“I always say – let all your doubts happen before you commit. Once you’ve committed to pursuing something, don’t look back.”

Software engineer and dancer – these two roles don’t usually come together. But in the case of entrepreneur Miral Kotb, the combination made perfect sense. A Houston, Texas native, Miral simultaneously pursued both passions when she studied dancing in Barnard College and computer science in Columbia University respectively.

Her hard work in academics paid off when she launched iLuminate back in 2009. The company creates state-of-the-art technology coupled with dancers performing in the dark, creating a mesmerising light show on stage. Her technology took national spotlight on the popular American talent show called “America’s Got Talent” back in 2011 when performers used her products to land a top spot in the finals of the show that season.

Ever since then, her company has catapulted onto the international scene, entertaining audiences around the globe and pushing storytelling to the next level with stunning visual performances. Miral has collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Grammy-winning superstars Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera and The Black Eyed Peas. The technology has also been featured on Dancing with the Stars, The American Music Awards, MTV’s Video Music Awards, and others.

We spoke to this trail-blazing female entrepreneur in the world of entertainment, to find out more about how she has come a long way to turn her passions for dance and coding respectively, into a successful career.

EARLY LIFE

Tell us more about your family background and share with us on what it was like growing up.

Dancing has always been a part of my culture. Before my parents emigrated from Cairo to Houston, my father was a performer in Egypt’s national dance troupe.

While growing up, I was always dancing. Eventually I landed at Columbia University to study coding and at the same time, I pursued dance training separately. I landed at Bloomberg and became a software engineer, but my free time was spent expressing myself through dance and learning all areas of the craft.

How did your upbringing shape the person you are today?

My mother was an economist, which I feel was where I got my love for math and science. When I was nine, my parents brought home our first desktop computer and I was obsessed with it!

I had a natural knack that was evident from the start. They enrolled me in a computer coding class and I quickly began writing code for fun, making my own games in the process. When people played the games I created, it was fulfilling. It became a way for me to bond more with American culture.

How would you sum up your childhood?

I had an incredible childhood and was always very curious in life, which I think is what led me down this path. My journey was always about doing what I love.

JOURNEY

Why did you decide to take the path of entrepreneurship and start your own company?

It was a long path! When I was at Bloomberg, I had finally reached a point where I was ready to leave my job and put all my time into dance as a career. But I had the biggest life sideline when they found a tumor in my right hip. The diagnosis was so bad that there was a potential for my leg to be amputated and I’d never be able to dance again.

I was very lucky in that they didn’t have to remove my hip, so I could continue pursuing dance. I ended up staying with Bloomberg for six years before becoming a freelancer focusing on website coding which I did while traveling around Europe.

After returning to America, I decided to attend Apple’s App Developer Conference where I learned about wireless chips getting so small that they could be put in everyday devices and a eureka moment instantly clicked in my mind – dance!

You could put a chip on a dancer and be able to communicate with them wirelessly in real-time while performing. This would make shows more organic and different every night. I then cultivated that idea into having the chips control lights attached to the dancers; and with that, iLuminate was born.

How did your interest in computer coding and dance come about in your early years?

I had a passion for both at a young age, but the concept for iLuminate emerged while I was developing iPhone applications. When I realized I could take my love of art and my passion for technology and merge them together to make this really cool, immersive experience that was unlike anything I had ever seen – it just all started to make sense!

I used my friends as guinea pigs, and I had a prototype for the ‘lights suit’ built in a matter of weeks. Since then, I have not stopped working on the technology since. We eventually caught the eye of many celebrities that wanted to use this technology and of course, went on to appear on America’s Got Talent where we came in third place.

Along the way, what were some hard decisions you faced and challenges you had to overcome?

Years after my first fight with cancer, I was diagnosed for a second time, this time with leukemia that was caused from the radiation from the first cancer.

This was in 2017 and I was one of the youngest people known to get this particular type of leukemia. During the fight I decided to make a video of my story to say thank you to everyone who had helped me and to remind myself that life is worth living, and this setback is only temporary. It helped me to realize that love and people will get you through anything.

I was in quarantine for nine months and while it was torture, it also gave me time to be with my family, to think and create. Shortly after getting out of the hospital, I started to put my iLuminate team to work for the show in Las Vegas. We were set to launch March 26, 2020…and we all know what happened to the world that month – Covid-19 caused a global pandemic.

Another setback in life, but another opportunity to continue to create and make things better while we had the time…a lot of time!

ACHIEVEMENTS

Which achievements/milestones are you most proud of and why?

I am really proud that I have had so many hurdles in life, but I have never lost sight of my goals and my passion to leave a mark on this world. A major milestone happened this October when we officially launched the iLuminate show on the famed Las Vegas Strip.

What do you think are the key ingredients to your success?

I always say – let all your doubts happen before you commit. Once you’ve committed to pursuing something, don’t look back. I say this with experience – not just in relation to battling cancer myself or going through a worldwide pandemic, but at every step of the way, have conviction and commit to yourself.

Even the 2021 launch of iLuminate had its ups and downs but I learned to stay true to myself and my vision and not be afraid to step back and reevaluate.

Share with us some anecdotes or experiences that you think played a significant role in your success.

My team has definitely played a significant role in where I am today. My “team” includes not just my work team, but my family and friends (although all of those categories are interchangeable with each other!).

These people have helped me push myself to become a better person, a better boss, a more creative show producer and coder…If you surround yourself with a positive, hard-working group of people, it opens up your mind to endless possibilities!

PERSONAL (LIFE)

What is your life motto (Or core values) if any?

‘Everything happens for a reason’

I really try to look forward and not back – ‘Everything happens for a reason’ is a motto I try to keep at the back of my head. Otherwise, you can go crazy with the “why did I…” or “what ifs.”

‘It’s all in the pre-production’

On the work side – “It’s all in the pre-production!” Planning is the best way to make sure things are executed well in theater. It is part of the creative process.

