“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.

“Some people are repelled by the darkness of an underwater cave, but for me it’s an invitation into the unknown”

These are the words Jill Heinerth, a Canadian world-renowned cave diver and explorer, uses to describe her passion and profession. More than that, she is also a writer, photographer and an award-winning film-maker. Her accolades include being named a “Living Legend” by Sport Diver Magazine and getting inducted into the exclusive New York Explorers Club.

In the film-making space, Heinerth has worked on a number of TV series for PBS, National Geographic Channel and the BBC, consulted on movies for directors including James Cameron, written several books and produced documentaries. Furthermore, she advises on training programmes for diving agencies, publishes photojournalism in a range of magazines and speaks around the world.

In 1998, Heinerth was part of the team that made the first 3D map of an underwater cave. She became the first person to dive the ice caves of Antarctica, going further into an underwater cave system than any woman has ever gone before.

Whether we are intrigued or petrified at the prospect of cave-diving, we can’t help but marvel at the adventurous spirit of this brave woman, whose job it is to explore near-freezing waterways under a few hundred feet of ice; and travel to places so remote that just getting there is treacherous.

EARLY LIFE

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

I grew up in a small town in Canada, the daughter of an engineer and English teacher. My Mom gave up her early career aspirations to raise our family. We lived frugally and loved outdoor adventures, picnics, hikes, and canoeing trips.

How did your upbringing shape the person you are today?

My parents instilled in me a love of learning, encouraging me to pursue my interests with passion and integrity. I did not feel like there were any bounds to what was possible for me. They taught me that I could do anything I wanted if I worked hard.

How would you sum up your childhood?

I was adventurous, curious and loved learning.

JOURNEY

How did you get started as an underwater explorer and filmmaker respectively?

I studied Fine Arts at York University in Toronto and worked as a graphic designer at the same time. I also taught scuba-diving in the evenings and on weekends. I was drawn to scuba-diving and decided to find a way to be a creative professional in the underwater world.

As much as I loved being a graphic designer, working indoors felt stifling to me. I saw a career path in becoming a full-time diver and thus I decided to sell everything I owned in Toronto, Canada, and moved to the Cayman Islands to pursue my love for diving.

To support myself financially, I also assembled a hybrid work-life that included writing, photography, cinematography, consulting, instruction, and public speaking.

What were some significant challenges you faced, lessons learnt and hard decisions you had to make along the way?

When I first started out, I faced both sexism and unintentional biases while working in a male-dominated vocation. It was fairly difficult to jumpstart a career as an independent diving professional, and I always had to find new ways to sustain my income streams.

I had discovered that when someone is financially challenged, not being busy enough or being too busy, can both be stressful situations! So I built my confidence, patience, and tenacity. If one income stream wasn’t producing, I pitched new ideas to secure paid projects and developed lasting income streams from creative assets that I produced.

Jill photographs the National Geographic team in Abaco, Bahamas.

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

As a young woman who was quickly rising to the top in the world of professional cave-diving, I was subjected to online bullies. Nasty commentary, death threats and cruel insults were just some of the attacks directed at me from people whom I have never even met before in my life.

At one point, a man sent me a package with body bags in it. He told me to “clean up the cave” after my project, insinuating that someone would die under my watch. I was deeply shaken.

At first, I felt deeply hurt by those personal attacks but then I realised that the reason they did that was more about themselves rather than personally targeting me.

The truth is that cave diving is incredibly dangerous. I have known more than 100 people that have lost their lives in cave diving and technical diving accidents. These were friends and colleagues. Each loss takes its psychological toll on me.

I have since learned that all I can do is bring my best self to work every day. My desire is to live with integrity and mentor the next generation of cave-divers with the same dedication to safety that I have learnt for over 30 years in the business.

Some of my early diving projects and expeditions were catalysts for great lessons. They include being trapped inside an iceberg in Antarctica and recovering from severe injuries due to a deep-diving accident. Having said that, I felt that I have achieved things that I initially thought were impossible. In the end, I learned that we are all capable of much more than we can imagine.

The search for deep caves in Bermuda, led Heinerth and her team to make the deepest manned dives in the island nation’s history. Photo: Jill Heinerth

ACHIEVEMENTS

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

I am proud of being a Fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women Divers Hall of Fame, and the Explorers Club, which awarded me with the ‘William Beebe Award’ for ocean exploration.

These were incredible milestones in my career, but the most special recognition of all – was being named the first Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. With this platform, I have been able to reach tens of thousands of children around the world to conduct presentations and workshops that I hope can help them spark an interest in science, geography, and exploration.

I also take pride in completing two books so far, namely:

1) My memoir, ‘Into the planet’, which has been lauded by the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times.

2) My new children’s book, ‘The Aquanaut’, is a Blue Ribbon Selection for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. That program has helped to distribute close to 8000 copies to underprivileged kids.

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

They say that nobody will work harder for you than yourself. I know that to be true. Hard work, tenacity, and humility are important traits that I embrace.

