Thinking in the mountains makes better leaders
· 9 min read
Important meetings and leadership trainings are usually held in sleek conference rooms with panoramic city views, where crucial decisions are made over PowerPoint presentations and catered lunches. The more important the topic, the bigger the view.
But in a time of rapid planetary shifts, extreme environmental challenges, and increasing polarisation, how leaders meet matters more than ever. What if the most powerful conversations about planetary futures didn’t happen in boardrooms, but in deep snow and the crisp mountain air?
What if the best way to think about planetary boundaries was to physically push our own? What if the fastest way to change the way leaders lead was through moving slowly in nature?
Let us look at an inspiring example of a different kind of event. For almost a decade, a diverse group of sustainability-focused scientists, leaders, entrepreneurs, activists, guides, and innovators have been gathering for the Tarfala Think Tank, a week in winter high up in the Scandinavian mountains. Their goal is not just to discuss the state of the world and the Earth system, but to engage deeply with the questions they ask—through movement, dialogue, and action.
There is a place where passion about sustainability and ski-mountaineering meet. A physical challenge and a way to move through wild, remote landscapes with a deep sense of presence and adaptability. Each day, they ski-tour through demanding terrain; each evening, they shapes ideas, interventions, and collaborations for planetary solutions. A gathering that challenges both body and mind, emphasising embodied inquiry, relational trust, and deep engagement with place.
Unlike traditional think tanks, which focus on policy recommendations and analytical discussions, Tarfala Think Tank operates on a different premise. Thinking happens through movement and dialogue. Ski touring alongside someone fosters conversations that are personal rather than performative, collaborative rather than combative. Place is a co-facilitator, not a backdrop. This think tank began in 2016 at the Tarfala Research Station in the Swedish mountains, originally conceived as an experiment in combining scientific fieldwork with interdisciplinary dialogue. Over the years, it has moved between different locations, primarily in Norway. The gathering has expanded in scope and has now sister events across northern Europe, with the same core philosophy: thinking is inseparable from place, movement, and relationship—and to sustain the work of leadership, people must first nourish their passion.
At the latest gathering, participants were asked before arriving to bring a question that they wanted to explore throughout the week. These questions ranged from systemic issues to deeply personal dilemmas. Questions like "How might we create a non-polarising discourse around sustainability-related topics and challenges?" or "How do we change the 99% negative media coverage into also telling us about the many good things and initiatives that could inspire people to take positive action instead of paralysing and scaring them?" were raised, while some other participants would share personal reflections such as "how do I - and we - regain agency in a new political context?". These questions inform conversations on the mountain and in the workshop spaces.
Ski touring in deep snow, traversing ridges, and ascending peaks is not recreation; it is a deliberate method for breaking habitual thought patterns and opening new perspectives. The idea being to move seamlessly from understanding planetary crises to co-creating responses. The think tank sessions are therefore carefully curated to balance scientific depth, open-ended inquiry, and concrete action. Expert-led updates on planetary boundaries and systemic challenges feed discussions that identify leverage points for intervention. The goal is to hold complexity without forcing premature conclusions, ensuring that solutions emerge from the process rather than being imposed on it. The intensity of the environment also prevents complacency; there is no room for passive participation.
Here, tension are held without rushing to resolution. This means sitting with discomfort, allowing different perspectives to surface, and resisting the urge to find simple answers to complex problems. Only then a group can engage in structured uncertainty—where difficult questions are explored without needing to be resolved immediately. "There were moments of real discomfort. But instead of smoothing over differences, we let them breathe. And in that space, something shifted—new ways of seeing, new ways of connecting", a participant shared.
Gatherings of this kind are not just about discussing problems—they are about generating momentum for solutions. Participants move from absorbing new scientific insights to developing concrete initiatives. This year, five key projects emerged, including exploring how the principles of guiding in alpine environments can inform decision-making in complex global systems, how to address the urgent need for new governance frameworks as the Amazon approaches a tipping point, how to develop strategies to shift public perception and drive action on planetary boundaries through storytelling and social media, how to build investment mechanisms to support marine ecosystem restoration, and how to establish an annual gathering focused specifically on water crises and solutions. Each of these projects was developed collaboratively, shaped by both structured discussions and spontaneous exchanges during mountain ascents. The process of iterating on these ideas in such an intense environment creates a bond between the participants, making the projects feel less like abstract concepts and more like collective missions. "We arrived with ideas, but we left with commitments."