‘Stay true to yourself’

“Stay true to yourself!” I have spent the last few months trying to do what others told me I should for my company/brand and it backfired. I lost my way and I am even more convinced that staying true to yourself is the way to be.

To you, what are the most important things in life?

The people you surround yourself with are the key to success in life, regardless of what “success” looks like to you.

What’s worth mentioning on your life’s bucket list that you have not done?

I want to start a family. This is dear to my heart. I also want to see more women and artists writing code.

Writing code can be a really creative endeavor and the more people learn about it, the more people will realize that it is not impossible to do or only reserved for certain ‘types of people’.

I would also like to have more shows internationally and a Broadway show soon too!

Why do you do what you do? (What drives you everyday)

I get to express myself and to be creative each and every day which keeps my mind sharp and allows me to continue to grow. I’m like that ABC mantra – Always Be Creating!

Who are the role models and influences in your life?

Richard Branson is one of my many role models because he’s truly an artist at heart and he uses creativity in business too.

What are some things that many people don’t know about you?

I am learning to play the piano. I LOVE IT! It is one of my favorite parts of the day. One day I hope to play in a jazz band.

I also do gymnastics, love to cook (my family owns a restaurant and my mom is the chef), and I am still dancing (for fun!).

What are some life lessons you will take to your grave?

I go back to “Stay True to Yourself” and also that friends and family always come first.

Try to find what you love to do and stick to it if you can, because life is too short to go about it any other way.

VIEWPOINTS

With your background in coding and software engineering, you decided to partner with code.org to create an educational video for elementary school students around the world. Why do you think it is important for children to learn coding at an early age?

Coding is so fun and creative! When you finish a project, you have an incredible piece of art to share with your friends and family. Having something to share that YOU created helps boost confidence and brings out a different way of developing critical thinking skills.

The world is changing and technology is becoming more and more important. Pretty soon we will run out of software developers to fill in the roles. I, myself, still struggle to find strong software developers.

Ever since your technology was showcased on America’s Got Talent, you have become a mentor to young women in coding and an advocate of bringing more women into computer science. Is there a lack of female representation in computer science and how do you hope that can change?

Absolutely! My hope in changing it is to show a successful woman in the field who is also embracing her feminine and creative side. The stigma behind what a computer scientist looks like is a big reason why girls are dissuaded from pursuing coding. But if we can get more women who code in “cool” and “popular” ways, it may help.

You are a survivor of cancer and have supported cancer foundations in various ways. How did it shape your journey and perspectives of life and success? What advice do you give to other cancer survivors who want to pursue their passions just like you did?

There IS life after cancer. I will not lie, I still deal with the side effects of having had cancer twice, but that just makes every moment and accomplishment that much more special because I am so thankful each day to be here and I fight that much harder for what I love and believe in.

The post Dance And Light Up The World – Miral Kotb appeared first on My Story Lounge.

“I learned a long time ago that I will never be the best or the fastest climber, but I don’t have to be. I just have to be absolutely relentless about putting one foot in front of the other.”

Alison Levine isn’t your typical mountain climber or polar explorer. Her unusual transition from corporate life, working for several Fortune 500 companies to becoming a deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become governor of California back in 2003, makes her background rather unique.

More than that, she has made history on several occasions:

• She served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, climbed the highest peak on each continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—a feat known as the Adventure Grand Slam—which only twenty people in the world have achieved.
• In January 2008, she made history as the first American to complete a 600-mile traverse across west Antarctica to the South Pole, following the route of legendary explorer Reinhold Messner. Levine completed this arduous journey on skis while hauling 150 pounds of her gear and supplies in a sled harnessed to her waist.
• She made history again in 2016 when she completed two first ascents: Hall Peak in Antarctica and Khang Karpo in Nepal.

Her success in extreme environments is noteworthy given she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease, which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse in cold weather—leaving her at extreme risk for frostbite.

Adding to her stellar resume, she is a New York Times best-selling author of the book called: ‘On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and other Extreme Environments’ and a film-maker who executive produced the documentary film called ‘PASANG’ (www.pasangmovie.com). The film chronicles the life of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (1961-1993), the first female Sherpa to summit Mt. Everest.

Such are her remarkable achievements, driven by a burning passion to explore extreme environments and some of the most inhospitable places on earth. We spoke to her to find out how she got started on this journey and how she tackled the challenges faced, in order to reach the pinnacle of her successes.

EARLY LIFE

Tell us more about your family background and share with us on what it was like growing up.

I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, which has some of the hottest weather in the United States. I always thought I would be an air-conditioning repair woman because I figured that job would be in high demand and would offer a lot of job security.

I was the middle child in between two brothers. My parents took a very “tough-love” approach to raising us. My mom’s rules were, “no whining, no crying, and no complaining.” This type of mindset has its advantages and disadvantages of course. The advantage is that it builds resilience and self-reliance. The disadvantage is that it tends to make you fearful about expressing fear, anger or sadness.

How did your upbringing shape the person you are today?

My father, Jack Levine, was an FBI agent in the 60s under J. Edgar Hoover. He was the first Special Agent to ever publicly speak out against Hoover and tried to get him investigated for all of the unethical things he was doing. Hoover was one of the most powerful people in the nation at the time, and no government agencies were willing to investigate him – no one would touch him. Hoover sought revenge on my father and ruined his career. But of course after Hoover died, all of his illegal and unethical dealings were revealed, and my father was vindicated.

Growing up as the daughter of Jack Levine shaped who I am today because he taught me that you call out the wrongs that you witness, even if it costs you everything. AND…you go down swinging.

How would you sum up your childhood?

One word: Strength-building.

JOURNEY

How and why did you get interested in mountain-climbing, polar exploration and subsequently film-making respectively?

