The Journey

You'll start this seven-day journey in the rainforests of Africa. As you begin to ascend the great Mount Kilimanjaro, the terrain will start to change from lush green to jagged rock. It is a sensory experience that is varied and intense. We'll progress up well-marked trails and transcend from warm and humid climates to arid mountainsides and finally to cold and snow.

From the moment we begin the climb, you will engage in tough leadership challenges and learning assignments. You will be responsible for building the team, setting collective goals, establishing group culture, and defining routines. The unexpected will become the expected. You'll confront difficulties where sound judgment and effective decision-making will be critical. Leadership coaching will be woven throughout the experience, and feedback from faculty and peers will be delivered in real time. You'll see your teammates at their best and worst as you experience the triumphs and struggles of the climb together. And you'll gain deep insight about how to motivate others to achieve more than they thought possible.

As you approach the summit the barren earth will give way to breathtaking views and awe-inspiring vistas. At this point, the leadership challenge will turn to descending the mountain to get the team home. After the climb, you will develop a detailed plan for how to leverage lessons and insights to transform your leadership at work.

Program Highlights

• Throughout the trek, you will engage in designed leadership challenges that test and grow your ability to lead a high-performing team, develop a culture of accountability, make tough decisions, demonstrate resilience, and achieve results in dynamic environments.
• Leadership coaching and feedback will be woven throughout the experience to help you identify your strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• You'll "learn by doing" in a way that cannot be replicated in any classroom environment:
  • You'll put advanced concepts into use immediately in real life scenarios and develop strong mastery of key tools and approaches.
  • After the trek, you'll develop a detailed plan to leverage lessons to transform your work.

Who Should Attend?

Proven leaders who want to achieve new and ambitious results through authentic and inspirational leadership.

The journey up Mount Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb suitable for beginners and experienced hikers alike.

Training and Gear

Participants must be physically fit and ready for Kilimanjaro. We recommend a training regimen of three to four months for this program and a full list of appropriate gear. Trained staff of Alpine Ascents will work with you to prepare and pack for Kilimanjaro.

Scott DeRue, Faculty Director

Scott DeRue is one of the world's foremost experts on leadership. He has worked to transform leadership and executive development practices in multinational companies, international governments, and leading social enterprises. His research shows how to build leaders to deliver extraordinary results in the most critical environments. An accomplished climber, DeRue has climbed many of the world's highest mountains, including Mt. Kilimanjaro. He notes: "We don't teach leadership; we design laboratories for you to learn leadership. Climbing is the ideal laboratory for learning leadership skills to transform your and your organization's performance."

Alpine Ascents International

We are excited to partner with Alpine Ascents International on this program. Named one of the best adventure travel companies on earth by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, Alpine Ascents will provide carefully planned highly nutritious meals, tent camps, cybercasts, and all ground logistics while in Tanzania. Unique to Alpine Asents, an on-staff professional guide will lead the trek along with local African staff. In addition, a team of roughly 50-65 professional porters will support you throughout the trek.

Alpine Ascents has more than 20 years' experience leading groups up Kilimanjaro and more than 90 percent summit success rate. They have been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and more for their excellence in mountain climbing hosting and expeditions. Alpine Ascents' high level of professionalism and proven safety and track record make them the ideal partner for this program.

Application Information

Note: Admission to this program is by application only. Alpine Ascents reserves the right to screen candidates for health, fitness, and preparedness. This climb is suitable for beginners who commit to a prescribed training regimen. Prior climbing experience is not required. There are four ways to apply:
1) Click "Register Now" on this page and complete the application online;
2) Download the application and mail it back to us or fax it to +1.734.764.4267;
3) Electronically request a paper application be sent by mail; or
4) Call +1.734.763.1000, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST Monday through Friday and request a paper application be mailed to you.