One of the unique elements of this way of thinking together is the presence of mountain guides—not just as technical experts ensuring safety, but as co-facilitators of experience and full participants in the workshop conversations and sessions. A new approach, called “Sensing the Mountain” invites guides to help participants engage with the landscape on a deeper level, creating moments for attunement, reflection, and embodied learning, like; Experience the landscape in new ways—sensing the ice and snow physically, or tracking silent stories written in the terrain, like animal traces and shifting snowdrifts. These exercises encourage a deeper relationship with the mountains, shifting the experience from observation to interaction.
Beyond the intellectual exchanges and project development, gatherings such as these are also spaces for collective re-sourcing. Participants do not just learn together—they re-energise together. The combination of movement, shared effort, and immersion in the mountains creates a deep sense of renewal. Strenuous ski touring demands full presence and makes the lungs and the heart work, and it pulls participants out of habitual patterns of stress and urgency. In this space, they are not only discussing planetary challenges but also rebuilding the personal and collective resilience needed to face them. The act of moving, thinking, and resting together fosters a kind of replenishment that goes beyond individual well-being; it strengthens the relational field, allowing for deeper trust, creativity, and commitment to action.
By removing people from everyday constraints and immersing them in a landscape that demands both focus and adaptability, new ways of thinking emerge naturally, and a rapid shift to a new mindset takes place. Processing complexity is not just intellectual—it’s physical, emotional, and relational. Rather than sitting in structured discussions for many hours, participants hold planetary challenges in their minds and their bodies through exertion, altitude, and exposure to the elements. Strenuous physical effort pushes thinking even further. The more demanding the climb, the deeper the conversation.
“In a world where so many things seem to take a turn for the worse, it is more important than ever to get inspiration from the people who are really trying to contribute with something that may lead to a just and sustainable development on the global scale. Last week’s gathering gave me a lot of hope”, a mountain guide observed, while a participant claimed that “it is also the fuel we need to continue to explore new solutions, and not let apathy eat away our ability for action.”
Over time, three key observations have emerged that make gatherings like this so effective in helping leaders rethink, recharge, and realign their approach to leadership:
A Stanford study showed that creative output increases by 60% while walking—what happens when intellectual engagement is embedded within the rigour of sustained physical exertion?
Meeting in motion strips away the layers of hierarchy and routine, allowing for more present and mindful dialogue. The group moves at a steady pace—slow enough to sustain endurance and safety, yet purposeful enough to maintain focus. One step at a time, the landscape unfolds, offering a shift in perspective. Looking back, skiers see their tracks; looking ahead, they see the destination. For leaders navigating uncertainty, this rhythm is a reminder: progress is built through small, deliberate steps without losing sight of the bigger picture.
Entering unknown terrain is not just a test of skill—it is a lesson in trust. Leaders navigating unfamiliar landscapes quickly learn to rely on their tools, their own judgment, and the perspectives of those around them. The ability to listen, adapt, and trust becomes essential.
In the mountains, as in organisations, progress depends on moving together. Without mutual support, energy is wasted, risks increase, and momentum stalls. True leadership is not just about personal capability but about ensuring that others are equipped to move forward as well. Shared challenges forge lasting bonds, strengthening both decision-making and collective resilience—long after the descent.
Long days in the mountains demand physical effort, yet participants often return home feeling more energised than when they arrived. Despite early mornings and late-night discussions, the rhythm of movement, fresh air, and shared experience provides a kind of renewal that structured retreats or static meetings rarely offer.
For many working in climate and sustainability, exhaustion is a constant challenge. Facing resistance, setbacks, and crises can be draining. Immersive gatherings like this provide more than knowledge exchange—they offer a rare chance to rest, reflect, and regain momentum. Stepping away from routine, even into exertion, creates the conditions that deepen resilience.
The way meetings and conversations take place must evolve to match the magnitude and complexity of today’s crises. Sitting in boardrooms will not prepare leaders for the challenges ahead, but moving through landscapes just might. Shifting from static to dynamic, from isolated to relational, unlocks new ways of thinking, learning, and acting.
Imagine what could change if movement, place, and deep conversation became central to leadership and decision-making? Whether shaping policies, convening events, or guiding teams, the question remains: how will you move — literally and metaphorically — toward the solutions so urgently needed?
These reflections are shaped by multiple events and conversations in movement, thanks to the Tarfala Think Tank, initiated by Johan Rockström, Pia Maria Lodhammar, and Carl Lundberg, which has played a meaningful role over the years.
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of North Face and its peers Patagonia, and Amer Sports
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
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