Mountain-climbing & polar exploration

Growing up in Phoenix, I was always intrigued by the early Arctic and Antarctic explorers and the early mountaineers. I loved reading about all of these expeditions – because it felt like an escape from the oppressive summer heat (average high temperature in August of last year was 110 degreesF/43.3 C).

But I never thought I would actually go to any of these places because I was born with a hole in my heart, so I faced some health challenges. I had my first heart surgery when I was 17, and then another when I turned 30.

And after that second surgery this lightbulb went on in my head and I thought, “If I want to know what it’s like to cross Antarctica on skis, then I should go do it instead of reading about it. If I want to know what it’s like to try to climb a big mountain, I should go climb one instead of watching climbing films. And if these other guys can go do this stuff, why can’t I?” So I climbed my first mountain at age 32 and have not stopped since.

Film-making

As far as the film-making goes… the film, PASANG, is about the first female Sherpa to summit Mt. Everest, and I got involved as the executive producer on the film because I think it is important for the world to know about strong women who broke through gender barriers in pursuit of their dreams. The subject of the film, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, died while descending the mountain in 1993, so she never got the chance to tell her story. I wanted to make sure it got told.

What was the personal development process like for you?

In addition to all of the physical training involved, I tried to read about various failed expeditions so I could analyze why they failed. Not only the accounts of teams that didn’t reach the summit, but also the accounts of expeditions that had severe injuries or deaths.

I wanted to know what went wrong and what could have led to a better outcome. Sometimes tragic consequences are due to things that are out of your control, but other times they are preventable.

What are some hard decisions you had to make and tough challenges faced along the way?

Turning back from the summit of Mt Everest less than 300ft/70 meters from the summit in a storm in 2002. We were the first American Women’s Everest Expedition so we had quite a lot of media coverage, and it’s always hard to fail when you are in the public eye.

We had to do a big media tour after the expedition and talk about how we did not achieve our goal of getting to the summit. Talking about your failures over and over on national television and in print media can feel like a punch to the gut after a while.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Which achievements/milestones are you most proud of and why?

I am most proud of my work in western Uganda where I trained jobless women to work as porters and trekking guides on Mt Stanley which is in the Rwenzori Mountain range and is the highest peak in Uganda. Prior to our work over there, these women had to rely on prostitution survive. Once they were trained to work in the mountains, they were able to earn a sustainable living wage, which was a game-changer for them.

Outside of the mountains, I am most proud of my work in leadership development and helping people of all ages and in all different job functions become stronger leaders. I spent four years on the part-time faculty at the United States Military Academy at West Point where I lectured in the Department of ‘Behavioral Sciences and Leadership’.

I also speak more than 100 times a year at corporate conferences around the globe, sharing the leadership lessons I have learned in the mountains and advising people on how to lead (in business and in life) in a world where the conditions around you are constantly shifting and changing. I am incredibly proud of this work, because I get to have a positive influence on thousands of people every year, and that feels really great!

What do you think are the key ingredients to your success?

The key ingredient to my success, in the mountains and in my personal/professional life, is my determination. I learned a long time ago that I will never be the best or the fastest climber, but I don’t have to be. I just have to be absolutely relentless about putting one foot in front of the other.

What lies ahead in terms of your goals and ambitions?

I am incredibly excited to be working with Seabourn Cruises in their launch of a new polar icebreaker ship – the Seabourn Venture. This ship is being built specifically to go to the Arctic and Antarctic regions, as well as other regions that would be nearly impossible to get to by plane. The ship is scheduled to be finished in the Spring of 2022. I am the godmother of the ship, an honor that stays with me as long as the ship is in service.

I am looking forward to being part of the effort to get more people to embark upon adventures that will take them to the ends of the earth. One of my personal goals is to get more people to have an adventurous mindset, as these experiences are life-changing for people.

PERSONAL (LIFE)

To you, what are the most important things in life?

The most important things in life involve showing the people you care about that they are important to you. I can live without mountains. I can live without money. I cannot live without connection/love. People are more important than anything else. ANYTHING.

And one thing I have learned is that a few kind words of support can completely change the outcome of a situation for someone who is struggling. You have to show up for people. Period.

And if I could change anything in this world, I would “cure” loneliness. I think a lot of people feel very desperate because they feel lonely, as if no one cares about them. This is one reason we lose people to suicide.

What’s worth mentioning on your life’s bucket list that you have not done?

I have always wanted to start a dog-rescue. I love dogs so much. SO SO SO MUCH!!! I want to kiss every single dog that walks by me. Sometimes I do it (if the owner gives me permission).

Why do you do what you do? (What drives you everyday)

I know that my words have the ability to change people’s lives for the better. There is no better feeling than when I get off stage and someone comes running up to me and tells me about a challenge they now feel confident they can overcome.

Or when they tell me they are going to look at their set-backs as pure opportunity, or when they tell me they are going to make massive changes in their life that they were previously in fear of making. This is why I do what I do. I figure if I can make people think, laugh, learn, and then take action – I’ve done my job.

Who are the role models and influences in your life?

My mom’s cousin, Jack Terry is a major role model for me. He is 91 years old and lives in New York. He is a holocaust survivor and was the youngest prisoner to survive the Flossenbug concentration camp. He grew up in Poland, and his parents and siblings were shot and killed by the Nazis, so when the Americans came to liberate the camp, he had NOTHING. No family, nowhere to go.

But an American army officer helped get him to the US where he was eventually adopted by a family in New York. He refused to let his past prevent him from living his best life. He went to college and went on to serve in the American army because he was so grateful to them for rescuing him, and if that was not enough, he went to medical school and became a psychiatrist because he wanted to help people with PTSD.

Whenever I am having a sh*t day, I think of him and his outlook on life and all of his contributions. I am inspired by him every day. EVERY. DAY.

What are some things that many people don’t know about you?

I am an extreme introvert. And when I say extreme, I mean EXTREME.

What are you most passionate about in life and why?

