but with a lot more weight on their backs (for example). It served as a good trigger to interpret the environment and adjust my attitude accordingly. Another big one was something that the guides kept saying - "focus on today, today; tomorrow will come tomorrow", which was such a brilliant way for them to keep us grounded and mindful during the whole trek (without stressing about the summit, aka fixating only on one thing). These two lessons have definitely stayed with me since I climbed the mountain.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the reliance, teamwork and collaboration that we displayed on Kilimanjaro were critical to our success, much like what is needed in corporate environments - where navigating challenges depends on leveraging support networks, finding motivation, and persisting through obstacles. Just as in business, the journey up Kilimanjaro most certainly emphasized that the destination is rewarding but the strength built along the way is what truly defines success.

Asante Sana.