Multi-tasking, learning new skills and being willing to do whatever needs to be done for a given situation, plays a significant part in my success too. I do my very best to be a team player to lead and manage people, no matter how difficult the role or how minor the task is. For example, I would not leave a sink full of dishes on a research boat for someone else to clean up. I also consider it to be important to contribute to the well-being of the team, knowing that we are all equals.

What lies ahead in terms of your goals and ambitions?

There are some very ambitious research and exploration initiatives as well as documentary and education programs that are in the pipeline. It includes diving in Canada’s longest underwater cave system and some delayed expeditions including documenting WWII shipwrecks off Newfoundland.

I am also working on a once-in-a-lifetime educational initiative that aims to teach people about ‘The Great Lakes’, which are the largest surface freshwater system on the Earth. Using exciting augmented reality technology, we are creating an immersive experience with global impact.

Jill Heinerth briefing James Cameron before his first cave dive. Photo: Jackie Windh

PERSONAL (LIFE)

What is your life motto if any?

I suppose “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is an important creed. I always try to put myself in someone else’s shoes. It is through recognition that empathy can solve the largest problems.

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

I believe in continuous life-long learning and thus I am never bored.

Another aspect I find important is to take on risks in life and do the things that may seem terrifying. Don’t get me wrong, I am not fearless. But when I am scared, it is because I recognise that I am taking on a risk where I deeply care about the outcome.

Fear is a driver for exploration and discovery, so I will continue to take calculated risks in the interest of expanding my horizons and being part of important scientific discoveries that can make the world a better place.

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

If I had the funds, I would pursue training in an atmospheric diving suit to enable me to dive deep enough to reach places never documented before. I’d love to go to space to see the big blue marble of our Earth, but I still want to reach even more remote places on this planet. The ‘Exosuit’ (a one-piece atmosphere hard diving suit) could help me to document new species and lost cultural assets in the ocean’s greatest depths.

Jill Heinerth drives the Wakulla2 Digital Wapper on a 1997-98 project with the U.S. Deep Caving Team. On this project, the team created the first accurate 3D map of subterranean space and pushed the bounds of human performance.

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

I love the challenge of pushing the boundaries of what we perceive as possible. It’s a joy to learn new skills and then apply that knowledge toward communicating about critical issues such as water literacy and climate change to people. My hope is that through my unique perspectives of the Earth from deep within the planet, people can get excited to learn more and become more aware about important global issues.

Who are the role models and influences in your life?

Dr. Sylvia Earle is a key influencer of mine. Me and my colleagues refer to her as “Her Deepness!” But seriously, she is an inspiration who shares the truth about difficult issues while empowering and inspiring others to act.

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

I love cycling and once rode my bicycle on a 7000 km journey across the country, unsupported. Few people know that I am also a painter.

What are some life lessons worth mentioning?

Chase fear or you will spend your life running from it.

VIEWPOINTS

Do you think females are underrepresented in underwater exploring professionally?

Yes, absolutely. Diving, exploring and filmmaking are all male-dominated fields. The good news is, that is slowly changing. When I first launched my career, there were few women in any of those areas.

As more female talents entered the sectors mentioned, more women could better visualise themselves in these roles. There is no reason why women can’t excel in all these activities. Moreover, women make great team players. We are extremely resilient in difficult situations and given the opportunity, can rise to achieve our full potential.

When I started diving, there were many barriers to overcome. Beyond sexism and unintentional bias, technical diving gear designed to fit a woman simply did not exist. That is not merely an issue of appearance. When diving equipment doesn’t fit, it is a safety and comfort issue.

Jill drives the 3D Digital Wall Mapper at Wakulla Springs during the Wakulla2 Project. Photo: Wes Skiles, Courtesy of the U.S. Deep Caving Team Inc.

You acknowledged that underwater exploring is a risky endeavour and said it yourself that “more people have died exploring underwater caves than climbing Mt. Everest”. How should individuals with little to no experience weigh the risks vs rewards even before they decide to embark on such diving trips?

Risk assessment and acceptance is a balancing act. A poor decision at work could cost me my life, but if I don’t take risks, I will not make any new discoveries – for myself or for humanity. Whether you are a diver or a salesperson, taking risks leads to an opportunity.

Sure, I might fail. But that failure is never a negative in my mind. Failure is simply ‘discovery learning’. If I have taken steps to mitigate the risks, then I will become better each time at minimising my downside without affecting my pursuit of new discoveries or opportunities.

Little Devil Spring. Photo: Jill Heinerth

What advice would you give to aspiring underwater explorers who are looking to turn their passion into a career?

Work hard. There are some classes and mentors that help you learn new skills, but understand that your path to becoming a world-class explorer is personal. You will need to adopt a tenacious spirit, set learning objectives and master your craft by being hands-on – education can only take you so far, the rest requires you to learn through practical experiences. Look forward a decade to where you want to be, then plot a relentless path in that direction.

How does your general view of the world differ from someone who does not have the privilege to experience firsthand another facet of the like you do?

I don’t sweat the ‘small stuff’ or get embroiled in the drama of personal opinions. I love a diversity of viewpoints, recognizing that getting outside of my own head and outside of my comfort zone yields new opportunities for collaborations.

The post An Invitation Into The Unknown – Jill Heinerth appeared first on My Story Lounge.