Well, besides DOGS, I am most passionate about helping people develop their leadership skills so that they can achieve more than they ever thought possible.

What are some life lessons you will take to your grave?

~ When you see bad sh*t going on, call it out.

~ Don’t ever underestimate the power of a few kind words.

~ When you hear “no” – don’t let that be your stopping point.

~ You don’t have to be the best, fastest, strongest climber to get to the top of a mountain – you just have to be absolutely relentless about putting one foot in front of the other.

VIEWPOINTS

Embarking on expeditions in extreme environments comes with a fair amount of risks to human life. What are some steps you take to ensure good leadership and to create cohesive teams on such trips?

Well, this answer would require hours and hours of writing. It’s all about building trust and loyalty, while also displaying competence during times of extreme uncertainty.

I wrote an entire book about this – ON THE EDGE: Leadership Lessons from Mt. Everest and Other Extreme Environments.

Despite having three heart surgeries and being a sufferer of Raynaud’s disease, you continue to embark on expeditions with extreme environments. What’s the rationale behind this? What can people with underlying medical conditions who have that same train of thought do to mitigate their own risks?

First of all, talk to your doctor before you embark on anything that could put your health at risk.

The reason I still embark on expeditions is because my heart condition is now cured, and the problems associated with my Raynaud’s can usually be alleviated with hand-warmers.

You are the founder of the Climb High Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of jobless women in western Uganda by training them to be trekking guides and porters in their local mountains. How can more women facing similar circumstances be empowered to take control of their own lives this way? In Africa and around the world.

Prior to me going to work with these women in Uganda and taking them up into their local mountains, they had no opportunity to make money because women were not permitted to climb these mountains – it was considered “taboo” in their culture. For generations, women just assumed that they could not step into the mountains because people told them they couldn’t go.

And believe it or not, no one ever asked WHY. And as it turned out, there was no real reason why women could not climb or work in these mountains. It simply had been status quo and no one had challenged it.

So one big step women can take to empower themselves is to ask questions and CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO. The only way progress happens is when people ask questions. Step up and ask. Don’t accept the explanation of “it has always been this way.”

And when someone tells you, “no” – it doesn’t mean you have to walk away from an opportunity. Be persistent, stand your ground. Don’t just give up every time someone tells you “no.”

The post Challenge The Status Quo – Alison Levine appeared first on My Story Lounge.

“It’s not about trying to get back to what you were, it’s about trying to be the best of what you’re capable of today, this minute.”

Obstacles and challenges are nothing new to Robyn Benincasa. After all, as a professional adventure racer and endurance athlete, she has competed in some of the harshest environments on planet earth. For the last 20 years, she and her teammates have been competing at the front of the pack in the most unique and compelling classrooms on earth: the jungles of Borneo, the Himalayan peaks of Tibet, the rivers of Fiji, the rainforests of Ecuador and the deserts of Namibia, among other extreme environments.

As a two-time World Champion adventure racer, San Diego firefighter, and CNN Hero, Robyn firmly believes in bringing together ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

She is also a motivational speaker and trainer who has worked with countless leaders and teams at Fortune 500 companies to cultivate resilience and cohesive teamwork, including organisations like IBM, Starbucks, Walmart, Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, HubSpot, Intel, and more.

Furthermore, Robyn is the founder of The Project Athena Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps women who have experienced medical challenges to fulfill their athletic ambitions. To top it all off, she holds three Guinness World Records:
Her first was in 2010, for the farthest distance travelled by a woman by canoe or kayak on flat water.
In 2011, Benincasa set a Guinness World Record for the farthest distance travelled by a woman by canoe or kayak in 24 hours on moving water.
She secured her third Guinness Record in 2014, for the greatest distance travelled by a woman on a stand-up paddleboard on still water in 24 hours.

Robyn amplifies the epitome of what teamwork can accomplish and what it means to get back up when life kicks you down. She sends a message that we are all capable of a great deal of things if we put our minds to it, especially when working with others, despite the challenges and obstacles that stand in our way.

EARLY LIFE

Tell us more about your family background and share with us on what it was like growing up.

I had a pretty normal childhood in Long Island New York with a sister and parents who were pretty “indoorsy”.

Up until about the age of 8, I just went to school, got good grades, and tried not to bother my mom too much. Dad would see us on the weekends.

How did your upbringing shape the person you are today?

It wasn’t really my upbringing that shaped my life, it was a flyer that magically landed on my front lawn from a local gymnastics club when I was 8. I asked my mom if my friend and I could go to a class, and from my first practice on, I knew I wanted to get as far as I could in that sport.

When I was 12 we moved to Arizona. I joined Desert Devils Gymnastics and the coach of that program, Stormy Eaton, became one of the most important figures in my life. We all loved him so much. He was a father figure whom we always looked up to and we wanted to make him proud through our achievements, but he was also fun and silly like us. When he was training for the Ironman Triathlon, he would take the team out on long bike rides and hikes in the Grand Canyon. It was then I discovered what I lacked in speed in the gym, I made up for in endurance in outdoor sports.

At our summer gymnastics camp one year, he challenged us to run 13 miles at one go. Ultimately, I was one of only 3 gymnasts from my team that finished the camp. It was a thrilling feeling of accomplishment and it made my coach so proud.

So, when I graduated college (where I switched from gymnastics to springboard diving), I knew that the next sport I wanted to tackle would be Ironman in honor of, and inspired by, Stormy. It was then that my endurance racing career was born.

How would you sum up your childhood?

Gymnastics practice, school, diving practice, homework, track practice, cross country practice, eating lunch in the library so I could get a head start on my homework. No parties, not a ton of friends outside of sports.

All was good. I haven’t changed much.

JOURNEY

How and why did you become a firefighter, and subsequently, how did you get into endurance racing?

When I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, I worked as a hospital supply and pharmaceutical sales representative for about 7 years. Even so, I was still equally drawn to my athletic life.

So, in 1996 I ditched the pantyhose and heels and picked up an application for the San Diego Fire Department. I passed all the tests, but there was an unfortunate 3-year hiring freeze. I had some fun as a substitute teacher and semi-professional athlete (the nice way to say “lived with roommates or on friend’s couches”) until I got my shot at the fire academy. Being a firefighter allows me to be all of the things I love the most: an athlete, a rescuer, an emergency medical first responder, a teammate, and an adventurer. It’s never the same day twice!

On the endurance racing side, by 1996 I had completed 10 Ironman triathlons, with two podium finishes in my age group at the world championships in Kona, Hawaii. But I was still a little too slow at the swim and run sections to race in the pro category. After my last Ironman in Kona, I was in the hospital on IV antibiotics for several days. Several racers picked up a crazy E. coli infection from the water at the start line.

I realized that I was ‘okay’ at triathlons, but the sport I was going to be really good at in my life had to be even longer. I was never fast, but I could maintain one speed forever over a long distance. I also vowed to find a sport that had weight divisions since I wasn’t what one would call “frail” (I started training in judo the minute I got home from Kona).

My triathlon competitors were up to 40 pounds lighter in body weight than I was, which was a major disadvantage, to say the least. So having assessed my unique strengths and talents as a strong, slowish, not small girl with a ton of grit, I went in search of what was next, and pretty quickly, the universe brought me to adventure racing.

Be careful what you wish for! The moment I read about the first American team ever to enter this crazy multi-day, multi-sport, nonstop race called the Raid Gauloises, I thought “This is the craziest, most awesome, most ridiculous sport in the entire world…and it’s PERFECT!”

Along the way, what were some hard decisions you faced and challenges you had to overcome?

The challenges in an adventure race are endless! For 5 to 10 days and nights NON-STOP, you’re navigating with a map and compass through the most remote terrain on earth, using only non-motorized transportation (mountain biking, mountaineering, kayaking, running and whitewater rafting) to get across the finish line with all 5 of your teammates, operating as one big team at every step of the way. If one of your teammates quits, the entire team is disqualified. And there was no official built-in rest time. The clock literally never stops, so the winning teams will only sleep 1.5 to 2 hours every 24 hours.

One of my craziest memories is from the Raid Gauloises World Championship in Ecuador. We had to summit a 19,700-foot active volcano on the third day of the race, right after running 75 miles at 14,000-foot elevation! My oxygen saturation was only 71% at the medical checkpoint before our big summit attempt. I remember crying and coughing green things out of my lungs (we all were) and having a temperature of 104 degrees.

The doctors at the checkpoint didn’t think I should continue, and in fact weren’t allowing anyone to continue if they had an oxygen saturation of 70% or less. But I knew that I had to go. I would have never forgiven myself if I let the team down. My teammates attached me to the rope in the middle of the group and (very literally) dragged me up the mountain through the darkness. I have no recollection of any of it.

The only thing I remembered was crying non-stop because somehow it helped me breathe. At 18,000 feet, the doctors did actually send 2 of my teammates back down the mountain to the checkpoint/hut at 15,000 feet because they were showing signs of high-altitude pulmonary edema and it was too dangerous to continue up. But they assured us that they were going to change the rules for all of the teams behind us as well, and that as long as each team got 3 people to the summit we could continue in the race.

To this day, I can’t believe I was one of the three of us that made it to the summit at 19,700 feet. But it was my teammates that literally and figuratively gave me the confidence and desire to continue into the clouds, knowing I may not be able to make it back down or if my blood could stay oxygenated enough to sustain life. I still have no idea what my oxygen saturation was at nearly 20,000 feet if it was 71% at 15,000 feet.

But I did discover the power and magic of the TEAM. None of us could have finished that race alone, NO WAY. We literally raced with one heart and one mind. All problems were ours. All success or failure was ours. All egos were left at the start line. And not only did our team survive, we went on to win that race 6 days later! To this day, that race in Ecuador is still regarded as the longest and toughest adventure race in the history of the sport.

During our darkest moments, though, when our own strength and courage ran thin, we all succeeded by borrowing courage from each other. Because someone else on the team was brave enough in that moment for the others who weren’t, they were able to keep us all afloat. I can’t tell you how many times I was wet, cold, exhausted, crying or hallucinating from lack of sleep on our fourth day of racing with only 6 hours of sleep TOTAL under our belts, wondering if I was going to have the courage or strength to keep going. And then someone on my team would always reach out and grab my hand, offer me a tow line, make me laugh, feed me some Fritos, or even sing the Sound of Music soundtrack with me to get me through the toughest, scariest obstacles and darkest, coldest nights. Never in a million years would I have finished an adventure race alone.

Another technique that also worked well for me during my toughest moments, was to let myself think through the process of quitting. I asked myself how would I feel in a week from now when I’m warm and fed and sitting on my couch thinking about letting myself and my teammates down?

The fear of having that feeling, labelling myself as a quitter and being the person that ended the race for the entire team, weighed heavily on me. I didn’t want to live with that label for the rest of my life. That fear was so overpowering and sad that I would suddenly get a burst of energy knowing that I could still change that reality! Right now! If I just get up and keep going.

The end of that story was STILL under my control at that time, no matter how horrible I felt at that moment. We can never have a new beginning, but in every individual moment we get to write the next chapter and decide how our story ends.

Share with us some experiences that you think are significant to your journey so far.

In 2007 I discovered I had end-stage osteoarthritis in both of my hips. I ran out of my last bit of cartilage at the world championships in Scotland and fell to the ground. When I stood up, I discovered my leg would no longer move forward on its own. Like it wasn’t getting the signals from my brain somehow. I didn’t want to quit though, so we figured out a way for me to pull my leg forward with a rope around my quadriceps. After some practice, I got pretty good at the timing of being my own puppet.

The team had to take my pack and all of my weight. We were disappointed that we weren’t going to win, but we still finished in the top 10. My husband had to carry me around on his back until we got home, and the doctor confirmed that I had zero cartilage left in one hip and very little in the other. I was devastated. I was not only facing one hip replacement, but two.

After my first hip replacement, with another not too far behind it, I knew I wasn’t going to be a good enough adventure racer anymore, so I made a couple of conscious and proactive decisions pretty quickly. It was simple: I wanted to focus on what I COULD do instead of what I couldn’t do. Why torture myself? There’s lots of cool things to do in the world!

I also wanted to take all the skills I had developed, and a few of my semi-broken, adventure racing pals to create a way to help other people create their big comeback after a setback in their own lives. So, the Project Athena Foundation, along with an ultra-endurance solo kayaking career, were born in 2008. It’s still going strong.

We not only take survivors on endurance adventures (such as hiking all the way across the Grand Canyon or kayaking and riding through all of the Florida Keys), but we also take fundraisers, who do the adventure right alongside the survivors, every step of the way. We all have a few setbacks we need to turn into comebacks, don’t we?

Sometimes a setback offers us a beautiful gift. I think when I made the conscious decision to put on my beanie cap of gratitude for what I still did have (versus mourning what I was losing) and the fact that in the lottery of life’s setbacks, having hip replacements was a winner – it changed everything.

In life some rain must fall. At least for me, this was the sun shower of rain storms. I decided to be ruled by the hope of success. It’s not about trying to get back to what you were, it’s about trying to be the best of what you’re capable of today, this minute.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Which achievements/milestones are you most proud of and why?

I’m so happy that Project Athena has changed so many lives in the last decade. We put so much love into our beneficiaries so they can have the most amazing comeback story. And those comeback stories have a huge ripple effect in the world afterwards. It’s amazing to think about how many people our team has reached out to and made a positive impact in their lives.

I’m proud to be the mom of one adorable puppy girl named Valentine! She has inspired me to create an animal sanctuary in Sedona, so I can rescue hundreds more ‘Valentines’ and other creatures that just need a paw or leg up in this world after their own setbacks. A little like Project Athena, but for animal rescue.

I’m just thrilled with how life has turned out so far. I’ve been able to capitalize on my strengths, inspire others to create what’s next in their lives, and create a couple of small companies and a nonprofit foundation with my friends so we can all do WELL and do GOOD at the same time. That’s what I’ve always aspired to do!

What do you think are the key ingredients to your success?

At any one point of time, I always have a goal, mission or dream. Without them, I’d be lost.

Tenacious pursuit of greatness, whether that’s in my athletic life or business life. There’s always something I feel like I need to learn, know, or change. I know I can always be better, and I’m not happy unless I’m among the best of the best in whatever I choose to focus on.

Human Synergy. I always surround myself with people who have strengths and talents and skills I don’t have and find a way to make them my teammates.

I focus on the comeback, not the setback. I know that change is the only thing that’s going to stay the same in life. I try to focus on what I can learn in times of challenge and change and to focus on what I CAN do instead of what I can’t do.

What lies ahead in terms of your goals and ambitions?

Oops. I might have answered this one already!

To help survivors live their adventurous dreams through Project Athena and create new adventures each year.

Start an animal sanctuary in Sedona, Arizona (USA) in a couple of years! I want to save them all. I also want to train my rescue dogs in agility sports to keep their brains and hearts happy and healthy. If we can get good enough maybe that will be my next sport!

Do the Alabama 650-mile endurance paddling race.

Continue speaking about building world class teams that adapt, overcome and win as one team as long as companies, associations and user groups will invite me to come play!

I want to retire from the San Diego Fire Department and continue my short-term rental property business in Arizona.

Pretty soon, we’ll even have some modern cabins out on the animal sanctuary so people can come stay, volunteer, and play with the animals.

PERSONAL (LIFE)

What is your life motto (or core values) if any?

I have a bunch of core values or sayings I live by (all my original quotes):

• You don’t inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing YOU are, you inspire them by showing them how amazing THEY are.
• You can’t create a new beginning, but right now you can create a new ending.
• You are never defined by your setbacks; you are defined by your comebacks.
• Your goals are upstream. If you’re floating through life, you’ll never get there.
• Always have a goal, and a deadline to accomplish it, on your calendar. Would you ever have studied in school if there wasn’t a test?
• Leave your ego at the start line; it’s the heaviest thing in your pack.
• Surround yourself with people who have been where you want to go.
• Keep searching until you find the thing that wakes you up at night to dream.

To you, what are the most important things in life?

~ Goals and dreams.

~ Without the North Star and magnetic pull of goals and dreams, I think people are lost. For every one of my family members and friends, my wish is that they have that THING in their life that creates passion and greatness.

~ Whether that’s to be the CEO of a company or to be the best mom or dad on earth, the most important thing is having a mission that drives you.

~ Teammates. Notice I didn’t say family. Teammates aren’t always blood, but they’re 100% love. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people you admire and respect, who can help show you the way, and who genuinely want you to succeed are priceless.

~ Making good decisions.

~ Our ability to make good decisions is the only constant we have throughout our lives, and it completely dictates our success.

I always wish for everyone I love to have this capability above all others. I often envision life as being a mouse maze. Your cumulative decisions at each intersection point in your life dictates your hunk of ‘happiness cheese’.

What’s worth mentioning on your life’s bucket list that you have not done?

~ Starting my animal sanctuary in Sedona, which I first dreamt about 20 years ago

~ I also have a small, but wild, notion to try sprint kayak racing

~ To take back my Guinness 24-hour Flatwater Kayaking record

~ To be a mom to a capybara

~ Start another successful business in short-term rentals when I retire from the fire department

~ And to continue to grow my speaking business with 2 of my best pals at the helm

Why do you do what you do? (What drives you everyday?)

My big dream is to live the 4Cs in my life:

• To do Cool things
• In Cool places
• With Cool people (and animals!)
• For a Cool cause.

I work toward making my best 4Cs life happen every day.

Who are the role models and influences in your life?

My dad, Ron Benincasa, is the smartest and funniest person I know. We jokingly call him my ‘Board of Advisors’. He’s right about things 98% of the time, except when he told me I might die at my first Ironman. He’s never stepped on dirt in his life on purpose. We couldn’t be more opposite, but more the same. We’ve been super close since I was a kid.

My husband of 23 years, Jeff, is my rock, my teammate, my cheerleader, and best friend. He was a firefighter for 25 years too, and now he creates all my PowerPoints and runs my keynote presentation while I’m on stage. He is also the head of our ground crew for Project Athena on our 5 annual endurance adventures for Survivors. We couldn’t untangle our lives if we wanted to.

My first gymnastics coach, Stormy, was a second father figure. We would do anything to make him proud of us.

I’m surrounded by so many inspiring people within the Project Athena Foundation, including our Trail Angel team of adventure racing rockstars that help us get everyone across the finish line.

I find myself wanting to be more like every one of them, and I always feel honored and lucky that they’re my friends.

What are some things that many people don’t know about you?

~ I’m a complete introvert even though I play an extrovert on stage. I love sharing my keynotes, but afterwards, my husband Jeff knows I’m not going to talk to him for a few hours.

~ I’ve had 6 hip replacements. Good times.

~ I was the National Judo Champion in the 72-kilo Division in the late 90s. I had made a random detour into a completely new sport. Hmmm, I think I was a national champion in judo and a World Champion in adventure racing in the same year, in addition to starting the fire academy. That was a good year!

~ I wear a men’s US size 11 shoe. This worked out perfectly when we were racing, because when our blisters got bad by day 3 or 4, everyone on the team would just trade shoes so we could get blisters in different places.

VIEWPOINTS

What made you decide to write your New York Times Bestseller book “How Winning Works”?

As a speaker, it’s important to have something available for people who want to know more or hear more stories because they’re inspired during your keynote presentation. So, I wrote How Winning Works for my new friends in every audience who want to share what they’ve learned and how they feel with their families, kids, and colleagues.

I don’t really expect people to peruse a bookstore to pick up a copy of my book, since I’m not famous or important. It was written for anyone who decides they are my tribe once they know me.

There is a statement you made previously: “Magic that allows ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things together.” Could you elaborate on this and how it has worked out for you?

Human Synergy, a term I use when describing my adventure racing teams’ success, is that magic which makes us better together than any of us could ever be alone. It says that we are better, stronger, faster, more productive, and more successful BECAUSE of one another, versus DESPITE one another. Having teammates around you is not incidental to your success, it’s instrumental to your success, whether you are striving for a team goal or a personal one.

Perhaps Vince Lombardi (an American football coach that never had a losing season) described Human Synergy best when he said “The secret is to work less as an individual and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my 11 best, but my best 11.” In other words, it’s not the brightest superstars that create the greatest teams; the greatest TEAMMATES create the greatest teams.

Your adventure racing friends called you the ‘Human Cockroach’ because you could make it through anything. In this regard, how can anyone become more resilient in their own lives when it comes to facing physical and mental challenges?

I think that our courage, grit, and resilience come from 3 Bs: we can either be BORN with it, we can BUILD it, or we can BORROW it.

Born

Many people are born with and grow up knowing that they’re just meant to be successful if they work hard, continue to learn, and never give up. They are absolutely right! But sometimes that belief in ourselves runs thin. When this happens, we need to rely on the courage and grit that we’ve built.

Build

You can actually create your courage and grit by deeply challenging yourself and succeeding, time and time again. I’ve always believed since I was a little kid that every time I truly challenge myself, I earn a new “brick” for my confidence wall. And it’s been my mission over my lifetime to build that confidence wall as high as possible, brick by brick.

Because the height of that confidence wall has a direct relationship to the amount of courage and grit you have when faced with a difficult challenge. You have to earn your courage by DOING hard things. Because simply believing in yourself without PROVING it to yourself is only for Disney Princesses.

Borrow

We can also borrow our courage from other people in a couple of ways. First, having a higher sense of purpose, doing something FOR someone else, gives us incredible strength and resilience.

Second, surrounding ourselves with people who truly and deeply believe in us. When we have people around us who know us and are convinced we can succeed, we can borrow that belief in ourselves from them, until we’re able to grow our own.

As you can imagine, there was a lot of courage-building in adventure racing, as well as firefighting. But if I had a guess at it, I’d say that most of my courage was borrowed from my teammates and crew, whom I could never let down, and who always lifted me up!

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” Without resilience, anything gained is easily taken away. You can’t really be successful in the long-term without some degree of resilience.”

Imagine a scenario where you were trapped beneath a one-ton boulder while climbing a mountain and lose both legs as a result. Would you go back to climb mountains again? The answer for most people would likely be an outright “No”.

That was exactly what happened to Warren Macdonald on one fateful day back in April 1997 in a freak rock fall. And yet, unlike most people, Macdonald went right back to climbing just ten months after that accident that saw the amputation of both his legs at mid-thigh, using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants! Warren, an Australian native, has one of the most inspirational survival stories to share about the accident on North Queensland’s (Australia) Hinchinbrook Island and his amazing feats that came after.

Among his other achievements include becoming the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222ft) in 2003. Later that same year, in a spectacular effort requiring more than 2,800 pull-ups over 4 days, he climbed America’s tallest cliff face, El Capitan. Warren is also the only above knee amputee to make an ascent of Canada’s landmark frozen waterfall, the 600 ft “Weeping Wall” in Alberta.

Warren’s bestselling first book, ‘A Test of Will’, is the subject of the “Trapped under a Boulder” episode of the Discovery Channel series “I Shouldn’t Be Alive”. He has also appeared on Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.

His remarkable story makes a compelling argument that challenges in life are meant to be overcomed. Warren spoke to us about where this resilience comes from and what drives him forward.

EARLY LIFE

Tell us more about your family background and share with us what it was like growing up.

I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, the oldest of 4 children. We were left to roam freely as kids, which helped all of us develop a great sense of adventure. Growing up, the stuntman Evel Knevel was my hero, and I spent most of my childhood jumping over things (including my siblings) on my bicycle.

How did your upbringing shape the person you are today?

We grew up resilient. We had to make-do with what we had, which also made us adaptable and resourceful; both traits that hold a person in good stead in times of hardship and crisis.

PASSION

Where did your passion for mountain climbing come from?

Our family did a lot of camping when we were younger, so an appreciation for the outdoors was there from a young age. At age 19, I undertook an Outward Bound style course, which was really aimed at taking a person outside of their comfort zone, and (hopefully), showing them that they are stronger than they think.

That week shaped the rest of my life, in that I discovered that I could be outside, with very little in the way of resources, and still be okay. No running water, no electricity; no roof over my head. That feeling evolved into wanting to push myself further, which led naturally to mountains and other wild places.

How did you survive being trapped beneath that one-ton boulder at North Queensland’s (Australia) in April 1997 and what went through your mind during and right after being rescued?

Whilst trapped, I had to draw on everything I’d experienced from life thus far. I’d spent years seeking discomfort, straying further and further from the well worn path. I’d travelled to Africa to test myself in a less domesticated environment, and all of those experiences bolstered me during the time I was trapped.

Once I was rescued, my task was to hang in there, to survive, and then to recover as best I could. As I gained small parts of my life back, I wanted more.

What were the major challenges you faced and hard decisions you had to make, after that accident and how did you overcome them?

As with anyone, most of the challenges were psychological. Sure, I had major physical challenges, but I also had to overcome how people looked at me now; how I looked at myself. At resetting limitations, ignoring limitations set by others, etc.

I also had to approach things one step at a time. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when the challenges are so huge and daunting. I learnt to break things down into manageable bite sized pieces, or steps, and tackle them bit by bit…

Ten months after that accident, you climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair. Not to mention, you embarked on subsequent mountain climbing expeditions. What’s the driving force behind that decision to continue pursuing this path and were you not traumatized by fear?

I wasnt so much traumatized by fear, but driven by a desire to reclaim my life, the life I’d once taken for granted. It was incredibly important to spend time outside, in nature, and whilst in the very beginning I thought that was something I’d lost, it was incredibly important for me to get it back.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Which achievements are you most proud of and why?

One of the achievements I’m still most proud of happened before my accident, and that is standing up to defend the logging of old growth forests in Tasmania. Another, which is connected to the first, was climbing Federation Peak over the course of 28 days.

One of the main reasons I did that was to show that we need to keep our wild places wild, and that we don’t need excessive roads to access these places. We can visit them on our own terms, and if a guy with no legs can do that, so can you.

Share with us some experiences that you think played a significant role in your success?

Having the support of friends and family in what at times seemed like crazy endeavours. They were always there for me and helped immensely. A desire to keep going, to keep moving forward, despite hardship and pain. A desire to open the way for others with disabilities. There are now at least 7 or 8 double above knee amputees who have climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, including the first woman Many Hovarth back in May this year.

What do you think are the key ingredients to your success?

Authenticity. Adaptability. Resilience.

What lies ahead in terms of your goals and ambitions?

I have a kayak trip that is still on my list in south west Tasmania.

PERSONAL (LIFE)

How does a typical day look like to you now?

This morning I swam across the lake with friends. It is a 2km swim and we do it 4 times a week.

Mornings are usually spent trading and investing, and working on upcoming presentations.

Afternoons I will typically hand cycle or do some other form of activity.
I like to cook also so prep usually starts some time in the afternoon.

What is your life motto if any?

Never give up.

To you, what are the most important things in life?

Health and happiness. Without those, you don’t have much else.

What do you do when you find yourself feeling down on certain days?

Exercise is a great way to raise your spirits, as is mediation. Those two things were my greatest allies during covid. I describe meditation as a great way to tame your thoughts and to stop fear taking hold. It’s also a great way to get in sync with reality, and out of denial.

Who are the role models and influences in your life?

My dad has been a great influence in that he gave us that connection to the outdoors by taking us outside so often when we were kids. And my Mum for being there for me in everything I’ve done.

The former leader of the Australian Green party, Bob Brown has been a great role model for me, as has Elon Musk for his grand vision for the human race.

What are some things that many people don’t know about you?

I’m a huge heavy metal fan.

Why do you do what you do? (What drives you everyday)

We get one life. We best make the most of it.

VIEWPOINTS

Has your perspective about life and living changed before vs after after losing your legs? If yes, how so?

Before the accident I was certainly less driven. THe accident taught me that life is short, and that if we want something, we best start making it happen.

In your opinion, why is resilience so important and how does it shape a person’s success?

Without resilience, anything gained is easily taken away. You can’t really be successful, at least in the long term, without some degree of resilience.

How can people build up their resilience in simple ways?

Resilience is like a muscle. If you don’t work on building it, it atrophies and dies away.
It is not something that can be learnt, but rather needs to be practiced. You build it by doing anything that challenges you, either physically or mentally, ideally both.

When you lift weights, you’re telling your body you can do hard things. When you cycle up a steep hill and don’t stop, you’re telling your body, not to mention your mind and spirit, that you can do hard things, that you can endure and not quit.

This concept transfers over into other areas of your life. The way I describe resilience is akin to a bank account. You make deposits, preferably daily, so that when the time comes to make a withdrawal, you have an adequate amount in your account.

Like a bank account, when the time comes for that withdrawal, you only have what you have.

No less, no more.

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